Ethel M's Chocolates and Cactus Garden
- BurliBear
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 9
- Reviews
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16
- Photos
Editor Pick
Chocolate & Catcus Just Outside the Strip
- October 12, 2009
- Rated 3 of 5 by
airynfaerie from St. Augustine, Florida
For a quick trip in the day during a stay in Las Vegas, visitors can hop over to the neighboring town of Henderson for a look inside a chocolate factory and botanical cactus garden. I know that these two things sound very unrelated, but at the Ethel M factories, both exist simultaneously.
Easy to reach, and relatively free of crowds, this small chocolate factory is a pleasing getaway, located only 15 minutes away from the lively casino Strip in the heart of Vegas. For chocolate lovers, not only is it interesting to see the production of several favorite candies being made in front of you, but the gift shop is sure to be a favorite, as is the free samples given out during the small tour.
Over 55,000 gallons of chocolate are held in the large vats in the factory at any one time and watching the extensive preparation of a single piece of candy is both interesting and mouth-watering. Enjoy fondues and hot/cold chocolate drinks at the cafe, or just buy a box of truffles and finish them off before even thinking about taking them home (although chilled boxes are available for transport in the infamous Nevada heat).
Don't expect too much on this small jaunt outside the city, but if you're needing a break from the neon lights, this tour is worth it, especially as it extends into the outdoor garden which is full of dozens of varieties of cactus. I didn't even know so many varieties existed before my visit, but it was an educational and peaceful experience to walk through the lovely manicured gardens. Extending over 3 acres, and housing more than 300 types of cactus, the garden is a treat for nature lovers.
Oh, and did I mention that this entire visit is free of charge!
• http://www.ethelschocolate.com/
• Open daily, 8:30am - 6pm. (live chocolate production generally Mon - Fri 8:30am - 3:30pm)
• Admission is free
• 10 miles southeast of The Strip
• 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson, NV 8919
Ethel M's
- August 29, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Trishokel from Las Vegas, Nevada
I've been here twice and both times, I was not disappointed. The first time my friend from out of State came, was a day when the demonstrations of how the chocolate is made was not going on, but that did not damper our enthusiasm. Once you get into the candy shoppe, there was a lady there handing out samples and it's just a very relaxing and happy place. No pressure to get in and get out. They also packed our candy in ice as we were not going directly home. This was a great experience and I will be going back on Monday!
Very Good Chocolates
- February 16, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Louise J. Valley from Manchester , Connecticut
Beautiful gardens
I would recommend this place to everyone. My husband and I enjoyed the tour of the Ethel M's Chocolates and Cactus Garden A matter of fact while I'm typing this email to you's all, I am eating one of your chocolate bars called Moncha Cappuccino which is very good and tasting We will be back next year Question: Can i buy chocolates on line from Ethel M's Chocolate My email address is:
scrap54@cox.net
Thank you so much for everything
Louise & Roland Valley
From the state of CT.
Ethal M Chocolate Factory Tour and Garden
- December 4, 2006
- Rated 3 of 5 by
catronma from Nixa, Missouri
An interesting tour going through the making of the chocolates, with a free one at the end, not to mention the ability to create your own custom box of chocolate, great for a gift. The cactus garden is also interesting, more so for those who have never been out west to see cacti up close.
From journal Las Vegas 04
Editor Pick
Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Garden
A small marvel is located in nearby Henderson at Sunset Way and Mountain Vista. The Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden is well worth the visit. Named for the mother of the founder of the Mars Candy Company, Ethel M’s is a local favorite. Bypass the entryway gift shop, and go directly to the factory viewing windows. We have been here twice and have only been able to see the crew cleaning up and shutting down the production line. Descriptions and photos are displayed below the windows to the workrooms so you can get an idea of what goes on here during working hours. Don’t feel bad if you miss it, they still give you free samples before turning you into the showroom. Boxes of wonderful chocolates are stacked up, just waiting for you to make up your mind. Each box includes instructions on how to freeze you chocolates to help preserve their freshness. Once open it is recommended that the chocolates be consumed within 2 weeks. Trust me this has never been a problem.
Surprisingly, chocolate is only part of the reason I recommend visiting Ethel M’s. In the side yard is one of the world’s largest collections of drought-tolerant plants in a naturalistic setting. Pathways wind through the collection of over 350 species of cacti.
But wait, there’s more! To the back of the property is the water treatment plant. Rather than hiding it, Ethel M’s made it a science lesson. The water from the factory is transformed from a cloudy nearly black liquid through several holding tanks and comes out crystal clear. Each tank treated the water in a different way such as gravel filters, duck weed, etc. The clean water was then used to water the garden.
The tour of factory, garden, and water treatment plant are free…unless you stock up on boxes of chocolates.
From journal Nothing Vague about Vegas