Rest Day...sort of.

It was a very slow start to the day today.  Bry had a bit of a sleep in and the girls enjoyed watching some tv.  We decided to keep away from the Strip today as we knew it would be crazy, being New Years Eve.  So we headed to the North Las Vegas Outlets for a look.  Very busy there too.  Didn't really buy much this time.

We headed back to the Resort, via a couple of shops and the girls and Bry went for a swim.

By then it was time to head out for dinner.  We had been recommended a place near us (well away from the strip) so we headed there.  Unfortunately it was really busy so we went to Claim Jumper instead.  We were really pleased we did as it was really yummy and the service was amazing.

The parking lot at the shopping centre.

Lauren's KIDS size dinner of BBQ ribs!! (and yes, she ate most of it but did leave some fries)

Bry's roast turkey dinner with the best veges we've had here. I had the beef tri-tip which was beautiful...about 8 slices of yummy beef, veges and mashed potatoes.  There's no way you can eat the whole lot.

The "chocolate motherload"- a famous dessert.  Only $10.95...and no, we didn't order it.  It was HUGE!!

I know so many of you are going to be disappointed in us, as it's New Years Eve here, we have a babysitter, but we aren't going out.  Sad I know.  Truth is, we couldn't think of anything worse than heading into the bedlam of the strip and being pushed and bumped into by thousands of people.  I guess we must be old.  You will be pleased to know that I did have a very yummy large margarita with my dinner though.

We are so pleased with where we are staying.  It's located in a gorgeous area of Las Vegas.  It's very clean and lovely and quiet.  We actually seem to be using this part of the trip as a time to kick back and relax which is good because we have been so busy.  We're still getting out and seeing lots but enjoying being slower paced.  I bet not many people say that when they come to Las Vegas!

Our kitchen

The lounge/living/dining room

Posing in their jammies from the Disney store..they're preparing for Disneyland

Our 'pantry'....mainly breakfast and snack items for the girls.

1 gallon of milk..only $3.  Incredible.

What do you do with 200 pennies?  plus other coins....we're not used to all the change

Tomorrow we're heading back into the strip to see some of the attractions there.

xxxx

Happy New Year Kiwis and Aussies.

How weird...you all are in 2013 and we're still in 2012!!

Just to let you know that pics are now up on the last 2 entries.  Thanks heaps Amanda- it worked going through Picasa.  Yay!!

Love to all.  See you next year ;-)

xxxxxx

Las Vegas Day 1

After we got ourselves organised, we headed off into the strip. 

At first we weren't too sure where we were supposed to park but then we realised that each casino had a free car parking building attached.  So we pulled into the Monte Carlo as this was the one we were outside.  We walked down to the casino and were blown away by how big it was.  It felt really weird being able to have the kids walk through with us though.
Bry put $5 in a machine, just to say he had gambled in Vegas.

Coming out of the Monte Carlo

We finally found our way outside and right across the road were the Coke shop and the M&M store.  No surprise that we headed to both of them.  In the coke shop the girls had their photo taken with the Coke bear and then we headed upstairs to sample "coke flavours from around the world".  I won't ruin any future visits by telling you what was good and what was revolting...but one was definitely revolting!!!

 

The different flavours we tried

Lauren looking quite pensive about tasting

Lauren's reaction after one tasting

The M&M store was right next door so in we headed.  There were 4 floors of goodies.  What a cool place.  The girls and I watched a 3D movie about Red M&M's missing M.  It was so funny.  When we came out, Bry had lined up to personalise some M&Ms.  We must have stayed in there for over an hour.

Meeting Miss Green

Do you think Brayden might bring one of these home one day, Sarah?

Personalizing the M&M's

By this stage we were hungry so we walked to the MGM casino and tried to find some food.  We had thought the Monte Carlo was big...the MGM was gigantic.  After walking past several restaurants, we found a food hall so had some lunch there.  When Mum and I had finished, we headed back to some "Grease" slot machines to have a go.  No winnings here. Just as we ran out of our $10, Bry and the girls arrived so we headed off (it took us some time to find the exit).  We definitely noticed the smoking inside...you forget what it used to be like at home.

We crossed the road and popped into New York, New York.  We didn't go down to the casino floor, but had a look at the shops.  Lauren was quite interested in the girl dancing on the bar outside Coyote Ugly. :)

Inside New York, New York

At this stage it was about 3.30 and all the characters of Vegas were surfacing, so we headed back to the Monte Carlo to get back to the car.  As we walked through the casino there was a girl wearing not too much dancing on another bar.  Lauren asked about it, and when we told her that that's what she might end up doing if she doesn't concentrate and work hard at school, she told us that she thinks she might try a little harder at school because she definitely didn't want to do that.  So funny.

 

 

Driving down the strip

When we got back, the girls had a quick swim...it's rather chilly outside but the pool is beautifully heated and then we came back and made our own dinner.

I'm sitting here typing this, drinking a so-called flavoured beer...Peach Fuzzy Navel...it certainly doesn't taste like beer to me, but it's definitely alcohol.  Not bad for $1 a bottle at the supermarket.  Yum!

I still can't get photos to upload...could it be the server they use here?  Can anyone help? (Miss B?)

Have a great New Years everyone.

xxxxx

Back again!

Had an excellent nights sleep so here I am.

We woke yesterday morning to a stunning temperature of -7 degrees!  -7! It didn't actually feel that cold though because there was no wind.  If you ever get the chance to go to Williams, do so...it is so quaint.

Our accommodation in Williams

Outside our room

After breakfast we headed off towards the Grand Canyon.  I had already been here, but the sight was still amazing. Everyone else loved it (although Mum wasn't too keen on looking down at some places)

 

 

Bry thought he might be a Park Ranger for the day (I think he just wanted to carry a gun)

We had a really good look around, took lots of photos, spent a bit in the tourist shops, and then heading back south on our way to Las Vegas.

View as we drive past each small town

As we crossed over the Nevada border, we passed the Hoover Dam, so we stopped there for a look.  Bry was quite disappointed with it...the Roxburgh dam is as exciting.  However, we had to stop and take some pics. :)

The Hoover Dam

Looking back towards the new bridge you drive over. 

By this time it was getting quite dark so we jumped back into the car and continued on to Las Vegas.  This is when the evening got a little more interesting...

The traffic was quite busy, so Bry was keeping his distance.  However, the car in front stopped suddenly, so Bry braked and stopped in time.  The next car did the same.  However the guy in the Corvette behind the second car didn't.  He smashed into the guy behind us who then smashed into us.  Thankfully, we were all ok in our car and the second car....quite shaken up but all good.  The corvette drivers wife had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance as apparently she hurt her hip.

Luckily the highway patrol were right across the freeway, so they came right on over.  They were really lovely..very concerned about us, especially the girls.  They even gave them "Boulder City police- Junior Officer" stickers.  The paperwork they had to do was amazing...they needed our passports, a drawing of where we were sitting in the car and a written statement.  It took quite a while for them to do it all, so Bry took the opportunity to have a chat to one of them.  He asked all about their weapons etc.  The officer told him he had 2 loaded handguns on him..one on his belt and one strapped to his ankle, 3 full clips (a total of 75 rounds) and a taser.  He also had a shotgun in the boot of his car.  Bry loves that his name was Enis (like the Dukes of Hazzard!)

When we were finally free to go, we were told that the corvette driver was being charged with following too close.  His car was a complete write-off.

We continued (cautiously) to our accommodation for the next week...The Cliffs at Peace Canyon.  It was so lovely to get here and find it really lovely.  Yay!! 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms!  We haven't had a problem with all sharing space, but it's nice to be able to spread out.

First sight of Vegas

We unloaded the car and headed off to Walgreens for some groceries.  What an amazing shop!! We'll have to go back and have a decent look around.  It's Pak'n'Save and the Warehouse combined.

We got takeaway Chinese for dinner....we usually prefer Thai over Chinese but this was beautiful.  Very fresh and not oily at all.

We collapsed in our beds.  What an interesting day!!!

This morning Bry and I got up lovely and early and headed to Alamo to change our car.  They were great.  No charge for us (thankfully!) and we got ourselves a new Dodge Caravan.

We're thinking we may head to the strip today......more tonight.
'(Blogger won't let me add photos at the moment so I'll try again tonight)

Too tired..

..to write a blog tonight.  I'll do so tomorrow.
xxx

Barstow, California to Williams, Arizona

Lovely Bryan woke us nice and early again this morning so we could hit the road.  Our accommodation in Barstow was just great, a real home feeling with lots of lovely extras.

The foyer where guests were invited to put their feet up.

 We headed down for our breakfast (which was similar to yesterday) and then packed up and off we went.  The road was fairly boring, although the scenery was lovely.

The trucks here are HUGE

The travellers



After a couple of hours we hit Arizona.  Not a lot of difference, except Bry could drive 75miles an hour (about 120kms).  We saw a few interesting things in the middle of nowhere that we have no idea what they were there for.

Any ideas?

The rock formations were amazing.

Our first stop in Arizona was Kingman. 

 

Everything here is big.

 

We were just about ready for lunch (we had lost an hour because Arizona doesn't use daylight saving) so we drove onto Seligman and stopped at the wellknown Road Kill Diner.  It was so much fun.  Bry even had a real buffalo burger

 

Tay wasn't too happy to be standing here

 

The sign outside (serious!)

The decor..loved the huge jam jar glasses
 

We headed on to Williams.  We quickly checked in and then went to Bearizona.  What an amazing park.  It has a drivethrough track where the animals roam freely, much like you used to be able to do at Orana Park with the lions.

 

We had no plans on getting out!

Rocky Mountain goat

American Bison

Alaskan Tundra Wolves

White Bison

Black Bears!!!

Arctic wolves

 

They were all so close that we could have touched them.  Amazing!!!  After the drivethough area there is another part where you can get out and walk around.  Here we saw...

A squirrel

Tay and friend

Beavers

A raccoon

A swift fox

It was so worth the visit!!!  I forgot to say that we didn't hit snow until we got to Williams...this was the place we hadn't booked any accommodation as the road is regularly closed due to snow.  However, we got lucky and got a stunning day.  Cold obviously, but stunning.
We headed to downtown Williams on Route 66 and had a walk around.  What a fabulous wee town.

Williams is on Route 66

Smokey says the fire risk is low

Even Elvis loves it here

Christmas lights everywhere

Another route 66 shop

It was time for dinner and we headed to a very busy, popular diner.  We all ordered the roast beef and enjoyed some veges (not very exciting veges-mixed corn, beans and carrots) and then just had to try some American Pie.  There were so many flavours to chose from.

We went for double butterscotch, banana cream and chocolate and banana.

The banana cream

The pieces were huge and we only ate about half.  The filling was very cream like but very rich.  We wouldn't order it again, but we had to try it once.

The place we are staying here is lovely...time for bed.

Tomorrow...The Grand Canyon and the drive to Las Vegas

xxx