Your initial taste of Boulder City history begins with the Nevada State Railway Museum, which is open until 03:30 p.m. each day. The site was once the Union Pacific railroad branch that brought supplies to workers building the Hoover Dam. Now it's home to a small collection of vintage locomotives that are free to explore daily with rides available during the weekend.
Check out a pair of elaborate model railroad exhibits inside one of the passenger cars and pay a visit to the neighboring Rail Explorers for self-pedaling tours of the historic train tracks.

Park your car in front of the Boulder Dam Hotel, and take a look at what downtown Boulder City is all about. The hotel itself, which dates back to 1935, is a well-preserved slice of history with a free Hoover Dam Museum walk-through exhibit in the lobby and Cleveland's Lounge, a downstairs speakeasy for cocktails.
The area is surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants. Order a burger at The Dillinger, redesigned from a historic bank with the original vault now used as a storage room. Bicentennial Park, which hosts occasional weekend events, is just steps away.

Hemenway Park is an unexpected but charming detour. At first glance, the small community park, located on the edge of a quiet residential area, is rather standard, with picnic areas, a playground, and basketball courts. However, it's famous for attracting bighorn sheep from the nearby foothills.
The animals roam the grounds to graze on grass. Snap as many photos as you like, but don't disturb or confront the mountain sheep. Be respectful. As long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you. The sweeping hillside views of Lake Mead are a nice bonus. It's best to keep your visit to daylight hours.

This is what Boulder City is all about. The Hoover Dam, completed in 1936 after five years of construction, not only created Lake Mead, but also helped shape the modern economy and development of southern Nevada.
Guests can take guided tours of the dam and power plant while walking through the original construction tunnels. The best photos are usually taken at the Visitor's Center, which has 360-degree views of the landmark, built of more than 4.4 million cubic yards of concrete and easily one of the most recognizable images in Nevada.
Learn more about prices for tours online.

Be ready to pay an entrance fee while driving through the gates of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area; the federally protected lands that surround Nevada's largest body of water.
Lake Mead was created when the Hoover Dam was constructed, and you can soak in its scope and majesty with a visit to Boulder Beach, where boating and fishing are popular activities. Board a vintage paddle boat with Lake Mead Cruises to travel across the water and enjoy an up-close view of the dam.

After driving through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, exit through the north gate onto Lake Mead Highway and head to Lake Las Vegas, an affluent community of homes, hotels, shops, and restaurants.
Most of the action is in The Village, where you can enjoy Mexican food at Sonrisa Grill, French pastries at Le Cafe du Lac, or cocktails at The Speakeasy lounge.
A grassy hill overlooks the water and hosts occasional live entertainment, but the best way to enjoy the lake is with a sunset cruise on board La Contessa. Guests also enjoy paddleboarding and bouncing around on an inflatable water park.