The morning after Christmas we piled into the car and drove into the desert. We wanted a change of scenery and are lucky enough to have family members who own a place out in Las Vegas to stay in. Part of the hassle in travel becomes where to stay and can we cook there. This was Perfect. Thanks Aunt Kathy & Uncle Chris!We went to the strip (old and new) mostly to walk the streets.I love crowds, flashing lights, and city life. We saw the volcano show in front of the Mirage
and walked through the Venetian. Our kids wanted to watch every puppet, magician, or impersonator they could.And of course they wanted to shop (but we only looked). Olivine loved that the colors and sunglasses on these puppies.We also explored the surrounding parts, something Joe and I have never done together. That meant visiting the Hoover Dam and looking over the edge, which made our legs shake.The crisp air and big skies made for awesome views.We also rode an old train after wandering into some Indian trading posts.One of the days we explored Red Rock Canyon, a nearby National Conservation Area.The kids were junior rangers and wore buttons in pride.The snow still on the ground made me smile.Hiking around on the trails was a highlight of our trip.The rangers gave us good tips and the kids were let loose, whereas in the crowds we held them close. Parts of the path are bridged because in the summer there are creeks and rivers.
It was gorgeous.
We took our time and really soaked in the fresh air.I will brag that these little ones spent hours talking and looking out the window. They drew in their notebooks and asked questions about what they were seeing (solar farms in the desert).They also took turns napping because schedules were off a bit and we went to bed later than normal, because there was so much to see. That usually means random day sleeping because they woke up in the mornings at the same time.