Boulder City Chamber of Commerce

Travel Nevada Blog

  • Home
    • 2018-2019 Tax Return Report
  • Chamber
    • About Us
    • Message from CEO
    • Board of Directors
    • BCCC Project Tracker
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Boulder City Chamber Foundation
    • Affiliate Programs >
      • BC Lic Plate
      • Prescription Plan
    • Sponsorship
    • Chamber Store
    • Mobile App
  • Visit Area
    • Lower Co River Water Trail
    • Walking Tours >
      • Art Mural Walking Tour
      • Historic Walking Tour
      • Self Guided Audio Tour
      • Boulder City Murals Information
    • BC Weekend Nightlife
    • Local Attractions
    • Elevator Ride
    • BC Digital Listing
    • Historic Preservation
    • NCOT Photos 2018
    • O’Callaghan-Tillman Bridge
    • Travel Nevada
    • Plan Your Day
  • Relocation
    • 2020 Relocation Guide
    • Clean Green Boulder City
    • Demographics
    • Economic Development >
      • Setting Boulder City's Economic Table
      • GEOD
      • Tools for Business
    • Education
    • Community Links
    • BC License Plate!
  • News & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Local's on 8 News Now
    • 2020 Best Dam Wine Walk
    • The Big Clean
    • 2019 PARADE WINNERS
    • Press Releases
    • Newsletters
    • Sign up for E-newsletters
  • Online Store
  • Business Directory
  • Community
    • Local's Love - Deals in BC
    • Tourism & Relocation
    • Watch More - Chamber YouTube Channel
    • Job Board
    • Volunteers Needed
    • BC Parkway Concept
    • Chamber Photo Gallery
  • Membership
    • Investors Only
    • Join the Chamber
    • We Can Help You
  • Sign In

7/29/2015

Mountain Biking

1 Comment

Read Now
 

WHEELS TAKING FLIGHT - MOUNTAIN BIKING IN BOULDER CITY, NEVADA

This story produced in partnership with TravelNevada   

Picture
I forgot that I could fly. It happens to all of us, but as I soared above the dusty trail at Bootleg Canyon, I remembered. We had come out to Boulder City—a short trip from Las Vegas—to find a different kind of excitement. My friend, Oscar, had been trying to talk me into testing my mettle at the world-renowned mountain biking park near Lake Mead for months and I finally had the time to give in.

Right from the start of the ride, I realized Bootleg Canyon was more closely related to a roller coaster than to a bike path. Even the environment hinted that I was in for something new: the colors of the earth and plants were subtler than the ones back home. The browns and greens were soft and worn, like sun-bleached fabric. The sky above was aggressively blue. The contrast hinted at a world not completely tamed, but I told myself I wasn’t there for the scenery. I asked Oscar if he really thought we’d have more fun here than on the Vegas strip, and he just grinned, like he knew something I didn’t. It reminded me of when we were kids and he’d learned to ride his two-wheeler before I did. One look conveyed superiority, mischief and genuine excitement for me to get up to speed.

Launching off
Since I knew that look meant no more information would be forthcoming, I strapped on my helmet and climbed onto my bike. The start of the ride takes you over wooden slats that bring to mind a gun-slinging outlaw’s Old West or a playground seesaw. The wooden bridge starts out flat, and then hinges down into a ramp that spits you onto the trail, but as the ride picks up speed, you realize this is far from child’s play.

The hard-packed earth weaves through desert brush in a way that makes the most of the terrain. It winds like a snake between short sage-colored bushes, and then narrows to a crevice as it makes its way around a rocky outcropping. I take the first jump before I even realize it’s coming, and there I am: flying through the air on my bike. I brace for the impact with the ground, but I hit the earth the same way I hit the jump—without missing a beat. The shocks on my bike absorb the landing, and I start pedaling, chewing through the welcoming dust. Once I’m soaring down the path again, chasing Oscar and shouting laughter, I realize that I haven’t felt this kind of exhilaration since we were kids.

Riding with abandon
Riding Bootleg Canyon gave me the same feeling of wild freedom that I had the first time I took off on my bike without asking permission or knowing where I was going. At eight years old, it had just been me and Oscar and the open road, and we had ventured through miles of unfettered adventure before our parents even knew we were gone. Now, as I rode through the Nevada desert, I wondered what happened to the vow I made to go farther faster and be more daring once I was no longer subject to my parents’ rules (or consequences). This was the first time in a long time I had done anything that would have made my eight-year-old self-envious.
I could see a steep hill on the path ahead, so I shifted my focus back to the trail. I prepared to dig in for the climb, but I was cruising so fast on the approach that I sailed up the incline with barely a turn of the pedal. I was surprised by the effortlessness of the climb, but I was expecting the ramp effect of the hill. This time when my tires left the ground, I was ready for the flight—and I reveled in it. I seemed to hang suspended in the air for an impossible number of seconds, as if I had time to take a breath, see the rock-peppered ground beneath me and the azure world around me, and completely enjoy it.
Picture
Then my tires touched down and I was moving again, the forward momentum gripping my attention as I pushed to the end of the trail. I finished the ride, heart pounding, lungs pumping, my body recovering from the effort I barely noticed I was exerting while I flew over the hills and valleys of the trail.

Oscar grinned, and I couldn’t even blame him for his smugness. He had been right about mountain biking Bootleg Canyon. “We should ride it again,” he suggested good-naturedly.

The ride had made me think of more than just what we should do for the rest of the day. It was time I made good on my childhood promise to chase fun and freedom, and I couldn’t afford to lose any momentum. I slapped my childhood cohort on the back and said, “We’ve definitely got more riding in our future.”


Take flight in Boulder City, NV!

Share

1 Comment

7/28/2015

Family Adventures

0 Comments

Read Now
 

An Outdoor Haven - Finding fun and adventure in Boulder City, NV

This story produced in partnership with TravelNevada

Picture
Shortly before my son, Seth, turned 12, I told my wife I wanted to do something special, like a father-son trip to mark the occasion, but I was having trouble coming up with a destination.

“Well, think back to your family’s vacations when you were young. Any memories stand out?” she offered.

Instantly my mind centered on one of my favorite family vacations growing up—when we took a road trip out West. There was something about the grandeur of the wide-open desert, and the sense of being able to see for what seemed like forever, that stuck with me, even so many years later.

My fondest memory of that family vacation was our stop in Boulder City, Nevada. I remember loving every minute we spent outdoors. Seth shares my love for the outdoors, so I settled on Boulder City for his birthday celebration.

We arrived at the Boulder Dam Hotel with just enough light left in the day to appreciate the classic “small town” look of the surrounding shops and restaurants. Half hotel and half museum, walking into the wood-paneled lobby was like stepping into the history of the town. While I checked-in, Seth wandered around reading the exhibits about the construction and history of the Hoover Dam and Boulder City. He obviously found them interesting, because I was peppered with historical facts throughout dinner
​

Teeing off
The next morning, we both enjoyed a “manly” breakfast that included hash browns, buttered toast, and an omelet overflowing with bacon. I could only imagine what my doctor would say about my choice of meal! But knowing I had at least 18 holes of golf ahead of me, I didn’t feel too guilty about it.

“I think I’m going to try out for the golf team in the fall,” Seth said as we headed to the course.

“Really?” I asked. I knew he had been spending more time at the range, but thanks to my hectic work schedule, it had been a while since we’d played a round together. “Well, let’s see if you’re good enough yet to beat your old man. I’ll give you a stroke per hole.”
Picture

“Nah, let’s play it straight up,” he said confidently.

Surrounded by mountain ranges, the Boulder City Golf Course is one of the most picturesque courses I had ever played, and the fairways and greens were as lush as the desert courses on the PGA schedule.

I teed off first and, even to my surprise, found the edge of the fairway with my drive. Seth took a few practice swings, and then launched a drive that soared toward the distant mountains, and flew past my ball with ease.

“Wow,” I said. “We need to play more often.”

Having the opportunity to play such a beautiful and unique course was certainly a highlight, but even greater was getting the chance to watch my son, who could barely balance the ball on the tee when he first started, play with such confidence and ease.

Power trip
Following golf, we made the short trip out to Hoover Dam for the power plant tour, and to check out the views from the recently opened bridge. I’d visited the dam with my family when I was a little younger than Seth, and when we reached the bridge, I felt as awe-struck by the view as I had so many years ago. Only this time, I had the priceless opportunity to see the same expression on my son’s face as he gazed down into the mammoth canyon.

Picture
“So what did you think?” I asked on the way back to the hotel.

He paused for a minute and said, “I think maybe I’ll be an engineer, so I can build things like that.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” I said.

Zipping around

“I saw a brochure for this really cool looking zipline in the desert. Want to do it?”
 Seth asked the next morning over breakfast.

I could hardly believe my ears. It was only a year earlier that I had to practically bribe him to go zip lining with me in the mountains of North Carolina. I reminded him of this, and he just shrugged, “I guess I got over it.”

Our first zip lining trip could not have prepared us for the amazing experience of soaring over the Mojave Desert. The zip lines, which stretch more than a mile, provide unparalleled views of the impossibly expansive vista. About halfway down the line, I instinctively looked over to see if Seth was doing okay. But instead of seeing a timid little boy, I saw a young man with his head held high, taking in every bit of the experience.


In that instant, I could not have been more proud of my son. While I had planned to introduce Boulder City to him, he had actually showed me the ropes and he wasn’t done yet.

“Hey Dad, up for round two of golf?” Seth asked with a smirk.

“Absolutely,” I replied in challenge.

Without missing a beat he said, “Okay, I’ll give you a stroke per hole.”

Discover more great fun in Boulder City!

Share

0 Comments
Details

    Archives

    July 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Boulder City Chamber of Commerce

The majority of Chamber work focuses on attracting visitors to Boulder City and encouraging them to patronize the businesses, services, and attractions offered by our Members. We continually inform residents about the importance of a strong local economy.

    Did You Have a Great Experience?

    We appreciate your feedback and thank you for shopping locally.
Submit for Business of the Year

Follow US

Links

Dining
Shopping
Places
Nature
Overnight
Find Businesses
Local Events
Contact Us

Boulder City Chamber of Commerce is a 501 c (6) organization that houses under its umbrella four other non-profit corporations; the Boulder City Tourism Commission, the Boulder City Economic Vitality Commission, the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Boulder City Community Foundation.
©2018 Boulder City Chamber of Commerce
Powered by Chamber Nation
Privacy Policy
  • Home
    • 2018-2019 Tax Return Report
  • Chamber
    • About Us
    • Message from CEO
    • Board of Directors
    • BCCC Project Tracker
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Boulder City Chamber Foundation
    • Affiliate Programs >
      • BC Lic Plate
      • Prescription Plan
    • Sponsorship
    • Chamber Store
    • Mobile App
  • Visit Area
    • Lower Co River Water Trail
    • Walking Tours >
      • Art Mural Walking Tour
      • Historic Walking Tour
      • Self Guided Audio Tour
      • Boulder City Murals Information
    • BC Weekend Nightlife
    • Local Attractions
    • Elevator Ride
    • BC Digital Listing
    • Historic Preservation
    • NCOT Photos 2018
    • O’Callaghan-Tillman Bridge
    • Travel Nevada
    • Plan Your Day
  • Relocation
    • 2020 Relocation Guide
    • Clean Green Boulder City
    • Demographics
    • Economic Development >
      • Setting Boulder City's Economic Table
      • GEOD
      • Tools for Business
    • Education
    • Community Links
    • BC License Plate!
  • News & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Local's on 8 News Now
    • 2020 Best Dam Wine Walk
    • The Big Clean
    • 2019 PARADE WINNERS
    • Press Releases
    • Newsletters
    • Sign up for E-newsletters
  • Online Store
  • Business Directory
  • Community
    • Local's Love - Deals in BC
    • Tourism & Relocation
    • Watch More - Chamber YouTube Channel
    • Job Board
    • Volunteers Needed
    • BC Parkway Concept
    • Chamber Photo Gallery
  • Membership
    • Investors Only
    • Join the Chamber
    • We Can Help You
  • Sign In