Time to go!!

Hi everyone,

Well it’s the night before we leave and I’m running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Gross imagery, sorry.  I’ve been packing all week but somehow we’re all crazed, looking for all those last minute items, and getting yelled at by my husband for forgetting that liquids must go in the checked bags, not the carry-ons. Sheesh, I liked traveling so much better before the terrorists.

I’m watching my husband pack his carry on bags and I’m marveling at the amount of technology he’s smooshing into these things.  We have two laptops, one IPOD, one video camera, a regular camera, GPS, 2 Kindles, 3 cell phones and all of the cords and chargers that go with them.  “It’s all needed,” I just heard my husband explain.  I wonder what the pioneers did when they went on vacation? 

I’m giving a special shout out to the three people who are actually admitting to reading this blog.  Thank you Elaine, Ivette and Betsy for being my three biggest (and only) fans.  I love you guys!!!

So I don’t have time for one of my usual brilliant breakdowns of our next destination so I thought I’d post our itinerary.  Upon looking it over I noticed that it’s incredibly detailed.  You’re all going to think I’m nuts or just incredibly well organized – and nuts.

Here it is:

Shipping containers to Circus Circus

C/o Andrea and Dan Gallant

Arrival date: July 23^rd

2880 Las Vegas Blvd S.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-734-0410

Day one – Saturday, July 23 -  Arrive at Las Vegas

Pick up car – Fox’s Rental Car – print off confirmation

Check into Circus Circus Hotel and get sent boxes

Pick up stuff from Wal-Mart

Dinner – Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion – 620 E. Flamingo Road – 702-691-2053 – Reservations recommended

Day two – Sunday July 24 - Full day at Vegas

Breakfast – Use coupons for breakfast

Go to lots of shops and sightsee

Dinner – eat at Gillys Las Vegas in Treasure Island

Show – Cirque du Soleil – Mystere.  Print off confirmation sheet and bring to box office. Show starts at 7:00pm.  Must pick up tickets before 6pm at box office – can pick up any day, any time as long as it’s at least an hour before show.

Day three – Monday, July 25 – Travel from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon – 5hrs

Breakfast  - quick in Vegas

Fire restrictions for Grand Canyon – no wood burning fires.

Drive one hour to Hoover Dam. Stop and Visit.  Follow directions to Dam.

Lunch – Road Kill Café, Seligman, AZ - 502 West Highway 66, Seligman - (928) 422-3554

Get to Mather Campground in GC South Rim and set up camp.

Take bus ride to Hermit road shuttle and take that bus for lots of great views.

Dinner and IMAX in Tusayan

7pm reservation at The Coronado Room - 100 Highway 64 Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn. Tusayan - (928) 638-2681

IMAX – ½ hour shows every hour on the half hour until 8:30

Day Four – Tuesday, July 26    

We’re responsible for 3 meals.  Must pack lunch.

Take shuttle to Bright Angel Trail and hike til Three and a half mile marker.  Less if needed.  Eat lunch on the trail.

Chill out for the afternoon.  Visit visitor center.  Buy food for dinner and cook.  Must use stove.

Do either Twilight Zone Family Program –check visitor center for dates and times

            Or

Campfire program – Sage Loop Campfire – in our campground - ??Not sure if will occur due to fire restrictions.

Day Five – Wednesday, July 27    

Drive from Grand Canyon to Zion National Park – Call first thing to reserve “ride with ranger” tour for next day at 9am - 435 772-3256

Stop in Cameron, AZ for breakfast/lunch at Cameron Trading Post – Navaho Tacos or Navaho tacos with egg.  Breakfast til 11am and lunch starts at 11am

466 North Highway 89

Cameron, AZ – 928-679-2231

Lunch in Kanab, UT at Nedra’s Too – Chicken chimichangas w/ white jalapeno sauce; machacas –

Set up camp at Ferber’s Campground in Springdale, Utah

479 Zion Park Blvd. Springdale, UT. 435-772-3237

Go to Park – Visitor Center.  Take tram to last stop and do Riverside Walk (1 ½ Hours).  Then take tram to Weeping rock and do trail (1/2 hour)

The Whiptail Grill for dinner – 445 Zion Lodge, Springdale, UT - (435) 772-0283 ‎

 - Goat cheese chili relleno and spaghetti squash enchalada.

Dessert – gift shop of Bumbleberry restaurant for bumbleberry pie. – 97 Bumbleberry lane, Springdale, UT. - (435) 772-3224

Day Six  - Thursday, July 28

Ride with a Ranger Tour – 9-11am – be there by 8:45.  Find out where to meet.

Visit Zion Human history museum or Nature center

Have lunch at Zion Lodge – nothing special but keeps us on site.

Do Grotto Trail/Upper and Lower Emerald Pool/Kayenta Trail loop

Go back to campground for swimming – do Virgin River Tubing – leaves from our campground.

Dinner – Gun Barrel Steak and Game House – St. George – Fav of locals – ONE HOUR AWAY – 1091 N. Bluff St, Ste 1400, St. George – 435-652-0550 – Reservations(?)

Day seven – Friday, July 29^th

Leave for Bryce Canyon – 2 hours

Breakfast at Park House Café – serving breakfast til 12-1.  Lunch and dinner, too. – 1880 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale.

Set up camp – Sunset campground

Take free shuttle around Bryce Amphitheater route – get off at stops to see sites. Go to Visitors Center to get list of Geology Festival events and nighttime events.

Dinner – Foster’s steakhouse in Bryce City – 1150 Hwy 12 – prime rib, garlic chicken and pie

Day eight – Saturday, July 30^th

Breakfast at camp

Hike – Queens/Navajo combo loop with Rim Trail

Lunch – either at Bryce Canyon lodge or pack it.

Take Rainbow Point Shuttle to Rainbow and Yovimpa Points.  Do Bristlecone Loop Trail

Chill and comeback to Sunset Point by 5pm for Ranger-Led Rim walk.

Dinner – either 45 min drive for Café Adobe in Hatch or ask for good local place or cook.

Day nine – Sunday, July 31^st

Drive from Bryce to Capitol Reef – 2 hrs 45 min

Set up camp – SandCreek RV Park – 540 Hwy 24, Torrey, UT – 435-425-3577.

Lunch in Torrey - ?Capitol Reef Inn and Café

Hwy 24 into Capitol Reef – take rt to Panorama and then Sunset Point.  Go back and go to visitors center.  Look for any goings-ons.  Drive and do Hickman Bridge Trail.  Go back to Visitors center and go down Scenic Drive.  Pull onto Grand Wash and hike to Cassidy Arch.  Go to end of Scenic Drive and take Capital Gorge and hike trail to “The Tanks”.

Dinner – Drive to Boulder 45 for Hell’s Backbone Grill or Café Diablo in Torrey (rattlesnake?)

Day 10 – Monday, August 1^st

Drive to Heber and hang with the Shimazaki’s – 4 hours

Breakfast at Mom’s in Salina, UT (1 ½ hours from Capitol Reef) – gotta have the scones.

Continue to Heber.

Day 11 – Tuesday, August 2^nd

Go where Shimazaki’s recommend.

Have lunch at Bruge’s – 336 W. 300 S. (Broadway), SLC – 801-363-4444.

Enjoy Birthday!!!

Day 12 – Wednesday, August 3^rd

Heber to Arches National Park – 4hours

Lunch – Westwinds Truck Stop – Best Country Fried Steak – Green River - Conveniently located on I-70 just off on exit 164

Go to Visitors Center – see what evening programs there are

Drive thru to Devil’s Campground and set up – stop along the way for the sites.

Do Broken Arch and Sand dune Hikes

Delicate Arch (at sunset?)

Dinner – Buck’s Grill House – Moab - 1393 N Highway 191, Moab, UT 84532     TEL: 435-259-5201

Duck, elk, etc.

 Day 13^th – Thursday, August 4^th

Arches to Grand Junction, Colorado

Delicate Arch – if not done previous day

Drive out to Windows Section – The Windows Trail and Double Arch

Lunch – Milt’s Stop and Eat – Moab – burgers and fries and shakes -

356 Mill Creek Drive Moab, UT 84532 (435) 259-7424

Drive 2 hours to Grand Junction.

Arrive Double Tree Hotel

Hang out, swim, etc.

Dinner – Rockslide Brew Pub – unless someone can suggest better.

Day 14^th – Friday, August 5^th

Drive from Grand Junction to Denver – 4 ½ hours.

Stop for lunch in Evergreen, CO (4 hours).  Tins Star Café and donuts – BBQ and Apple fritters. -

28025 Colorado 74 Evergreen, CO 80439 (303) 679-1155

Hotel – Courtyard by Marriott – Airport

Find place to ship our stuff.

Dinner – Buckhorn Exchange – reservations recommended – 303-534-9505 –

1000 Osage Str. • Denver, CO 80204

Day 15^th – Saturday, August 6^th - Fly home!