Las Vegas Vacation - need help!!
 

In October, my husband & I are going to LV for an extended birthday bash weekend with friends. We, however, wanted to stay the week and visit sites like the Grand Canyon, Arizona, Reno?????? Is LV a good home base or should we stay the weekend and travel by car & stay in Arizona (visit the Grand Canyon, etc.) What would you recommend? Is this too far for day trips? Will a week be too long to stay in LV?? <BR> <BR>All advice is appreciated. <BR> <BR>Mary

Hi <BR> <BR>I lived in Vegas for 20 years and know it pretty well. If I were you I would not use it as a home base unless you want to spend all of time in a car. For the Grand Canyon though, Scenic Airlines does the flights over it which are very popular. <BR>Other destinations such as Arizona are just to far. Where are staying in Vegas? Bellagio and Ventian are my favorites. Have Fun!

You're talking about a real boatload of mileage by car. The west is BIG! <BR>LV and northern AZ are very doable by car. Throwing in Lake Tahoe (Reno is not worth visiting IMO...especially after you've been in LV) will make the overall trip unpleasant I think due to car time logged. (Though some people admittedly enjoy those long desert car trips).

Here's just one of many: <BR> <BR>http://www.vegas4visitors.com/index.htm <BR> <BR> <BR>Mary, you sound as if you would benefit from using an online mapping service which gives you mileage and approximate driving times from one location to another. <BR>Try either (or both) of the following: <BR> <BR>www.mapblast.com <BR> <BR>www.mapquest.com

Hi Mary, just came back from that area..try this one...DONT STAY IN VEGAS FOR A WEEK..Go to Scottsdale...rent a car to SEDONA...Wow!!! go up to Grand Canyon Stay outside the SOuth Rim...drive up to Zion PArk...then to Vegas fro a couple of days...stay at VENETIAN or Belagio...see a show...Go HOME....DONT MISS SEDONA FOA COUPLE OF DAYS....

Going to Sedona for 2nights, 3 days in August with my family - incl. 2 boys ages 10 and 14. We're not big outdoorsy types...Will there be enough to do? <BR>

Just returned from my first trip to Vegas. I could have stayed a week - there's so much to do there. However, I think 3 days/2 nights there is sufficient. Day trips from Vegas would be too much driving. We rented a car for two days and drove to Bryce & Zion canyons which were both spectacular and not as overwhelming as the Grand Canyon. We stayed at a darling cabin inside the national park at Bryce for only $99 a night. Amfac was the service that rents them. I'd recommend that - 3 days in Vegas and then move on to one or two other destinations you'd like to experience. The distances are too far for day trips.

After your weekend bash I recommend that you drive north on the I-15 to Zion National Park. Stay in the park itself, eat at the lodge--good food. Lunch is great price, dinner pricey. <BR>Leave out the east road where the tunnels are, and see Red Canyon, you drive through it to get to Bryce Canyon. <BR>Spend the night a Bryce Canyon Lodge in the Park, you won't be sorry. Then drive south to see North Rim of Grand Canyon. HOPEFULLY it will be open, it closes in mid-Oct. but is open for day use depending on weather afterward. Check out the National Parks website to know that, at www.nps.gov. It will be THE HIGHLITE of your trip, I promise! Stay in the park in one of there "western" cabins. They are newer, nicer.