Friday, March 16, 2012 (Sam’s Town RV Park, Las Vegas, NV)

We have been enjoying hot weather lately but unfortunately it looks like a big wind storm with colder temperatures is forecast to arrive by Saturday.  So today we thought we would go see the Hoover Dam...a “must see” on our list of thing we really to do while in the area.
(Remember...you can just click on the picture to enlarge it)
Entering tourist district of Boulder City...

The sign says "dead cows on sale"...too funny...

A huge impeller (from the Hoover Dam) in a Boulder Park...

Lake Mead created by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River is the worlds largest man made lake and is 100 miles long...

Very rugged landscape before the dam...

Security check at Hoover Dam entrance (No pets allowed...Dunkin was in his bag...some security check!)...

View of the Hoover Dam from the parkade...

The bridge that goes over the Colorado River...

...in contrast, here is a picture of the bridge being built--Suzanne took this a few years ago when she was down here for her (?) birthday... (thanks for the picture, Suzanne)...


Dunkin is in this picture...in Suzanne's shoulder bag...

That's the Visitor's Center on the left in the copper building...

That's a long way down!


Lake Mead...


Rafters on the Colorado River below the Hoover Dam...

They've done a really nice job making the Dam a tourist destination...

We left the Dam and went to the lookout area where you can walk up to the bridge...

After driving around the parking lot looking for a parking spot, Dennis ended up dropping Steve and I off so that we could hike up to the bridge...it's quite a long walkway...up...and up! 

Colorado River - Hoover Dam - Lake Mead...

Leaving the bridge...and high winds!

We stopped in Boulder City at a local Brew Pub for lunch...Cheers!

That was yummy!

Statues of Hoover Dam workers...

Once we were back home from our trip to Hoover Dam, we decided to head over to Sam’s Town Casino.  But before trying our luck at the slots, Suzanne and Dennis showed us around.




Sam's Town Courtyard...

There was a very cool water show....

...complete with howling wolf...

The wolf is at the very top...

...and other animals...

There is a walkway around the courtyard with restaurants and shops...


Now to the slots...


After a couple of hours at the casino, we went back home where Steve barbecued burgers and Suzanne made her delicous coleslaw...after dinner, we are going downtown to Fremont Street. 

The Fremont Experience..."This project blends vintage Las Vegas with high tech wonderment, live entertainment and more to create an attraction that rivals the famed Vegas Strip.  The most obvious and largest part of the Fremont Street Experience is the Viva Vision canopy and light show. The canopy towers 90 feet above the ground and spans the length of five football fields. Featuring more than 12 million LED modules and 555,000-watt sound system, the light show attracts tourists and locals alike.  The first light show debuted in 1995.  

Nearly a decade later, the Viva Vision canopy had $17 million worth of upgrades. Today, the canopy offers 10 times higher resolution, resulting in clearer, sharper pictures. In addition, it can also display 16.7 million color combinations. The display is so sharp, live video can be broadcast on what is the world's largest screen."
The area is full of people...a major party place!!  And lots of entertainment...not to mention great "people watching"!

These ladies wanted Steve to pay up for taking their picture!


This bartender decided it was dance time...

Bands playing...lots of entertainment...


Jack Nicholson with Kiss?

Transformer dude...

And then all of the casinos dimmed their lights and the light show started...to the song...American Pie by Don McLean...



Rocket taking off with the afterburn...

The show was really quite amazing...very well done!

On the way home, Dennis drove part-way down 'The Strip'...Steve took these pictures as we drove along...
 


It must have been close to 9:30 by the time we got home.  What a full...and very fun day!  So much to see!  Thanks...Dennis and Suzanne...for being our tour guides!!





1 comment:

  1. Many improvements at Hoover Dam since we were there in 2000. Oh well, guess we just have to go back!!

    Never visited Freemont Street. That Canopy is amazing.

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