Popular Topics

Trip Report

Western United States

1 week of travel through 3 different states in Western USA.

  • The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation+ 6
  • Nevada
  • Nevada
  • Western United States
avery
About Me:I’m a student from the United States studying to teach English as a second language. I like to travel and meet new people. read more

North AmericaUnited States3 days / December 2019

Highs & Lows

The Grand Cannon

Prices and plenty of tourists.

Itinerary Overview

We arrived in Nevada and made our way through Utah and Arizona, seeing a mix of beautiful nature and lively city life.

  • 3 Nights: Nevada
    Exploring the tourist spots in Las Vegas.
  • Day trip: Zion National Park
    Beautiful views and nature
  • Day trip: The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation
    Experience Nature
Nevada - Exploring the tourist spots in Las Vegas.
1

Nevada Exploring the tourist spots in Las Vegas.

Nevada - Exploring the tourist spots in Las Vegas. - null
Nevada - Exploring the tourist spots in Las Vegas. - null
Nevada - Exploring the tourist spots in Las Vegas. - null

We arrived in Las Vegas and acquainted ourselves with the strip by walking around and visiting all the different casinos with all of their different themes and attractions. We ate at Guy Fieri's restaurant and listened to the music that accompanied the fountain shows at the Bellagio Hotel. The Eiffel Tower was much smaller than the original, but still a really cool sight. One night, we went to the New York-New York hotel (which has the theme of New York City) and rode on a roller coaster that went through the casino and then outside and upside down. We ate dinner at 3 am and tried all types of drinks and games. We also ventured out of Vegas to visit the Hoover Dam. Just driving by the Hoover Dam was an amazing sight. We parked the car and walked around to see the massive dam and learn about its history. We went inside a small museum where they showed us the timeline for the dam and its history.

Zion National Park - Beautiful views and nature
2

Zion National Park Beautiful views and nature

Zion National Park - Beautiful views and nature - null
Zion National Park - Beautiful views and nature - null
Zion National Park - Beautiful views and nature - null

First, we drove through the park on a scary and narrow mountain road that displayed the most amazing views of the trees, rivers, and colorful mountains in Utah. We then walked around the park and climbed rocks and hills to see the different sights of the park. Angel's Landing is a famous part of the park where people can embark on a dangerous hike to see a spectacular view of nature at the top. However, the hike is not for everyone, as there are parts that are not safe and are more suited for more experienced hikers. I didn't personally hike Angel's Landing, but we heard about it from other tourists. The Narrows was a serene place within the park, where we saw the sun reflecting off of the streams and onto the walls of the mountains. In the time of year that we came to the park, there weren't too many tourists, and we were able to enjoy the peace and quiet of being in nature and exploring the land.

The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation - Experience Nature
3

The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation Experience Nature

The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation - Experience Nature - null
The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation - Experience Nature - null
The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation - Experience Nature - null

The Grand Canyon was a spectacular experience. The views are amazing, and you can look at them for hours as there is such a wide perimeter to walk around and watch how the sights change based on your angle. As we walked along the canyon and the view changed, we read small signs around the perimeter that explained the gradual formation of the canyon, along with large stones from each period of time. We took pictures and enjoyed the view, and then walked to a small restaurant nearby. On our way out of Arizona, we stopped at Horseshoe Bend also to see another type of natural canyon formation that was equally beautiful as the Grand Canyon. The edges of the Canyons are dangerous as there are no fences or limits to prevent people from falling over after looking out over the edge. The canyons are also more crowded around sunset, but it's probably worth the crowd because the view is wonderful.

Q & A

  • What would you have changed?

    I traveled with my family, and not all of us were old enough to legally drink in Las Vegas. It was still a great time!
  • Tips you would give a friend?

    There were many tourists, but I imagine there are more in the summer. Booking our trip in December was a good idea because we didn't suffer from the heat and there were a little less people.
  • Packing tips?

    Western United States is known for its heat, but in December we were wearing long pants and jackets, even in Las Vegas.

Lodging

  • Luxor Hotel. Great location on the Las Vegas strip and is Egyptian themed.