Located in Henderson, Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Gardens is quite the adventure. Only 15 minutes away from the Strip, it attracts more than 700,000 tourists a year. Guests get to see chocolates being made, sample gourmet treats and meander through the maze of paths of the world's largest cactus gardens.
The chocolate factory has a series of pipes, conveyer belts and tanks that hold 20,000 and 35,000 gallons of chocolate. It’s really interesting to see the process of chocolate, and they are generous about free tasting.
Based on the English landscape model of naturalistic design, the Ethel M® Botanical Cactus Garden features four acres of drought-tolerant ornamentals, cacti, and other succulents. With a landscape base of 15,000 cubic yards of sandy fill and a special planting soil, the beds were raised and rookeries constructed using 400 tons of rock, thereby providing the best possible viewing experience for visitors.
Over 300 species of plants can be found on the grounds. Half are cacti and succulents largely native to the American Southwest, and the rest are desert trees and shrubs from the Southwestern United States, Australia, and South America. All of these plants were chosen both for the beauty of their floral displays and their ability to adapt to the climate of Southern Nevada. The types of rock used are Utah Bali Hai chocolate and Arizona moss rock (from the Grand Canyon region).
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