With friend Siona in town and driving us we recently went to check out Casino
Monte Lago on Lake Las Vegas. The casino is small and very quiet. For their
club $1 in play = 1 club point on reels and $2 in VP = 1 club point. 200
points = $1 in "bonus slot play" or comps.
I asked if they have a shuttle to the strip. Answer was no.
If you are visiting Las Vegas, a nice drive can be had by heading to
Henderson, going into the Lake Meade recreation area, and visiting Hoover/Boulder Dam.
The Dam itself is about 1 hour drive from the strip if you take the most
direct route. (You can also get tours there that cost about $20 but
you have to pay extra to actually get into the Dam tour and inside the
visitors center).
Lake Meade - We found it cost $5 for a car to go into the Lake Meade
recreation area. Seniors get a discount. Disabled people (anyone who can produce a
car handicapped sign) can get in free and get a card to let them into any
National Park area free! (The whole car goes free if you are disabled!).
We drove around the lake and saw some lovely vistas, also went to the Marina
where we walked over a bridge and saw huge fish and ducks before getting to a
cafe and stores. You can also visit an "information" building which has
exhibits.
At the Dam you have to pay $5 to park at the visitors center, though there
are some free parking overlooks nearby. The best view of the dam is only from
one area off the roadway just before the Dam from Vegas - it is just a pullover
area, not a parking lot. The actual Dam Tour is required if you want to
enter the Dam visitor center - I think that costs around $14 but probably worth it
if you are going to the Dam.
Beware of massive traffic to and from the Dam on Sundays. We went on Friday
and there was zero traffic by the lake and not much at Dam.
Dam security is fairly cursory, but you can't cross Dam in trucks and maybe
not mobile homes (check to make sure).
If you take the Dam tour you can only carry a purse or small bag and only
take Water (no soda which can "stain" - though there is nothing much to "stain").
Lake Meade is down about 45 feet -fortunately it is a huge Lake. It supplies
about 95% of Vegas's water.
If you go in summer be sure to bring water/drinks/maybe ice. We packed a
very small cooler with some drinks and that was helpful. Temperatures are now
about 115-120 deg at Lake and Dam. Be sure to wear a hat.
Visiting the Lake and Dam are a better trip in cooler parts of the year, but
even in the heat of summer it was fun to go. We especially enjoyed seeing the
enormous fishies and ducks at the Marina (and Siona fed them popcorn).
When you are out there it is easy to stop at Casino Monte Lago and Hyatt
Regency casino at Lake Las Vegas which is just before the Lake. Lake Las Vegas is
very pretty.
You are also close to the Henderson Fiesta and Green Valley Ranch.
We left Vegas about 12 noon, drove all around the Lake, drove over the DAm
but did not take the tour, stopped at Casino Monte Lago for a little play, made
several stops on scenic overlooks, stopped at the Marina, and ended up at
Green Valley Ranch for dinner about 6pm.
The closest casino to the Dam is the Hacienda which advertises some good 24
hour food specials, like $1.99 bacon and eggs.
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