Las Vegas Day 9 - Zion National Park

Today we hiked in Zion National Park to Observation Point.  Total distance was 15km and the vertical distance is 640m (2100 ft).  Climbed through lots of different vegetation and ecosystems.  Part of the walk takes you through the echo canyon and then you zig-zag up to the top along a narrow-ish trail (about 4 feet wide ... cliffs on one side, death on the other).  We were on the trail for about 5.5 hours in total.  The view from the top is spectacular.  Lots of chipmunks grabbing our lunch crumbs.  We had a bit of cloud cover (first time on the whole trip) and it definitely made the temperatures at the top much more manageable.  It is autumn here so the trees are turning colour (oaks, striped maple and something else).  The colours of the rocks goes from red to white and also yellow.  Because there is moisture on this trail, there were lots of tiny "rock gardens" along the way with small flowering plants.

Other than that, we stopped at a few places along the road for a look at the scenery.  Zion definitely warrants another visit as there is much to see (and Stewart wants to hike up the narrows trail along/in the river).

Las Vegas Day 8 - Grand Canyon Day 3

Happy Halloween!

Garbage truck woke us up at 6:50.  Again.

We packed up our stuff and headed off to Zion National park.  On our way out we stopped at some of the lookouts.  Things get progressively less hazy as we travel east.  View is nice from the Grandview lookout.  The trail that decends from there is interesting -- much more rugged than South Kaibab. Continue east to the desert watchtower where we get a decent view of the canyon.  It is impressive.  Took us quite a while to leave the park with all the stops.

The drive around took us through The Painted Desert which is very beautiful.  Then we went past the Echo Cliffs. Then we took the 89A scenic route which goes past the Vermillion Cliffs.  Then over the Navajo bridge over the Colorado. Stopped and walked on the bridge.  We saw a condor sitting on the bridge and then flying off.  Then up through the Kaibab National Forest (we stopped for a geocache) to the pass at 8000 ft.  Then back down into the valley and the stopped for dinner at a local mexican restaurant in Kanab Utah. Drive from Mount Carmel to Zion National Park.  That is one a amazing drive.  Sun was setting and you drive around these Mesas and through tunnels.   I would definitely recommend both the drive between Zion and Mount Carmel and highway 89A in Arizona.  Very very scenic both of them.

Checked into our cabin (fire place, internet, no tv) at zion and we need to plan out our day.

Las Vegas Day 7 - Grand Canyon Day 2

Garbage truck woke us up at 6:50AM.  Alarm was set for 7AM.

Ate breakfast in our room and made lunch and prepared our bag for the trail (4L water, lunch, snacks).  Looked out at the canyon.  Disappointed how bad the visibility is.  There is a controlled forest burn on the north rim which is pouring smoke into the canyon.  You can't even really make out the far side.

Took the shuttle to Kaibab South Rim Trail.  You can see what is close, but visibility of the wider area is still hazy.  We left at 9:15.  Temperature was cool.  There are definitely other people on the trail, but basically you are by yourself.  Went past ooh aah lookout, down to cedar point and then to O'Neill Butte.  Probably about 11:30 at this point and definitely quite warm out now.  We are now about 3.5km out and 450m below the rim.  Still a long ways from the Colorado.  Hard to imagine taking this trail all the way back to the North Rim.  On our way back up, we had to let 5 groups of mules go by.  We arrived at the top at 2:30 with most of the water consumed.  Fall seems like a great time to be hiking ... can not imagine doing this during the summer when they say temperatures can go over 100F.

Back to the room ... took a break, then took the shuttle to one of the points to see the sun set.  Again, kind of hazy ... apparently normally is is much more spectacular.  Dinner at the El Tovar restaurant.  Definitely a step up from the arizona dining room.

Las Vegas Day 6 -- Grand Canyon Day 1

Left the Trump Hotel.  Kind of sad to leave it to be honest.  It was a great place to stay.

Took about 6 hours to drive to the canyon (we stopped for groceries and a geocache in some woods near Williams). 

We took some pictures on the way, but it is mostly pretty gravelly type desert. Although our hotel room here at Thunderbird lodge is more expensive than the Trump, it is not nearly as well appointed.  However, it is less than 100 seconds from the rim of the Grand Canyon.

We had an ok dinner at the arizona room of the bright angel lodge.  Walking back from dinner, the moon was shining on the canyon walls, the elk were grazing on the lawn (except for the one that tried to attack Stewart).

Las Vegas Day 5

Off to the Hoover Dam today.  Took the short tour and walked around outside on the dam.  Amazing piece of engineering.  Craig would love to see it.

Water levels are low (54 feet below maximum).  It was actually hotter at the dam than in Vegas.  Did a cache on the way back in a local park in Las Vegas.  Park is like a desert ... definitely not what we are used to.

Had dinner at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in Caesar's palace.  Good southwest cooking.  World series ending happened while we were at dinner.  Mesa Grill overlooks the big sports book at Caesar's (sports betting hub at Vegas), so lots of cheering from over there.

Walked back to our hotel.  Saw another watershow at the Bellagio (In The Mood).  Then saw the volcano at the Mirage.  Then saw the end of the Treasure Island show from the pirate side (where the ship sinks) ... still tacky.

Las Vegas Day 4

Got up late (for us -- still early by Vegas time) and went shopping today at the outlet mall (we definitely beat the crowds).  Actually found some nice pants that fit Stewart for about $20.  Margot shopped for a purse, but no luck.  She liked one at Salvadore Ferragamo which was deeply discounted to $700.  Sorry Salvadore -- no sale.

We had early dinner at Verandah's (italian restaurant in the four seasons hotel).  Another nice meal.  We were outside on the patio by the pool with lots of plants around.  Had to kill some time, so played the slots again.  After going nowhere on the penny slots, we moved to the $0.25 slots.  We won $16.26

Then we went to the Mystere show (cirque de soleil) at Treasure Island.  Seriously seeing Halloween costumed people wandering around Treasure Island Casino.  Mystere show was lots of fun and some definitely amazing acts.  Margot really liked the clowns.

Afterwards we saw the tail end of the super-cheesy pirate show outside Treasure Island.

 

Las Vegas Day 3

Today we went hiking in Red Rock Canyon.  We started off at the Calico 1 parking lot.  We did a geocache (multi-cache) that took us from the bottom to up on top of one of the ridges.  Cache was back in a box canyon hidden by some trees ... felt like a "secret" spot.  That took us more than two hours.

Then we drove around the rest of the park (stopping here and there for pictures).

Back to the hotel.  We then went to "Le Cirque" at the Bellagio for our anniversary dinner.  We had a bit of time to kill so we saw a water show out front (classical music) of the Bellagio.  Water show was so good Margot almost cried.  Then had to kill more time ... lost $5 at the penny slots.

Le Cirque,  like Fleur-de-Lys in San Francisco, is another top french restaurant ... maybe we will go to another one for our 30th anniversary  Definitely not the type of meal you can make yourself at home.  Everything was amazingly good and a work of art.  Margot had lobster saffron risotto appetizer, arctic black cod on mashed fingerling potatoes with grapefruit sauce, and meringue pear white-chocolate gold-leaf masterpiece for dessert.  Stewart had heirloom beet salad (that was a work of art), venison with huckleberry and quince, and coconut gelato type thing served in a hollowed out coconut.   To be honest the price for what they serve ($98 per person + wine) is pretty resaonable especially given the level of service.

Margot Day 2

Stewart worked until noon (doing a presentation).  Margot had breakfast and packed up.  Then we put the luggage in storage.  Once Stewart was done, we met up and walked around that part of Vegas.  From Luxor to Excalibur to New York/New York and to MGM (no lion any more).  Walked to the Bellagio and ate lunch (noodles -- good).  The fountain was being maintained, so no show.  Then over to Planet Hollywood to pick up the car.  The desk was empty so we killed off time by playing the penny slots and made $0.27.

Car rental is a Nissan Altima.  Good size for us.  Holds the luggage without being too big.  Drive back to Luxor to get bags, then over to the Trump International Hotel.

Room at the trump are pretty swanky.  We really loved it.  We had a 44th floor room looking over the Wynn, Encore on the right and Circus Circus and Stratosphere on the left.  Room had a fridge, microwave, cooktop, sink and some dishes, cutlery and cookware.  Bathroom had a huge shower and a separate huge tub (with jets -- FYI Brenna).  Staff were all super friendly.  Non-smoking hotel.  Would definitely go back.

We went to the old part of Vegas (Fremont Street) in the evening and had dinner at the Flame Steakhouse in the El Cortez casino.  Reasonable priced meal (for Vegas).  Fremont Street is a bit seedy and not really the same as it was during Diamonds are Forever.  Zip lining down the middle of the street and an overhead light show.  Worth seeing.

Margot Arrives in Las Vegas

Margot arrived in Vegas today and met up with me.  We had pre-agreed that I was working until noon tomorrow, so she was on her own.  Mostly that consisted of having dinner, reading and looking at the Luxor.  Margot would describe the Luxor hotel as having very dark rooms (bathroom was nice though).  The hotel's overall decor is as if from a movie set in ancient egypt.

Margot's first impressions.  Too much smoking, lots of lights and what's with all the open containers of alcohol.  Definitely a different place.