The Hoover Dam

If you are in the vicinity of Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon, take a day to tour the Hoover Dam.  It is located just off US Route 93 on the state line of Nevada and Arizona.  The parking and entrance for the Dam Tours is located on the Nevada side, and each side has an exit from US Rt 93.  From Arizona, there is a small parking area just off the dam, and yes you can still drive across the dam.  From Nevada, there are a couple parking areas.  There is a bridge access area to the new by-pass bridge named for the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.  You can walk across the bridge and stop on the Arizona/Nevada sign for pictures. 

Route 93 Bridge

To enter both areas you must pass through a check point.  Yes you have to stop for security, this was set up because of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.  BTW this is also the reason that the by-pass bridge.  Parking at the garage will set you back $10.00, but that is for all day.  There is small cafe with fresh food, drinks and ice cream, a cute gift shop and some incredible views of the dam.

The Dam

The Damn

A climber/Rigger

Pipe going up mountain

Take the escalator to the main exhibit area, you will have to pass through a metal detector, so empty your pockets on the escalator.  Water is the only beverage allowed inside, so drink quickly also.  There are a couple tours to choose from:  The Dam Tour - $30.00; and Powerplant Tour - $15.00; both tours include the $10.00 entrance fee for the visitor center.  If you want a great experience take the big tour. 

There are a couple great exhibit areas inside the visitor center,

Cross section of river bed

Model of Building Dam

Water Turbine

Mural of dam construction

along with a deck to get closer views of the dam.

The Bridge from deck

The Powerplant from deck

Water release valves from deck

Powerplant from deck

The Colorado from deck

Once you start your tour, the first stop is the PowerPlant.  This is so cool, it shows how the river was blocked off, diverted, then reopened flowing through the powerplant to create power to feed the entire southwest area of the United State.

How the powerplant works

intake tube

walkway

the powerplant

water turbines

After this portion of the tour is over, those that just took the PP Tour return to the visitor center, those who took the Dam Tour get to go into the bowels of the dam.  You even get to see the large staircase that runs the depth of the dam, look out a vent on the face of the dam, and ride an elevator to the top of the dam. 

a grate in the floor of the dam

a speedbump in the dam???

view of bridge from inside the dam

walkway

emergency staircase up version

emergency staircase down version

Watch out for the cracks, though, you will find writing that will explain when they were inspected and by whom.

Crack marking

Crack marking

After the tour, you are brought up to the top of the dam.  Again the views are awesome.  Take time to walk over to Arizona (during the winter you are actually in two different time zones). 

me in Nevada while Darrell in Arizona took my picture

the state line.  I am standing on in.

time in Arizona, it was only 3:30 in Nevada when I took this picture

The ring around the lake represents the level the lake has dropped in the last few years. 

Lake Mead.  Calcium line shows drop in water level

Lake Mead.  Calcium line shows drop in water level

Arizona Intake tube.

There is a great model that shows the flow of the Colorado and how the Dams along the river have helped prevent serious flooding and created a divergent power system.

the model

outside memorial area to those that died

outside memorial area to those that died

outside memorial area to those that died

There is also a plaque for the Dam Mascot, who was unfortunately run over by a truck. 

The mascot memorial

This is a great place to bring children for a tour, or even for just curious adults.  For more information check out the Bureau of Reclamation page on the Hoover Dam, it is full of all the tour information, direction on how to get there and some background information:  http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

I hope you enjoy your trip, I know I did.  Until next time when I will dig into the Women's Rights National Historic Park located in Seneca Falls, NY, safe travels, enjoy life and get you bucket list checked off.

Fort Stanwix and the Erie Canalway

In June of 2012, Lori P and I went to Fort Stanwix.  We were heading to Syracuse for a meeting and decided to do a little NPS Touring while we were there.  This is also the location where I adopted Buddy.

Lori P with Buddy

Taking pictures with Buddy at the Marquee signs became a thing. OK onto the trip.  If you are not familiar with Fort Stanwix, like I wasn't, it was built during the French and Indian war by a British General Stanwix for the purpose of protecting the Oneida Carrying Place.  Located in Rome, NY it is just a short drive from Syracuse (about an hour).  The Fort itself is located right in the town of Rome.  Not hard to miss.

The Battle of Fort Stanwix occurred between August 3 and 23, 1777.  It was the forerunning battle to the Saratoga, and an important contributor to the turning point of the American Revolution.  The star design of the fort is very familiar to anyone that visits historical forts (e.i. Fort Niagara, Fort Eriez, Fort McHenry and ever the Castillo de san Marcos).

The outside of the Fort

Lori P with some furs (traded regularly during life of fort)

Fort Barracks

There is a little museum attached to the fort at the visitors center, the walk to the fort is around the outside.  Once inside you can tour many of the older buildings, there is a film about the fort in one of the building.  You can also climb up on one of the cannon parapets. 

If you are going to be driving in the Upstate New York area, visit the many stops along the way on the Erie Canal Way.   The original canal started near current day Waterford on the Hudson River and travels from East to West until the Western Terminus at Buffalo, NY.  There are several spots along the way to stop and take pictures of the locks.  Canastota and Chittenango, NY are canal towns, where there is quite a lot to see.  Rochester, NY and Lockport,NY also have many places to stop to get information.  You can also tour the canal by boat.

For more information on Fort Stanwix visit the NPS webpage for the fort:  http://www.nps.gov/fost/index.htm.  You can also visit the Rome, NY area http://www.oneidacountytourism.com/ for more information.

For information on the Erie Canal:  http://www.nps.gov/erie/index.htm and the Erie Canal's website has information on boating the canal and taking boat tours:  http://www.eriecanal.org/.  This site also gives great information on the construction of the canal.

I forgot to give the website links for my last blog post so here they are:
Las Vegas:  http://www.vegas.com/
Valley of Fire State Park:  http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park/
Lake Mead National Recreation Area:  http://www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm

Well next week I will write about our time at the Hoover Dam.  Not a National Park, but a national treasure worthy of its own post.  Until next time, safe travels, enjoy life and get you bucket list checked off.

Vegas, Fire and a Lake

So when I started this blog, I said that I was going to intermingle my past adventures with some new one.  Well I just returned from a long weekend with Buddy the Bison and Lori P in Las Vegas, Nevada.  We did way more than just Vegas, as a matter of fact, we put close to a thousand miles on the car we rented.  I am not going to try to put it all in one blog entry.  So I am going to tell you about what we saw in Vegas, the Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead Recreational Area.

The Iconic Vegas Welcome Sign

Neither Lori P or I are big gamblers.  So does one do in Vegas, when you don't gamble, can't afford the price of shows, but love touring?  We made a list of things we each wanted to see in Vegas that was dirt cheap, all of them were free.  The Vegas sign is located just south of the Mandalay Bay resort, in the middle of a boulevard.  There is ample parking, and they have added a pitcher's mound and AstroTurf for all those that want to get their picture taken. 

The fountains at the Bellagio are also free, just find a parking spot at the Bellagio's ramp, walk either out front or just stand on the walkway to the Strip.  It is choreographed to music and goes off every half hour or so.  Walking around the inside of the Bellagio is a treat also.  They have an awesome ceiling in the reception area, and a mirrored horse.

Silver and Gold Horse from Bellagio

After watching the fountains, we headed too the Fremont Street Experience.  Again, there is ample parking for an inexpensive rate.  Fremont street was pretty dead while we were there, I am certain it is hopping during the summer, but one can get a drink every couple steps, and there are several casinos in the area.  If you have money to burn, check out the Neon Boneyard.  This is where old Vegas Neon signs go to die.  The night tour is $25.00, looked interesting, but we were on a budget and decided against it.  Next time though, I am touring.

 We stayed at Texas Station, a cute off the Strip resort, that is connected to several resorts in the area (all ending in Station), the rooms were being renovated, but the food and drinks were awesome.  The staff was very friendly, and their is a Starbucks on site if you are addicted like we are (I drink any kind of Coffee and Lori P is an Iced Chai Tea addict). 

The next day we got up early, found a casino on the way with a great breakfast bar (Lucy's Bar and Grill), then off to the Valley of Fire State Park.  Located next to the Lake Mead National Recreational Park, Valley of Fire shows off some of Nevada's Red Rock, in the most spectacular way.  There is a $10.00 fee per car load, which is good for 7 days in the park.  The Ranger's are super nice and the Visitor Center has a great display.  There are hiking trails if you are an outdoor person, but heed all warnings, cell service is very intermittent.

Red Rock in Valley of Fire

The Cabins in Valley of Fire

Animal Tracks in the Red Sand in Valley of Fire

More Red Rock, Valley of Fire

Desert with Red Rock, Valley of Fire

After spending a couple hours in the Valley, we drove a couple yards and entered the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.  There is a small fee for here also.  $10.00 per car for 7 days.  This area is huge, and well worth the trip.  During the summer, the bay areas and resorts are packed to the brim, while we were there, most everything was buttoned up for the winter.  We entered at the North gate and a couple miles down was a stop for Roger's Spring.  This is totally awesome.  An underground spring that runs through the mountains comes up at this point, full of fish, and warm water.

The drive was incredible.  Between the water views and mountain views, it was breathtaking.  There are plenty areas to hike, but again, the cell service is very poor.  The drive around the lake takes you between the Black Mountains and the Muddy Mountains, with various areas for stopping and looking, or roads down to the lake.  The Bible Visitor Center is located just a couple miles from Hoover Dam off Route 93, with a movie, gift shop and displays.  There is also a fabulous view of the lake and the mountains from there.  Take your time in the park, stop and tour, you will not be disappointed.

Part of the Muddy Mountains, Lake Mead NRA

Boat Launch at Echo Bay, Lake Mead NRA

Buddy with the Welcome sign (he is the small brown thing under the IO)

Lake Mead, NRA

View from Bible Visitor Center, Lake Mead, NRA

Rogers Springs, Lake Mead, NRA

Coming soon to a blog near you, Fort Stanwix in Rome, NY, the Erie Canal, and the Hoover Dam.  But until then, safe travels, enjoy life and get you bucket list checked off.