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 23rd
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 29th
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 30th
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 31st
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 1st
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 2nd
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 3rd
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 13th – Thursday, August 4th
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 14th – Friday, August 5th
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 15th – Saturday, August 6th - Fly home!
