Ethel M Chocolates Factory

Just a 15-minute drive from the Strip, the Ethel M Chocolates Factory is a family business that still uses recipes from the owner’s mother—Ethel. The factory and surrounding cactus gardens are free to wander, but many visitors choose to add to the experience by indulging in a chocolate-tasting class. Tastings can be holiday-themed or paired with wine or coffee.

The Ethel M Chocolates Factory is often on the itinerary of Hoover Dam tours and other guided excursions in the Las Vegas area. Stops typically include time for a self-guided factory tour, a stroll in the cactus garden, and samples and shopping in the gift shop.

• If you purchase chocolates in summer, you’re given an ice pack to keep your treats from melting.

• The factory isn’t always in production mode, but informational videos and displays walk you through the process either way.

• The factory and cactus garden are both accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

The Ethel M Chocolates Factory is easiest to reach by car or on a guided tour that includes hotel pickup and drop-off. If driving, take Las Vegas Boulevard to East Sunset Road, then continue to the factory.

The chocolate factory is a fun place any time of year, but for extra holiday flair, go close to Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Easter. The cactus garden is especially popular during the winter holidays, when it’s decorated with lights; to catch it in bloom, visit in spring. Show up on a weekday for the best chance of seeing the factory in production.

While every visitor to the factory gets a free sample, join a tasting class if you want to indulge further and learn more about the chocolate-making process. Besides trying four different sweets, you’ll also get the lowdown on ingredient sourcing, production, and the subtleties of flavor identification.