Named one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Hoover Dam draws visitors to marvel at the ingenuity that raised this 700-foot structure harnessing the Colorado River. Approximately 1 million visitors per year visit Hoover Dam, which was the largest man-made dam of its time when it was built during the Depression Era. When your tour wraps up, you won't want to miss some other intriguing area attractions.

Las Vegas

Drive down the legendary Las Vegas Strip and into a magical world filled with family entertainment. No longer just a gambling center, Las Vegas is filled with hotels offering circuses, theme parks and world-class museum exhibits. Enjoy your dream racing experience behind the wheel of a Ferrari F430 GT at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (lvms.com), or skydive without the fear of jumping from a plane at Vegas Indoor Skydiving (vegasindoorskydiving.com). Las Vegas is also the closest hub near Hoover Dam to embark on adventures such as helicopter flights to the Grand Canyon, Colorado River rafting, or back country excursions.

Lakes

The waters held back by Hoover Dam form Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in the United States. It stretches 110 miles and contains about 28.5 million acre feet of water. Downstream about 30 miles, Lake Mohave covers 290 square miles. Both lakes attract tourists to picnic and photograph twisting mountain ranges and canyons surrounding them. Boaters enjoy waterskiing, fishing, Jet-Skiing and paddle sports. For a special adventure, rent a houseboat on either lake and glide through water-filled canyons for several days to a week.

Hot Springs

The Colorado River below Hoover Dam is packed with geothermal features, including sauna caves, hot waterfalls and multilevel hot pools. The most popular, Arizona Hot Springs has camping and pit toilets available at the springs. The hike snakes for 3 miles through White Rock Canyon, descending 800 feet. Another nearby hike is Goldstrike Canyon, where you will employ your bouldering skills and descend a ladder to access a network of hot springs and a sauna cave.

Ghost Towns

Back in the 1700s, Spaniards discovered gold about 30 miles from the area where Hoover Dam now stands. El Dorado Canyon later transferred to American hands, where miners built the town of Nelson, Nevada, and developed the most prosperous mine in southern Nevada, the Techatticup. The town and mining areas remain today, accessed by breathtaking scenery through El Dorado Canyon. On the Arizona side, Chloride boasts its fame as the state's oldest continually operating town. Visit some of the original buildings, such as the jail, bank vault and train station, or enjoy some of the local artistry in one of the town's shops.

About the Author

Indulging her passion for vacation vagary through the written word on a full-time basis since 2010, travel funster Jodi Thornton-O'Connell guides readers to the unexpected, quirky, and awe-inspiring.

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