I've clearly become one of those bloggers who end up writing about their travel experiences several months later. Had I not seen two of my friends' Hoover Dam photos on their Instagram, I wouldn't have been inspired to finally sit down and edit my own from our trip, six months ago on Labor Day weekend.
Also Read: Travel Diary: Valley of Fire State Park
When you hear "Hoover Dam," what's the first thing that comes to mind? Mine is that scene in the movie San Andreas where it collapsed due to a massive earthquake. You probably don't know this about me, but I'm terribly afraid of sink holes. Any news about tremors and what they may have caused freak me out. I mean, how can one ever be prepared for something like that?
Hoover Dam was exactly how I saw it in the movie and in photos. The famous landmark was hard to miss, but we still felt a sense of anticipation as we drove closer to the area. It was a particularly hot day, but the weather didn't stop tourists from coming to see the dam. It was too hot that people try to scramble in the shadow cast by the neighboring structures. There is even an industrial fan on the side if you need cooling down from the prickly heat.
Also Read: 7 Things You Might Not Know About the Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam was built between 1931 and 1935 by the US Bureau of Reclamation, and is named in honor of President Herbert Hoover. It was once known as the Boulder Dam. Its authorized purposes are flood control; improvement of navigation and regulation of the Colorado River; storage and delivery of Colorado River waters for reclamation of public lands and other beneficial uses exclusively within the United States; and hydroelectric power production.
Had we not been to Arizona earlier last year, we would have stood in two states at once because the Hoover Dam is situated right on the border of Nevada and Arizona. Oh, and just for fun, try to do this little water bottle trick, too!
Hoover Dam is less than an hour drive from The Strip. There is a dedicated multilevel parking structure for visitors, so parking shouldn't be much of a problem. Stop by the visitor's center to know more about the dam's history, get some refreshments at a nearby cafeteria, and bring home some goodies for families and friends from the souvenir shop. The best time to go is probably during the fall/winter season, but if you're going during the warmer months, make sure to wear something light and airy clothing to keep you cool. Of course, hydrate more, too!
Hoover DamNevada 89005
https://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/