OUR FINAL DAY

We got back to Vegas okay yesterday, we're staying in the Monte Carlo hotel this time around - it's fun to try out different hotels {I feel like we could almost single-handedly re-write the Tripadvisor website!}.

En route we had a couple of pit-stops to break up the journey. As we'd done the more interesting stops on the way to the Grand Canyon I had to get a little more inventive with my planning: A stop in a little town called Oatman {with wild burrows running around} and one to see the petroglyphs.

Dan wasn't so impressed with the first {especially the windy route up a mountain we had to take to get there}, but we both thought the petroglyphs were pretty neat. They were incredibly hard to find though and I thought at one point we we'd gone past them. They were down this little dirt track, no signs other than a little one that says Christmas Tree Pass. It's definitely something that should be publicised more.

It's our last day today, and it's a busy one. We're going to the Neon Museum {I'm VERY excited}where all the old neon signs from the Vegas attractions go, a quick stop at the shop from Pawn Stars then on the roller coaster at NYNY. After that we'll be spending our $50 on the slot machines and finally off to watch Cirque du Soleil's Ka.

SO TODAY WE SAW THE GRAND CANYON

Today we went to the Grand Canyon which was an hour's drive away from our hotel. This morning was also the coldest we've had since being in America at 62 degrees, reaching a high of 72.

The Grand Canyon is mind-blowingly big. It's a mile deep and stretches for miles and miles. It's much bigger than I'd imagined.

We started by going to the Visitor's Centre which had exhibits about how the canyon was formed and the history of the people that lived there and discovered it.

We then embarked on a two mile walk around the South Rim making many stops along the way to take photos and learn about the geology. I also learnt that Lauren gets very panicky when either myself or her get near the edge.

Our next stop Grand Canyon Village where we had lunch. Afterwards we took a Ranger tour where we learnt how man has lived in the canyon for the past 10,000 years (what plants they ate and used to build houses etc.).

We then took a look around the shops and museums (Kolb Studio, Verkamps, Bright Angel Lodge) before we attempted one of the trails.

This walk was difficult with 30 degree declines/inclines in places, and with Lauren wearing flip flops. After taking many more photos we got the park bus back to the car, made a quick stop for dinner and headed back to the hotel.

Once back at the hotel we got all our stuff sorted out ready for our departure tomorrow, went for a swim and rested after a busy day of hiking!

Dan x

BACK ON THE ROAD

They are long days, but I really do enjoy our 'driving days' and I'm thankful for Dan's willingness to drive! We clocked another 200 miles today, some of it with the roof down!

Our first stop was Hoover Dam, which I think may be Dan's favourite part of the whole holiday!

We went to the visitor's centre to learn how it was made first, then walked all around it, and finally across it. It was pretty scary to look down from the top.

After that we drove on to Kingman to stop for lunch and pick up some snacks {and sharpies - $1.54 for 3, it's a special offer. If it's good Dad we're back there in a couple of days so let me know}.

Last stop of the day was the Hackberry General Store, a little shop come diner come junk yard on Route 66! It was pretty cool and we got some good photos!

Then we arrived at our hotel in Williams, unpacked the car and went to a Route 66-themed diner for a rack of ribs with fries and coleslaw.

Dan was very popular today with his San Diego Chargers t shirt on. People kept shouting out 'go Chargers' at him!

Off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow, Dan wanted to get there for sunrise until I explained what time we'd need to be up!!

RED ROCK CANYON

We spent the first part of today on the Red Rock Canyon 13-mile scenic drive - pretty cool!

We looked around the visitor's centre and then drove on to each of the look out points. We didn't do any of the walking trails as Dan had his new converse on and I just had flip flops, but we got a pretty good idea from the side of the road!

Afterwards we went to the strip and wandered around for a bit then back to the hotel in time for dinner.

We used our 50% off vouchers and got the buffet for $8 each. Dan only managed three plates {although he did pile his quite high!}, but I did a little better; plate one - Chinese, plate two - seafood, plate three - Italian, plate four - Mexican, plate five - tiramisu, fruit tart and a cookie, plate six - apple crumble and ice cream.

Then we were too full to do anything else!

After a little break we went downstairs, redeemed our free cocktail coupons and put a dollar in the slot machines. At one point I was over $3 up on the blackjack machine but lost it all again and ended up with 13 cents. But a couple hours of entertainment for $2 isn't bad!

Off to Williams tomorrow for the night before we head up to the Grand Canyon, so packing our bags once more.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR WAKING UP IN VEGAS

Today was a peaceful look around Las Vegas day. We got up late, headed down to the hotel restaurant for the all you can eat breakfast buffet, then headed to the strip!

We've walked up and down the strip, taking in all of the sights and looking around a few of the casinos. We had a couple of goes on various slot machines, Lauren was really getting into it... Think I may need to keep the cash away from her!

 

It wasn't very lively during the day, but once the sun set it was a whole new world.

We booked onto a Vegas lights by night tour {half price at one of the ticket booths} which included a tour of the strip, the Freemont Street experience, Sirens at Treasure Island, the Volcano at the Mirrage, The Chapel of Flowers {from the hangover}, plus all the other famous wedding chapels, the Pawn Stars pawn shop, the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, and the dancing fountains at the Bellagio.

Back at the hotel gone midnight. Another day in Vegas tomorrow - going to drive the Red Rock Canyon 13-mile drive in the morning and then see what we find!

THE MOTHER ROAD

We left LA today. After an early start we were soon on the road, our first stop:Our first stop was the Route 66 museum located in the small town of Victorville, just off of the old route 66. The museum had loads of cool stuff to look at, and really nice staff.

 

It was lunchtime and we'd planned on going to a little diner called Molly Brown's. There were so many great reviews on line we had to try it, but finding it with our sat nav wasn't the easiest. We got there though and both ordered omelettes, neither of us could finish them. Lauren's came with banana bread so we had that wrapped up for later.

Our next stop on the epic 283 mile route was Calico Ghost Town. No, it's not a haunted town... It's an old mining village that no one lives in anymore since the silver ore ran out. It's exactly the same as the 1800's, but with a few modern things thrown in to make it fun for the tourists. My favourite part was being able to walk through a 1km stretch of the original mine that two brothers blasted out a long time ago!

After the ghost town, we got back onto the highway and headed onto Vegas. Our last stop was to Baker to see the worlds largest thermometer. It's 134 feet tall, which turns out to be too tall to read it in the setting sun.... We popped to a gas station and bought 2 fountain drinks for $3. Mine was massive, must have held nearly 2 litres....

We got into Vegas just before 6pm, found our hotel and checked in. The car was valet parked (first time I've ever had it done!) and our room is on the 4th floor. We had a quick break and then explored the casino/hotel. It's has everything you could possibly need so you never need to leave - bars, sports screens, gambling, restaurants, shops, barbers, spa, pool, table service and more!! No gambling for us tonight, just a quick swim in the pool and dinner.

Lay in tomorrow, then a full day of Vegas sight seeing - I cannot wait! :)

OUR LAST DAY IN LA

Yesterday was a really long, really fun and really cheap day!

We started off at Le Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum, because it was the first Tuesday of the month we got in for free. Lots of the tar pits that they are excavating are still there bubbling away outside and the museum displays all the bones that they have pulled out of the pits over the past hundred years.

Then visited El Pueblo de Los Angeles - a little old Mexican part of the city where the oldest building in LA is standing {free entry}. It wasn't quite as good as Old Town in San Diego though, and didn't take too long to look around the little market stalls, so we had time to fit in one last stop: The Autry Museum {had a buy one get one free entry coupon}.

It was our favourite stop of the day - kind of a combination of the Heard Museum and the Buffalo Bill Museum with all the upstairs dedicated to Native Americans and the downstairs about the Frontier and Wild West.

We saw Annie Oakley's Gun, lots of Katsina Dolls, a recreation of the shootout at the O.K. Corral and lots of Winchester guns.

The we got to Universal Studios for 4pm ready to watch the live taping of Guys with Kids. It was really fun, but went on for AGES! We didn't get out until 11pm because the babies kept crying and they would have to keep switching babies and re-shooting the scene.

$10 for a whole day's entertainment. Not bad.

Today was a lot more relaxed - we went to the Third Street Promenade, which is the shopping district in Santa Monica. Dan bought some new Converse and I got another $5 t-shirt from Roxy! Then went over to Marina Del Ray and walked by the canals, and back along the beach to our apartment. Dan managed to get beach tar all over his foot {and then his hand} after kicking up the sand. He thought he was going to die! But after some googling we found that cooking oil can dissolve it so it all came off in the end.

After a short break we went for a bike ride along the beach, walked along Santa Monica Pier and then watched the sun set {behind the clouds} before going back to the apartment.

Now we're packing and getting ready to drive to Las Vegas tomorrow.