Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and the wild west

[carolfoy]

A mini trip report...
From April 16th to 28th...
cast Me (35!)
Mum (60 today - happy birthday Mum!)
Callum (10)

Sunday 16th, took the 14:30 from Exeter to Gatwick, a wee change at Reading then settled down into the Hilton for the night, we ate in the hotel, very nice but I do so wish the waiters would just leave you in peace to eat!!! they constantly checked we were ok, the food was ok, the wine was ok etc etc, I don't think we even had time for a conversation!
settled down about 10pm.
Monday 17th Callum woke us up at 7:30 to announce he was 'starving' so we ended up going into the airport and checking in really early (our flight wasn't until 12:30 but ho hum, never mind)
Flying US air into Philly then a four hour layover until a 5 hour flight to Vegas, Callum of course didn't sleep a wink on the flight! so by the time we landed in Vegas it was 10 pm local time and about 8AM the next morning for us! We had a 2 hour transfer to Mesquite and we were all dreading getting up at 7am for the trip to Zion.
Tuesday 18th, needless to say thanks to Jetlag we were up at 5:30! so had time for a hearty breakfast until we travelled to Zion. I must say Utah is spectacular, thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hour travel time. Zion itself was just as beautiful. For the geologists amongst you, I think they said it was only about 80 million years old and the bottom layer of rock is the top layer of the grand canyon. Bryce national parks bottom layer is the top layer of Zion thus completing the 'grand staircase' of geological history in the national parks. We had a full day wandering around and spending time just drinking in the beauty and enjoying the outstanding views.

the day came to a close all too quickly.
Wednesday 19th, we decided against another full day trip to Lake Mead, Hoover and the valley of fire - a bit of a mistake in retrospect but we were shattered and the hotel had lovely pools, it was really hot etc so we gave in and chilled all day!

Thursday 20th, back to Vegas - now this is the part of the trip I wasn't really sure I'd enjoy. Thought it'd be really tacky and 'artificial' (obviously a WDW fan wouldn't enjoy such place ) but I loved it!
We parked in the Bellagio - very posh and very nice! unfortunately we weren't staying there!
Callums obsessed with ancient Egypt so a trip to the LUxor was a must.

 

[Minniespal]

Thanx Carol ~ Do you have any piccies of the Bellagio? We are staying there in August and it would be nice to see some piccies. Did you visit any of the attractions whilst in Vegas?

 

[carolfoy]

... We spent a long time looking around this fab hotel then took the monorail over to the Excalibur and the New York, New York for a nsey - all are great hotels with extremely good Disney style theming. (in fact I came away convinced that Vegas was what Walt would have invented if he'd been a alcoholic gambler rather than a nice family man)
saw The Hooters hotel and casino (thought of Mr Stringer )

We stopped at The Bellagio again to see the afternoon water fountain show the went off to our very sleazy dump of a hotel (Do NOT stay at the north end of the Strip!!)
You can tell the upmarket-ness of the hotels by the class of the croupiers and coctail waitresses employed, in The Venetian, The Bellagio and the other good hotels they are all stunning, look just like Hooters girls or Pammie Anderson, in our hotel needless to say they all looked like Pat Butcher

Anyway we went on to have a lovely evening wandering around the hotels and watching the free shows, took a gondola ride up through The Venetian Hotel and enjoyed a yummy Ice cream in 'St Marks Square'. was very tempted to spend some serious bucks in Jimmy Choo but resisted (just in case my bank manager is a DISser)
We wenyt up the Stratosphere tower and were amazed at the mad people doing the huge see-saw like ride at the top that left them hanging over the edge of the building - made Tower Of Terror look really tame.
back to Fremont street for the end of evening light spectacular show.
great town. really enjoyed it and will definately go back.

I've lost my days a bit here but the rest of the trip went something like this...
We transferred to Laughlin to yet another casino and from there we had a trip out to the grand canyon. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it was so I won't even try. Do take a helicopter trip if you can as although its a bit bumpy it does give unbeatable views.

Another day of rest followed as the transfer there and back was a whopping 3 and a half hours each way.
We also went to Oatman, an old wild west town where the cowboys have gunfights in the streets etc, very touristy but great fun. We had a 2 hour horse ride here out into the desert which was fantastic and very sore as I haven't ridden in years and have never been western riding which was very muscle aching!

all in all a great trip, would like to write more but fear you'd all fall asleep!

 

[Hobbes]

Pleased you enjoyed it so much. I was convinced I would hate LV-its not Disney, how could I like it. I enjoyed it so much, this year will be the third time I go. Also v interested in Utah-thats part of this years trip too, but all I know about it is the Osmonds

Did you get to see Siegfried and Roys tigers? Thats the one thing I really want to do in LV and I haven't managed it yet (Always too worn out)

 

[SusanEllen]

Thanks for taking the time to report. You surely must still be recovering from the trip. I've managed to avoid Vegas all these years, thinking that it was mostly like the "wrong" end of the strip, as I believe it really was until just the past 10 years or so. The Disney-fied part of town sounds like great fun--and you gave it a good three generations test. It's kind of frustrating trying to photograph the Grand Canyon, isn't it? There's not a panorama camera capable of capturing it, although your colorful shots from the air were great. I hope you've inspired other DISers to take a look at America beyond Florida and California.

 

[carolfoy]

Pleased you enjoyed it so much. I was convinced I would hate LV-its not Disney, how could I like it. I enjoyed it so much, this year will be the third time I go. Also v interested in Utah-thats part of this years trip too, but all I know about it is the Osmonds

Did you get to see Siegfried and Roys tigers? Thats the one thing I really want to do in LV and I haven't managed it yet (Always too worn out)

After being convince I'd hate it then managing to enjoy it so much, I wouldn't hesitate to try it for your self. It really is great fun and although we were obviously restricted as Callums 10 and therefore can't go into the gaming areas in the casinos it honestly wasn't too much of a hassle. I don't (or can't!) gamble anyway so it wasn't an issue!

And no, I didn't track down the tigers, I can't bear any animal being in captivity, and having seen them for myself in the wild I would hate to see any one making a show of them. That's not a criticism directed at you, I just can't bear to see animals in a 'show' It even makes me cringe to see Shamu!

 

[carolfoy]

Thanks for taking the time to report. You surely must still be recovering from the trip. I've managed to avoid Vegas all these years, thinking that it was mostly like the "wrong" end of the strip, as I believe it really was until just the past 10 years or so. The Disney-fied part of town sounds like great fun--and you gave it a good three generations test. It's kind of frustrating trying to photograph the Grand Canyon, isn't it? There's not a panorama camera capable of capturing it, although your colorful shots from the air were great. I hope you've inspired other DISers to take a look at America beyond Florida and California.

Hi Susan I would really consider giving Vegas a go for a long weekend but definately go south end or centre of the strip. The Venetian hotel is even better themed than the Poly, it really is a tranquil piece of paradise set in a dirty crowded city! we spent about 4 hours in there and could have spent a lot longer, the shops were fantastic!!!!
Also the Bellagio was beautiful, the attention to detail is on a par with the Disney imagineers and the decor is so classy.
There are so many shows in or around the hotels, The erupting volcano at The MIrage, The pirate show outside of Treasure Island, The jousting of the knights at the EXcalibur, to name but a few. Also you can go up the 'CN tower' at the Stratosphere or up The EIffel at the Paris Hotel. Its kind of like a jazzier Epcot!!
Wow, I could go on and on.
I do love your country BTW and am wanting to investigate either The Deep South or New England next.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for the report - it sounds a fantastic trip!

I'm another one who 'couldn't possibly like LA' , so it's good to hear another non-believer (and a WDW fan at that!) say they really enjoyed it! Adding it to my 'to do' list (Grand Canyon, etc. already on the list!)

 

[carolfoy]

If I do it again I'll do it somewhat differently - A direct flight (that layover in Philly was a killer), stay 3 nights Vegas, (Not in Chez Dump but in Bellagio, Venetian, New York, Luxor, MIrage, ie a DECENT hotel), then fly out to GRand Canyon, I'd stay there 2 nights and do a bit of white water rafting then travel out to Bryce, stay there a night, back to Zion, have a night in the park and one spare for the Hoover Dam etc.

 

[KayleeUK]

Great report Carol

 

[arieljasmine]

Really enjoyed reading your report, Carol, thanks for sharing. We are thinking of doing a few nights in Vegas next year, it sounds great. Can you tell me anything more about the Luxor? I have always fancied stopping there as I am fascinated by ancient Egypt.

ArielJasmine

 

[Claire L]

Great report Carol, and some lovely piccies, reminds me of my 1995 tour from Denver through the Bad Lands to Yellowstone, The Tetons, Salt Lake City then onto Bryce, Zion, GC and Vegas Great scenery and a lovely part of the US can't wait til I get to show the GC to DH in about 7 weeks time Also can't wait to experience the Bellagio and El Tovar, two total extremes of accommodation!

Claire

 

[Disney owl]

Thanks for sharing your holiday with us.

We are thinking of visiting Vegas next year as it's our silver wedding. DH not too keen at first but when I said we could combine it with a visit to the Grand Canyon he was up for it.

 

[carolfoy]

I'd definately stay overnight at the canyon if you can Sue, its so huge and so fabulous it would be nice to see it from lots of different viewpoints and in different lights.

 

[ely3857]

Sounds like an amazing trip



Jodie

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent report Carol ~ Thanx for sharing

 

[Cyrano]

Sounds a great trip, thanks for sharing

 

[Pootle]

.... Also can't wait to experience the Bellagio and El Tovar, two total extremes of accommodation!
Claire

They definitely are! Paris is one of my LV favourites (opposite Bellagio, so I try to get a room with a view of the Bellagio fountains) but El Tovar, next to the Grand Canyon's rim, was wonderful. It's like a small, very old, 'real' version of Wilderness Lodge.

I enjoyed reading your report Carol, thanks

 

[gilld]

Thanks for posting, Carol and great photos. It's on our "to do" list - which is very long!

 

[carolfoy]

Gill - I think you're a definate contender for the Bellagio or the venetian, its fabulous!