Taking the Overlook Trail at SMRSP
Is this one of the most underrated spots in Las Vegas? I think it might be.
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is filled with both history (Howard Hughes was once an owner of the ranch) and nature. Yet even during beautiful winter and spring weekends, this park is much less crowded than its neighbor, the Red Rock Canyon scenic loop.
Spring Mountain Ranch was one of the first parks we visited after moving to Las Vegas, and it’s still one of our favorites.
Being a blogger requires a certain amount of confidence. You have to believe that people will find your words helpful, entertaining, funny, or whatever it is that you strive to be through your blog. You also have to be willing to share with your readers.
However, despite my willingness to share, there are certain things I won’t discuss here. That is why this post is difficult to write. Our family is going through a transition. We’re about to take on a challenge. Unfortunately, I can’t share with you what that challenge is exactly.
2012 was such a wonderful, happy year for our family. Now we have to pay the price for that happiness, in a sense. Life is full of peaks and valleys; having enjoyed the peak that was 2012, it’s only fair that we endure a valley. And that’s ok with me. We enter this new phase knowing a couple of things: 1. We know it will eventually end and that good times will be here again. 2. We know that we enter this new phase with no regrets.
We don’t have to sit around thinking about how we should have taken the time to go on that weekend trip to Palm Springs or about how we wish we’d gotten to Valley of Fire again before summer. We don’t have to wonder what E. would have thought of Huntington Beach or about how great it would have been if we’d gone on that Disney cruise.
We did what we wanted to do, keeping those peaks and valleys in mind. If you don’t enjoy the peaks to the fullest, you’ll be even more sad as you make your downward crawl into the valleys.
I shouldn’t make it sound as if the last year has been all about fun. We work hard. My husband works long hours, and I volunteer for two organizations and am an active part of my daughter’s education. But despite it all, we make travel a priority. We make each other a priority.
So, please send us your good thoughts, but don’t fret. And then GO! Go somewhere with your family, whether it is near or far, and know that you are making the right decision. Afterall, your “someday” could be today.
I really don’t like writing these kinds of posts. I’d rather let each of these adventures have the spotlight, and write four nicely-composed, detailed posts rather than lump these experiences into one entry.
But this is the way it goes when you’re busy. (I also hate saying that “I’m busy” as if that’s an excuse because, really, everyone is busy.)
Excuses aside, I know that if I don’t write about our four recent adventures, I will never write about them, so here they are: four awesomely fun things that we have done recently.
Charlie Parker’s Diner: Springfield, IL
While we were in St. Louis for the holidays, we took a side-trip to Springfield. Being fans of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, we had to check out Charlie Parker’s, a breakfast and lunch place that is housed in a quonset hut. Famous for their “horseshoe” breakfast and lunch dishes, this diner serves classic American fare in a unique environment. And it’s definitely kid-friendly, so keep it in mind if you ever travel to Springfield.
Keepers of the Wild: Valentine, AZ
I have become obsessed with Groupon, which is always filled with interesting deals and discounts. I saw a “use it now” groupon for Keepers of the Wild, and we decided to give it a try. We love anything that has to do with animals. Keepers of the Wild is a non-profit that seeks to rescue exotic animals. During our visit, we saw lions, tigers, monkeys, and llamas, just to name a few. And of course we had to stop at Cracker Barrel when we drove through Kingman, AZ on the way. It’s a road trip staple! (My daughter is now better than I am at that triangular game with the pegs.)
Gondola at the Venetian: Las Vegas, NV
If you’ve ever researched a trip to Vegas, you’ve come across references to the gondola at the Venetian, I’m sure. Even though we’ve lived here for over a year, we didn’t take a ride on the cute little boats until recently. It’s not a cheap adventure, but it was fun. An added bonus was the fact that our gondolier sang for us and had an amazing voice.
Living Desert Camel Ride: Palm Desert, CA
Of these four fun adventures, this is probably my favorite! We went to the Coachella Valley for a weekend and visited the Living Desert, a zoo that focuses on desert animals of the world. For an extra fee, visitors can ride a camel. At first, I thought my daughter would be riding alone, but at the last minute I decided I couldn’t resist joining her! (I’ll be writing more about our Palm Springs trip in future posts, so stay tuned.)
Writing about these latest excursions makes me think it’s time to plan a few more. Have any suggestions for us?
Combine tight-rope walkers, acrobats, and jugglers with some unusual Cirque du Soleil imagery (for instance, a baby singing “Welcome to my funeral”), and there you have it: Cirque’s newest Las Vegas production, Zarkana.
Before you roll your eyes at the rather enigmatic plot or the invented Cirque du Soleil language that is supplemented by only a handful of English phrases, let me assure you: this show is amazing. There was not a single moment when my attention drifted away from the performance. Even my daughter was awe-struck by the beautiful theater, unique music, and high-flying performers.
Is it weird? Yes. But isn’t that part of the joy of Cirque du Soleil?
I don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone…and if you really want to know the details of the show, you can take a look other online reviews and read a play-by-play of Zarkana. However, I will say that you should look forward to the following highlights:
The clowns that entertain the audience between scenes were hilarious. Of all the performers, I think the two male clowns and their pint-sized, yet bossy, counterpart made the biggest impression on my daughter. Fart jokes, a cracking whip, and a skateboard…what child (or adult) wouldn’t be amused?
I thought one of the more visually stunning scenes involved spinning hula hoops and unique costumes. The scene seemed rather brief. Or maybe it was just that I didn’t want it to end.
And how could I not mention the tight-roper walkers and a ball of fire?
Zarkana with Kids?
We took our five-year-old daughter to see Zarkana, unsure about what to expect. She had recently attended Wicked and was enthralled, so we decided she had reached a maturity level that would allow her enjoy a Cirque du Soleil performance. Of course, every child is different, but Zarkana seems appropriate for kids who are:
Over age 5 (children under 5 are not allowed in the theater),
Not easily scared by loud noises…or creepy eight-armed babies,
Capable of sitting through a 90 minute, intermission-less performance.
There are a few scenes that might concern some parents. There are fart jokes and a comical scene involving a red bra. A snake scene might cause some children to flinch. Oh, and we can’t forget that eight-armed baby. In the end, only a child’s parents can make the decision about what is appropriate and what isn’t. If you have specific questions about the show, please feel free to ask me by leaving a comment.
Have you seen Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana? What did you think?
Note: We paid for our own tickets, and I was not compensated for writing this review. All opinions are my own. Ticket information and age-appropriateness should be verified by calling the Zarkana box office.
You don’t have to drive far to go from the flashing lights and gigantic video-boards of the Strip to the isolated roadways that cut through the Nevada desert. Located in the southern corner of a vast and mostly rural state, Las Vegas is a neighbor to northern Arizona and southern Utah, two places that seem equally remote and sprawling.
If you need a break from the happy chirping noises of the slot machines, hop in the car and head to one of these Las Vegas day-trip destinations:
Valley of Fire: A favorite in my family, Valley of Fire offers visitors rocks to climb, trails to hike, and petroglyphs to decipher in an other-worldly landscape. You can read about family-friendly places to visit within the park here.
Death Valley: Not for the faint of heart, Death Valley is like a minimalist’s dream come true. Dramatic vistas meet visitors who choose to walk up the short path to Zabriskie Point. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the Badwater Basin salt flats are other great stopping-off points within the park. Historians will want to drive north to Scotty’s Castle, a Spanish-style home from the 1920′s.
Ghost towns: Two ghost towns that are a reasonable drive from Las Vegas are Rhyolite (to the northwest, near Beatty) and Nelson (to the southeast, near Boulder City). Both sites offer a glimpse at Nevada’s mining history. Rhyolite boasts a house made of glass bottles in addition to other old buildings, and it is located adjacent to the Goldwell Open Air Museum. Meanwhile, Nelson offers an old-fashioned general store and lots of historic cars and signs.
Boulder City: If you have children who are train fanatics (the transportation method, not that awful band), you’ll want to visit Boulder City and take a ride on the Nevada Southern Railway. This is a great stop on your way to check out famous Hoover Dam.
Zion National Park: This is one of those destinations that would work better as a weekend getaway from Las Vegas, however a visit can be accomplished in only one day. Located in southern Utah, Zion National Park is filled with beautiful cliffs and winding roads. Opportunities for hiking abound.
No matter which Las Vegas day-trip you choose, remember to be prepared with plenty of drinking water (especially if you’re traveling in summer), food, and other essentials. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun!
Looking back at 2012, I realize that this was a pretty epic year of travel for our family. With a new starting point (Las Vegas), we were able to visit destinations like San Francisco and Los Angeles that are much closer to us now than they were when we lived in Texas and the Midwest. However, that isn’t to say that we stayed close to home. This year also took us to Florida, the Bahamas, British Columbia, and elsewhere.
I’m in the mood to relive some of those great travel moments. Want to come along? Here are six highlights from the past year:
San Francisco
My husband and I started out 2012 with a parents-only trip to San Francisco. We are always a little sad to travel without our daughter, but having time to ourselves is essential. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Flour + Water, visited Alcatraz, and did our share of drinking at the hotel bar.
What I learned: Sometimes Mama needs a break! Be thankful for friends and family who are willing to babysit.
Death Valley
We had been told that Death Valley was rather boring and that we should try another nearby national park, like Joshua Tree. Ever the contrarians, we decided to try Death Valley anyway. Dramatic vistas, huge sand dunes, and the expansive salt flats kept us entertained for an afternoon. The park makes a fantastic day trip from Las Vegas!
What I learned: Bring sand toys for the kids…and the grown-ups.
Chicago
We love Chicago, and in a way it is like a second home to us. We try to visit once a year, and this year’s trip was particularly fun. We did a few new things that we hadn’t tried before like a Wrigley Field tour. If the winters weren’t so long, I’d move to Chicago in a second!
What I learned: Even if you’ve attended a game at Wrigley Field, you should consider going back for a behind-the-scenes tour.
Disney Cruise
Although my husband had been on a cruise before, this was a first for my daughter and me. Our trip was filled to the brim with adventures: swimming with a dolphin, rushing down the Aquaduck slide, and meeting all of the popular Disney characters.
What I learned: The line for Disney Dream’s Aquaduck slide might look long, but it’s worth the wait.
Colorado
We visited Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in September with my husband’s extended family. Our group shared a house for a long weekend, giving my daughter plenty of opportunity to play with her cousins. Sometimes travel is just about fun…but sometimes it’s more than that. It’s about the simple pleasures in life, connecting with family and with nature, and taking a deep breath of that lovely mountain air.
What I learned: Winter or summer, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Colorado.
Seattle and Victoria
Usually when we travel during major holidays, we go back home to St. Louis to see family. However, for Thanksgiving we tried something new and traveled elsewhere. During our visit, we ate at some really wonderful restaurants like Toulouse Petite Kitchen in Seattle and Mo:Le in Victoria.
What I learned: Food is awesome.
I’m so thankful that this has been a travel-filled year for our family. I hope you were able to enjoy some adventures in 2012. Thank you so much for reading Wandering Off.
When we planned our recent trip to Seattle, I was prepared with a list of indoor activities in case we found ourselves in the unusual circumstance of trudging through the city in the rain.
What?! It rains all the time in Seattle? Well, that would explain a few things.
Ready to dive into the Seattle Aquarium
Our first day in Seattle, we drove through the unfamiliar streets in a complete downpour. This was followed by a day of cold temperatures, wind, and rain. Cue the list I had formulated earlier.
At the top of that list was the Seattle Aquarium, and I’m so glad we gave it a try.
The Seattle Aquarium is the perfect size for an outing with young kids: big enough to keep things interesting, but manageable, since you don’t feel like you need to move-in with your sleeping bag and toiletry kit in order to see all of the exhibits.
The first thing you’ll see as you enter the aquarium is the large floor-to-ceiling “window” that houses an array of fish. We could have stayed there all day…except that the angle of the glass made me dizzy if I looked at it for too long.
A sweet little sea horse
We enjoyed the touch tanks that are home to star fish and sea urchins. We also saw an enormous octopus, played with a felt board and tried on scuba gear in a small kids’ play area, and gazed at the tiniest, sweetest sea horses.
We also saw this guy (below) who seemed to take a liking to us. He floated around near the glass staring at us for ten minutes!
Quit looking at me like that…
We love visiting aquariums when we travel, and the Seattle Aquarium is smaller than some of the ones we’ve seen in other cities. However, I felt like we got our money’s worth during the time we spent there. Don’t expect any large sharks or elaborate displays. This is a peaceful, easy-to-explore attraction.
Looking for a few tips for visiting the Seattle Aquarium with kids? Here ya go:
–Bring a jacket. Although most of the aquarium is indoors, there is a section that is exposed to the elements and can be quite chilly.
–Remember that the aquarium cosists of two buildings, so don’t forget to venture over to see the other side.
–Visit the gift shop…or not. The store has a particularly cute array of sea-themed stuffed animals, so your child will probably ask for a souvenir.
–Need help? Ask the friendly staff.
–Admission is free for kids three and under.
Have you been to the Seattle Aquarium? Have any advice for those visiting with kids? Please share in the comments section!
View from the Space Needle on a spectacular November day
We just returned from a wonderfully-fun trip to Seattle, WA and Victoria, BC. To be honest, I was much more focused on the Victoria portion of the trip in the days leading up to our getaway. And we did indeed have a great time in Victoria. (More on that later.) What surprised me was that fact that I completely fell in love with Seattle.
Yes, the girl who loves warm weather and sunshine is suddenly smitten with that caffeine-fueled, rainy city up north. Who would have guessed?
What was it, exactly, that made me decide Seattle is awesome? Mostly, it was the incredibly friendly people. Everyone we met there–from cab drivers to waitresses to hotel employees–treated us kindly and went out of their way to be helpful. And so many strangers were sweet to our daughter. Smiles, polite conversations on elevators, and customized meals at restaurants were par for the course during our two days in Seattle. What a kid-friendly city!
On our last afternoon in Seattle before flying home to Las Vegas, we took a look at Seattle’s most famous attraction, the Space Needle. Come along on our outing…
Space Needle from below: retro-fabulous
Beautiful view from the Space Needle
See that city down there? It’s filled with friendly folks.
It’s a little windy up there at the top…
Five-year-old E. decorates a spaceship-shaped cookie. We lucked out and were able to enjoy cookie-decorating and a visit with Santa on the Sunday afternoon when we visited.
My daughter’s cookie creation. Yes, I stole a bite or two.
Stay tuned for more on our trip to Seattle and Victoria! In the meantime, check out these family travel bloggers who really know their stuff when it comes to exploring Seattle with kids:
That looks like a happy customer to me!
Going out to eat on the Strip as a family can be a little nerve-wracking. This is Las Vegas after all. Just to get to the restaurant, you have to ask your kid to hide their eyes while the billboard truck advertising all sorts of inappropriate activity drives by. Then there’s the walk through the casino to the restaurant during which you need to remind your child that no, those aren’t video games for kids. After you’ve made it that far, you still have to fend off skeptical glances from other diners who assume you’re from out-of-town and wonder why on earth you’ve brought your child to Sin City.
But this cloud does have a silver lining. Las Vegas is a fabulous culinary city with endless foodie-approved options. And many of those options are appropriate for families.
Last weekend, we tried Spago for the first time. Not sure what to expect in terms of kid-friendliness, we opted to go to lunch instead of dinner. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed our food. Here are five reasons why we’ll be going back:
1. Kids menu: Spago does have a kids menu, and they offer crayons and a coloring page for their younger guests. Our table was also covered in white paper, which made an awesome canvas for five-year-old E. to decorate while we waited for our food.
2. Ice cream sundae: Speaking of the kids menu, I was impressed by the kids ice cream sundae. The vanilla ice cream was surprisingly good, and I could tell that the chocolate sauce was the real-deal, not something that came out of a plastic bottle. I love it when restaurant don’t short-change kids. They deserve the same high-quality ingredients that the grown-ups get to enjoy!
3. “Outdoor” seating: Spago is located inside the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace. Although the restaurant is fully-enclosed, the mall area does have a “sky” and many interesting fountains. At Spago, you can sit in the dining room, or you can opt for the cafe area that is closer to the pedestrian thoroughfare that runs through the shopping area. From our seat, we could do some serious people-watching and we had a great view of the huge Trevi Fountain. It was also a great place to sit since there is more background noise in this part of the restaurant, so I didn’t have to remind E. a thousand times to please use her inside voice.
4. Good food for the grown-ups: My husband and I ordered pizza, and it was great! The prosciutto pizza was topped with mission figs, micro arugula, and aged balsamic. I loved the sweetness provided by the figs. And of course, you can never go wrong with prosciutto! The baby arugala provided just a little bitterness and texture. It was a great pizza, and I would definitely order it again.
5. Convenient location: Those of you who have been to Las Vegas know that the walk from the parking garage to your destination of choice can be rather long with a child. The labyrinthine design of many casinos can be difficult to navigate sometimes. However, the Forum Shops are located a short walk from the parking garage, and you won’t have much trouble spotting Spago once you’ve entered the Ancient Roman-themed shopping area. This is also a great jumping-off point for further exploring on the Strip if you chose to do something after your meal.
For another restaurant option in the Forum Shops, read this post from RockStarMom Las Vegas: Max Brenner | Food.
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
A little less than a year ago, I wrote about how much we loved our visit to Valley of Fire. To my flyover-country eyes, it reminded me of Mars: red rocks in dramatic shapes and not a tree in sight.
We have gone back to Valley of Fire a few times since that first experience, and it is still just as amazing now as it was then.
On our most recent visit, we deviated from our usual Valley of Fire routine. Instead of hiking the Mouse’s Tank trail, we explored the Rainbow Vista area of the park, took a look at the petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock, and gazed at the “Seven Sisters” rock formations. I’m happy to report that I thought all of these spots were kid-friendly.
Our first stop was the Rainbow Vista trail head. My five-year-old daughter isn’t much of a hiker, but she loves the interesting rock formations at Valley of Fire. Rather than hiking the trail, we ran around and explored near the trail’s entrance. We had fun spotting the little caves and crevices in the rock formations.
Next, we stopped by the Seven Sisters. These dramatic, vertical rock formations are a great site for a picnic, with several covered picnic tables sitting in the shadows of the tall, statuesque “ladies.” I’ll admit, we didn’t stay here long, but I did snap a photo or two, and I could see us enjoying a picnic here on our next visit.
In addition to being a beautiful place to hike, Valley of Fire also offers visitors a look at petroglyphs dating back to about 3,000 years ago. Although there are some fascinating petroglyphs along the Mouse’s Tank trail, an even better place for viewing these ancient artworks is Atlatl Rock. The pictures are located very high-up on the side of a large rock formation. A long set of stairs take visitors up to a platform where they can get a close look at the petroglyphs. After you’ve examined the drawings, be sure to turn around and check out the pretty cool view from the platform.
View from the platform at Atlatl Rock
We ended our day at Valley of Fire with an old favorite: the Beehives. This series of rock formations located near the park’s entrance is a fun place for kids to run free, although you will need to watch them closely if they climb on the rocks. Some of them are quite high. We saw several yellow wildflowers here and a lizard. It was a great way to end our day.
If you are planning a trip to Las Vegas and will be renting a car, I highly recommend a visit to Valley of Fire. It’s one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever visited.
