Fox Smokehouse BBQ Happy Hour. Boulder City

Fox Smokehouse BBQ is the right call after a Hoover Dam or Lake Mead run, or anytime you're around Boulder City and want real food at happy hour instead of casino bar snacks. It suits day-trippers winding down and locals who'd rather eat smoked meat than drive into Vegas. This is a casual BBQ joint, not a polished lounge, and that's the draw.

It sits on Nevada Way in Boulder City, well outside the main Vegas corridor, which means a slower pace and easy street access. Happy hour runs every day, 2 to 5pm, an unusually early window that's handy if you're rolling in off a hike or a lake day in the afternoon.

The deals are honest and cheap. PBR goes for $5, with select wines and cocktails also discounted. On the food side, wings drop to 99 cents and every appetizer is $2 off, so you can graze without committing to a full plate right away.

The move is to come hungry. This is a smokehouse, so use happy hour as an excuse to start with 99-cent wings and a $5 PBR, then carry into a plate of barbecue. Aim for the front half of the window, around 2 to 3pm, when you're fresh off Boulder City sightseeing and the kitchen has room to move.