Sometimes it's
just necessary to pack up and get away for a while. Spring break is a good time for that. Recently I traveled to Las Vegas
(2006). We
didn't spend that much time in town, but explored much of the surrounding area,
including Red Rock Canyon, Zion National Park, Hoover Dam, and Death Valley. It was scenic
and enlightening. I traveled with my longtime buddy Theo - former college
classmate and current police lieutenant.
The Strip
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| The Mirage |
The Bellagio |
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| New York New York |
The Venetian |
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| The volcano at the Mirage |
The MGM Grand |
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Beautiful scenery, just 15 minutes out of town |
Our accommodations |
Zion National Park
Returning to Zion National Park is always so enjoyable because you see
something new every time you visit. We hiked a little and enjoyed the scenic
surroundings. The weather was excellent and the crowds were nearly non-existent.
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| The park entrance, near
Springdale, Utah |
An impressive wall of stone |
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| The Virgin River |
Deer were plentiful |
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Beautiful vistas |
Unusual place for a pine tree |
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Looking to the northwest |
Indian Paintbrush |
Death Valley
Neither of us had ever been to Death Valley, and we decided
that a trip there would satisfy our curiosity. It's only a couple hours drive
from Las Vegas, and once out of the city the traffic disappears. The winds were
brisk and the scenery was dramatic. The west is truly blessed with wide open
spaces.
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On the road to Pahrump, Nevada |
Lowest elevation point in North America |
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Flowers were few and far between |
Nature's way of saying, "Back off" |
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Part of the salt basin |
The Devil's Golf Course |
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View from Zabriskie Point |
Highway beyond Salsberry Pass |
Website for Zion National Park
Website for
Death Valley National Park
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