South Henderson - Boulder City, NV

Henderson grew up in the 1940s around the Basic Magnesium Plant, an important supplier of magnesium for the World War II defense industry. At the war’s end in 1945, most of the town’s 14,000 residents left. Over half of the town’s housing sat vacant and Henderson went up for sale as war surplus. Nevada legislators and local industry leaders saved the town by placing the magnesium plant under state control, and Henderson was officially incorporated in 1953.

The city grew quickly, expanding from 13 square miles to more than 94 square miles. In 1988, Henderson suffered a major trauma when 45,000 tons of ammonium perchlorate rocket fuel stored at the PEPCON plant on the outskirts of town ignited in a massive explosion, breaking windows miles away in Las Vegas. This disaster diverted development in Henderson away from industry to the upscale residential and commercial focus that now identifies the city.

Of course, finding good dining and nightlife options presents no problem in a town that is essentially a suburb of Las Vegas. For great food, foodies look beyond the national chains towards their local favorite eateries. One place that fits the bill is Chef Flemming's BakeShop, which delivers the goods. Denmark native Chef Flemming was the former executive pastry chef for the famed Golden Nugget hotel in Las Vegas. The coffee and cinnamon rolls in the cafe hit the spot exactly, but custom cakes for special occasions make this place a local mainstay.

Locals rave about the Santa Rosa Taco Shop on East Basic Road. While claims about the best breakfast burrito ever are commonplace, the carne asada in either taco or burrito form comes in at least a close second. Sunset Pizzeria brings New York pizza out west in a casual local dining atmosphere. The made from scratch dough and home-cooked sauce make for great pizza, but the Italian grinders and Philly cheesesteak subs certainly rate a try as well.

Head north to the Boulder Creek Grill, inside the clubhouse at the award-winning Boulder Creek Golf Club, and check out their grilled cheese sandwich, consisting of gooey melted jack and cheddar cheese with deli ham and bacon all on Parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. With two facilities available for hosting events, this is the place to go for anniversary/graduation celebrations, bar mitzvahs and weddings.

Large casinos and small watering holes alike dot South Water Street in the historic Henderson downtown. The Gold Mine Tavern has been rocking the Water Street District since 1965. Free live music and stand-up comedy shows, as well as many different daily drink specials, still have the locals packing in. For fresh craft brew, the in-brewery taproom at Bad Beat Brewing breaks ground as a Henderson first.

Most Henderson residents rely on cars for the majority of their transport needs. Several taxi companies serve the Henderson area on a call basis, and Uber operates there as well. Multiple highway connections make it easy to leave town for nearby Paradise or Las Vegas. Four major highways run through Henderson: State Route 582, the main thoroughfare and direct connection with Las Vegas to the northwest, State Route 564, Interstate 515 and Interstate 215.

The city has public transit provided by the buses of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. Flat terrain means that biking could be an option throughout the majority of downtown Henderson. However, the sprawling layout of the residential areas, relatively long distances to the few retail centers and weather that is often hot and windy make the use of bikes for serious transportation impractical. For the same reasons, Henderson is not a particularly walkable city.

The City of Henderson maintains 60 parks for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. All of the usual park features can be found, along with specialties including dog parks, skate parks, splash pads and equestrian facilities.

Burkholder Park packs many amenities into 11 acres but draws baseball and softball fans in particular with ample off-street parking and several ball fields including a lighted field. Disc golf courses can be found at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex and the Paseo Verde Trailhead.

Dogs and their owners love Henderson for its 14 off-leash dog parks. One of the best, Equestrian Park South, provides 5 acres of green space with a lighted dog park and an equestrian area as well as access to a 1.8-mile asphalt-paved looped biking/walking trail and a 1.8-mile dirt horse path. Parking for horse trailers and a covered picnic shelter make this park perfect for a full day of horseplay. The park also serves as a staging area for the River Mountain Loop Trail, over 120 miles of paved trail that Las Vegas area cyclists have voted as the best place to ride.

The cost of living in Henderson sits 6 percent below the national average and nearly 7 percent below the average for the Las Vegas-Paradise Metro Area’s cost of living. An average one-bedroom apartment rents for $632. Gas prices run 8 percent higher than the national average, and two hours of riding around town on the RTC city bus system costs $3. A pint of craft beer costs around $5 but can also be had for free if you are gambling in one of the local casinos.

The major shopping hub for the Henderson area, the Galleria at Sunset, sits about 2 miles north of the city at the junction of Interstate 515 and Sunset Road. The mall hosts over 100 national and specialty retailers as well as the local walking club, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month for exercise and special events. Smaller shopping centers such as the Henderson Shopping Village, Henderson Plaza, and Wagonwheel Marketplace can be found in the downtown area.

Residents can buy groceries at a Walmart Super Center, Vons, Food4Less, Albertsons or Fresh & Easy. The Country Fresh Farmers Market in Henderson hosts dozens of vendors who supply farm-fresh produce and some organic produce sourced from both local and California farmers.

Back in Thyme is your go-to spot for unique antiques and collectible treasures. The shop has a lot to offer, including a huge display of restored pedal cars and the owner is knowledgeable and helpful about all things antique. The decor holds the charm of a small museum, so if you are on the hunt for old treasures or just looking to window shop, this Boulder City treasure is the place for you. Conveniently located right across the street from a coffee shop, this spot lets you restore your caffeine levels while you visit.

R&R Prop Shop has been repairing propellers for Lake Mead boaters for over 19 years. The staff has expertise in the selection and tuning of high-performance racing propellers along with all the equipment and tools necessary to precisely measure and repair props small and large.

Bonnie's Floral Boutique, a local, family owned business, has been operating at 117 West Atlantic Avenue since 1986. Henderson residents trust Bonnie's for all-occasion flower arrangement as well as gift baskets and live plants.