Ethel M Chocolates

In Henderson, NV, just off the 215, is Ethel M Chocolates, which offers a free, self-guided chocolate making tour and a free botanical cactus garden.

Chocolate makers work Monday through Friday, except on holidays, making fantastic chocolate confections. As you walk through the factory, signs guide your eyes to show you what you are seeing and signs around the windows and behind you tell you more about making chocolate, about Ethel M chocolates and the history of chocolate.

The best part, at the end of the tour, there is a free sample of their milk, dark, or white chocolate awaiting you. (I tried their dark chocolate, which is very dark. I’m accustomed to Hershey’s Special Dark, and this was much, much darker dark chocolate.)

The tour leads you into their store where you can purchase candy, confectioneries, truffles, and all sorts of items made with, coated in and filled with chocolates.

Next door there is also an M&M’s World store for the kiddos who may not have the sophisticated taste buds for Ethel M Chocolates.

Before you leave, make sure to take a stroll through the botanical cactus garden, with all sorts of cacti, more species than most people know exist. It’s beautifully sculpted and the walking path leads you through the garden.

During the holiday months, the gardens are covered in lights and at night light up for a “prickly” holiday adventure. Santa is also there to greet the little ones.