Las Vegas Road Trip

Overview

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My husband and I decided to take a cross country road trip from Wisconsin to Las Vegas. We drove the 25 hours with only stopping at the places we couldn't pass by - i.e. Loveland Pass (CO), Bryce Canyon (UT), Zion National Park (UT), and the Grand Canyon (AZ). We spent one week in Las Vegas and had the time of our lives. Overall, I would strongly suggest the road trip to anyone!Quick Tips: The National Parks were beautiful. The Autumn was a prefect time to go, because the weather was perfect for walking and there were no crowds.Las Vegas has so much to over everyone. We especially enjoyed a few shows (Zumanity, Blue Man Group, and Lancce Burton), sightseeing on the Strip (Shark R...Read More

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Grandview at Las Vegas

Hotel | "The Grand View at Las Vegas"

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We stayed in a one bedroom unit and were very comfortable. I have to admit that it does make it easier to stay in a hotel when it’s as nice as the Grand View. The room is very new and has a great sense of style. On the other hand, the hotel is a ways away from the action of the Strip. We did get sick of driving back and forth to the Strip. We were thankful that we had our own vehicle so that we could get to were we wanted to go with only a little hassle. I wouldn’t recommend taking the tour. The sales pitch was a lot longer than they said it would take, and we were very up front about not being interested. But at the same time they didn’t use high pressure techniques, they were just sl...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 5, 2007

Grandview at Las Vegas
9940 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas 89123
(702) 966-4700

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Hard Rock Cafe

Restaurant

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The Hard Rock Cafe was easy to find even though it is off the strip. Just look for the 45 foot neon guitar at the entrance. The hard rock cafe is also part of the Hard Rock Hotel. We were in Vegas over Thanksgiving and went to the Hard Rock Cafe for Thanksgiving meal. When we arrived we knew that something wasn't quite right when there were lines of homeless people. We were happy to see that Hard Rock did such as positive thing for the community. (Although the homeless people weren't actually allowed in the restaurant. They had to eat on the curb.) We came back later in the evening for a very nice meal. Although Hard Rock is know for hamburgers, we tried something a little different. I had a sandwich ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on April 6, 2007

Hard Rock Cafe
4475 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 733-8400

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Zumanity

Attraction

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Cirque du Soleil describes Zumanity as "the other side of Cirque du Soleil." I would describe Zumanity as the highlight of our stay in Vegas. The show is absolutely hilarious from the first minute. Actually, even before the first minute of the show. As guests are taking their seats, this waitresses (who aren't actually waitresses at all) pass out chocolate cover strawberries, and get the crowd laughing. Be aware that the humor is definitely directed for adults. In fact, you must be 18 or older to even attend the show. Zumanity explores every aspect of sexuality from nude scenes, to the jokes and language, to the props used. I know that you can order tickets ahead of time, but we bought them at the box...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 5, 2007

Zumanity

New York, New York

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Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

Attraction | "Blue Man Group"

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The husband really wanted to see this show. Blue Man is performed by three mute men. The trio is covered in blue paint. In the show they use a lot of odd props like paint balls, PVC piping, Captain Crunch, and tons of paper. There is also a large portion of audience participation. The tickets were about $69 per person and we had awful seats. We were so high that I couldn't even read all of their signs. The show was high energy and had some really great parts, like when they put paint inside the drums and it splattered all over. The people towards the front are given plastic rain ponchos to protect them from the paint. The show is great for a family, and I'm sure kids would love to towards the front an...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on April 5, 2007

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(877) 883-6423

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Venetian Gondola Rides

Attraction | "Gondola Ride"

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The gondola ride at the Venetian is modeled after authentic Venetian gondolas and look pretty neat. After the ride I felt a little disappointed and thought that the ride was not worth it. You can choose from the indoor gondola ride ($15 for adults and $7.50 for children 12 and younger) or the outdoor gondola ride ($12.50 for adults and $7.50 for children 12 and under). And if you really want it to be romantic you can spring for a private gondola which are $60 of inside and $50 for outside. We went on the outdoor ride and we shared with another couple. The ride was only about 10 minutes. The Gondola covers areas that you can see from the strip. The Gondolier was a nice lady with an awesome voic...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on April 5, 2007

Venetian Gondola Rides
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(877) 883-6423

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Bryce Canyon National Park

Attraction

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This was what made our endless hours of driving worth it. Bryce Canyon is the nicest National Park I've ever been to. Although it's called Bryce Canyon it's really not a canyon at all. The total park is about 18 miles long. It's possible to hike most of the park or you can get to many of the locations by driving. We drove to the different look out points because we were on a schedule, but I wish we would have had the time to hike around more. The Hoodoos are the offical name of the detailed rock formations. These formations were caused by both wind and water over time. The rocks have such a brillant orange color that just enhances their appeal. This is one place you just have to see for yourself to re...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 5, 2007

Bryce Canyon National Park
PO Box 170001
St. George, Utah 84717-0001
(435) 834-5322

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Zion National Park

Attraction

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Zion is a 146,560 acre National Park. The canyon is carved out by the Virgin River and it has steep rock towers and high mesas. It is neat to be inside of the canyon looking up at the massive rocks instead of always being on the top looking down into the canyon (like the Grand Canyon). One of the highlights is driving through the 1 mile narrow pitch black tunnel through the mesa. We did enjoy seeing wildlife (wild Mule Deer within 30 - 50 feet). We were a little disappointed with this park compared to some of the other parks in Utah. And if you live in rural areas don't spend the time walking to the Emerald Pool! It's a hike (especially for kids), and it's not much more than a puddle.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on April 7, 2007

Zion National Park
Zion Boulevard
Zion National Park, Utah 84767
(435) 772-3256

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Bonnie Springs Old Nevada

Attraction | "Old Nevada"

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Old Nevada (a.k.a. Bonnie Springs Ranch) is an old time western town that is equipped with everything from a bandit, sheriff, and a hanging at noon. There is also a small petting zoo. I do have to admit that Old Nevada looks authentic with their rustic buildings. Plus the setting is in front beautiful mountains. So it is a perfect for a western. You can wander the town (it's only about a block long), taking peeps into well-replicated places of business, such as a blacksmith shop, a working mill, a saloon, and an old-fashioned general store.Old Nevada is about 20 miles outside of Las Vegas, just a couple miles away from Red Rock Canyon. You can easily go to both Old Nevada and Red Rock Canyon o...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on April 7, 2007

Bonnie Springs Old Nevada
1 Gunfighter Lane
Blue Diamond, Nevada 89004
(702) 875-4191

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Grand Canyon National Park

Attraction

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I've heard the Grand Canyon referred to as the "Canyon of all Canyons". Once you lay eyes on it, you have to agree. The canyon is unbelievable, but the park is also crowded and a little hectic.After waiting in line on Highway 64 for about two hours to get into the park, we started at the Yavapai Point View Point. This was a nice place to begin because you can really see and imagine how the Colorado River ate away the rock to form this massive canyon. Next, we headed to the Yaki Point. At this point you can see some of the hiking trails. We didn't have enough to hike around at the canyon, but we prepared before you attempt to hike. The Grandview Point is one of the better view poin...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 22, 2007

Grand Canyon National Park
P.o. Box 129
Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023
(928) 638-7888

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Red Rock Canyon

Attraction

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Red Rock Canyon is about 15 miles out of Las Vegas, and it's worth a visit. In fact, it's so close to Vegas that you can see the red rocks from all over the city.The canyon is made up of 197,000 acres within the Mojave Desert. Red Rock is an area of worldwide geologic interest and beauty. When arriving at the park, first stop at the spacious vistors center. The facility offers information about available recreation, wildlife, wild horses and burros, vegetation, geology, and cultural history. There is also a gift shop inside the vistors center if you're looking for some maps or souvenirs. The best part of vistor's center, however, is the Desert Tortoise, Mojave Max, who has taken up res...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 24, 2007

Red Rock Canyon
Highway 159 at Scenic Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89124
(702) 363-1921

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Loveland Pass

Story/Tip

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On our trip from Wisconsin to Las Vegas, we took Interstate-70 West from Denver. As we headed over the mountains, we took Loveland Pass to get a bit more of a scenic view. This drive was worth every terrifying minute of the drive. The pass reaches an elevation of 11,990 feet. The road is considered to be especially treacherous during the winter months—we took the challenge in late November. The construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel in the 1970s allowed motorists on Interstate 70 to avoid crossing the pass directly. Some trucks cannot pass through the tunnel and must still cross the pass on US-6. As you go over the pass, there are very few guard rails and you can't help but get nervous. There ar...Read More

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Top 10 FREE things to do in Vegas!

Story/Tip

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Who doesn’t love things that are free? Well, Las Vegas is full of things to see and do that absolutely free. Here is my “Top 10 list of Free Things in Las Vegas”.10 – Garden in the Flamingo. There are lots of different birds like flamingos, penguins, an African Bird, and other animals like fish. It only takes a few minutes to walk through, but it’s worth a quick stop.9 – Atrium at the Bellagio. The Atrium is open 24 hours a day and the theme changes for each season. The botanical gardens encompass approximately 14,000 square feet and each flower is replaced every two weeks by an expert to keep everything looking prefect.8 – Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand. The habit...Read More

Who doesn’t love things that are free? Well, Las Vegas is full of things to see and do that absolutely free. Here is my “Top 10 list of Free Things in Las Vegas”.

10 – Garden in the Flamingo. There are lots of different birds like flamingos, penguins, an African Bird, and other animals like fish. It only takes a few minutes to walk through, but it’s worth a quick stop.

9 – Atrium at the Bellagio. The Atrium is open 24 hours a day and the theme changes for each season. The botanical gardens encompass approximately 14,000 square feet and each flower is replaced every two weeks by an expert to keep everything looking prefect.

8 – Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand. The habitat is open from 11am-10pm daily. The Habitat is quite large and there is a number of viewing areas.

7 – Bird Shows at the Tropicana. The shows are great for kids and adults, too. Shows are at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm daily. The show includes colorful parrots, macaws, and cockatoos that do all sorts of tricks like riding a bicycle, flying through hoops, as well as singing and dancing.

6 – Sirens at TI. This free show is in the front of Treasure Island (TI) and consist of slightly trashy female pirates that battle a renegade of horny male pirates. Overall, the show was OK, but I was a little disappointed. Shows run at 7pm, 8:30pm, 10pm, and 11:30pm and it gets crowded fast so get there a little early.

5 – Masquerade Village at the Rio. We weren’t actually able to see this because it was closed the week we were there getting ready for Christmas. But based off of what we heard from others, it is an excellent show. It is $25 million of floats that travel above the casino, dancers, musicians, aerialists, and stilt-walkers. Performers supposedly drop from the ceiling and raise from the floor to make a pretty exciting show. Shows are on a rotating schedule of 3, 4, and 5pm, and 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30pm.

4 – One free pull at the Tropicana Slot Machine. At the hotel entrance you can take one free pull each time you go into the Tropicana. Prizes include cash, show tickets, meal coupons, drink coupon, a deck cards.

3 – Volcano at the Mirage. The volcano is set on a three-acre lagoon and is a magnificent display of more than 3000 lights computerized to simulate flowing lava. The eruptions is spectacular but the lead up to the eruption is dragged out a bit. Shows are on the hour starting at 7pm and going until midnight.

2 – Freemont Street Experience. This is a $70 million light and sound show that takes place 90 feet overhead and four long blocks along a pedestrian mall downtown. It feels like your watching a huge TV in the sky that stretches on forever. There are five different shows that run nightly. Shows start at 8pm and start on the hour until midnight.

1 – Fountains at the Bellagio. The fountains consist of one thousand fountains that dance in front of the Bellagio Hotel. It is a combination of water, music, and lights. The overall display is huge and the water soars as high as 240 feet in the sky. The fountains are choreographed to music anywhere from Elton John to Elvis Presley to the classics. Show times are every 30 minutes from 3pm until 7pm on weekdays, every 30 minutes from noon to 7pm on weekends, and every 15 minutes from 7pm to midnight every night. Read Less

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Nevada Journals

Las Vegas Road Trip