Historic downtown Boulder City, Nevada

There’s more to Southern Nevada than the mega resorts of the Las Vegas Strip. Located just 20 miles from the hustle and bustle of the gambling and entertainment Mecca, Boulder City offers families an opportunity to explore Southern Nevada’s rich history in a quaint, small town setting reminiscent of Mayberry.

Founded in 1932 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to house workers constructing the nearby Hoover Dam, Boulder City is unlike most destinations in Nevada as gambling is prohibited. The city is one of only two in the state with no casinos. Instead, visitors are welcome to shop antique stores along the city’s downtown streets, visit museum attractions or take advantage of outdoor activities.

Whether staying in Las Vegas and visiting as part of an excursion or staying in the city at one of its charming hotels, a trip to Boulder City is not complete without a visit to the iconic Hoover Dam, located just a few minutes away on U.S. 93 at the border between Nevada and Arizona.

Often referred to by locals by its original name, Boulder Dam, the massive art deco inspired dam was completed in 1935 as both the world’s largest electric-power generating station and the world’s largest concrete structure. Though neither record holds true today, the dam is still considered one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has conducted tours through Hoover Dam and its powerplant since 1937. Today, nearly one million visitors a year take the tour and millions more drive across the dam.

View of Hoover Dam

Guided tours are offered every day of the week with admission prices ranging from $11.00 to $30.00 per person with discounted prices for children, seniors and military families. The Visitor Center is open for unguided exploration for $8.00 for all visitors over the age of three.

Visitors not interested in a tour are welcome to walk along the top of the dam and enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Mead and Black Canyon. Visitors, particularly children, are often amused at the fact that the men’s restroom is located in Nevada in the Pacific Time Zone and the women’s restroom is located on the Arizona side in the Mountain Time Zone. It’s not often that you have an opportunity to visit two states and two time zones at one attraction.

Visitors to Hoover Dam may park in the parking garage nestled in the cliffs on the Nevada side of the dam. The fee is $7.00 per vehicle. Free parking is available in lots along the road on the Arizona side, but the spots may be hard to find on busy weekends and the walk up and down the steep hills may be grueling during the hot summer months. However, a small cafe is located at the top of the hill providing snacks, refreshments and a spectacular view.

Within Boulder City the state’s railroading past is showcased at the Nevada Southern Railroad Museum. Constructed in 1931 as a branch off the main Union Pacific tracks through Las Vegas, the railroad transported heavy equipment and supplies for the construction of Hoover Dam. Today, train rides along the historic tracks are a popular attraction.

February through December the train takes passengers on a 45-minute, seven mile journey along the revitalized historic Boulder Branch Line from the Boulder City Depot (off Yucca Street) to Railroad Pass, located within the River Mountain Range.

Passengers ride in refurbished and enclosed, climate-controlled Pullman Coaches, which date back to 1911. For the more adventurous passengers who wish to be closer to nature the open-air coach is great for taking photos of the desert mountain landscape.

Trains depart from the Depot every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to departure times and reservations are not required. Fares are $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and $4.00 for children under the age of 11.

Zipwire over Bootleg Canyon

For the outdoor sports enthusiasts, Boulder City’s Bootleg Canyon Park, known for its mountain biking trails, is now home to one of the city’s newest tourist attractions, the Bootleg Canyon Flightlines. There visitors who aren’t afraid of heights can experience an adrenaline rush as they glide down ziplines strung high above the canyon.

Bootleg Canyon has five zipline runs, including a practice run. From the top, riders drop nearly 1,000 feet along four runs, including one that’s nearly a half mile long.

The cost for this exhilarating adventure is $149 per person. The minimum weight for riders is 75 lbs. and the maximum is 250 lbs. Check-in is at the 1512 Industrial Road in Boulder City where riders are provided their harness and trained in safety, basic gliding techniques as well as how to increase and decrease speed.

For visitors interested in a more relaxing time, downtown Boulder City’s shops, galleries and restaurants are inviting. For great food, stop by The Coffee Cup, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. You can also grab some food to go and enjoy an outdoor family picnic at Hemenway or Bicentennial Park.

However you chose to enjoy your visit to Boulder City, you’ll find away to be “a world away for a day.”

Hoover Dam photo by Pamela McCreight (Creative Commons)/Boulder City and Bootleg Canyon photos by Boulder City.

The Radio City Music Hall Marquee

Halloween just passed.  Thanksgiving hasn’t even come yet, but the malls and department stores are decked with boughs of holly and other Christmas decorations and ‘Tis the Season is already playing on the public address systems.

Where else has Christmas arrived already?  At Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  Performances of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes began this past weekend.  Whether you like to get in the mood early or you wait to see Christmas shows until just before the holiday, the time to buy tickets—for Radio City Music Hall or any Christmas event—is now.

Some families go to the Christmas Spectacular every year.  Others go less often.  For others, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.  As for us, my wife and I have taken our seven year-old daughter twice in the past few years.  My daughter loves everything about New York and everything about seeing a show.  To be honest, when we were first going to the Christmas Spectacular I would have preferred seeing something on Broadway.  But, after going to the Christmas show—and seeing how much my daughter loved it—I was so glad we chose it.  Her favorite part of the show, she said, was “the Santas.”  There were a few dozen dancing Santas on stage (with more descending into a screen behind them while Santa explained that he had “helpers” to be in so many places at once.)  My wife and I loved when it actually snowed on the audience—and not just fake foam or plastic but wet snow that actually melted on us.  The second time we all saw the show, my daughter said that her favorite part was the life-size teddy bears dancing The Nutcracker.  She also loved the Rockettes dancing as rag dolls and soldiers.

Several parts of the Christmas Spectacular are repeated each year and new scenes are added as well while others are phased out.  Traditions like the Rockettes’ Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and a Living Nativity have been included every year since the show first opened in 1933.  Appearances by Santa, more from the Rockettes, scenes of Christmas in New York, and other songs and dances fill out a usual ninety-minute performance.  The show isn’t even the only attraction there.  Radio City Music Hall itself is a 1932 art deco movie palace that underwent a $70 million renovation 1999.  Some of its highlights include the original five-ton thirty-two foot high Wurlitzer organ, the largest theatrical curtain on earth, and a twenty-four carat goldleaf ceiling.

Ice Skating in Rockefeller Center

One of the best things about seeing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall is that there’s also so much else to see during the holidays in midtown Manhattan.  Radio City Music Hall itself is part of Rockefeller Center—home to one of the country’s most famous Christmas trees and a great ice skating rink.  Other attractions within just a few blocks are St. Patrick’s Cathedral, FAO Schwarz toy store, and the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue.  For hotels and dining, options in New York City are endless.  (Seriously, before I could name them all I bet at least one more would open.)  For eating in midtown though, kids would probably love the American Girl Café, Mars 2112 or the Hard Rock Café.  The food is good to mediocre at these restaurants, but it’s not the main attraction—it comes in second to the surroundings.

There’s no denying that New York City is loud and crowded.  During heavy tourist months like December, it’s even more loud and crowded.  But there’s a reason that so many people still love going into the City for the holidays.  With the entertainment, the excitement, the stores and the sights, it’s a pretty magical place to be.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular plays through December 30, 2008.  See the Radio City Music Hall website for detailed performance times and ticket prices. VIP Packages are also available which include priority seating, a pre-show reception, and deluxe gift bags and souvenir books.