Las Vegas 2019/20
Christmas 2019 saw us packing our bags and heading south to Las Vegas Nevada. With no family joining us this year and no plans for a trip home just yet, it was simply a place close by with better weather away from the usual Christmas melee. The short flight went smoothly and after collecting a Mustang Convertible from the rental car place at the airport we arrived at the Mandalay Bay Hotel by early afternoon.
Once settled into our room we opted for a walk down the famous Las Vegas Strip as far as the Venetian, 2 miles from our resort. We don't go to Las Vegas for the cacophony of noise, lights and voices that fill the strip 24 hours a day. We go because everything is always open, Christmas day we had hundreds of restaurants to choose from, taxis, monorail, buses, bars and entertainment delivered non stop in another city that never sleeps.
The main image below is taken from a balcony in the Venetian looking out to the Mirage hotel opposite, the tall bell tower and lakes below are also part of the Venetian.
Once settled into our room we opted for a walk down the famous Las Vegas Strip as far as the Venetian, 2 miles from our resort. We don't go to Las Vegas for the cacophony of noise, lights and voices that fill the strip 24 hours a day. We go because everything is always open, Christmas day we had hundreds of restaurants to choose from, taxis, monorail, buses, bars and entertainment delivered non stop in another city that never sleeps.
The main image below is taken from a balcony in the Venetian looking out to the Mirage hotel opposite, the tall bell tower and lakes below are also part of the Venetian.
The next morning we were keen to get out to the desert and explore. We opted for the Mojave, but before arriving there we stopped off at the Seven Magic Mountains desert artwork just outside the city of Las Vegas. Created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. It was opened in 2016 as a "creative expression of human presence in the desert"
The art installation is just a 15 minute stop off along the way and we are soon entering the Mojave National Preserve at Baker California. with the top down on the mustang we were ready for off. Our choice was a two hour drive in an anticlockwise direction from Baker through Kelso and back around to Interstate 15. We travelled slowly, stopping off and wandering as we wished through the beautiful Joshua Trees and cacti.
With the threat of rain the next day we decided to stay local and do a little shopping, we drove out to a large mall at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip and spent the day shopping and playing fruit machines in the casino back at the hotel.
The next morning the threat of rain remained, so we jumped on the monorail to a point halfway along the strip and then explored Ceasars Palace, a huge shopping mall and the inside of the Venetian.
The next morning the threat of rain remained, so we jumped on the monorail to a point halfway along the strip and then explored Ceasars Palace, a huge shopping mall and the inside of the Venetian.
As we left the Venetian the rain began so we stopped off for a bite to eat before taking a taxi back to the hotel. With Sarah in the shower I opted for a couple of hours out on the strip with the camera catching reflections on the wet pavement.
For Christmas eve and day we stayed around the hotel and strip, shopping, eating and enjoying a few days free of the camera. We took in the 'One' show by Cirque du Soleil which was excellent if a little long.
After two days on the strip we needed to get away and hopped in the car for the 40 minute drive to the Hoover Dam. It seems a lot of people had the same idea, it was very busy. We made the walk across the dam and back before heading out again.
After two days on the strip we needed to get away and hopped in the car for the 40 minute drive to the Hoover Dam. It seems a lot of people had the same idea, it was very busy. We made the walk across the dam and back before heading out again.
From the Hoover Dam we dropped into Boulder City for fuel and a coffee before taking the Northshore road around Lake Mead to the Valley of Fire State Park. Along the way we stopped again at a wide red sand Wadi and hiked along it to stretch the legs a little.
The Valley of Fire is a place we have been to before and would return to in a heartbeat. The coloured rocks are a stunning sight, even more so with a good sunset. On this occasion we ran out of time to reach a good spot for sunset, we were too busy wandering the rocks and talking about incredible sights when we realised that time was running out.
As it turns out the sunset was a bit poor, though we did catch a distant glimpse as you can see in the last image in the gallery below.
As it turns out the sunset was a bit poor, though we did catch a distant glimpse as you can see in the last image in the gallery below.
After another day in the city we made the longer drive out to Death Valley National Park in California. Without stops it takes about 2.5 hours to reach Badwater Basin, but it's impossible to make that drive and not stop at some of the stunning desert locations in the park along the way.
We did finally make it to Badwater and made the hike out into the salt flats there, it's an extraordinary sight that I visited alone just a few months ago and really wanted Sarah to experience it too. It was a fantastic day and the highlight of the trip so far.
On the way out we stopped off at 'area 51' for fuel and a snack and grabbed a couple of little things for Ethan including a glow in the dark alien.
We did finally make it to Badwater and made the hike out into the salt flats there, it's an extraordinary sight that I visited alone just a few months ago and really wanted Sarah to experience it too. It was a fantastic day and the highlight of the trip so far.
On the way out we stopped off at 'area 51' for fuel and a snack and grabbed a couple of little things for Ethan including a glow in the dark alien.
Our final road trip was again, one we have done before. It was the section of the old route 66 between Kingman and Oatman Arizona. the aim is to reach Oatman and see the old western town and it's resident donkeys that wander the streets as they wish.
The section of the old route 66 itself is worth the trip, it is a wonderful, winding, mountainous, desert highway with so many stopping points you might never make your target destination.
The section of the old route 66 itself is worth the trip, it is a wonderful, winding, mountainous, desert highway with so many stopping points you might never make your target destination.
In Oatman we found the town has grown a little since we last saw it and certainly become more popular, but that has brought more businesses to the struggling little place so it's a good thing. There were so many donkeys in the street this time and they really added to the day. The donkeys come from the old mine workings which were closed in the late 1920's and the workhorses released into the surrounding desert.
Several generations later they are a protected 'wild' species and thriving in and around the town of Oatman. You can purchase small bricks of hay to feed them too, but it's important to know, they will bite you, and your bags, chew straps and generally do as they like in pursuit of food. They will 'shoo' away easy enough but if you are distracted for a moment don't be surprised to find one chewing your belongings when you turn around.
Several generations later they are a protected 'wild' species and thriving in and around the town of Oatman. You can purchase small bricks of hay to feed them too, but it's important to know, they will bite you, and your bags, chew straps and generally do as they like in pursuit of food. They will 'shoo' away easy enough but if you are distracted for a moment don't be surprised to find one chewing your belongings when you turn around.
The finale of our wonderful holiday was the New Years Eve fireworks on the strip. The street is closed to vehicles and over 300,000 people took to the open space to see the show. Sarah and I took to our hotel room to watch it as it provided a great vantage point. The main image is a composite of several shots taken during the display. The gallery below has a small selection of single frame images.
The next day we returned the rental car to the airport a day before it was due, and checked over the hotel bill that evening in preparation for our early departure. Suddenly our wonderful trip was done, we had enjoyed another trip of a lifetime and were on the way home. It was great to have Sarah with me for two whole weeks without interruption, I'm sure it will be some time before we can do it all again.