Find the Best Things to Do in Boulder City
By Terrisa Meeks
Las Vegas Local Expert
About Boulder City
Boulder City is everything Las Vegas is not: it's a small town with controlled growth and no gaming. Its downtown historic district is a delightful blend of original 1930s architecture and the more modern stores and restaurants housed within those buildings. Located close to Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Hoover Dam, Boulder City gives visitors a look at a totally different side of Southern Nevada.
See & Do
When Hoover Dam was built, it was rightfully lauded as an engineering wonder. Decades later, this mammoth structure is a major tourist attraction. The 726-foot-high concrete dam not only created America's largest reservoir (Lake Mead), it also harnessed the Colorado Riverto run the power generators located deep inside the dam. Tours take visitors into the dam, but no tour is necessary to walk around the exterior of this impressive historical structure.
Eat
Located in Downtown Boulder City, right in the heart of the Historic District, the World Famous Coffee Cup earned distinction after it was featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives." The restaurant prides itself on home-made, home-style cooking. Look for tasty dishes like meatloaf, roast beef, and chili. This is a diner with a small-town feel, which is a spot-on match for its location in Boulder City.
Stay
The Boulder Dam Hotel was built back when Hoover Dam was still Boulder Dam, which gives you an idea about how old it is. The hotel opened in 1933 and has been in operation ever since. It's recognized as a Historical Place and has a museum onsite as well as a restaurant, a combination worthy of this venerable building. Affordable older rooms give guests options of double, king, queen, or suite. Breakfast is included with the room.
Shop
Along Nevada Way in downtown Boulder City's Historic District, you can easily spend an afternoon wandering through galleries and shops featuring one-of-a-kind items. You'll find an abundance of antiques, art of all kinds, quirky souvenirs, and collectibles. Even if you wind up doing nothing but window shopping, taking a stroll through this officially designated Historic District is fun.