Third Time's a Charm PTR - May 2012 - I should give up on planning trips.

[usnuzuloose]

Oh the food looks so good ! Why is it when you see food your always hungry?

 

[franandaj]

Despite the pictures, that sure looks like a FANTASTIC meal. I love lobster thermidor. Well....I just ADORE lobster...so that bisque and sausage also look pretty fantastic to me.

Did you have that chocolate souffle last time? I seem to recall seeing a mighty fine souffle picture at one stage....

Thanks for sharing.

No, I always go for the Grand Marinier Souffle, they never get souffle's chocolatey enough for me, so I'm always happy with the Grand Mariner. OMG! That Lobster sausage had the lobster bisque as the sauce, I'm pretty sure, and the puff pastry crouton was exquisite! THAT alone could have made the meal, but then the intensely rich entree was also awesome!

Andre's makes the best souffle I have ever had, however, there is a certain Club at Disneyland where the Chef makes a pretty close second! Unfortunately it's not on the menu and we've only had it on those Marcel Roulette dinners.

The meal looks delicious despite a cranky partner. Been there, done that, no bueno. I want that lobster sausage. And how neato, an iPad wine list.


In 2005 we stayed at the Monte Carlo on our way to and from Disneyland. The holiday decorations were terrific. It's a nice hotel.

Yeah, cranky partners. Been there done that too often. Now that you have that new iPad you'll be all cool with it. I figured it out, but it took a sort of learning curve.

We just don't stay on the strip because at less than $30 per night we can't justify spending $###.%% on staying on the strip when Fran and her mother stayed at Sam's Town for ever and ever.

I stayed at the Luxor before we met, but since we've been together unless it's free, we stay at Sam's. I'm OK with that. Cheap Blackjack!

 

[skiingfast]

I have heard of people using the Ipad wine lists but this is the first time I've seen one, and I'm glad you took a picture.

I'm not sure I like it as much as a leather bound wine list.

 

[Pinkocto]

That dinner looks marvelous! I'm sorry Fran wasn't in the best of spirits. Does she know when she's being moody?

I have never even heard of them using the iPad for wine lists. I'd think it would be too expensive. But very easy to change instead of printing out new menus.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Now here's something I never thought I would post on the DIS.....

O......M......G!!!!!

That lobster looks amazing! So does all the food! And Vegas sure is beautiful...I really need to go there someday.

 

[Leshaface]

I lOVE the little site-seeing tour you gave us! Makes me want to go even more! I was talking to dan the other day and was like, "Screw it! Let's just drive to Vegas for a night or two!" He didn't look interested at all! I'll get there someday!

The iPad wine list is a great idea! Heard about it but never seen it. Not sure if I missed it, but did you end up ordering a bottle?

OOH, btw, I say the Niente Chardonnay you were telling me about! It was at Costco for 45.99!

 

[franandaj]

Aww, I was hoping you'd have a pic of the hotel my parents will be staying at in February when they go for Valentine's Day They'll be at Excalibur

My Excalibur pictures didn't come out very good that's why I didn't post them, one of these is from January.

Thanks for sharing the view of the Strip. It's been about 10 years since I was last in Vegas. Lots the same, lots with changes.

I think it might be time for a trip back there...but DH isn't all that keen.

Girls only trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't gone past the first photo. Over easy eggs with hashbrowns are one of my all time favorite foods ever! However, I am trying to get back into not after dinner as I ate everything and anything over the holidays. I fear this update Wish me luck- I'm going in!

Nothing says yum like runny egg yolks!

Well after the talk of the menu, I thought you were talking fancy. Not a chance. I love eggs and hashbrowns. Yummy! There was a hotel that was not finished in between the palazzo and the Wynn. Did they bring that down? They were talking about it a few months ago. The guy went bankrupt and started selling off everything inside.

Nice to see the pics, we wont be going this year. Cant wait to see dinner.

I thought there was a road inbetween the Palazzo and the Wynn, but I was too busy snapping pictures.

Wow, I had no idea Vegas had so much. Very very impressive. Love the breakfast photos, those pancakes looked magnificent!

The pancakes were wonderful! Fluffy and cooked perfectly. You'd be amazed at what Vegas has to offer, the next update will really blow you away!

Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Batman!!!!

Ka--Pow!

Oh the food looks so good ! Why is it when you see food your always hungry?

I try to just stay full!

I have heard of people using the Ipad wine lists but this is the first time I've seen one, and I'm glad you took a picture.

I'm not sure I like it as much as a leather bound wine list.

I know I like looking through a book. This one really threw me!

That dinner looks marvelous! I'm sorry Fran wasn't in the best of spirits. Does she know when she's being moody?

I have never even heard of them using the iPad for wine lists. I'd think it would be too expensive. But very easy to change instead of printing out new menus.

I think that's the key, easy to make changes, and it makes the restaurant appear to be cutting edge. I'm sure it is expensive to continually print wine lists.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Okay, is it too geeky for me to say that I think the Excalibur is adorable? I've never been to Vegas unless you count layovers in the airport Thanks for posting those for me!

 

[franandaj]

Now here's something I never thought I would post on the DIS.....

O......M......G!!!!!

That lobster looks amazing! So does all the food! And Vegas sure is beautiful...I really need to go there someday.

When you see the update that I'm working on, you'll see yet another of the very diverse things there are to do!

I lOVE the little site-seeing tour you gave us! Makes me want to go even more! I was talking to dan the other day and was like, "Screw it! Let's just drive to Vegas for a night or two!" He didn't look interested at all! I'll get there someday!

The iPad wine list is a great idea! Heard about it but never seen it. Not sure if I missed it, but did you end up ordering a bottle?

OOH, btw, I say the Niente Chardonnay you were telling me about! It was at Costco for 45.99!

That's too bad he's not so excited. And there is a hotel type for everyone, personally I don't like staying on the strip, too busy, too many people. It's difficult to get anywhere becuase Las Vegas Blvd is so congested. But it's really fun. At our hotel I just love sitting at the BlackJack tables for a while getting drinks and just hanging out. We just bet the minimum each hand and we can usually just hang out for hours without really giving the Casino too much money. Fran has a little strategy card that we just put on the table, it tells you what to do if the dealer is showing X card and your hand is a 17+, 16, A & 6, it covers every possible combination. If you follow the card's instructions, odds are that you can potentially win some money.

Even if we don't end up ahead, we get free drinks and had some fun. Then we go out for an awsome dinner! Seems like a fun time to me! There are so many GREAT restaurants there, it can be hard to choose!

Anything from Far Niente is going to be pricey, but oh, so good! We had that Chardonnay with one of our courses at our dinner at Napa Rose. I had a bottle of 1994 Cabernet in our Cellar and I think we drank it over Thanksgiving, so tasty!

 

[rentayenta]

We don't always stay on the Strip but we got that room for cheap. We really like The Orleans. I cannot stand Freemont St. We stayed at the Golden Nugget over Thanksgiving in 2010 and while the hotel was fine, I found Freemont boring. Love cheap blackjack. Slots of Fun is one of our favorite places to gamble.

 

[franandaj]

The next day I couldn’t get Fran to commit to anything. In hindsight, I should have just let her sleep all day, but I wasn’t looking forward to doing that. After a bunch of different options, we decided that Red Rock Canyon wasn’t as far away as Fran thought, so I got us organized to head out there. I knew we couldn’t do any hiking, but I figured we could at least enjoy the scenic beauty from the car.

With all the new development, getting there was a snap. We took major highways all the way until the final road which led to the canyon. The Las Vegas area sure does have a natural beauty about it. Most people are so busy with their heads in the lights and glitz or games to notice.

The area cost only $7 per car to take the one way scenic loop. There was a Visitor’s Center where we stopped for a potty break and take a quick look around. I guess a ton of other people thought this was a good idea for the Christmas Holiday because the place was mobbed.

This picture was taken out the panoramic window of the Visitor’s Center.

Throughout the Visitor’s Center there were all kinds of carved dessert animals, tortoises, lizards, but I couldn’t get any pictures of them as they were constantly covered in little kids, climbing all over them. No one seemed to like this guy.

So we started on our 13 mile scenic loop

As I mentioned earlier, we were not the only ones who thought this would be a nice Christmas Day activity.

These are the Red Rocks that give then canyon it’s name.

To get some perspective on the size of these mountains, notice the people at the bottom of the canyon.

The next point we stopped at was called High Point Overlook and the elevation was something like 4751 ft above sea level. You can see the first stop in the distance

We drove to the Willow Springs Picnic Area past the White Rock Rills

Some native plant life

You just can not gather the scope and beauty of this place from these pictures. The rock formations are just massive.

These people have a great location for Christmas Dinner

More local plant life

This is a wash that runs through the basin, we drove through it, but the shot I grabbed was blurry. That crevasse to the left in the shade, that's the Willow Springs Picnic Area.

I’ve always loved these cactus every since I started coming to the desert about 25 years ago.

And Joshua Trees are also one of my favorite plants

This is a map of the area that we drove around. It took about an hour with short stops at each point. Sometime, Fran and I will hopefully go out there for a day with a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery on a future trip.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I've always driven by Red Rock Canyon on the way to Zion and Bryce. But never through it like you've just shown. NEXT. TIME!



Your pictures are great and the scenery here is why I love the Sedona area so much. Red Rock, high elevation...but with water.


Thanks for sharing.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

That landscape is just beautiful!

 

[rentayenta]

If you enjoy the red rocks, you'd love Moab. We're planning to take the kids this late April. And Arches National Park is full of red rock too.


My son was named after both at the Joshua Tree plant and the U2 album.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have never gone through there. Maybe one day. Nice to see pics. By the way that was one huge snake. Was that a king?

 

[skiingfast]

That last update: Totally Rocks!

 

[franandaj]

I've always driven by Red Rock Canyon on the way to Zion and Bryce. But never through it like you've just shown. NEXT. TIME!

Your pictures are great and the scenery here is why I love the Sedona area so much. Red Rock, high elevation...but with water.


Thanks for sharing.

It's very nice scenery, maybe not a stellar as Bryce or some others, but certainly notable!

That landscape is just beautiful!

It is and certainly a wonderful break from the whole lights and Las Vegas scene!

If you enjoy the red rocks, you'd love Moab. We're planning to take the kids this late April. And Arches National Park is full of red rock too.


My son was named after both at the Joshua Tree plant and the U2 album.

We actually did a 4WD trip (not Fran and I) into Canyonlands back in 1988 out of Moab, and it was totally awsome, we camped two nights on the Green River and Colorado. We had to register and guess where we would camp, I was a lot younger and we were much more resiliant, but it was a great trip, we had a toyota 4WD truck and my fiancee was a geologist so we were pretty get up and go at the time! I don't think Fran could deal with a no potty camping trip! but back in the day we used to deal with some serious outdoors camping trips!

I have never gone through there. Maybe one day. Nice to see pics. By the way that was one huge snake. Was that a king?

That was a ceramic snake!

 

[franandaj]

That last update: Totally Rocks!

Thanks! Having been engaged to a geologist in m early days, I just love rocks and formations. The last time I had been to Red Rock Canyon was with him and we parted ways in 1988 so it had been a long time since I had been here, I think that was part of the reason I really wanted to visit, I remembered it being pretty spectacular and for me it didn't disapoint. I don't remember the Visitor's center and one way road trip, I think the last time I was there it was a little more casual. But it was still way cool, to see those rocks and how awesome they looked, if you see the people in the pictures you get an idea of scale, it was pretty darned grandiose!

 

[PrincessInOz]

That last update: Totally Rocks!

Oh, you're just the bedrock of humour!

Sadly, I'm pretty sure you sed-it-(and) ment-it!

And now you'll be under all that pressure to come up with more! Don't you just lava it?

 

[Pinkocto]

Very cool formations. It almost looks like blocks of silly putty in some parts.

You weren't kidding, I thought you meant just a few others thought it was a good idea, that was a packed road!