Key West is the southernmost tip of Florida, but feels like the Caribbean with a laid back style all its own. There are so many activities here for families and couples. It’s also an easy days drive from a cruise port making it a perfect add-on to your cruise vacation. If you’re not doing a cruise; Miami is the closest major airport and rental cars abound.
You’ll have your choice of places to sleep here. Whether you prefer to to be lulled to sleep on your boat hotel, take drinks poolside at a resort, you prefer the ease of an Airbnb, or you’re parking your RV; there are endless options in Key West. Since we’re a military family I booked a townhome at a local Navy base that was mere minutes from downtown.
The first thing we did was take an old town trolley tour to get a lay of the land. These are always a wonderful way to get a high level overview of each town along with information on places you’d like to explore further. Since it’s a hop in/ off tour you can go explore then pick up right where you left off.
One of the things the kids wanted to stop for was one of the world famous dessert… key lime pie. This was a frozen chocolate covered slice on a stick.
There are many places to find this treat within Key West, but for the best mile high merengue topped slice head over to Blue Heaven.
While you’re on the trolley make time to see Flagler’s Casa Marina hotel or the Harry S Truman Little White House. One of our favorite museums is the Mel Fisher maritime heritage museum. Here you can feel the weight of a bar of gold in your hands and explore the riches that were found in a shipwreck. While you’re here head outside to take a photo with a massive Banyan tree!
While you’re taking photos go a few blocks further to the cruise port and recreate the famous sailor kissing statue with your special someone.
Mallory square after dark is a must. The carnival like atmosphere in comfortable temperatures is fun for kids and adults alike.
Here you can snap a photo with your kids favorite characters, take part in a juggling show, or do some souvenir shopping.
A don’t miss tourist spot is the Southernmost point buoy. Get there early, it’s always warm and there’s always a line. While waiting in line you may spy roadside vendors hawking coconut drinks. It’s a fun treat on a warm day and so unique for kids to try.
After a good nights sleep Mathers beach was calling our name. The name may not come to mind, but the famous crooked palm tree on the beach is famous.
After a few hours of sun soaked fun we showered up and went for an awesome seafood dinner followed by some Tarpon feeding.
For our last morning of the trip we spent the day trying something new to us. We rented stand up paddle boards and beach chairs and made a day of it at the base marina.
The kids loved splashing in the water, strolling the beach and a break for burgers at lunch. Many applications of sunscreen later we headed home to grill a few steaks and get some sleep.
Since we live in Florida we simply opted to drive the length of Florida to get back home. There are several tourist attractions along the way including History of Diving Museum and the large key lobster.
One last meal at Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill in Key Largo was burgers for the kids and tuna nachos for me and the hubby.
All in all we had so much fun making family memories. Key West is a major tourist draw and best if planned well in advanced especially for the most popular times of the year including spring break, Christmas holidays and lobster season; August through March.
I took a leap of faith. I quit my full time job to pursue traveling. I love what I do as a medical imaging professional and I feel that caring for others is a path I’ve had a calling to do, but I love travel. From the time I was a child my military father would move us around the country and my mother would take me as her travel buddy exploring each new city as well as far flung places. The seed was planted and staying in any one place too long just didn’t sit right. I always thought the only traveling professionals were nurses until 8 years ago when I met another allied health traveler. The timing wasn’t right, but it allowed me to dream of a future where I could combine my career of choice and my passion for travel. Being paid to intensively explore a new area of America every 3 months with as much time as I wanted to take off between assignments was a dream. And thus, I accepted a contract position in southern Oregon. Just about as far as one can get from Florida. I opted to take a weeklong solo road trip across America to get there.
Starting at home we took some time to play to tourist in St. Augustine, Fl. We camped at Anastasia state park, walked the beach, enjoyed some donuts, visited the Alligator Farm, Ripley’s believe it or not, the oldest school house, the old jail and the oldest store, and a few other things. I’ll save that for another blog post.
Early Sunday morning I did the last minute packing and set out for St. Louis. A nearly 13 hour drive along a route I had done many times before. I saw deer grazing along the interstate, watched the sun rise over a Coca Cola factory in Tifton and stopped at a Buc-ees in Macon.
I arrived to my friends house in time for a lovely walk around her neighborhood and then we set of for dinner at a 1920s era restored soda fountain aptly named Fountain on Locust. We’ve been here for dessert before, but I’d never tried their food. I ordered the two cups of soup and side salad special. That nights soup of the day was an amazing curry mulligatawny and my other choice was a white chicken chili with the Stutz special salad. Everything here is made in house and I don’t think you could be disappointed by any of it.
The atmosphere here feels indulgent. Old varnished wooden booths, richly colored walls, ornate lighting and era style music piped in just add to the experience.
Unquestionably, you need to order dessert here. Whether that dessert is alcoholic in the form of a multi-page choice of cocktails or ice cream you can’t go wrong. They are, however, famous for their late night delight. A fantastical sundae meant for sharing. A house made slice of pineapple upside down cake topped with butter pecan, coconut and butter pecan ice creams, drizzled with a bourbon sauce, whipped cream and brûléed bananas.
If you just can’t decide… well, I don’t blame you, but you can order the gambler. They make sure there isn’t anything you’ll either hate or be allergic to and the bartender whips you up a surprise sundae.
I was exhausted and passed out despite the sugar rush. Luckily for me, my friends are also early risers and we set off across town to The Shake for a few laughs over the menu, a chance to scribble on the walls and eat some gut bustlingly, filling breakfast choices.
I had “Ma, the meatloaf “ a bacon wrapped chunk of meatloaf atop crispy hash browns topped with two sunny side up eggs and gravy. It was spicy, savory and a delight. My friends ordered the “make your own dang quesadilla” (a breakfast version they do, in fact, make for you), as well as “why the French hate us”; a sausage hot dog placed in a croissant and topped with scrambled eggs, cheese and sausage gravy. We split the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Belgian waffle.
Fully satisfied I hugged my friends goodbye and drove to my next destination to see another friend. My goal was an easy 7 hour drive to Lincoln, Nebraska home of the Cornhuskers. Since I didn’t want to arrive before they finished work I built in a pit stop in Kansas City, Mo.
Here, I was able to take in the WWI memorial and the money museum. The museum is located at the federal reserve. It requires reservations, but it is free and includes parking. It’s a short walk from the memorial. It was a cute little space that had displays of old coins and cash and gives you the chance to watch employees of the reserve count and pack thousands of dollars in cash at a time. You even get to walk out with a bag of (shredded) money for free.
As it was lunch time I followed a few great reviews and drove to Joe’s Kansas City BBQ for a meal. You can’t stop in a city at lunch and not grab a bite of an iconic cuisine.
I wasn’t altogether hungry so I ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of mac ‘n cheese. Everything was delicious! I waited in line for nearly an hour on a weekday at noon, but I’d do it again. The bread for the sandwich was very fresh, the sauce was tasty and the smell of smoked meats filled the air. While the Mac ‘n cheese side was expensive it was one of the best, creamiest Mac ‘n cheese dishes I’ve ever had. If I ever stop by again I would prioritize this dish. If you come here get yourself some.
As I was leaving I saw the local farmers market arena and stopped to take a photo of the murals.
On the road once again, I had a few hours until my next destination. It went relatively quickly listening to podcasts. I arrived late in the afternoon and caught up with my friends. They took me to the old rail yard area that has been converted to bars, restaurants and shops all centrally located near the college football stadium. I’d begged my friends to take me for a steak dinner which they obliged, but first took me on a lovely tour showing off their great city.
While I’m sure my experience was not typical, I was extremely disappointed by the service and quality of our steak dinner. I feel terrible my friends had to experience such a poor meal when we’d all had such high hopes. Once I’d finally gotten the steak properly cooked, and had a steak knife brought out it was ok. I don’t think I’d go back unless it was for whisky. They have a stellar selection.
After dinner we drove to the campus for dessert at the Dairy Store. An ice cream parlor run by college students. He showed off the building he went to school and they pointed out where they’d taken their daughter for a photo shoot as an infant. By the way, the tractor test toffee was pretty darn tasty. If I ever went back earlier in the day, they also sell coffee and they’re missing a chance to sell affogato, but I’m sure they’d be willing to make one if requested.
Early the next morning, I took a walk in the neighborhood full of charming homes with beautiful lawns. When everyone was up and ready to go we headed to breakfast.
Good Evans is adorable. It’s an insta-worthy breakfast and lunch place for sure. The decision was a tough one, but I was in need of something erring in the side of healthy so I went for the steel cut oats and sourdough bread.
Once again I was packed into my car and on the road with miles of corn fields and rolling hills between me and my next destination. This time I was planning to spend two nights with my brother in Estes Park, Co. my parents drove down to see me as well. We cooked dinner at home and my mom made cannolis for desert. You couldn’t beat the view!
Waking in the morning we savored a cup of coffee on the back porch wrapped up in sweats. 44 degrees in the summer is pretty chilly for me.
Once the sun came out I changed to shorts and we went into town to enjoy a canoe ride on Lake Estes.
My niece works at the Marina so she was able to join me on the canoe. My parents opted to go shopping for that nights dinner instead.
We had a make your own fajita bar and I went for a bowl. My sister in law is from Texas so when she does Mexican food she does all the fixings and some adult lemonade to savor right along with it.
I hugged out my goodbyes and took off down the road just after sunrise. I had a long day ahead but wanted to drive with the sun as there are so many animals that an accident is much likelier in the dark. In fact, big horn sheep were grazing on the side of the road as I made my way down.
Driving west across Wyoming I came across various snow fences and it made me remember my high school years in North Dakota. I realized how removed I am from a way of life where I worry about blowing winds closing the interstate with drifts of snow.
I drove past buttes at the Flaming River gorge as I made my way into Utah.
The scenery began to change from white and green plains to red rocks as I crawled ever closer to the border.
About an hour and half west of Salt Lake City lie the Bonneville Salt Flats. Here you can surround yourself with miles and miles of salt caked to the ground. Not only does the dazzling white crust feel like another planet, the mountains in the background add to the atmosphere. It’s wild driving on a pure white salt road for miles. Arriving a day before the annual speedway races, there were quite a few racers already setting up camp, yet I was able to find a place all to myself.
In photographs the mountains seem so minute. There really is no way to give scale to this much salt. My car was crusted, my feet were caked and the black carpets of my car were all covered in salt. It was 104 degrees in the desert even with rain clouds starting to move in. I’d definitely need a car wash now.
My final destination for the evening was Elko, NV. You could see the silhouette of mountains looming but the smoke from forest fires hundreds of miles away kept them from being defined shapes. I checked into my room and walked down the street to Wingers and ordered a half Cobb salad and ate about half of that. This thing was loaded to the brim with goodies! A quarter of an avocado, half a grilled chicken breast, a whole egg, loads of bacon bits and cheese. It was amazing. I was more tired than hungry and didn’t manage a photo. I gulped a bunch of water and headed to bed.
My original plan had me waking early as usual with a several hour pit stop in Lassen Volcanic national park, but the park was closed due to the Dixie wildfire so I relaxed in bed for a bit longer. Breakfast was included at my hotel so I ate a decent enough meal to ensure I wouldn’t have a need to stop for lunch if that became iffy. Who knows what is closed when wildfires abound.
I started seeing sides of the road all the way up the nearby hills with charred trees and scorched grasses. These were old, but the smell of fires clung to the air.
Further up near the top of the hill passing through the Lassen national forest the smoke got intense blotting out the sun and firefighters had roads roped off.
It felt truly eerie. I said a silent prayer for all those affected by the fires and the people fighting them. I can’t imagine what they’re feeling. As I came off of the mountain the sky had regained some of its blue color and the sun started to shine again. Dropping into Redding, Ca the smoke is still around, but it’s comparatively less intense. I happened to drive right past a wonderful $10 car wash with attendants that use brushes to hand scrub your car before sending it through the wash and finish by hand drying it with a chamois. I didn’t even have to wait in line, although, there was one when I finished. I unloaded my things at the hotel and stopped at Trader Joe’s for some frozen Indian food I could microwave back at the room. If you haven’t tried it, the channa masala is wonderful with their fresh naan. One thing did catch my eye and I had to grab it.
A very tangy, sweet crunch of popcorn. I’m a sucker for key lime and this version is so good.
Redwood national park
After spending the evening stretching out in my hotel room I fell asleep early and woke up to the last leg of my trip. A drive through Northern California up I-5 through Ashford, Oregon; a town known for their Shakespearean festival, and Medford on my way to the coast. My final destination was a small coastal town a few miles from the California border. I took in as many sites of this gorgeous coastline as time allowed, but I had to meet my landlord and take care of a few items to be ready to start my new contract here in southern Oregon.
I’ll have plenty of time to explore the beaches and river in my new “home”. I hope you’ll join me on some more adventures in the PNW.
Salt Lake City is an easy to navigate airport with flights coming in from all over. It makes for a simple starting point to any vacation out west. We arrived late in the evening and picked up our rental car then drove up the mountains to our Airbnb.
We stayed at the Silver king resort. A ski resort that backs right up to the parking lot of one of the local ski resorts. It’s a perfect location for skiing in the winter and trail running in the summer. In the off season it’s supremely affordable with 2 large rooms, 2 bathrooms, a full kitchen, living room and in unit washer and dryer. It also includes underground parking and an indoor/outdoor pool (as well as hot tub) for year round fun. With a 7 year old we got daily use of this awesome pool.
I woke up at sunrise and was happy to find the weather in the low 60s and the sun just starting to come up as I made my way out for a short run around the town and golf course.
The beautiful downtown is in full bloom with each storefront having their own brilliant display of floral arrangements.
The Phoenix theater was worthy of a stop. The Egyptian details are colorful and abundant.
If you’re from a flat state this quaint town will give you a run for your money. Even my daughter had a tough time just walking. Between elevation and decent hills, it’s a good workout.
In town there’s a lovely bike bath, sound garden, skating park, restaurants and lots of stores. There is also a local distillery if you’re a whisky fan it’s a great place to check out. There are lots of photo worthy stops to take in. We enjoyed the art galleries and sculptures around town.
We opted to pick on activity for each day so we had something to look forward to, but also allowing us some downtime since we were on vacation after all. The first day was horseback riding at Deer Valley. I had to do some research to find a place that allowed younger children and 7 was the minimum age for this 1 hour tour. At first, my daughter was scared but after 5 min she asked if we could buy our own horse. Now it’s an activity she requests on every vacation.
For dinner we had a quick pizza on a balcony at Red Banjo pizza parlor in a restaurant that had been established in 1962, but the building has around since the late 1880s. The view of Main Street from the balcony as the sun set was better than the pizza.
The next morning started with a trail run. The first mile or two was tough, choosing to go straight up the slope instead of the switchbacks in order to hit the best parts quickly. There was more walking than running but it was still exhilarating. Taking in the elk, the wild flowers and aspen trees was literally a breath of fresh air from the swampy heat of summer in florida.
This morning instead of eating in the info we visited Riverhorse provisions for a light breakfast. It’s an old fashioned grocer style. You can buy items to go or order at the counter and have them brought to your table. The breakfast burrito was a big hit and the m&m cannoli was impossible to resist with my latte.
Today’s activity was river rafting on the Weber river. It involves a decent drive out of town so we threw on our swimsuit, packed the sunscreen and water shoes and took off for an afternoon of fun. The rafting ride includes a drink and even younger children can enjoy themselves on this quiet part of the river. There is one very small section with milk currents they can enjoy, but this is not whitewater. Our guide was a knowledgeable college student who pointed out all of the formations, encouraged us to hop out when it was safe and led us crouching under a very low bridge. It was an adventure we all enjoyed.
As we were close to town I had been eyeballing some milkshakes at Burley burger in south weber and it was a perfect dinner stop. If you’re really hungry then have a massive burger, fries and shake food challenge. I don’t think we could’ve finished it between the three of us!
We spent the remainder of the day splashing at the pool and then had an early bedtime.
This morning we, again, drove up to Deer Valley for paddle boarding around the lake. We opted not to go further out as a small pond allowed my daughter to captain a board all by herself. It was a fun way to enjoy a few hours on a lake that doesn’t have waves or gators. Both of which I’m thankful to enjoy.
After getting cleaned up we headed out for a hike. Donut falls was calling our names! This is a very easy hike through some great forest areas with an end at a waterfall that flows through a donut shaped rock formation. It was a very popular spot for both family hikes and family photo sessions.
We finished the hike later in the evening and we’re stunned by a beautiful sunset yet again.
Our last day in Park city. I went for another, longer trail run. 9 miles just flew by and I wished I’d had all day to explore.
Today’s fun activities were all located at the Olympic village; host of the 2002 Winter Olympics. We enjoyed the museum and watched people do the ski jumps. All of the fun stuff here is included with a wristband for limitless fun during a 2 hour session. We tried tubing, the ropes course, the alpine sled and that was about it, but is a bit more to see if you don’t spend too much time in any one place.
We had an early dinner at an Bartolo’s; it’s only a few miles from the village in the little shopping area.
Goodbye Park City! We loaded the rental car and drove out of the mountains into Salt Lake City. We would’ve had more fun exploring downtown, but everything of interest was closed due to Covid. I was glad we didn’t book a full day there. We did enjoy a great brunch at Sweetlake biscuits & limeade.
While downtown we did get some pictures in front of the spectacular Mormon church and around the square despite it being under construction. The flowers here were so plentiful it scented the entire square.
We then drove to the airport for our next adventure with plans to return to see more of Utah.
As one drives into Sedona the red rocks appear almost out of nowhere. This was our first view of Sedona and it was everything I had hoped it would be. A few days of glorious spring weather and tons of breathtaking scenery.
We stayed at the Orchards inn right in downtown Sedona. It’s tucked back down an alley on the corner by the pink jeep tour company and includes free parking making it especially easy to navigate downtown. Besides the amazing location the lobby includes free, cold bottled water and hot specialty coffees. All of these rooms have outstanding views from the balcony and are renovated. The pluses definitely outweigh the negatives, so while it is renovated you can tell this is an old hotel. There is very little noise insulation if there’s a door to an adjoining room, the bathroom is small and you can see the wear and tear and they never have towels at the pool. When they do, they have holes. That said, it’s a good location and price so the value is there for a peak season Sedona hotel.
Dinner on night one was Cowboy Club Grille. Walking distance from our hotel and had a kids menu. We had no wait and my daughter was thrilled with her cheeseburger. We saw lots of families enjoying the outdoor patio and views of the rocks during sunset.
Still in east coast time we walked back to our room and enjoyed our two Queen beds of space. In the morning, I made a cup of coffee in our room with the keurig that was provided and got ready while my daughter slowly woke. We had big plans and that meant getting up before sunrise.
First stop was a healthy dose of carbs and sugar before our hike. Lucky for us, Sedonuts opens at 5am. We grabbed a couple treats then made a beeline for the devils bridge trailhead. By 6am the lot was half full. You can park much closer if you have a 4 wheel drive & we had a jeep but I still didn’t think it wise to risk. So we walked the extra 1.5 miles each way.
My daughter was less than thrilled with both the early wake up or the extra 3 miles roundtrip. She was; however, a trooper and made the entire hike. Of all the trails I wanted to do here, this was the big one. The first part was relatively easy, but once you hit the trailhead and get closer to the bridge the scramble and incline gets real. There were several sections resembling poorly made, steep steps with an obvious drop if you misstep.
Still, the 360 degree views even partway to the bridge made up for the effort.
We arrived at the top closer to 7am and had a 30-40 min wait in line for photos. My daughter refused to go out onto the bridge and instead offered to take my photo instead of using the tripod. The bridge has a long drop off but it’s about 5 feet wide so it’s not as treacherous as it appears. That said, if you have a fear of heights, make someone’s day and offer to take their photo on the bridge. Then take a few minutes to rest your legs, because getting back down is going to take some effort too.
There’s more to see than just the bridge but my advice is get there early and go straight to the bridge. Explore the rest on the way back.
Once safely back to our jeep we decided on an early lunch and Wildflower cafe was perfect. It had a short line but reminds me of a Panera. Order at the front then grab your food at the table. They have a great couple of options for kids meals and a decent variety for adults. I settled on the fig and ricotta toast with pistachios and honey and it was out of this world!
What’s vacation without ice cream? Since we had to walk back into the heart of town anyway we stopped in to the Black Cow cafe for a treat. Fully intending to sample the prickly pear ice cream; upon tasting it I decided on chocolate instead. We took them back to enjoy on our patio.
In exchange for a morning hike I promised afternoon pool time. Later in the afternoon the pool empties out while guests explore the town so we enjoyed a pool and hot tub to ourselves. There’s even a fireplace located by the pool once the sun goes down if you’re not interested in further water sports. We showered and drove a little while out of town to Cucina Rustica. A beautiful white linen tablecloth Italian restaurant with delicious food.
Full bellies and a long day meant another early bedtime. When we woke the next day I grabbed a few bottled waters and some coffee from the lobby and we walked down to the Tlaquepaque arts district. Along the road there are signs telling you about each rock formation on the horizon as well as informative bullet points about the various western movies film in Sedona.
It’s a small area but packed full of cute little shops and a few eateries. We were lured into a bakery with the most adorable gluten free muffins and jaw dropping cakes.
We wandered upstairs to a jeweler and were beyond thrilled to talk with the owner, whose husband creates the pieces. She told us all about each piece and even let my 8 year old try some pieces on. She was more than patient and full of information and a highlight of our time here.
We continued down the road a little further taking in the bridge overlooking the river that runs through town then made our way back to the room to cool down. Even though the weather was a perfect 70 degrees, the bright sun does get quite hot. Sometimes as a parent taking kids on a trip you have to give in to their meal desires so we hit up the only turquoise arches in America. She was happy and I had a unique photo op.
After lunch we hopped in the car to head 45 min south to the tiny town of Cottonwood, to Dead horse state park. Horseback riding is my daughter’s number one goal on any vacation. We paid the small state park fee and drove a piece down the road to the corral. We were fitted for hats and a horse, signed some waivers and off we went on an hour ride. Our tour guide was informative. She grew up here. And the short ride was pleasant. We enjoyed a couple of river crossings and uncovered an old gravesite. It made my daughters day.
Just in time for an early dinner, we drove to Main Street and found a cute little cafe called Cream craft Kitchen & Bar.We had a 30 min wait that we spent exploring the adorable shops dotting the main road and then sat at an outside patio. My daughter claimed this was the best grilled cheese ever and I went for the pancakes. They don’t have a kids menu but the grilled cheese was perfect. I was disappointed in the pancakes and when I saw the French toast I was sorry I hadn’t ordered that.
On our last day in Sedona I was determined to get in one last hike. We got a later start and couldn’t find parking at several trailheads. Most of them fill early and are very small. All of that despite the fact that they have fay use parking fees for nearly every one. If you have the national parks pass this exempts you for several trailhead parking spots. We lucked out finding someone leaving when we got to Cathedral rock trailhead and so we set out on this easy hike. With very little effort we were able to take in some really awesome views.
On the way back to our room we followed the signs to the church in the rock. Officially titled the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It’s a very tiny chapel located on a hill. We didn’t have a problem finding free parking within an easy walk to the top but it is busy. The chapel itself is small, a step inside with probably suffice for most tourists. The patio area outside are where it’s at. Take it all in, revel in the views, because they are breathtaking. As a free sight it’s definitely something you should put on your list.
Tonight’s dinner was a well earned burrito. I would’ve eaten Mexican food every single night if that were an option in my daughters mind, but we hit up the hotel associated restaurant, 89 agave cantina. One of the perks of our room was two coupons for free margaritas. They also have a kids menu but you have to ask specifically for it. I went for the red rock burrito and it was delicious. My daughter chose chicken tenders. I took a prickly pear margarita to go and enjoyed it poolside while my daughter swam.
Saying goodbye to Sedona was tough for me. My daughter was very worn out and ready to head back. Along the way we found a rest area with a fabulous view.
We also used our America the Beautiful pass to get into Montezuma Castle national monument. This is a small walk and has some really neat history. It makes for a great stop along the drive home and isn’t far off the main highway.
One last stop for gas, bathroom and pie in Rock Springs. The gas station has a large assortment of slice options packed individually for an easy car snack.
I’ll be honest. Living in Florida, Tucson was never on my radar. There are a few Arizona cities I’d go out of my way to see, but this just wasn’t one of them. Thanks to a snowstorm derailing our trip to Colorado we added Tucson to our itinerary instead. I didn’t think there was much to do. Now I can’t imagine not adding this city to a must see list of Arizona places. It’s beautiful, diverse and family friendly.
We picked up our car in Phoenix and headed to Tombstone for a few hours. This historic 1870s silver mining town is infamous for shootouts in the street and a general lawlessness that was par for the course in the old west and it plays that part up for visitors from around the world. Go ahead and park your car and spend the next few hours walking… it’s all very close. Start with Boothill Graveyard which is the only thing you’ll need to hit before parking for the day. It sits at the entrance to town. You’ll pay a small fee in cash at the entrance and will be given an information booklet to use for your self guided tour.
Even with a child in tow we spent a solid 45 min wandering through the rows reading off the guidebook imaging what life must have been like back then. Here you can see what must’ve surely been an inspiration to the tombstones at Disney’s Haunted Mansion.
There’s a pretty fantastic view of the Sierra and Dragoon mountain ranges from the hill.
A few miles down the road you’ll find the city center. You can’t miss it. Just listen for the sounds of gunfire. Yes, gunfire! There are several re-enactments of shootouts down the Main Street each day. Each skit is different so watch them all. From the smell of gunpowder in the air to the sight of men dressed in cowboy garb playing cards you’ll get a real sense of being transported back in time.
Here you can souvenir shop to your heart’s delight, you can take a tour of the most haunted building in town , the Bird Cage Theatre, visit a real silver mine, see the OK corral, or have lunch in Big Nose Kate’s saloon.
But wait, there’s more. Have you ever wanted to ride an old horse drawn carriage down a dirt road or see the real house of Wyatt Earp? You can do that here too. If you can swing it, go see the old courthouse as well.
We headed down the road for our final stop of the night in Bisbee, Az; a small copper mining town from the same era that is a quaint town with less drama. They do hold a race each year that involves a whole lot of stairs if you’re so inclined. You will get a workout walking this very hilly town. I’d suggest starting at the visitors center and walking immediately to Bisbee’s table for an astounding bbq bacon cheeseburger. They even offer a chicken tender kids meal that was 100% kid approved. If you’re not looking for lunch or dinner they do have a coffee shop in the same plaza, as well as a handful of shopping stalls.
Now that our bellies were very full we had some energy to tackle the hills looking at the various architectural gems and peeking in a few stores. The old Copper Queen Hotel is beautiful, in fact, everything here harkens to a more genteel time. Do yourself a favor and make reservations ahead of time to do the copper mine tour. We were disappointed to not be able to get in, but as we drove to the other side of town to our Airbnb we caught a glimpse of the massive crater from the mine.
As the sun was waning we found our 1906 Callumet & Arizona guest house we found on Airbnb. This was an extremely last minute find, but if I’m ever in the area again I’ll definitely book again. The owner, Joy, is very personable, the home has more character and detail than nearly any other place I’ve stayed and the breakfast in the morning was delicious and filling. It was fun to wander the rooms checking out every detail from the copper plated fireplace, to the tin roof ceilings, to a phone from the 1800s. Even the outdoor gardens with koi fish and tucked away patio areas were fun to explore. Our room was the entire top floor with a king sized bed and Murphy bed. It was not lacking in the same charm found throughout the home. There is a link to the Airbnb in Courtyard image.
After our home cooked breakfast we packed our suitcases and drove back towards Tucson proper for our next few nights. I had booked a very special treat, but first, donuts! I have a thing for trying to find a great donut place wherever I visit and it was on this fateful day I realized the problem with this. If it’s somewhere far away you could have a donut you’ll dream about for ages and never be able to have it again. And such is the case with this nondescript pink donut shop Benson Donuts, in the town of the same name. These things were so fresh they tasted perfect even by the next morning. The twist was so tender it nearly fell apart when I held it up like a trophy fish for a photo, the fritter was the size my daughters face, and the coconut buttermilk donut that I have only ever had in Arizona was crispy and perfect. My daughter loved her filled donuts as well. Yes, we saved some for another day. No, I didn’t want to be a responsible adult. The whole box cost us a whopping $9. If you’re prone to drooling scroll quickly past these next photos. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Arriving to our next stay at Rincon Creek Ranch we checked in at the main desk and were driven out to our casita for the next few days. That’s right. We had our very own casita that backed up to Saguaro National park. In fact, it had its own private entrance to the park. We spent a few hours on the patio using the provided binoculars birdwatching over the fields of cacti.
The real star of the show here is the ENORMOUS copper bathtub. I had to fight my daughter for a turn to soak in a bubble bath that fully encompassed my entire 6’ tall frame. Finally, I had found a real soaking tub and the copper held heat for hours!!!
This fully furnished casita had a fireplace with provided firewood, a Dutch door so we could open the top and watch the sun set from our dining table, a full kitchen including a basket of eggs from the owners chickens, as well as a washer and dryer. There is a community center that has a shuffleboard table, bigger TVs, a bar set up as well as movies and games to take back to your casita. We woke in the morning and drove into Saguaro National Park.
I adore the National Parks. I have been to so many and all of them are so different. When someone asks my favorite it’s like choosing which of my children I like best. It is not possible to choose. Saguaro is different than most parks since it is divided in and east and a west side by the town of Tucson. The found the east side is more amenable to a driving tour and the west side is better for hiking. Both are breathtaking taking and both have some opportunities to get out of the car and gawk wide eyed at a forest is cacti. We explored the East side the first day enjoying a stop at the visitors center which is not open everyday, so check hours first. At the end of the loop is Javelina rocks, perfect for a short easy hike with a nice view.
After a few hours in the park we had to drive just a few miles down the road to our reservation at Colossal Caves mountain park. We went into the cave as a small group of six. Our guide showed us many formations and at one point allowed my daughter to use a black light to watch how it retained the light. We were also shown how scorpions glow blue in black lights. This cave has been dry since the ice ages and due to early practices there has been irreversible damage, but it is still beautiful.
When we emerged from our cave tour we were able to catch a glimpse of the local coati family. There are also hiking trails to indulge your inner hiker within the park so if you have time before or after the cave tour go ahead and plan to do a short hike here as well.
Moving from here to the west side of the park we were able to hike to the petroglyphs where we posed with some really old, tall saguaro cacti, some cute little button cacti and got an expansive view of the rolling desert terrain.
On our last full day in Tucson we woke to snow. Yes. My daughter was so excited she threw on her shoes and ran out the door to chase snowflakes with her tongue.
We let the snow ease off and we drove up to Mt. Lemmon to get some real snow. In the Coronado national forest there are several hikes and multiple jaw dropping vistas along the drive to the top.
The tippy top of Mt. Lemmon is 9,159 feet elevation. Plan to take your time getting there. You will want to stop many, many times along the way to explore, play in snow or take a quick snapshot. This day we had plenty of snow on the ground and due to fog the views were hidden until our drive back down.
All that driving left us ready for lunch. When in Arizona, Mexican food is a must. We decided to eat lunch at a place that known for creating the infamous chimichanga. El Charro Cafe has been run by the same family for over 100 years. I had the mini chimichanga appetizer as my meal so I could enjoy birria, chicken, cheese and beef flavors. We ordered flan for dessert. I had to wrestle the flan away from my daughter. It was that good. The kids meal was a nice quesadilla and a few sides. The chicken had a good wood fired grill flavor.
After lunch we had our reservations at the American Sonoran Desert Museum. I wasn’t sure this would be that interesting, but figured it was something to do and why not? Wrong again. And thank goodness because it was a solid hour drive from lunch. Luckily, the running theme of this trip has been my underestimation of how awesome Tucson really is.
This place is part zoo, part botanical garden, part zoo, part geology museum. Really. It is HOURS worth of entertainment. We started off looking at different rocks, even being able to pick one to take home.
Then we moved on the see coyotes, beavers, bighorn sheep, hummingbirds, stingrays and several other animals. The snakes are kept in a different area.
I never knew there were so many varieties of cacti or that they could be so beautiful.
Well, that’s it. A whirlwind 4 days in the southern part of Arizona did not disappoint. As we made our way north for the other half of our vacation we left Tucson behind with some pretty great memories. While there is still more to discover I think we did a pretty good job of filling our vacation days.
If you’d like to see more photos from our trip (oh I know I spammed this blog with a ton anyway) feel free to follow me on Instagram at @jtofjax
Are you limited on time, but long to find a perfect getaway? RMNP is a great fit. Denver international is a 90 min drive from Estes Park, the gateway to this magnificent national park and it has flights routinely coming in from all over the country. As a Floridian I long for cool weather and mountains when I vacation. I was able to snag a 4 hour direct flight after work Friday from MCO to DEN. A quick drive to Estes Park and off to bed. Breakfast was at the Donut Haus located inside the Sinclair station. It’s a do-nut miss stop for these lovely fried pieces of dough! With an early wake up time we wandered around the cutest little downtown shops picking up the collectible pins we’ve come to love and indulging in the best huckleberry waffle cone I’ve ever tasted. I got to enjoy said cone on a picnic table by the babbling river with the scent of lilacs filling the air. Our next stop was the Mustang alpine coaster. 10 min wait and it provides a breathtaking view of the town. We waited until after 3pm to enter the park because we didn’t purchase timed entry tickets and wanted the best chance to view animals. We drove past amazing mountain vistas, 8 foot walls of snow (yes in June!) and numerous hiking paths. We encountered moose, elk and deer all along the drive. We spent a glorious 5 hours in the park taking it all in. Dinner was back in Estes Park at the Burger & gyros on Morraine. I ordered the gyro which was absolutely PACKED with meat, we shared a few orders of seasoned fries and everyone else got some pretty amazing burgers. We hit up Safeway for a variety of dessert options. The next morning we had a splurge reservation at Dunraven. This fabulous restaurant serves epic Italian dinners and a variety of brunch items. I chose the blackberry mimosa and breakfast burrito complete with chili verde, my sister in law enjoyed the French toast, while my brother got the denver omelette. Everything was enjoyed on the fresh air deck overlooking the lake. We had plenty of time to make our way back to Denver to catch a 4pm flight back home. How much can YOU pack into a weekend?
The seed was planted about 18 months ago. My daughter was in her sophomore year in high school and I asked where she would like to take her graduation gift. You see, I’ve always felt (as my kids are blessed by successful parents) that instead of getting things as gifts for major milestones, that time together making memories was of greater value. My oldest son chose Hollywood, LA and Disneyland as his graduation gift and now it was my daughters turn. She is an avid hiker and outdoor lover. She lives with her father in northern Michigan and she decided on an active outdoorsy trip. The Grand Canyon national park. She let me take the reins and do 100% of the planning with the only guidance being that I wear her out doing everything possible in our 5 short days. I hate to ruin the ending, but I was successful and even at 18 she was ready to head home and nap. Fourteen months in advance I entered the lottery for the Phantom Ranch mule rides with an overnight stay in the bottom of the canyon. We lucked out and got 2 of 10 spots available for the day we requested. From there I planned the rest of our trip including purchasing an America the Beautiful pass for $80. Each park is $35 to enter and it’s good for the week. The pass is good for the year and we’d previously used it at Sleeping Bear Dunes national park in Michigan so we had gotten our money out of it and it’s still good for another 9 months.
We flew into Las Vegas within 15 minutes of each other and picked up our rental car. We were famished so we opted to find a quick bite. We found El Tacos el Gordo on the north end of the strip. Now I’d read reviews and I knew it was a good bet for great tacos. We each tried a Taxo Azteca and a Sope both with beef and I ordered fountain drinks. Taco azteca had a marinated cactus on top and was tasty but the winner was the beef Sope. I think homemade tortilla underneath and a crispy thin one on top with beef, pico, & guac inside. The drinks? I expected soda, but was pleasantly surprised to find Horchata water and Hibiscus tea as options. If you’ve never heard of Horchata water it’s the consistency of milky water with the flavor of rice pudding. A special treat indeed.
After filling our bellies and stopping at a local drug store to buy gallon jugs of water we were on our way to Zion national park. It was a 3 hour drive consisting of oohs and ahhs as we took in the desert landscape. We made a stop at the Virgin trading post where, a now, family joke remains my question about “How do you trade virgins?”. We took pictures of prickly pear cacti and mountains and explored the gift shop. It was a nice reprieve from the car. A brief stop was made in St. George, UT at the visitors center where we were given great directions by an employee and took photos with a colorful bison outside. It was nice to stretch our legs. Not much further along we made it to Hurricane, UT. The terrain was still interesting but not overly impressive. Once we entered Springdale, UT that all changed. We had a our room booked months before and the friendly staff made quick our check in and after unloading our bags and a speedy change we were off to the park. Springdale has a free city shuttle to Zion’s entrance. It took all of 10 minutes and we were there. The start of our real vacation. It was about 7pm and were slightly confused where to go as the ticket station was closed and crowds had clearly dispersed. We found the gift shop and purchased collector pins and a national park coin. Finding the shuttle to be completely empty felt like good luck. The sun was still up and the weather was a beautiful 81 degrees. The shuttle to the Narrows hike takes about 30 minutes since it’s the very last stop. I wish we’d have had more time. Weeping rock, riverwalk, watchman trail, pa’rus trail…. all of them had to be skipped. I suppose this leaves something for another trip. We hopped off the bus and I took a trip to the ladies room (you never know) and away we went down a paved trail for the next mile. It took us almost an hour to get through that mile. We must’ve stopped 2 dozen times along the way to take pictures. Weeping rocks, gushing rivers, tall trees and massive cliffs of solid stone were irresistible! Finally, at the end of the paved trail is only the river. We saw a few hikers return drenched from waist high water and given the time of the last shuttle was 9:15pm we opted to take pictures at the beginning of the watery trail. We listened to the water bubble by and looked at the rocks. Our new North Face hiking boots with gor-tex did the job as advertised and I was never so happy to have bought just the right product for the job. Now, sadly it was time to leave. Not wishing to miss the bus and not really knowing how long it might take us to get back, we walked with a hustle and 14 min later we saw the shuttle just pulling up. By the time we made it to the end it was dark. It happened so quickly I barely realized the sun had set and it was dark enough to need our headlamps to get back through the parking lot. We found the city shuttle and hopped on stopping a few stops early in the hunt for food. At this time it was 9:45pm and most restaurants close at 10. We followed our noses to Moki. Mostly burgers but other things on the menu as well with a cute little outdoor patio. We were seated outside and large glasses of water were brought by a friendly waiter. We opted to split a bison burger and an order of pasta pomodoro. We felt awful coming so late, but the staff made us feel more than welcome to sit down and have an unrushed meal. They even offered dessert at the end. We had to say no. We were stuffed from the meals. The pasta was fresh, with real grape tomatoes and just the right amount of garlic. The fettuccine noodles tasted freshly made and cooked perfectly al dente. The burger?! Medium and juicy and the best ever. Even the fries were perfectly done. Full and weary we headed to the La Quinta Inn and Suites for a shower and short sleep.
When we woke in the morning it was too early for breakfast so I took advantage of the time to take photos around town. It was about 70 degrees with a slight breeze, quiet and beautiful. I wish I could’ve made time stop. It didn’t and we had breakfast, loaded the car after a brief, but terrifying game of where did I put the keys last night! Spoiler alert- I put them in the side of my back pack and checked every square inch of our suitcases, backpack and hotel room with the exception of that one pocket. A clear indication the coffee hadn’t kicked in just yet.
Zion to Kanab, UT
The best and most scenic route to Page, Az is the Zion-Mt. Carmel scenic hughway and it does not disappoint. I planned most of my trip basing how much time we would have to go from point to point via internet directions. I allowed for some extra time given it was summer in a popular tourist destination and I still underestimate how much time this particular drive would take to complete. It was traffic, there were hardly any cars at 8am on a weekday even in summer. It was all the hiking and photo stops. We started our drive wearing sandals and ended it in hiking boots. Every few miles we wanted to get out and take photos. We stopped not a could miles down the road for photos of the various stoney crags. Canyon overlook trail right after the tunnel carved into the mountainside in 1925 was a spectacular hike even if we only did a very small, steep portion. Moving on, we stopped again at Checkerboard Mesa and again, and again. When the highway ended we started to feel a bit hungry and there on the corner was Thunderbird cafe. You can’t miss the giant Americana sign advertising Ho-Made pies. In fact, how can you resist? Sure, 9:40 in the morning seemed about right for pie. I chose a warm Thunderberry pie and my daughter went for the chocolate cream pie. We could’ve split the pies. They were huge! The best part about this cafe is the nostalgia everywhere. Look around. It not just the sign, which story goes, is because in the time those large metal signs were made the extra letters wouldn’t fit the design and when jargon changed the owners embraced it, it’s in the displays. From old cameras ( I had some of those) to old posters and appliances. Looking at history while eating pie and drinking coffee with my child has to be one of the best ways to pass the time. Our next stop on the itinerary was the Coral Pink Sand Dunes state park. We arrived a little later than planned but it wasn’t crowded and it did have a nice parking lot and public bathrooms. We left our sandals under the shade of the observation deck and made our way across pristine dark pink sand to the first massive dune. We didn’t have enough time to do much so we took a shot at running down the dune then made the trek back to the top to wash off our feet and move on. If you plan to stay longer you can rent sleds or snowboards or even check out the ATV/UTV rentals and tours located right on site. I’m not gonna lie the Dune Rides sounded like so much fun. I can imagine this park aglow at sunset. A lovely woman at the bottom offered to take our photo with her phone and send it to us given our accompishment of going up the dune and I’m ever so thankful for the kindness of strangers. We did, however, have to keep pressing on. Lunch stop was Kanab, UT at the Rocking V Cafe. It must’ve just opened because we saw the owners taking a photo of the days special and were seated immediately. Inside is all southwest cute. From the artwork on display to the colorful adobe painted walls. Our servers were friendly and efficient even as the place started filling up. The menu is a fun read. What?! Yep, take time to peruse the menu even after you have ordered. Maybe it’ll help you work up an appetite. All I know is we split the chicken bacon wrap and were too full to finish the side let alone order dessert although they looked devilishly appetizing. Kanab is a quaint little town with an old west feel. The main street is fun to stroll along and window shop.
Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy
Zion Narrows
Sand dunes
Kanab to Page, AZ
Feeling ridiculously full and in disbelief it was from sharing a meal we split we didn’t have long before we got to Lower Antelope canyon for our tour. After doing some research I decided that the lower canyons, while not better for sunbeams, required more climbing and a slightly harder hike and would in all likelihood be less crowded. I was right, but it was not for lack of willing participants. Keep an eye on your time here. We were lucky enough to get an extra hour in our day because the Indian reservation’s time change was an hour behind Utah. Ken’s lower antelope canyon tours, which I had book about 6 months in advance, put us into groups of 10 for our 1:30 tour and each group was given a guide. There are only two tour companies for lower antelope canyon and 5 for upper. If you can manage a steeper climb go with lower. It’s every bit as breathtaking as you’ve no doubt seen in image searches. Our guide was Brian, he was a delight. He didn’t just hold back the other groups while we took what seemed like a very big chunk of time, he didn’t just tell us about the canyon, he pointed out the perfect pictures and willingly acted like our own personal photographer. I didn’t purchase the photographer or upgraded tour and yet I never felt crowded or rushed and the tour takes longer than I anticipated. We finished up at 2:45pm with one last gem-a petrified dinosaur footprint. The images I captured on this tour are some of the most beautiful of the trip and my daughter alone counted 100 she had taken. Looking around at the top you’ll see a huge parking lot and gift shop and an everyday desert scene which doesn’t give away the beauty beneath. Again, everyone even inside the gift shop was friendly. I live in the south and I can’t say I’ve seen so many friendly faces everywhere we went. If Antelope Canyon seems out of the way from your planned trips, I’d still suggest finding a way to get here. While every place is different and amazing this topped the list. A short 5 min drive away is Horseshoe Bend. I wouldn’t have driven to Page simply for this national park but the 3/4 mile hike is steep but not overly difficult and there are port-a-potties and a paved lot at the top. The view is stunning as has been par for the course on our trip. It was a nice side trip. All in an hour of our time was spent hiking and picture taking. If it’s summer wear a hat, wear sunscreen and take water with you. This felt the most crowded of all the spots we had visited thus far. 3:30pm and it was time to move on.
Rocking V cafe-Half wrap
Lower Antelope Canyon
Horseshoe bend
Page to Grand Canyon
Three plus hours later we were arriving in the Grand Canyon national park with our first view of the canyon and watchman tower. Everyone says it, but pictures don’t do it justice. It’s massive. It’s so massive you cannot even see the bottom from the rim. More on that later. We went to the transportation desk at the Bright Angel lodge and checked in for our mule ride. They will weigh you. You must be under 200 pounds, must have a wide brimmed hat with string, and closed toes shoes. You will be given a canteen with instructions and a small bag for everything you with to bring with you. You will also be given a rain slicker. That’s their version of a head count. At the end you keep the canteen and bag and return the slicker. We walked to the stone corral to ensure we would be able to find it at 5:45am not realizing it would be plenty light by then. First light is around 5am in August. We stayed to look around the gift shop and watch sunset. By 7:45 it still wasn’t dark and we were starving. We had yet to check into our hotel in Grand Canyon village. 15 min later we were checking into the Holiday Inn in the village and had a beautiful room with the best water pressure I’ve ever seen in a shower. They had an indoor pool and were on the main strip. We had had enough of driving so we walked to Plaza Bonita and shared a plate of nachos and fried ice cream. We got back to our room and showered with a 4am wake up call. The hotel staff were so wonderful to drop off breakfast for us the night before since we had to leave so early. At 5:45am we were standing at the stone corral watching the mules arrive and chatting with the other riders. One grandma and her adult grandson and another family of 6. Maggie and Chelsea were our wranglers and they did a divine job. Don, the assistant manager, gave us our safety and riding instructions. With each minute I was getting more and more nervous. These mules looked as big as any horse I’d ever seen and the trail we were to ride on seemed much too small for these massive animals. I’m here and I’m writing this so all obviously turned out well, but it took a solid mile before I began to relax and even then it was tenuous. We mounted up and began our steep 5 hour, 10 mile trip to the bottom. We stopped for lunch at Indian garden. This is a lush tropical, watery area with loads of shade, water and bathrooms. We found out mules only need water every 2-3 days so they didn’t drink while we stopped. We were given a massive lunch. Too much to eat, but a large turkey sandwich, apple, chips, cookie, carrots and trail mix along with a vitamin water. The wranglers reminded up to drink, drink, drink and it was after this stop they soaked our clothes in water. Everyone was apprehensive at first but once we got moving it felt like air conditioning. The trail only got hotter in the blazing August sun with lava rock reflecting back the days heat as well as the loss of elevation making the temperatures rise. We finally saw the Colorado river with several rafters aboard and knew we were getting close. The Colorado river is 300 feet wide and an average 46 degrees and rushing current. We crossed it at the Black bridge built in the 1900s after crossing a stone tunnel built in the 1850s.
Phantom ranch
This was it! The pinnacle of our trip. We had made it to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, we were one of the 1%! We dismounted our mules and were drenched with water and given ice cold lemonade and directions to our cabins. We changed into swim suits and made a beeline for the bright angel creek. It was chilly, but refreshing and clear. We stayed there enjoying the peace and the cool water for an hour before changing again and going for a short hike. We found the bright angel campground and the thermometer reading 120 degrees. It was 2 pm. We went back to the Cantina and drank more ice water and purchase exclusive merchandise to the ranch. Pins and shirts and mailed postcards delivered by mule. At 4pm we attended the first of our ranger talks all about the Colorado River. Ranger Ben was wonderful. Then it was the clear din of the dinner bell ringing through the ranch. 5 pm on the nose dinner is served. You MUST have reservations for meals here. As members of the mule ride they were included. Given that everything here must be packed in and out by mules it is astonishing what meal time looked like. Firstly, it was the freshest, most delicious dinner I had the entire trip long. A huge steak, cornbread, a full on salad with ranch, backed potato, garlic broccoli and finally a dense slab of chocolate cake. It is served family style and you raise your hand if you run out of something and more is brought to the table. Nobody went hungry but nobody was shy either. I don’t know where I stuffed all that food but it was oh so yummy. After dinner we made our way to the shower house where our wrangle Maggie pointed out a pink rattlesnake. They are native only to the bottom of the grand canyon so a pretty rare sight indeed. After our showers we filled in our junior ranger booklets which helped us realize how much knowledge had been imparted to us both from the wranglers and our ranger. After the 7pm ranger talk about bugs he took out UV lights and we went on a scorpion search. They glow in UV light. It’s a fluorescent type of glow and we found a couple by the stone corral. The clouds had moved in so we didn’t see the stars as we had hoped. We went to bed, in our air conditioned cabin, and slept soundly until 2:30am when I decided to check if the skies had cleared. I woke my daughter up and we sat at the bench outside of our cabin staring up into a crystal clear sky filled with stars in the milky way. The constellations were so bright and bold. Unlike anything I’d seen even on a dark and clear night. The national parks have worked very hard to reduce light pollution. 5am we woke again and dressed for the day and packed our bags to bring to the corral. We had saved our leftover apples and fed them to our mules. At 6:30am we were seated for late breakfast. The hikers leaving that day had already eaten and gone. Again, family style with loads of the best food. Scrambled eggs, sausages, perfectly cooked thick cut bacon, fluffy pancakes and syrup, mixed fruit, orange juice, coffee and tea. Again, all you can eat. We were told to have a hearty breakfast as there wouldn’t be lunch going back up the trail. I was just following the man’s instructions I swear. It was hard not to anyway. I am still trying to figure out how the phantom ranch cooks do such a great job of making enough food for 40 people come out perfect! 7:15ish we get back on our mules and head up the south Kaibab trail. I thought Bright angel trail was steep. It is nothing compared to S. Kaibab. This is only 7.5 miles but without water stops (we had ours with us and the wranglers carry extra). We did get 2 bathroom breaks. The steeper, narrower trail was dirt and stones. I prayed my mule wouldn’t slip and he didn’t. Trust the mule. You’ll hear it over and over. They’ve done this trail hundreds of times. We regaled with stories of the oh Jesus corner to the cremation canyon and skeleton ridge. We had about 25 water stops along the way up and they took turns providing ever more information or pointing out different images in the buttes. I can imaging if you hike the beauty is enough but we learned so much more from our wranglers. Finally we climbed the last of the switchbacks and an air conditioned van awaited us for our short return trip to Bright angel lodge. We were presented with certificates with the same wording as has been given out for the last 100 years. This year, 2019, is the centennial. The seats were soft and the AC was nice. We got out of the van, checked out returning our slickers and made a beeline for the rest rooms to change into shorts and tank tops. We took the time to visit the Grand Canyon visitors center to buy another coin and stopped for gas and lunch in grand canyon village.
Bright Angel Creek
Near the Colorado river
View from a mule
Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
Back in the car. I feel like we are not only chronically sleep deprived at this point, but also just moving from one form of sitting transportation to the next. I’ll be glad to be done driving for hours at a time. My daughter sleeps in the seat next to me. Clearly, as worn out as I feel. She’s a great companion, but she needs the rest. When we see Lake Mead in the foreground I know we are getting closer. We make a 7 mile detour to visit the Hoover Dam. One more planned side trip for this whirlwind vacation. The museum and tours are closed but the parking lots are open and a few people mill about taking photos. We do the same. It has cooled to about 109 degrees. Laughable. We go back to the car to arrive at our hotel in Vegas just after 7pm. We still haven’t had dinner, but showers are a necessity at this point. I’m too exhausted to drive on the strip at night. We get a Lyft from the Fairfield Inn convention center. It only takes a few minutes and we are working our way to the Wicked Spoon buffet in the Cosmopolitan casino. We ogle the massive crystal chandelier and eyeball the outfits ranging from not trying to trying way too hard. There is everything here on the strip. At the buffet there is no line and no wait. It closes in an hour at 10pm. We have decided we are here for dessert. We order drinks and grab a few sharable items from the “real” food section. The shrimp and grits is fabulous, the vegetable samosas with mint chutney are wonderful. We giggle and share bites, but then we make our way to the dessert area. We make a plan… we will grab one of each item available and take a bite from each with the exception of the mini creme brulee and gelatos. Who in their right mind shares creme brulee?! We barely, barely make it through one bite of each. We have two towering plates full of mini treats. It’s absolutely gluttonous, but what happens in Vegas. Well, apparently it goes to your waistline. What? That’s not what you were thinking? We opt to walk it off venturing down the road stopping to watch the fountains in from of the Bellagio and make a visit to the conservatory garden in the lobby. The Chihuly glass sculpture dominating the ceiling is blessedly colorful. Naturally, the star here is the garden display. Each season it’s something new. This time it’s Kentucky derby themed and they’ve gone all out. 11pm back in our room and ready to pass out. We still have one last day, one last hurrah before we admit defeat. I wake my loving but grumpy daughter at 7am (I’ve been awake an hour) and we go to the hotel breakfast. Not many people there. I’m surprised. Wait, it’s Vegas. They’re still asleep. 30 min later the lobby is bursting with guests ready to eat. We are done and making our way to the strip. At 10am there are very few people. I researched and found out being active duty and getting a players club card at Caesar’s casinos means an automatic upgrade that allows free parking. Caesar’s casinos include more than just the namesake. Flamingo, Harrah’s, Paris, etc are all members and all allow free parking to certain levels of rewards members. At nearly all casinos, however, the first hour is free anyway. My daughters “thing” is mirror selfies so we make it a goal to take one mirror selfie in each casino. It’s a fun game since we like looking around but not so much on gambling. Before the lines get out of hand we find Buddy V’s bakery and buy a beauty of a rainbow layer cake, a cannolli and a sprinkle sugar cookie. We share it in the plaza of the Venetian as the singing gondoliers cruise by us. It’s getting later and we still haven’t hit the hotel pool so we go back, swim and shower. My daughter has never had In-N-Out so that’s what is up for lunch. After stuffing ourselves on burgers, fries and the thickest ever milkshakes we wander some more. We see Flamingos, secret gardens, volcanoes, waterfalls, huge bouquets of flowers both real and amazingly lifelike glass ones, more people watching, more fun. Now it’s time to do our final tour. The neon boneyard. I’ve been to Vegas several times. I’ve never been here. What a shame! All the retired casino signs in one home. Some still have neon coursing through them, others the lights still shine, some only shine thanks to the colorful spotlights bringing them back to life. Our tour begins at 7pm. We thought it wouldn’t be dark enough. It’s perfect. We are nearly alone to wander. They do have guides available to answer questions or give some background. There are the occasional plaques to read and we peruse the lot. Another game, we look for the letters of our names snapping a picture of each as we find them. The gift shop is a fun place to while away a little time until it gets darker. The sun begins to set and it’s relatively dark by 7:45pm. We wander back through again, retaking shots that look better with less light. At 8pm the museum closes and we make our way to our next stop of the night. Pink Box doughnut shops are open 24 hours a day and have divine treats in numerous flavors. We settle on Key lime, Java, Old fashioned chocolate with sprinkles ( I think my daughter has a thing for sprinkles), and Peanut butter and jelly as well as milk. We get back to our room deciding that a donut for dinner will have to do. We are tired and we have a 4am wake up call for returning our rental car and boarding flights back home. That’s it. The trip I spent months planning is over in what seems like both the blink of an eye and forever all at once. Once thing is certain. It didn’t quench our insatiable thirst for exploration. We will return one day for more fun in the southwest national parks and surrounding areas.
Eating Around 