| This article is based on years of traveling in and | | | | theatres, without lots of traffic. The town has lots |
| out of Las Vegas to visit some of the most | | | | of buffets, gas stations, golf, etc. If you are |
| beautiful places on earth. Las Vegas can be a | | | | planning a visit to Zion, staying here is an easy |
| very inexpensive place to fly into. | | | | drive up and back for a couple of day trips into |
| AdventureZoneTOURS, that's what I should have | | | | the region. Many times I have gone with a group |
| named this article. That's how I like to travel. I | | | | and we have to reserve quite a few rooms. |
| want to be comfortable, have great adventure, | | | | As you head north on I 15 you'll see the Las |
| for a reasonable amount of money. | | | | Vegas Speedway home of NASCAR races as |
| For our budget, our trip into the Vegas airport | | | | well as Nellis Air force base. You'll probably see or |
| begins on a Sunday thru Wednesday. The focus | | | | hear air force jets flying around or landing as you |
| and goal of our trip is to get into the great | | | | travel past the base. The thunderbirds have a |
| outdoors. But, we like to stay the first couple of | | | | presence here, as well as some funky looking |
| nights in Vegas and then the last couple of nights | | | | stealth and unmanned remotely piloted aircraft. |
| too, with the middle of the trip spent touring | | | | Maybe this is where all the UFO Area 51 stuff |
| awesome places in the great Mohave Desert. | | | | comes from. If you're interested in more |
| As soon as you get off the plane you know you | | | | information about the mystery lights in the sky, |
| are in Vegas and are bombarded by visual | | | | search for Groom Lake or Area 51. |
| entertainment. Everything is bright and flashing, it | | | | The Valley of Fire State Park is up this way and |
| seems like daytime even at night. Huge screens | | | | located only six miles from Lake Mead, it's 55 |
| preview the available shows and entertainment in | | | | miles northeast of Las Vegas via Interstate 15 |
| town. As you leave the airport you will find all | | | | and on exit 75. Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest |
| modes of transport available along the street | | | | and largest state park, dedicated 1935. The valley |
| including taxis, limos & shuttle buses. | | | | derives its name from the red sandstone |
| There are a lot of hotels to choose from. Many | | | | formations and the stark beauty of the Mojave |
| times I have stayed on the strip at Tropicana | | | | Desert. There are some really awesome |
| Ave. Returning to the car rental lot at the airport | | | | campsites nested within the red rock cliffs. This is |
| is just minutes from this part of the strip. There | | | | a great place to stretch your legs and do a little |
| are many choices for hotels. There are thousands | | | | rock scrambling. It's about a 30 minute drive from |
| of hotel rooms and more being built every day. | | | | the highway exit. The Moapa Indian Reservation |
| There are hotels on Las Vegas Blvd, more just | | | | runs a store right at this exit.This can be a nice |
| off the strip and some just blocks away from | | | | stop for bathrooms; they sell fireworks, have a |
| the strip in downtown Las Vegas. Fremont Street | | | | small casino, tax free cigarettes and liquor in their |
| has been canopied by tens of thousands of lights. | | | | small convenience store. |
| The hotel/casinos in this area have almost a | | | | If you continue north into Utah on highway I 15 |
| neighborhood feel. At night The Fremont Street | | | | from Las Vegas you can go to Zion National Park. |
| Experience comes alive with lights, and music. It's | | | | It's just a few hours north of Las Vegas and can |
| feels almost like a block party. | | | | make a great day trip. April thru Oct. the |
| Will you need a rental car? Many times your best | | | | environmental friendly shuttle bus provides |
| deal on a rental is going to be for a weekly rental. | | | | transportation in the park. Other month's autos |
| Even if you rent for just 4 days, the weekly | | | | are allowed in. There is a highway Rt 9 that goes |
| rental is normally a better deal. Normally, the car | | | | thru park of the park and is open to traffic all |
| rentals work on a 24 hour period. For example if | | | | year. If you might be planning a hike into the |
| you pick up at 6 pm, your return would have to | | | | Virgin River and upstream, talk to the rangers |
| be by 6 pm of the day the car is suppose to be | | | | first. Our last trip the water levels were too high |
| returned. Many times I will fly into Las Vegas and | | | | and not safe. After you tour of Zion, be sure to |
| take one of the inexpensive shuttles to my hotel | | | | take RT. 9 through the tunnels, and the landscape |
| doorstep. Then the day I want to begin my | | | | totally changes after the tunnel. It's like a different |
| weekly rental, I take a taxi to the rental location | | | | planet. The second day we visited the Zion |
| to pick up my car being careful to pick it up at | | | | Plateau where we found a resort and paid the all |
| the same time of day that I will be returning it | | | | day pass to ride their ATV's, use their pool, play |
| the day of my departure. You can also consider | | | | paintball, climbing wall, etc. |
| renting your auto at one of the downtown off | | | | From here you now need to plan out your trip |
| airport rental locations. This can save on the | | | | based on how long you'll be traveling for. You |
| airport tax surcharges that are added on to your | | | | could head to Bryce Canyon Nation Park or you |
| rental at the airport locations. As you choose your | | | | could go to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National |
| car rental, you might find that they have a | | | | Monument, Lake Powell, even The Grand Canyon. |
| location right at the hotel you choose to stay at. | | | | I normally take Utah highway 89 if I am going to |
| Las Vegas has plenty of entertainment to enjoy, | | | | Lake Powell and on the return just to see even |
| with shows that change from month to month. | | | | more scenery I return towards Las Vegas using |
| There are many free things to do as well. The | | | | Arizona ALT highway 89. |
| water show at the Beligio is cool and interesting if | | | | Heading south on Utah highway 89 from either |
| seem by night from the Eiffel Tour. Everybody | | | | Zion or Bryce you'll see a turn off for Coral Pink |
| likes the free volcano at the Mirage, the lion's | | | | Sand Dunes State Park. Here pinkish sand worn |
| habitat at the MGM, The show in front of TI, | | | | off the sandstone cliffs was deposited by the |
| Mardi Gras style show in the Rio and on and on. | | | | winds creating 3,000 acres of sand dunes. |
| This article is about getting out into the great | | | | Continuing along highway 89 is the town of Kanab, |
| outdoors, so I'll leave the entertainment search up | | | | Utah. One popular visit in the area is the Paria and |
| to you. There's always plenty to see and do. | | | | Johnson Canyon Movie Set where over 300 |
| On to your AdventureZoneTOUR! Now, let's find | | | | movies and TV shows were filmed. |
| adventure! | | | | This area is called the Arizona Strip. We visited |
| The Valley of Fire | | | | The Glen Canyon Dam which created Lake Powell. |
| Zion National Park | | | | Lake Powell has 2000 miles of shoreline and |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | | | | canyons etc. We rented a speed boat for the |
| The Grand Canyon | | | | day at the Marina. As you look for boat rentals, |
| Lake Powell | | | | you need to decide if you want to rent at the |
| Antelope Canyon | | | | marina where the boat is in the water or another |
| Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park | | | | rental where you may have to tow or arrange |
| Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | | | | for the boat to be launched. You may choose to |
| One of the first things I do as I'm leaving town is | | | | not have a hotel/condo and stay on a houseboat. |
| to find a big grocery store or the local shopping | | | | The sun is strong and lots of sunscreen and sun |
| mart. I buy a cooler and load up on water, fruit, | | | | block should be used. Many people visit Rainbow |
| soda, chips, snacks, napkins, plates, forks and deli | | | | Bridge and it is the world's largest natural bridge. |
| items. Many times we'll have an inexpensive | | | | Antelope Canyon is a Page, Arizona |
| breakfast or lunch along the way. We'll have a | | | | photographer's opportunity. This is the most |
| great restaurant dinner. | | | | spectacular slot canyon I have been to. You'll find |
| There is where the Mojave, Sonoran and | | | | that all tours require a Navajo guide and there is |
| Chihuahuan deserts are within striking distance of | | | | an upper and lower canyon. The tours are |
| your entry point of Las Vegas. Some of these | | | | separate. You can join a tour in Page, AZ or drive |
| areas can be very hot in the summer, but if you | | | | the few miles to the Navajo Nation. There is a |
| plan well and hit the higher elevations, it can be | | | | cost for parking at the Navajo tour site, as well |
| very comfortable. Remember this area of the | | | | as for the tour itself. Our tour was in an open |
| world can be wild and dangerous. Take all the | | | | safari type vehicle for a few miles into the desert. |
| precautions necessary. This is the Mohave Desert, | | | | As you get there you see just a dark crack in a |
| you'll need water. You do not want to get stuck | | | | huge cliff. It is an amazing slot canyon carved by |
| in the sand, or have your auto break down in a | | | | water and wind over millions of years. The |
| remote area. There are places your cell phone will | | | | sandstone colors are awesome and many people |
| not work. If you hike into any remote areas, learn | | | | are touched by this natural cathedral that the |
| about them first and obtain necessary permits. | | | | Navajo's have treasured for years. When the sun |
| There are a lot of slot canyons that are very | | | | is directly over head, beams of light can then |
| beautiful. A slot is a narrow passageway thru cliff | | | | shine into the canyon. |
| lined canyons. This was carved into the sandstone | | | | I like to return back towards Las Vegas using AZ |
| by water. Beware! If it is raining 100 miles away | | | | alt 89 out of Page, AZ. Be sure you make the |
| from you, you may not know it and the slot you | | | | turn on alt 89 or you will continue south towards |
| could be in is where the water will run. I have | | | | Flagstaff, AZ. Taking this route will bring you past |
| heard several stories of people being carried | | | | the Vermilion Cliffs. As you continue on highway |
| away and drown because of lack of planning. | | | | alt 89 you'll get to Jacobs Lake, this is the turn |
| When you are in a narrow canyon, there is no | | | | off if you are interested in visiting the North Rim |
| place to escape. Be smart and be careful. Take | | | | of The Grand Canyon. I timed my last trip so we |
| lots of pictures. | | | | could overnight at the Lodge. We showed up late |
| Heading north there is another great little casino | | | | afternoon, watched the sunset, stayed in a cabin |
| city right at the border of Nevada called Mesquite, | | | | right near the rim. We ate at the dining room with |
| NV. I have found the hotel room rates to be | | | | an awesome view. You'll need reservations or |
| down right cheap. Mesquite has everything that I | | | | you'll be out of luck. |
| need as a base of operations. The rooms are | | | | From here you'd just return back to highway 15 |
| acceptable, the Casinos are modern and fun with | | | | and your trip back to Las Vegas. |
| pools and even arcades, bowling alleys and movie | | | | |