Located on the ground floor of the Hilton Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is Star Trek: The Experience. This is an attraction that people who aren’t fans of any of the Star Trek television shows might dismiss and pass by. This would be a mistake, however, as the museum and the rides are fun for even those who don’t know the difference between a Klingon and a Romulan.

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Construction on the dam began in 1931and was completed in 1936. The dam was responsible for the creation of Lake Mead. It continues to be a popular attraction, with more than 7 million tourists visit the dam every year.

Visiting the Dam

You can take a tour around and inside the dam to get up close and personal with one of the seven manmade wonders of the world. You will be amazed at the technology and engineering that went into creating this structure, especially when you see the size of Lake Mead and just how much water all that concrete is really holding back! The views from the top of the wall are amazing as well, and make for great photo opportunities.

Something else that might interest some visitors to the Hoover Dam is finding out just how many different films have been shot there, including Transformers, Vegas Vacation, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Visiting Lake Mead

Besides just visiting the dam, many people will also find that Lake Mead has a lot to offer. It is the second largest manmade reservoir lake in the United States and brings millions of visitors to the area every year.

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which also includes Lake Mojave (just south of Lake Mead) is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Because the lake is so large, there are several campgrounds and marinas round its borders, on both the Nevada and the Arizona side.

The lake offers plenty of opportunities for people to have a good time on the water, from those with a houseboat out to cruise the waters to swimmers, sunbathers, water skiers, and boaters. Fishermen love the lake as well, and can fish from the shore or from a boat for a variety of different fish species. It is an angler’s paradise.

The area also offers plenty of hiking trails of different levels of difficulty, and great opportunities to see wildlife such as bobcats, fox, Gila monsters, and mule deer.

Both the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead provide a nice getaway for the family, whether you decide to camp at one of the local campgrounds or just visit for a day from Las Vegas.

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While many believe Las Vegas is beginning to veer away from the family friendly atmosphere that it touted a decade ago, there is still plenty of family friendly fun to be had, and it isn’t hard to find. One of the most popular attractions in the city that both the kids and adults can enjoy is the Adventuredome at Circus Circus. At over five acres, it is the world’s largest indoor theme park, which is a nice treat on those hot summer days.

There is plenty to see and do at the Adventuredome, with rides for people of all ages. Some of the more intense thrill rides include the Rim Runner, a water ride that drops you off a 60ft waterfall, and the Canyon Blaster, the world’s only indoor double loop, double corkscrew rollercoaster. You can also engage your friends and family in a friendly game of Lazer Blast and fire at one another with harmless laser blasters.

 Not everything in the park is so fast and full of adrenalin inducing thrills, however. The park also has some of the best 4D rides in the nation, including taking a dive to Bikini Bottom with Spongebob Squarepants, and taking off into outer space with Marvin the Martian.

 There are rides for the smaller kids as well, including Frog Hopper, Thunderbirds, and the Circus Carousel.

 Besides the rides, you can play 18 holes of miniature golf at Pike’s Pass, or try out rock climbing and bungee jumping. You can even try mini-bowling at Highway 66, which is an expereicen that is unlike anything you’ve ever tried. You’ll also find a full arcade as well as the greatest midway games that you probably remember from visiting carnivals and fairs as a child, where you can win great prizes.

 After a full day at the park, you can head into the casino and maybe grab a bite to eat at the buffet. Catch a show or spend some time on the casino floor, and then head out to take in all the other sights and sounds that Las Vegas has to offer. It’s a nice way to spend the day, especially during the heat of summer.

 No matter the age of you or the members of your family, you’re going to find something fun to do while at the Adventuredome, from mini golf to speeding around a corkscrew on the rollercoaster and everything in between.

Unique Attractions in Las Vegas

 When most people think of Las Vegas, or Sin City as it is commonly known, images of gambling and the flashing lights of the casino floor enter their mind. You can find other things to do in Vegas, however, things that won’t get you into trouble and that won’t break the bank. The following are some of the most popular things to do and see while in the city.

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This casino offers you both the newest slot machines and the old ones you enjoy.  There are 203 machines for you to pick from.  Enjoy the reel slots and the video machines that seem to have captured the attention of many.  There are machines from $ .01 to $1.00.

Of course there is Blackjack, Craps, three card poker for everyone to play.  Stockmen's Casino has something for everyone that enjoys gambling.  If you prefer slots or the table games, you will find a full selection of your favorite games at the Stockmen’s Casino.

There is a hotel for your comfort consisting of 141 rooms.  There is a pool and courtyard for you to enjoy when you aren’t at the casino.

Elko was first inhabited in 1868.  As of 2000 there were 20,732 people living in Elko, which makes a wonderful size community to spend some time and not have to fight the crowds of the bigger cities.  It does get cold in Elko in the winter; January averages 37.5 degrees F. with July averaging 89.6 degrees F.  Not too cold in the winter and not too hot in the summer, a great place to go for a get-a-way.

Location: 340 Commercial St., Elko Nevada 89801

Phone: 775-736-5141 or 1-800-648-2345

Red Garter Hotel & Casino - W. Wendover, Nevada

Enjoy a variety of specialty dishes in the lovely Garden Court Restaurant. Open 24 hours, don't forget to find about the "Red Garter Lady"! This is also the home of the $1.99 Ham & Egg Breakfast.  They also have newly renovated, these are rooms to fit your style and budget.

Located in Wendover, Nevada along I-80, this Hotel and 24 Hour Casino features a large gaming floor with tables, slots and video poker machines, Sports Bar, a 24 Hour Restaurant, and Bus Tours with Group Packages, Convention Rooms, Wedding Packages or Getaway Packages.

If you are looking for Old West fun at a casino this is the one you want to visit.

Location: 1225 W Wendover Blvd, West Wendover, NV 89883

Phone: (775) 664-2111

Terrible’s Casino in Sparks offers you an expanded slot area, gaming tables, restaurants and entertainment.

Terrible's Rail City Casino now offers "Texas Hold'em Poker" for both the experienced and novice player alike. The casino may not be the biggest in the area but the friendly staff, the comfortable environment will make you glad you chose to come here.

Buffets: B/L-$5.95 (Mon-Fri) D-$6.95/$9.95 (Fri)

Casino Size: 18,120 Square Feet

Games Offered: Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack,

                        Sports Book, Race Book, Keno,

                        Poker

Overnight RV Parking: No

Senior Discount: 20% off buffet if 50 or older

Location: 2121 Victorian Avenue, arks, Nevada 89431

Phone: (775) 359-9440

The only non-smoking casino in Tahoe they claim to have the best paying video poker  too (but you will have to be the judge of that.)  The claim is “Lake Tahoe's most favorable pay tables in video poker a player could actually exceed 100% payback on many of our video poker machines.”

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Mackay

Gold and silver from this area of the states mining enterprises passed through the vaults of this mansion.  It assisted in the funding of the Union army during the Civil War, built downtown San Francisco, took Germany off the Silver Standard and led to the formation of International telephone and Telegraph along with a number of other financial empires.

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