How could I have lived in Las Vegas since 1996 and never discovered the Eldorado Canyon Mine?
Thanks to an article in the local paper, the girls and I set out on to explore this old mining town that happens to be a mere 45 minutes from our house.
What a gem of a day trip we found! The Eldorado Canyon mine was the oldest, richest and most famous gold mine in Southern Nevada. As we got closer, the yellow and purple wildflowers dotted the road, and Joshua trees stretched as far as the eye could see. Beautiful.
Our tour guide met us in the general store, which is one of many buildings that have been restored. Then he entertained us with stories of claim jumping, murders and the life of miners long ago. Next we headed deep into the mine. Now, never having been in a mine before, the girls and I were fascinated. The guide warned me to grab both girls by the hand because to cross a bridge in the mine means to look down so far that one slip would mean certain death for a miner or a little girl.
The mine is lit by lanterns along the way, and the guide does a good job detailing life in the mine. The best part was when he explained that each miner was given a few candles to take down into the mine with him. Some would light the candle, get their bearings, then blow out the candle and work in the dark in order to save their light. Our guide demonstrated how dark the mine was by turning off the lanterns, lighting a candle, then extinguishing it. The result was total blackness. You can't even see your hand in front of your face.
After the tour, we took about an hour hike up the canyon. The girls found some horse tracks and wanted to follow them. They followed them all the way to a horse stable and back. Then it was time for a picnic lunch, and more exploring of the buildings. This place is a popular one for movies and musicians. There's an old airplane crashed into the desert that was part of the film ''3000 Miles to Graceland.'' Beyonce was photographed here. Donny and Marie. And catalogs like ''Anthropologie'' do entire shoots here.
The girls had a blast exploring and collecting rocks. I can't believe we had never discovered this place before.
Next time you're in Vegas, remember Eldorado Canyon. They do tours, and since the town is right near the Colorado River, there's also canoeing and kayaking.
Check out: www.eldoradocanyonminetours.com
