Cali-vada Day 7: Good bye, Death Valley; Hello, Vegas!

We have one last stop in Death Valley before we head out—Dante’s View.

And what a view it was!

You can get a feel for the expansiveness

Of Death Valley from here

We needed a picture

Or two

Tuck made the tiniest cairn on the peak

While Wes and I had a moment Mom couldn’t help but capture

Then it was time to load up and head to…

VEGAS, BABY!

We checked into our hotel and then hit the strip.

We stopped for a quick lunch and some sightseeing at McDonald’s

And then started our tour of the hotels and casinos.

We checked out the flamingos at The Flamingo

The gardens at The Bellagio

the awesome Gods at Caeser’s

the Eiffel Tower at The Paris

And the volcano at The Mirage

We pigged out at Guy Fieri’s restaurant

And then headed to our first stop of the night…

Down the boardwalk

Up the escalator

To the High Roller Ferris wheel

The views were spectacular!

You could practically see the entire Strip!

Pappo insisted on standing right next to the doors

Just to freak Jack out.

He got over it.

We gorged ourselves on Ghirardelli ice cream and shakes

And candy at I Love Sugar (it was a 2 story candy store!)

And then made our way through Mario and Chase

And all the topless showgirls

To see Mom’s favorite thing in Vegas 

The Bellagio fountains.

We stayed for 4 shows.

It might be my favorite part too.

We were pooped after all that and headed to bed

(But Mom and Dad stayed up for a bit of popcorn craps).

One more day to go…where did our week go?!?!

California Day 6C: Dark Sky at the Oasis

For our last night in Death Valley, 

We headed to the Inn for dinner.

The food was great

But the ambiance was even better.

You have to enter the building through an old mining tunnel.

And they have a rooftop patio with blackout curtains

So you can enjoy the dark sky.

Those are STARS!

We discovered you could take some cool pictures

If everyone would hold reeeeeally still.

And look!

Mema’s back in action!

How about this family picture?

Proof we CAN hold still

It was a beautiful night

Just right for sitting under the palms

Back at The Ranch (literally),

Our walkway was too pretty to not get one more picture

As we enjoy the desert solitude

Because tomorrow, 

We’re headed for one last adventure…

 

California Day 6B: Desert Sand and a Crater for good measure

What would a trip to Death Valley be

If we didn’t get some sand in our boots?

Off to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes we go!

Dad was nice enough to act as the boot pack mule 

While we ran around and explored the dunes

Tuck was a bit slower on the run up

The dried up spots were really cool…but sharp on our feet

A rare Mom picture!

I ASKED for this picture to be taken believe it or not

Weston decided to stay behind

And ponder life on the sand dune

While we ventured off into the sand without many footprints

Hoping to catch site of a sidewinder snake

No luck.

But we did find Pappo

Enjoying a moment of quiet

(So we plopped down beside him)

Yet another stop that was really

Unexpectedly beautiful 

In every direction!

We had wanted to drive the Racetrack to see the sailing stones

But when the Ranger talked about the need for a spare tire

And about 2 hours of REALLY bumpy road each way,

We decided we’d have to wait until they pave that road.

Instead, our last stop of the day was a 30 minute drive

To see Ubehebe Crater. 

We stood at the top for a bit pondering 

who would be crazy enough to climb down.

And then we climbed RAN down!

Can you see them?

Beckett and Pappo in the sun?

They thought we were crazy.

They opted to walk the rim.

I mean, come on!

It was only 481 feet down

Made for some cool pictures

We did it!

But what comes down,

Must go back up.

Which wasn’t quite as fast as the 7 minute descent.

The view from the rim was pretty spectacular as well

In fact, the drive out there and back was spectacular.

Expansive?

Awesome?

GORGEOUS?

Yep. All that.