My family and I visited Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. and had a very enjoyable time. I will add pictures in this post, so please check back.
Our first stop was Las Vegas just to break the long driving trip. We stayed at South Point Hotel where we had a great prime rib meal at Primarily Prime Rib restaurant. I do not eat a lot of beef but tried their prime rib. It was one of the best prime rib dinners I ever had. Prior to dinner, we had cocktails at the adjoining Mexican restaurant and had a fun conversation with Danny Hofer, a writer from the Bronx (Tales from the Widows and Remembrances of a South Bronx Cop). He comes from the same Bronx-community as our dear friends Elizabeth and Pat.
From Las Vegas, we made our way to Utah, to see Zion National Park. Temperatures were over 100 degrees, but we went ahead and parked outside the Park (recommended as parking is limited in the Park itself), and we took the free shuttle. The shuttle rides to get into the park and within the park are free. There is also a tram ride (paid) that you can take for a more leisurely look at some sites. There are numerous hiking trails in the park to allow you to see waterfalls, cliffs, and surreal rock formations.
American Bison (buffalo) - seen outside the Park, on our way to Arizona
We stayed outside the Park, and discovered a wonderful restaurant in Hurricane Utah, the Main Street Cafe. The Cafe has a gourmet menu that includes a wide selection of great dishes. We ate our dinners there and tried their Linguine with shrimps, scallops and salmon in a creamy white sauce; Hamburger with gorgonzola cheese and sweet potatoes on the side; Chef Salad; Crab and Shrimp Ravioli with mushroom sauce. If you are near this area, I highly recommend the Main Street Cafe n Hurricane, Utah, near Zion National Park.
Our primary destination was Sedona, Arizona, where the family gathered. We have visited Sedona in the past, and the contrast between what it had been and what it is now is startling to me. It has grown and has become a main tourist spot now, meaning there are more houses and shops, and many tourists. It remains beautiful. Then and now, Sedona is famous as a mystical place, with vortex sites, UFO sightings, amazing sunsets and views, great food and shopping, and other interesting goings-on. It was very hot so it was best to move around first thing in the morning (the hikers left at 5:30 am), and last thing in the afternoon (to catch the sunset), and evening (to look at the stars, shooting stars, and possible UFOs).
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