Long, Strange Trip: Death Valley Continued and Vegas

7/31

Zabriski”s Point was on the way to Las Vegas along with Twenty Mule canyon. We planned to stop at both and Zabriski”s Point was a scenic overlook high above the rocky floor of Death Valley. It was impressive but once again we were chased back to the car early due to the heat. I had been driving since we left the campsite and took us on a 2.7 mile loop in Twenty Mule Canyon where mules had carried loads of Borax years ago. The landscape was very much akin to the Badlands and the ground seemed as though it belonged on a different planet. It was rugged and mountainous and I was very excited at the prospect of seeing a dessert Iguana but had no luck finding one. After that it was straight on to Vegas. Driving into the city was a great experience and was very different from anywhere else I had driven, ever. The city was filled with cars and after making a harrowing pass to get onto an exit at high speeds I was sweating profusely and not just due to the heat. I survived and got the whole family safely to an In-n-Out burger. Paul and I really liked our burgers despite the opinion of the rest of our family and after leaving I mused over the fact that the east coast had no iconic fast food chains like the West. Walking into the MGM Grand was a scene I had seen many times but only in airports. The place was massive and colorful; it had the appearance of being new. I was able to compare it to the New York replica hotel complete with a huge rollercoaster and the luxurious, all gold Mandalay Bay. I had grown up watching commercials for the MGM Grand and it was incredible to stay in one. The hotel had five pools and the rest of the day was spent enjoying the weather poolside. I swam in everyone except two and enjoyed the lazy river that meandered its way through the large pool area. The weather was a comfortable low 90’s and the pools weren’t cold but still refreshing. Dinner was at a grand buffet where I was in my element. After eating three plates of dinner and two of desert I was satisfied and left with a full stomach. We then walked out of the comfort of our resort and into the overwhelming atmosphere of the Vegas nightlife. Colorful characters and talented street performers lined the sidewalks as we took in the sights and sounds as much as we could and made our way to the Bellagio, where a large fountain show took place. The fountains were dazzling and drew many spectators, the show was to the tune of a song that I can’t recall but the whole mood was festive as the water danced before our eyes. We were also able to stand probably 500 feet from the Caesar’s Palace Resort where the movie the Hangover had taken place. Once we got back to the hotel it was time to blog and watch T.V. There was a lot of Eagles news on Sports center, some good and some bad, and we finally ended the amazing night with an old movie called “Dirty Dancing” which none of the kids had seen and as Finn just said “or liked”. It was sad to end the day but knew we would be able to enjoy it more tomorrow.