My wife and I signed up for the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Ethel-M Chocolate Factory Tour before we left for Las Vegas. I shopped around several websites for the same tour searching for the best price. The day of the tour they picked us up outside of our hotel (The Orleans) and shuttled us north to their central bussing area where people got on their specific tours (some went flying, etc.) Our tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable about the surrounding area. He was funny and kept us entertained while traveling to our destinations, his main feature was showing us a lot of current/previous houses of superstars such as Tiger Woods, Sly Stallone, Arnold S, previous Elvis, previous rat packers etc.

The first stop on the tour was the Ethel-M Chocolate Factory which included a very short tour in their facility followed by a chocolate sample (which was great), after declining to buy the outrageously priced chocolates we went outside to walk along the cactus gardens they have.

Next stop was the main attraction, Hoover Dam. We drove across the Arizona border and saw the pill box above the dam (4 were built in WWII). Entering the dam they take your picture with a dam background and inside you can pay for the guided tour. It started off with a movie about the dam and then you go down to where you can see the turbines. They then take you to the top of the visitor area and they give the last speech. After that we were free to walk across the dam but we chose to listen to a talk about the history of the river, the reasons for the dam, and other dams on the river. We ended up buying the pictures which came out well.

The final stop was an overlook of Lake Mead where we took pictures, followed by a buffet at the nearest casino. It was a so-so buffet, but considering it was included in the cost of the tour I can’t complain. Finally the bus drops everyone off at their hotel, luckily for us the Orleans was first.

This tour was great for tourists who want to see the dam and want to hear history of the city. It took away the hassle of trying to get directions myself and enjoy seeing the city from the outside.

My wife and I signed up for the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Ethel-M Chocolate Factory Tour before we left for Las Vegas. I shopped around several websites for the same tour searching for the best price. The day of the tour they picked us up outside of our hotel (The Orleans) and shuttled us north to their central bussing area where people got on their specific tours (some went flying, etc.) Our tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable about the surrounding area. He was funny and kept us entertained while traveling to our destinations, his main feature was showing us a lot of current/previous houses of superstars such as Tiger Woods, Sly Stallone, Arnold S, previous Elvis, previous rat packers etc.

The first stop on the tour was the Ethel-M Chocolate Factory which included a very short tour in their facility followed by a chocolate sample (which was great), after declining to buy the outrageously priced chocolates we went outside to walk along the cactus gardens they have.

Next stop was the main attraction, Hoover Dam. We drove across the Arizona border and saw the pill box above the dam (4 were built in WWII). Entering the dam they take your picture with a dam background and inside you can pay for the guided tour. It started off with a movie about the dam and then you go down to where you can see the turbines. They then take you to the top of the visitor area and they give the last speech. After that we were free to walk across the dam but we chose to listen to a talk about the history of the river, the reasons for the dam, and other dams on the river. We ended up buying the pictures which came out well.

The final stop was an overlook of Lake Mead where we took pictures, followed by a buffet at the nearest casino. It was a so-so buffet, but considering it was included in the cost of the tour I can’t complain. Finally the bus drops everyone off at their hotel, luckily for us the Orleans was first.

This tour was great for tourists who want to see the dam and want to hear history of the city. It took away the hassle of trying to get directions myself and enjoy seeing the city from the outside.