It's a California Adventure! (with added Las Vegas) Day 19

[Lizzybear]

Pre-trip
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18

5th October 2008

Another lie in today (Steve had better not get used to this!) and had brunch at the Gold Coast buffet. We got a discount for staying at the hotel and in our opinion the buffet was better than the one at the Bellagio despite being half the price (and no dirty plates either!) Suitably stuffed, we drove to Red Rock Canyon: We weren't visiting the Grand Canyon due to the cost/time involved (which to be honest is probably my only big regret of the holiday, I would definitely have sacrificed time in Vegas for it and we would have afforded it somehow..!) but we still wanted to see something 'real' in this area. Parked just outside the tollbooth to save $5 (not really necessary unless you want to do the 13 mile drive through the canyon roads) and set off one the 1 mile 'Calico' trail aka the lazy person's walk! I would have walked for longer but Steve has a low tolerance for hiking (I go all the time with my family and have done since I was a kid) We got some great photos, it really is a beautiful area and a huge contrast to the fakeness of the strip.

After our walk we drove back to the strip and parked up at the Bellagio again to explore some more. We walked to Caesar's Palace and wandered around the Forum Shops a bit where I got a teething ring type thing for my new baby cousin from FAO Schwartz, whilst there we just had to play on the big piano!

Next, we walked to Treasure Island, the Fashion Show Mall (I got a belt from Hot Topic and a $50 grab bag from Sanrio, some great stuff in there and worth way more than what I paid) and the Mirage. We were planning to see the white tigers but $15 each seemed a tad excessive so we passed, we'd already been to the zoo this holiday anyway!

 

[Lizzybear]

From here walked back to the Bellagio and drove back to the Gold Coast for a break before returning to the Bellagio later to watch the dancing fountains and eat at the Planet Hollywood buffet for dinner (we weren't really hungry enough this time either but since it was our last day of the holiday this was the last chance to fit it in!)

It was $28 per person and absolutely fantastic: They have food stations with different international cuisines so there's loads of choice, and you can get candyfloss from the dessert station! After dinner we took some pictures of the lights of the strip before driving back to the Gold Coast to pack for our flight home the next day.

Almost forgot! We watched the dancing fountains again after dinner, they're even prettier lit up:

I checked us in online and managed to bag some great seats for both legs of our flight, score!

 

[natalielongstaff]

great last day love the contrast between yesterday and todays pics !

 

[irongirlof12]

once again spectacular scenery.

 

[mark&sue]

I did find that unlike Disney you do feel you are constantly paying extra bits for each different ride/attraction/event etc and just seems to appear much less better value for money.


susan

 

[SusanEllen]

Lizzy, thanks for the beautiful photos--desert and Las Vegas. Sorry the trip is coming to an end. I've enjoyed following your steps for it seems quite some time.