By Casey Holley
Taking a vacation to the Hoover Dam enables parents and children to have fun and relax while learning about a great engineering feat. Lessons on science, hydrodynamics, the food chain and energy can all be incorporated into the trip. There are activities at the Hoover Dam and in the surrounding area, including ground and aerial tours, that will appeal to visitors of any age.
Hoover Dam Museum
The Hoover Dam Museum offers 3-D, fully interactive exhibits that showcase the rich history of the Hoover Dam. Children will delight in the hand-on activities, including actual sound recordings of the building of the dam. Older children can learn about the history of ghosts at the dam, while younger kids can compare their way of living to the children whose parents worked at the dam. The museum is open seven days a week; however, it is closed on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Easter and New Year's Day.
Hoover Dam Museum
1305 Arizona Street
Boulder City, NV 89006-0516
(702) 294-1988
http://www.bcmha.org/index.html
Ground Tours
Children can explore the dam with you as their guide or you can sign up for ground tours of the dam at the Hoover Dam Tour Center. If you opt to visit the Hoover Dam Tour Center, stop by the memorial for the mascot, a dog, of the dam builders. For families with children under 8 years old, the Power Plant Tour is the only tour available. This tour focuses on the awesome power of the dam. You will walk across the top of Hoover Dam, check out the 17 generators that weigh in at 4 million pounds each and visit the Hoover Dam Visitor Center. If your children are all 8 or older, you can participate in the Dam Tour, which is a comprehensive tour of the dam that features detailed narratives throughout the tour.
Hoover Dam Tour Center
US Hwy 93
P.O. Box 61470
Boulder City, NV 89006-1470
(702) 494-2517
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/
Aerial Tours
Take your child on an aerial tour of the Hoover Dam so she can appreciate the power and size of the dam. Helicopter tours and airplane tours are available. Dam Helicopter Co. offers only helicopter tours, while Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopter offers helicopter and airplane tours. While no reservations are necessary at either, they are highly recommended, especially during the busy summer months.
Dam Helicopter Co.
Hacienda Hotel & Casino
18000 US Hwy 93
Boulder City, NV 89005
(702) 294-2200
http://www.damhelicopterco.com/#home
Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopter
3900 Paradise Road, Suite 185
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 736-7243
http://www.papillon.com/popris/show_categories.aspx?category_id=30&lang=en-US
Lake Mead National Recreation Center
The Lake Mead National Recreation Center is adjacent to the Hoover Dam. You can see the power of the Hoover Dam in Lake Mead. This national park features kayaking, camping, biking, fishing, hiking and swimming. Children and parents alike will enjoy relaxing here after a day of touring the Hoover Dam.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89006
(702) 293-8906
http://www.nps.gov/lame
Resources
About the Author:
Casey Holley is a medical writer who began working in the health and fitness industries in 1995, while still in high school. She has worked as a nutrition consultant and has written numerous health and wellness articles for various online publications. She has also served in the Navy and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in health administration from the University of Phoenix.
