Las Vegas

Thousand Trails
Las Vegas Thousand Trail is actually in the city quite a ways south of the Vegas strip where you find the bulk of the large casinos.  It's a very tight RV park.  Gravel sites with full hookups.  A storm last February dropped a tree on their clubhouse and it, the pool and free wifi have been down for the last year.  A pay for internet company was supplying wifi for the park, but we were assured they were working on the free system. There is "do not cross" tape surrounding the clubhouse area and several of the restroom are also under renovation.  We came there for the wifi so we could do taxes and catch up on a few things that required internet so we were disappointed.

Valley of Fire

Around the Las Vegas area are several State Parks/National Conservation Areas.  Valley of Fire State Park was our first daytrip.  We packed a lunch, gathered our maps, and headed out.  I had seen a few pictures of this area, but I wasn't really prepared for how scenic this "scenic area" was.  The hillsides and rocks were layered in reds and browns.  The rock formations were weathered in such a way to make you feel you were walking on the ocean floor.  We drove through a campground there and wished we had the RV with us so we could stay.  Stopped at McDonalds for ice cream cones on the way back.


Red Rock Canyon
The next day we drove to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.  Still in the desert, but a wholly different desert feel.  The rocks while red didn't have the vibrant colors of the Valley of Fire.  There was also more vegetation.  Cactus and some trees.  The large ones reminded us of home.  We hiked to a box canyon with a waterfall.  Spectacular drive both in and out of the area.


Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
A few days later we went to see Hoover Dam.  Saying it's magnificent doesn't cover it.  We took the Powerhouse tour deep inside the dam.  The guide was from New York City and was very colorful/entertaining in his interactions with the group and descriptions of the construction process and use of the dam.




Next we drove to Lake Mead (the lake formed by the dam) and took a Paddle Wheel Ship cruise.  They even gave us a senior discount.  $3.00 off is $3.00 off.  Fun times.  We approached the dam from the backside and just basically enjoyed the small part of the lake we did see.



Las Vegas

We had previously visited Las Vegas on our fifteenth anniversary and had some very good memories of the casino experience.  We are not gamblers and not fond of cigarette smoke so it wasn't for the gambling.  At that time Vegas was becoming more "family friendly" and had added some theme park-ish things to their casinos.   A gondola type ride around the Luxor, many movie displays and a theme park behind the MGM Grand, and a sailing ship the was sunk at Treasure Island.  I guess these were not financially worthwhile.  None of these things remain.  The Casinos are hotels with gambling, expensive shows, and convention centers.  The Bellagio fountain was still wonderful and Caesars Palace mall area was still a site to see.  The rest "not so much" for us.

The surrounding area made this one of our very favorite stops.  With still more to see.