Boulder City

Vegas on Two Wheels: Boulder City


After a long holiday relaxing, eating until I feel like I am about to explode, and celebrating the coming of 2016, it’s time to hit the road, lay rubber to the asphalt and rip the throttle once again! This time, it was Boulder City’s turn to hear the thunderous roar of my Harley Breakout!

This trip a great day ride and visit for sure! Take the 215 east and take the exit for the Boulder City Highway! Follow the highway right into the city!  The ride is smooth and fast paced until about a mile out from the city. The speed limit drops from 50 mph to 35 mph quickly so be ready to shift down. In total, the ride to Boulder City is a fun 40min out of the center of Las Vegas and is well worth the ride.

This was my first time getting off the bike and exploring this little town right outside the Las Vegas city limits. I normally pass right through this place on my way to the Hoover Dam or to Lake Mead. What I didn’t realize is that I only passed through the outer edge of the city. I decided to continue onto Main Street into the center of town and that when this place came to life for me!

Boulder City

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Boulder city reminds me of the little towns seen in the movies! From old 50’s diners and hotels to little quaint shops and restaurants. This place seemed to be lost in time to a decade, long forgotten. I loved riding through town but getting off the bike and footing it was the way to go. I found a spot to dismount and walked the streets. Each shop, with its own character. Antiques, homemade ice cream parlors, candy stores complete with a coin operated fortune teller!

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Boulder City

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It was Saturday afternoon around lunch, and downtown was happening! People are lining up at every restaurant for a good home-like lunch. Chit-chat, laughing, kids screaming with excitement running around. Moms, dads, children, office workers, cops, bikers, Californians, Arizonians, foreigners, all mingling with one another….everyone smiling; enjoying a moment that seemed care-free.

I love the home-town feel. Any chance I can get a whiff of it, I cherish the moment. It reminds me of where I grew up. Where you put away the cell phones and laptops, turn off the tv and video games and head outside with your friends and family where you would play football, go swimming, have a BBQ and just talk; enjoying the company of another human being and not a Facebook comment or “like”. I continued to walk through town, passing homes that looked like they were right out of a magazine and with this town melting into nature looking over Lake Mead, wildlife was everywhere!

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Boulder City was founded in 1931 as a housing community for the workers working on the Hoover Dam. The city was planned under government supervision which is extremely rare! It was made to be a model community of America. In 2009, Money magazine ranked it as the 6th best city to retire in throughout the entire country!

On top of all the shops and restaurants, Boulder City has two municipal golf courses: Boulder City Municipal Golf Course and Boulder Creek Golf Course. A city pool, racquetball complex, lit tennis courts, athletic fields, BMX bicycle track, mountain hiking trails, and it’s all only a few miles away from Lake Mead. Nevada’s first airport, Boulder City Municipal Airport is still in operation today, accommodating private planes, skydiving trips, and scenic aerial tours of Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.

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You know, this place is great for a Sunday getaway! Head into town, grab so lunch or breakfast, do some light shopping, take a ride around the Lake or maybe hit the boulder city brewery. It’s a relaxed leisure, kick up your boots and take a deep soothing breath in and let it out kinda place. Personally, I think it’s one of Vegas’s best-kept secrets!

[Photos: Greg Bennet]

See these and Greg’s complete set of Boulder City photos by using the gallery below!
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