Spring Break in Las Vegas

All HGVC properties offer much more than a regular hotel room. Our HGVC Flamingo 1BR had a king bed, round jetted tub with contoured seats, stacked washer/dryer, full kitchen with dishwasher & refrigerator, 27" TV with DVD player, and wireless Internet access. The room seemed a bit dated, but only in comparison with other, newer HGVC resorts. The paint was fresh in a nice south Florida theme, the carpet seemed new, the furniture was late '90s. The kitchen was one of the largest we've had. The proximity to the Las Vegas strip made our decision to stay here easy: Ballys, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Mirage, Treasure Bay—all within walking distance.

HGVC gave us free buffet tickets for sitting through their buyer's presentation. We arrived at 8pm on a Thursday, and the line was very short. You place your alcohol order when you pay. After being shown to our table and giving our drink order, the buffet was open! Mounds of crab legs and shrimp underscored the theme here: seafood is king. Salmon, yellowtail tuna, scallops, clam steamers, mussels, and sushi rolls all vied for a place on our plates. Not to be outdone, the other selections were quite tasty: pasta with meatballs, turkey carving station, sautéed potatos, harticot verts, marinated mushrooms, full salad bar with a dozen dressings, and minestrone soup. Finally, the dessert bar, complete with ice cream sundae station, puff pastries, and a crepe making chef with all the fixings. We left highly full and highly satisfied.

We made the 40-minute drive from Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam and parked in their visitor center for $7. The Discovery tour is $11 per person, with discounts for children, seniors, and military. The tour begins with a short movie containing historical footage, then you're loaded onto the elevators (about 30-40 people packed in, so if you don't like crowded elevators, this may not be for you). Then you descend 500 feet (170 meters) into the depths of the dam, to view the generator room and water transfer tunnels. The terrazzo floor is 3 inches (8cm) thick, and decorated with Native American symbols for power. The tour guides are interesting and knowledgeable. Finally, the tour brings you back to the surface and the interpretive center. You are then free to explore other parts of the Hoover Dam experience, such as the memorial to those who died during construction, the plaza with winged statues and model of the night sky on dedication day, or the top of the dam itself. The entire experience was a treat, and unexpectedly well worth the effort. One of the truly cool places we've been.