Today we had a wonderful day of sleeping in and relaxing. We took the afternoon to explore Las Vegas by riding down the strip. As it was over 100 again, driving down the strip was the only option. We saw the half completed construction all along the strip. The recession hit Las Vegas had and the results were evident.
When we got back to the hotel, the MGM Lions were in there den! MGM's mascot is a lion therefore they have lions in their lobby. The picture below can only describe how cute they are. We then ran up stairs to get dressed for our dinner and show reservations.
Michael had found a fantastic Italian restaurant and so we headed downstairs for our 5:30pm setting. Our dinner was wonderful. Jacqueline loves Italian and Michael was kind enough to find a great place that we both enjoyed.
We then took the light rail to the Venetian where we saw the Blueman Group. It was great! It really is difficult to describe the show. Again, it is just something that you would have to see but we both had a great time. Tomorrow we are leaving for Denver. Talk to you later.
Trip Map
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Hoover Dam and VEGAS!
Today we slept through our alarm and woke up at 10am. We hurried to get ready to leave the hotel and drive the hour to the Hoover Dam. When we got to the Hoover Dam, the temperature gauge read over 100 degrees. We walked over the new bypass bridge and took pictures of the dam from above. Once we parked and walked to the visitor center, we were able to get tickets for a 2:15pm dam and electrical plant tour.
While we waited we toured the museum which described the building and significance of the dam and power generation plant. We also grabbed a quick bite to eat. On the tour we were able to go deep into the dam and see its inner workings. We saw the generators that create the electricity from the water from Lake Mead. We also were led deep into the dam where we wound our way through tunnels and were actually aloud to take a picture from a vent half way down the dam.
After the tour we walked across the dam and visited a full model about the Upper and Lower Colorado Dams that allow for irrigation and water to be fed to the southwest US. The map model was really cool. After leaving the dam we headed the last 45 minutes of our driving portion of the trip to Las Vegas. We checked in to the MGM Grand and headed downstairs to explore the hotel. We ate dinner at the Buffet and then headed out on teh Strip to see the other casinos.
Jacqueline loved the Bellagio Fountains and we stayed there for about an hour. We also saw Caesars Palace and the new Aria, as well as the outsides of most of the other ones. We headed back to the hotel and said good night to Vegas.
After the tour we walked across the dam and visited a full model about the Upper and Lower Colorado Dams that allow for irrigation and water to be fed to the southwest US. The map model was really cool. After leaving the dam we headed the last 45 minutes of our driving portion of the trip to Las Vegas. We checked in to the MGM Grand and headed downstairs to explore the hotel. We ate dinner at the Buffet and then headed out on teh Strip to see the other casinos.
Jacqueline loved the Bellagio Fountains and we stayed there for about an hour. We also saw Caesars Palace and the new Aria, as well as the outsides of most of the other ones. We headed back to the hotel and said good night to Vegas.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The Grand Canyon
Today we woke up bright and early to drive an hour to the Grand Canyon. We went to the National Geographic Visitor’s Center and saw an Imax presentation of a Grand Canyon movie. After getting lunch, we got back on the road and drove a few more miles and entered the park. We then went to the official Visitor’s Center and found out what to do for the day.
We got our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon at the Mather’s Point located right behind the Visitor’s Center. The view was breathtaking and indescribable. It truly is somewhere you just have to visit to understand.
We then decided to rent bikes to ride up to the other vista points. Little did we know, we had our work cut out for us. The breathtaking views just got better and better as we slowly got more tired. After taking a few wrong turns, we finally found the correct path. Unfortunately, this path was up a steep mountain. Although the 5.5 miles were very hot, extremely steep, and at an elevation of over 7000 feet, WE MADE IT! Did we mention there were great views? At this point it really was the only thing pushing us forward.
After being told that most people take the shuttle up and bike down, we decided to take the bus back down. Once back at the Visitor’s Center, we turned in our bikes got some more Gatorade and water. We then headed out by car to the Desert View Visitor’s Center 25 miles away.
Along to way we stopped a few times to see the beautiful canyon. We then made it to the Desert View Watch Tower. We climbed 4 flights of spiral stairs (yes there was three because we felt EVERY step after that bike ride) to the top where we were able to look out over top the canyon. We could see the Colorado River and the rapids winding through the canyon. It really was beautiful.
We then started back, stopping along the way to watch the sunset over the canyon. Having loved our dinner so much last night (and having to go back that way anyway) we went back to the Red Raven for dinner again. We had the same waitress who was very sweet. We then drove two more hours to Kingman, AZ which is just our pit stop for the night on our way to the Hoover Dam. Tomorrow we will tell you about the dam from our MGM Grand King Suite in Las Vegas!
We got our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon at the Mather’s Point located right behind the Visitor’s Center. The view was breathtaking and indescribable. It truly is somewhere you just have to visit to understand.
We then decided to rent bikes to ride up to the other vista points. Little did we know, we had our work cut out for us. The breathtaking views just got better and better as we slowly got more tired. After taking a few wrong turns, we finally found the correct path. Unfortunately, this path was up a steep mountain. Although the 5.5 miles were very hot, extremely steep, and at an elevation of over 7000 feet, WE MADE IT! Did we mention there were great views? At this point it really was the only thing pushing us forward.
After being told that most people take the shuttle up and bike down, we decided to take the bus back down. Once back at the Visitor’s Center, we turned in our bikes got some more Gatorade and water. We then headed out by car to the Desert View Visitor’s Center 25 miles away.
Along to way we stopped a few times to see the beautiful canyon. We then made it to the Desert View Watch Tower. We climbed 4 flights of spiral stairs (yes there was three because we felt EVERY step after that bike ride) to the top where we were able to look out over top the canyon. We could see the Colorado River and the rapids winding through the canyon. It really was beautiful.
We then started back, stopping along the way to watch the sunset over the canyon. Having loved our dinner so much last night (and having to go back that way anyway) we went back to the Red Raven for dinner again. We had the same waitress who was very sweet. We then drove two more hours to Kingman, AZ which is just our pit stop for the night on our way to the Hoover Dam. Tomorrow we will tell you about the dam from our MGM Grand King Suite in Las Vegas!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Updates on Flickr and Photos
We have reliable internet finally in Arizona and have updated our posts and Flickr.
Driving and driving and driving....
Today we woke up and packed. We then started off for Williams, Arizona where our hotel for the Grand Canyon was. After a quick lunch, we drove out of 'civilization' and headed out into the desert. The desert in CA was very brown with strange black rocks. We drove for about four hours and needed to stop for a break. When we pulled into the rest area, the temperature gauge in the car read 111 degrees outside! We literally started sweating just slowly walking across the parking lot.
After our short break, we got back into the car and crossed into Arizona. There was almost an instant change in the desert. The sand turned to a beautiful reddish orange color with light golden grass and small green shrubs. It was really beautiful. As we continued to drive, we were able to see a beautiful sunset setting over the hills behind us.
We finally arrived at Williams, AZ after eight hours around 8pm. After getting a recommendation for somewhere to eat from the hotel, we drove a short way down the street to a place called the Red Raven. Excluding the home cooked meals we have had on this trip (nothing compares to home cooked food), this dinner was the best food by far. Jacqueline had chicken and garlic pasta and Michael had lamb ca-bobs. After an extremely good dinner, we dragged all of our stuff into the hotel and collapsed into bed. Tomorrow we are visiting the Grand Canyon. We are excited! Until tomorrow evening good night!
PS. We finally have a good internet connection at this hotel so we could upload pictures from the past few days. Check out flicker and our older blog posts if you would like to see :)
After our short break, we got back into the car and crossed into Arizona. There was almost an instant change in the desert. The sand turned to a beautiful reddish orange color with light golden grass and small green shrubs. It was really beautiful. As we continued to drive, we were able to see a beautiful sunset setting over the hills behind us.
We finally arrived at Williams, AZ after eight hours around 8pm. After getting a recommendation for somewhere to eat from the hotel, we drove a short way down the street to a place called the Red Raven. Excluding the home cooked meals we have had on this trip (nothing compares to home cooked food), this dinner was the best food by far. Jacqueline had chicken and garlic pasta and Michael had lamb ca-bobs. After an extremely good dinner, we dragged all of our stuff into the hotel and collapsed into bed. Tomorrow we are visiting the Grand Canyon. We are excited! Until tomorrow evening good night!
PS. We finally have a good internet connection at this hotel so we could upload pictures from the past few days. Check out flicker and our older blog posts if you would like to see :)
The Safari and Sammy's House
Today we woke up, ate breakfast at the hotel and headed for, yes, another architect iconic building. This build was called the Sulk Institute by Louis Kahn. It is a research facility on the ocean that was one of his most famous buildings. Both of us learned about it when we were in first year.
After a photo shoot of the building, we went to the San Diego Safari. We took a tram through the African plains. We saw rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest, and cheetahs all while on the tram. The other animals were in large enclosures and included lions, elephants, and gorillas. In the elephant enclosure we got to see two baby's playing in their pond. It was so cute! We also caught a glimps of the one week old gorilla baby.
We then went to our friend Samantha's house who just recently moved to San Diego. We had dinner there and caught up with eachother. Sammy's beautiful nine month old baby daughter and kitties provided hours of entertainment. Leaving all of them was so hard! We do have Christmas to look forward to when Sammy and the baby are supposed to come back to NJ. Can't wait!
Tomorrow we are off to the Grand Canyon! Good night:)
After a photo shoot of the building, we went to the San Diego Safari. We took a tram through the African plains. We saw rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest, and cheetahs all while on the tram. The other animals were in large enclosures and included lions, elephants, and gorillas. In the elephant enclosure we got to see two baby's playing in their pond. It was so cute! We also caught a glimps of the one week old gorilla baby.
We then went to our friend Samantha's house who just recently moved to San Diego. We had dinner there and caught up with eachother. Sammy's beautiful nine month old baby daughter and kitties provided hours of entertainment. Leaving all of them was so hard! We do have Christmas to look forward to when Sammy and the baby are supposed to come back to NJ. Can't wait!
Tomorrow we are off to the Grand Canyon! Good night:)
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