Prior to our Vegas adventure - I watched Groupon Las Vegas like a hawk looking for interesting things to do and places to go. I stumbled upon a deal from the Hoover Dam Tour Company that included a premium express tour for two. The wife begged and pleaded to go out and see the Hoover Dam prior to me finding this so....poof - Hoover Dam trip it is.
It was a nice road trip out of Vegas for the day - they set us up on a relatively comfortable coach, and it was a nice, scenic trip out to the actual site of the dam. The wife and I actually ditched the internal part of the tour because A. it was 1000 degrees with no air and cramped space and B. I am not much for 'guided' tours. We strolled up and down and all around the dam checking out all the nooks, crannies, and views. It was exceptionally beautiful - esp. since it was an absolutely beautiful day outside apart from the high desert temps.
The dam itself is breathtaking and so vast - I couldn't bear looking over the edge too much as I am terribly afraid of heights. The wife snapped some great photos of some of the infrastructure and surroundings. There was a super friendly security guy that pointed us in the right directions as far as what to see - since we went rogue and took our own tour. There were some great history kiosks and statues if you will that included the architecture and engineering involved with building the dam. Very fascinating stuff.
There was a small cafe where a variety of food was served. Yes - it was a bit pricey, but it was actually not bad in quality. There was also a nice, quaint ice cream shop as well...in addition to gifts and all that jazz. All the staff were friendly and helpful, and everything was clean and well kept. If ever out in Vegas and looking for something to do outside the city of sin and debauchery.....take a road trip out to Hoover Dam and experience one of the marvels of early engineering.
In the end....all I could think of was the movie Superman when he attempts to fix the crumbling dam. Seriously....