Arches National Park 4-12-08

We started out our trip by stopping in Moab and visiting Arches again. (We went there in March of 2007.) We wanted to hike to Delicate Arch since we didn't get to see it last time, but there is very little parking to take the hike to the arch. So instead we hiked to one of the view points. (I'm determined to see it in person one day!) We only saw one other arch since we were still sore from helping Sam & Heidi move from the day/night before. I'd like to go back to Arches again and see all the other arches we weren't able to see.

Mexican Hat & Monument Valley 4-13-08

On Sunday we drove from Blanding, Utah through Mexican Hat and Monument Valley, then it was on to Flagstaff. However, it was a long ride, in the middle of nothing, except for the stands selling Indian Stuff.

Mexican Hat (I'm still trying to figure out, how & why it looks like a Mexican hat.)

Monument Valley (the road where Forrest Gump, decided he had run long enough).

The Grand Canyon - South Rim 4-14-08

On Monday mom and I drove from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon South Rim. It was amazing to see it in person. I had a little bit of vertigo when we first got there, but by the late afternoon I was doing a lot better, although I still didn't like going near the edge. Oh, the other thing was there was a LOT of people from other countries there, at one of the lookouts that was very crowded, I didn't hear anyone speak English.

More pictures of the Grand Canyon

The Bright Angel Trail head at the South Rim.

One of the old lodges at the South Rim.

Cute little ranger outfits for the nephews, however too expensive, but I thought they were so cute!

Looking towards one of the lodges at the South Rim.

More Pictures of the Grand Canyon

Looking towards the mountains near Flagstaff, from the Grand Canyon.

Yabba Dabba Doo

This is a campground on the way to the Grand Canyon. I thought it was funny, so on our way back to Flagstaff, we stopped to take some pictures.

Mesa Temple & Sedona 4-15-08

On Tuesday we drove from Flagstaff to the Mesa Temple. The temple grounds were beautiful! After the temple we stopped by Boston Market in Scottsdale for lunch/dinner, then got a Jumba Juice (one of mom's favorite places). On the drive back to Flagstaff, we drove through Sedona. The parts that we saw were amazing, but it is very much a tourist town!

Snowflake Temple 4-16-08

The Snowflake Temple was very beautiful inside, both mom and I loved the colors. However, it was VERY windy in Snowflake, and it is in the middle of no where! The temple worker told us there was one time he remembered that it didn't blow for three days. There are great old homes and buildings in Snowflake (I love that kind of stuff).

Glen Canyon Dam & Lake Powell 4-17-08

The last night of our trip we stayed in Paige, AZ. We stopped by the visitor's center, and I didn't realize that you had to go through security to get in. I set off the metal detector the first time I walked through, because I forgot to take off my watch. Here are a few pictures of the dam, taken the morning we left to go back home.

Las Vegas Strip 3-21-08

Here are some pictures from our visit to the Las Vegas Strip. We parked at the Tropicana Hotel (across the street from the MGM Grand), and walked north to the Venetian Hotel, then back again to the Tropicana. Along the way we stopped to see the lions at the MGM Grand, the M&M store (who knew you could have a store 4 levels high, based just on M&M's?!). We saw the sites at the Paris Hotel, and walked around the Venetian, till we were turned around and confused, and just tired! Oh, I almost forgot, they had a wax museum at the Venetian, and a display, so we took mom's picture! We then wandered briefly through Caesar's Palace (none of the fountains were running), then visited the Belagio to see the gardens inside and the fountains outside. It was fun, but not a place I'd want to visit often.