Review of Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Gardens

If you are visiting Las Vegas and are looking for things to do with your family or friends you may be tempted to visit the Ethel M Chocolate Factory. After all it is advertised and promoted as “quite an adventure in various Las Vegas related travel sites. Well, mine and my family’s verdict after following the advice of those Web sites — SAVE YOUR TIME! AVOID THE ETHEL M CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

WHY?

Well think of the following experience: On our way back from a trip to the Hoover Dam we decided to look for the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and tour it. We plugged in the address in our GPS and headed off to the supposed adventure. Upon arrival we were rather surprised by the large number of tour buses in the parking lot. It was late in the afternoon just before sun set.
We entered the factory to find a very narrow corridor which was glassed in on one side and revealing a view of the factory floor — where we saw a bunch of mixers and other machines obviously used in the making of chocolates. Walking along the wall through the corridor was a 10minute experience — at the end of which was a table with samples.

An employee of Ethel M Chocolates was there to hand out the samples — there were two kinds: white and milk chocolate — small bonbons. My wife asked if she can sample both — just one of each. The response was rather terse “NO!” Only one per person….. Oh, what a decision — which one should we choose :-)

Then the corridor / tour ended up in a huge store — this is where the real action was :-) Lets buy very expensive and overpriced Ethel M Chocolates!!!! After all you have spent the time to get here — might as well buy some chocolates :-(
We DID NOT…..

Then we decided to see the “famous” Cactus Gardens…. Well if you have not been in the Arizona or New Mexico or Nevada dessert, this may be a place to see a cactus or two…. Other than that, SAVE YOUR TIME AGAIN. Not worth it.

All in all — this is a place to avoid. There are plenty more very interesting places to visit in and around Las Vegas. I will write some more on these soon.

Happy Travels!