Take A Little Trip With Me...

A view of the Paris Hotel Eiffel Tower
from the Bellagio Hotel

As some of you may know, I took a short vacation this past week...which is pretty much unheard of...it had been over five years since I took some time away that didn't involve a work trip or walking 60-miles for charity. My husband, close friends, and family pretty much had to *force* me to go - I felt extremely guilty taking time away and I knew we couldn't afford it - but truth be told, it did lighten my load a bit. I wasn't quite sure how to relax, as I have such a set daily schedule and I am pretty much on auto-pilot at home...and although I was up and ready to go each morning before 6:00 AM and I still got in a training walk each day, I do feel like a had a little time to just breathe. My husband had made arrangements to take me to Las Vegas for a few days....we stayed on the strip at the beautiful Aria Resort & Casino...and I didn't have to take care of work obligations, cooking, cleaning, the yard, or dogs for several days. We rented a car, so we could go out and do some exploring - the lights of Las Vegas are wonderful, but there are so many beautiful things to see in the area...

We arrived on Monday afternoon - enjoyed a leisurely lunch - explored some of the resorts/casinos on Las Vegas Blvd. - including the Bellagio (it's not a trip to Las Vegas without visiting the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens)...and we had a light dinner and cocktails at Javier's.

Our hotel room with a view at Aria...

 Fiori di Como chandelier by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly - Bellagio Hotel Lobby

Summer Garden Party Exhibit at the Bellagio Hotel Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Summer Garden Party Exhibit at the Bellagio Hotel Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Summer Garden Party Exhibit at the Bellagio Hotel Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Summer Garden Party Exhibit at the Bellagio Hotel Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Javier's in the Aria Hotel - Tequila Tree (my new favorite thing!) - I enjoyed
several AMAZING hand-shaken jalapeno margaritas during our stay...

Tuesday, we traveled to Grand Canyon National Park and although it rained off and on for most of the trip - we really enjoyed the day! It was quite a bit of driving, but we felt it was completely worth it....especially since my husband had never seen the Grand Canyon before. We went to the south rim...and spent almost a full day exploring this beautiful National Park. We got in quite a bit of walking on several of the trails...including one that follows the rim of the canyon. We saw elk, mule deer, and quite a bit of wildlife...including (you guessed it) a squirrel! Then made a stop at In-N-Out Burger (another first for my husband) for a quick bite to eat on the way back to the city.

Wednesday, we explored some more hotel/casinos in the early morning, met Travis's cousin for a late breakfast/early lunch, then made our way to Red Rock Canyon for more amazing Nevada scenery, hiking, and walking. Afterwards, we made the drive to Mt. Charleston Lodge (on of my favorite places on the planet). We took the more scenic (longer) drive to the top of Mt. Charleston, then enjoyed a delicious dinner outside on the deck at the lodge - the view is spectacular...and hummingbirds were buzzing around...it is a magical place and a "must visit" every time we are in the area. Afterwards, we drove back to Las Vegas, where my husband played in a poker tournament (he won!) and I did some exploring/walking on my own...

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon

The deck from Mt. Charleston Lodge - view from my seat...

The view from Mt. Charleston Lodge...

The view from Mt. Charleston Lodge...

Thursday, we decided to make the drive to Death Valley National Park - another all day excursion, but worth the drive. It was a balmy 115 degrees (better than a humid 90 degree day in Iowa), but we still did some walking/hiking and had fun visiting quite a few of the scenic stops. Once returning to Las Vegas, we enjoyed a quiet dinner and did a little bit of gambling, before it was time to rest up for our very early morning flight.

Death Valley - Zabriske Point

Death Valley - Zabriske Point

Travis exploring Death Valley -  Devil's Golf Course

Death Valley -  Devil's Golf Course

Badwater Pool (yes, water in Death Valley!)

Death Valley - Badwater Basin - 282 feet below sea level...

Yes, we crammed in as much as we could in such a short amount of time...but I wanted to see as much as possible...especially since it may be years before we can take another vacation. I hope you enjoyed my photo journey of the Las Vegas, NV area...it was an inspiring trip...