Help me plan a sightseeing trip outside Las Vegas please

13 years ago

In November Joe and I are going on vacation to Las Vegas with another couple. We'll be renting a vehicle for a few days. The plan is to see the strip & a few shows for the first 2 or 3 days, then drive to the Grand Canyon. We'll be going in mid November.

So far we know we'll be seeing the Hoover Dam and staying in Grand Canyon Village for 1 night. Then drive back to Vegas, possibly through Zion National Park. Would that be a good way to come back rather than just retrace our route? Joe is in a wheelchair so we won't be hiking or anything along the way, just stopping at scenic places to take photos.

Is there anything else along that route to see? Remember I am from Newfoundland and I've never seen a desert, cactus or palm tree before, so anything is scenic to me!!! Are the salt flats close by? Another national park?

Thanks for your help!!

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Comments (13)

janny31
13 years ago
I definitely recommend that you go through Zion National Park. It is spectacular, with many chances to get up close to very beautiful rock formations, waterfalls, etc. Grand Canyon has smashing views, but is much harder to negotiate and hike around in.
bee0hio
13 years ago
Valley of Fire State Park (in NV) is about 1 hour northeast of Las Vegas just off Interstate 15. It has spectacular vistas & you can just drive around thru it, get out of the vehicle as you wish. If you go to Zion after Grand Canyon, it would be on your way back to Las Vegas. Interstate 15 runs from Utah thru the northwest tip of AZ to NV thru a canyon following the Virgin River that is thrilling, winding, & a beautiful drive.

Here is a link that might be useful: Parks Nevada (Valley of Fire)
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We saw Viva Elvis and Jersey Boys when I went with my girlfriends a little while back. I am a HUGE Elvis fan, and girfriends werent, but they LOVED the Elvis show. Jersey Boys was very good too. I miss the old Las Vegas! My parents took us back then and so glad I knew how it use to be. Maybe I should embrace this new Las Vegas, but, when driving around there and seeing all the new places, and the old hotels not there anymore, really makes me sad! I just loved the ambiance of the old Vegas. Now, there are some wonderful places to eat now, where used to you had to seek them out. But, I loved playing Keno when getting tired of playing slots, and I think someone there said one place had Keno now, and I went there and they said they just stopped recently. Vegas just plays to a new and younger crowd now. Must me making money, or they wouldn't have done it though.
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Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and glad you all enjoyed it. That's a lot to cover in 11 days! Dh and I drove across country right after we got engaged, starting in No. California. We'd both been to the Grand Canyon before, but while living in Hawaii, we met a guy who grew up in AZ. He told us about this canyon adjacent to the Grand Canyon that he and his family used to hike into - the trail ends in an Indian reservation. We decided to do it on our trip across country. I'm not sure what we were thinking...while physically fit, we weren't big hikers and it was a 10 mile hike down, it was 100+ degrees (middle of July). We camped overnight and then hiked back out the next day. I was never so happy to get back to our car with A/C! From there we were headed to Denver, so we drove up through Utah along some deserted 2-lane highways, but the scenery was spectacular. We didn't make it to Bryce or Zion, but we have vowed that once all of our kids were old enough to appreciate, we were going to do a trip like yours. We'll probably just do Sedona, Grand Canyon, and then one place up in Utah. I assume you were driving from place to place? Did you get to stop at any of the pueblos? Those were really pretty cool. I agree with you about Vegas. Once was enough for me. We stopped there too on our trip from San Fran down to AZ via L.A then San Diego (our trip was very convoluted as we were all over the map visiting friends along the way). We just had an overnight in Vegas, but did hit a casino just for fun. Totally not my thing at all. Just too much for me. It was neat to experience once, but I have no desire to head back. Did you see the Hoover Dam too? Probably not as I imagine that wasn't on your way if you were coming from Utah. If you have any specific kid-friendly info of places you stopped, please share! I'm taking note of the Pink Jeep tour! Glad you had a great time but totally understand being a little bit too much togetherness! With four kids, I get that when we are having to stay in hotel rooms for any length of time.
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I've been to Vegas many times and despite it's negative qualities like the smoking and the heat (it was 116 degrees when we got married there) I can completely understand why most people want to experience it at least once. But we're not smokers, gamblers or drinkers and especially now as older adults we'd certainly get board fairly quick. What I would do if it were me is I'd experience the strip at night and go do other things during the day. At night you can visit the different hotels, go to dinner and/or a couple of the shows as you mentioned, but during the day, I'd prefer to go to some of the parks and enjoy the natural scenery. Because I hate crowds, I'd skip the Grand Canyon and head out for a day drive and maybe a picnic in neighboring Utah. Zion is very pretty and Bryce, well, it is absolutely breathtaking, much better (IMO) than the Grand Canyon. It's not nearly as populated and the drive there is also quite interesting to see. Closer to the strip is Hoover Damn, which I found to be interesting and also a pretty drive.
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vannie
13 years ago
You need to get Nita to help you with this. She's quite a traveler!! I bet Magic could help you, too.
mariend
13 years ago
Be prepared for cool nights and possibility snow in the mountains. Watch the weather. I agree, Nita of AZ would be alot of help. Do you belong it CAA? (Canadian Auto Association). If not ask a friend if they do.You also have time to write for information. Stop at the welcome centers also. Zion is real beatiful and if I remember they have a big theater with movies about the area. Will try to check this out for you. In Las Vegas do be careful. Don't leave anything in the room valuable as crime as really increased. Are you or the other couple familiar with heavy traffic? We just came thru there and we have driven many freeways, etc and with all the construction etc it is a zoo. You might want to consider doing a tour to Hoover Dam, but do check as one of the road is closed. Wish I could help more with maps etc. If I can, let me know.
Marie from CA now ND
vetaal
13 years ago
Casey: how long is a "few days"?
If you go thru north, then Valley of Fire SP (beautiful), Hwy 15 IS my DH favorite road to drive on, Springdale and Zion NP, Mt. Carmel tunnel and hike on the east side of it, Checkered mesa. If you have enough time: Bryce NP and Kodachrome SP. If not head south-east to Rt.67 to north side of Grand Canyon. Then to Page for a hike thru Antelope Canyon (I like Lower better). Then around to Rt 64 (Rim drive). It is all very scenic but a lo-o-ong drive.
If you only have time for GCanyon: drive thru the Rim drive. If you have time to hike, November is a good month to go down to Colorado river and back in one day. If not all the way down, then atleast to Ahh Point from Yavapai point trailhead.
Grandview trail is nice (steep) short hike. Yuo can take bus to Hermit point and hike along the rim back to village (9 mi) or take bus along the way back.
Sunrise is good at Mather Point. Sunset at Hopi point (must take bus) or down at Ahh point (must hike).
Good luck :o)
mariend
13 years ago
Hi--me again. If you google Zion Canyon and Bryce canyon their is a ton of infomation It might be Bryce where the amphatheater is located or it may be gone by now. There is some warnings on road construction but that is all on the computer. Good luck and have a great trip.
Marie
casey_nfld
Original Author
13 years ago
Beeohio, Valley of Fire Park sounds perfect!!! I just looked at some of the photos on Google Earth and it's beautiful and I like that you can just drive through it.

Like I mentioned, Joe is in a wheelchair so there will be no hiking. Our friend will drive, he loves driving and has driven in several large cities so that's no problem.

Also, cool nights are not a problem, they'll probaly seem warm to us. I think most of you would freeze here in Newfoundland (even in summer, LOL).

Thanks for the idea, keep them coming!
bee0hio
13 years ago
Red Rock Canyon & Mt. Charleston are on the west side of Vegas & an easy day trip drive with beautiful scenery. It can be 90Â° in Vegas & snowing on Mt. C.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip & it will be sooo different from what you're accustomed to.
User
13 years ago
Don't laugh at me, but before you leave Las Vegas, have a visit to the Liberace Museum. It's really quite good and definitely good for some chuckles!

While at the Grand Canyon, have dinner at the historic El Tovar - it's a great and really great restaurant.

Are you going to ride the mules down into the canyon?
kim_okla
13 years ago
I just went to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. I loved Sedona and could have skipped the grand canyon. Way too much walking.

Possibly though the Grand Canyon was the last stop of the trip, I was ready to get home.

We also went to Yosemite and Sequoia so we covered a lot of tourist spots.

I can't imagine the shots you'll get no matter where you go.
carol_in_california
13 years ago
I suggest you see the IMAX theater's presentation of The Grand Canyon.
It is so good.....and try to see the canyon either early in the morning or at sunset. The nights there are awesome, too, especially on the North Rim.
I am looking forward to seeing your pictures when you have time to post.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grand Canyon IMAX
monica_pa Grieves
13 years ago
About 3-4 years ago , we flew out to Las Vegas, rented a car and drove north, to Zion Park, then east to Lake Powell(where we spent 2 nights, and the best day long boat ride ever on Lake Powell, to see the Rainbow Bridge. Then, headed east to Flagstaff, and then south to Sedona, where we also spent 2 nights. After that, we headed around the Grand Canyon South Rim, and stayed another 2 nights at the Canyon. Headed back west to Hoover Dam, and Las Vegas to fly home.

Basically, we drove all around the Grand Canyon.

I highly recommend it.
Kathsgrdn
13 years ago
Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef National Parks and Lake Powell. Capitol Reef is below Zion and Bryce closer to Lake Powell I think. My dad and I drove through all three years ago on our way to New Mexico. Lake Powell is probably one of the prettiest desert lakes I've seen. Can't wait to see your pictures. I had taken a picture of Lake Powell, taken on a trip with an old boyfriend before the trip with my dad. It was so pretty I had it blown up and hung on my wall. ( :

Here is a link that might be useful: Capitol Reef

Help me plan a sightseeing trip outside Las Vegas please

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Help me plan a sightseeing trip outside Las Vegas please

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