We have been on this fabulous road trip for nearly a month since we returned to the United States from Japan. We have been cruising through South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and my husband timed it just right to celebrate what I think is the best birthday I ever had at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. I was still over the moon when I realized that we have yet to cap my birthday in Las Vegas! Aw, what have I done to deserve this? I am thoroughly thrilled to see the famous neon-lit Vegas strip, and the 5-hour drive to from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas was a complete torture. Although Las Vegas is infamous for gambling, easy marriage and easy divorce, prostitution, and strip clubs, clearly not my kind of habitat, I definitely want to see and feel the city’s vibe myself. Another one off the bucket list!
One glorious sunset during our drive from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas.The 5 hour drive from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas gave us the chance to enjoy majestic sunsets like this.Road trips are about moments like this – holding hands with my husband.Nevada desert sunset.We could see the city lights from miles and miles away as we were approaching the Sin City, Las Vegas.
Strolling along the new Las Vegas strip and stopped in front of Planet Hollywood for a photo.Fresh skid marks highlighted this part of the new Vegas strip.The new Las Vegas strip.Lunch with hubby at a restaurant along the new Las Vegas strip.The Bellagio and Caeasar’s Palace along the new Las Vegas strip.Paris Las VegasParis Las VegasAt the Venetian Las VegasThe Venetian Last VegasLooking out to The Treasure Island Las Vegas from the Venetian.Enjoying the gondolas inside the The Venetian in Las Vegas.The gondolas inside the The Venetian in Las Vegas.The Mirage Las Vegas
Approaching the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas.Inside the Forum Shop of Caesar’s Palace Last Vegas.Roaming around the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas.The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas.Having a drink inside the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas.Inside the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas.Faux sky made the beautiful view even majestic inside the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas.Closer view of Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas at night.The Luxor Hotel is the sixth-largest hotel in Las Vegas and the ninth-largest in the world. At 42.3 billion candela, the Luxor Sky Beam is the strongest beam of light in the world, using computer-designed, curved mirrors to collect the light from 39 xenon lamps and focus them into one intense, narrow beam.Inside the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas which was named after the city of Luxor (ancient Thebes) in Egypt.Dinner inside the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.Inside one of the casinos in Las Vegas.Las Vegas strip at night.At the old Las Vegas Strip, also famous as the Fremont Street in Las Vegas.The old Las Vegas Strip, also famous as the Fremont Street in Las Vegas, does not look and feel old at all.Another photo of us at the old Las Vegas Strip (Fremont Street) in Las Vegas.The iconic Las Vegas 4 Queens and Fremont Casino in our background.The famous Golden Nugget and Binion’s at the old Las Vegas strip.Ziplining inside the old Las Vegas strip is one way to make tourists’ visit more memorable.The iconic Flamingo in Las Vegas strip.The famous Mandalay Bay hotel and casino in Las Vegas.Mandalay Bay Las VegasThe other side of Las Vegas tourists do not normally see behind the glitz and glamour of the Sin City.The other side of Las Vegas tourists do not normally see behind the glitz and glamour of the Sin City.Our cat, Sakura Rain, who has been travelling with us, is enjoying her hotel staycation in Las Vegas.
By the way, Las Vegas means “The Meadows” in Spanish because of its abundance of wild grasses in the area around 1850s . Now you know too!
As we drove to the city we saw the same lights… but the highway was full of trucks and they were driving so fast!
At Caesars, we ‘met’ with Italian nobility – these actors went around in the costumes that are like the ones at carnival!
We could not believe how much light pollution there was in Las Vegas until we realize that the same lights we have been seeing from miles and miles away are the same city lights. Sigh.
We missed those actors at Caesar’s. I wonder if they do that regularly or on special occasions?
i was there 4 weeks ago. inside one of the casino’s photo, looks like the paris hotel casino..
charles ray , a homeless man draws beautiful pictures of the eifel tower outside in 117 degrees.
i wish people would at least buy all the homeless people outside a cold drink.they are sitting on all the bridges all day ,in terrible conditions with no food or water ………..
you have beautiful photographs. i love your cat drinking.
i am uniquely and wonderfully made. 
Beautiful sunsets.
Thank you Mr. Dowell! Nevada desert did not disappoint for sure. :)
As we drove to the city we saw the same lights… but the highway was full of trucks and they were driving so fast!
At Caesars, we ‘met’ with Italian nobility – these actors went around in the costumes that are like the ones at carnival!
We could not believe how much light pollution there was in Las Vegas until we realize that the same lights we have been seeing from miles and miles away are the same city lights. Sigh.
We missed those actors at Caesar’s. I wonder if they do that regularly or on special occasions?
We were there in October and there wasn’t any specific event going on. Perhaps they rotate around at certain times…
i was there 4 weeks ago. inside one of the casino’s photo, looks like the paris hotel casino..
charles ray , a homeless man draws beautiful pictures of the eifel tower outside in 117 degrees.
i wish people would at least buy all the homeless people outside a cold drink.they are sitting on all the bridges all day ,in terrible conditions with no food or water ………..
you have beautiful photographs. i love your cat drinking.