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Las Vegas Getaways index | visit Las
Vegas Weddings Las
Vegas Day Trip to Lake Mead One of the most popular excursions from Las Vegas is a visit to sprawling Lake Mead and surrounding Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Located 25 miles east of the city, this area offers couples ample opportunities for boating, camping, swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and exploring the rugged landscape by automobile. The full extent of
the Lake Mead NRA is staggering: over one and one-half million
acres and includes sections of three of North America’s deserts,
the Sonoran, Mojave, and Great Basin. Lake Mead NRA was founded in 1964, but its roots go back to 1931 when a huge dam across Black Canyon was envisioned as a way to assure water supplies, control flooding on the Colorado River, and produce electrical power. The dam’s construction was the largest such project to be attempted and was not without controversy. Some critics predicted that the weight of the lake’s water would have a disastrous effect on the earth’s rotation! However, the can-do attitude of the builders prevailed and the dam was finished in 1935, two years ahead of schedule. Hoover Dam Today, couples can
learn about the dam’s fascinating history at the Hoover Dam
Visitor Center, open every day from 8am to 5:45pm. Tours of the
dam leave the Center beginning at 8:45am; regular tours take about
one-half hour, special hard-hat tours take about an hour. Even by today’s standards, Hoover Dam is impressive: 600 feet thick at its base and rising 730 feet, its turbines producing 4 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year. Lake Mead is also huge, spanning 158,000 acres with over 550 miles of shoreline. In places, its waters are 500 feet deep and cover plains, canyons, and even a few ghost towns.
Several varieties
of bass, rainbow trout, catfish, and assorted panfish thrive in
the lake, so fishing is one of the top attractions. (You will
need to have Nevada and/or Arizona fishing licenses.) Numerous
marinas around the lake can furnish all you will need for a fun
day of fishing as well as for other types of watersports: boat
rentals, including houseboats, sailboats, sailboards, canoes,
and kayaks. If one of you would
rather keep your feet dry, there are several recommended driving
tours in the area. From the Alan Bible Visitors Center near Boulder
City, take Northshore Scenic Drive or Lakeshore Scenic Drive.
Both tours offer excellent views of the desert landscape around
Lake Mead, including several spectacular rock formations from
well-maintained paved roads. Hiking trails allow curious visitors
to get an even closer look at the desert. One such trail leads
through a canyon with preserved Native American petroglyphs. Hikes
can be done with or without park naturalists though all hikers
are advised to follow Park Service guidelines, available at the
Visitor’s Center. Just a short drive from the Visitor’s
Center, Boulder Beach’s two miles of beach make a great spot
for a day of lakeside fun. If you want to stretch your day trip into a longer visit, there are several options including campgrounds and RV parks with hookups within the Lake Mead NRA as well as several motels near the Area’s entrances. For information on camping and other lodging in the area:
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Lovetripper.com Romantic Travel Guide
