The Final Day of the Trip

We spent a few nights in Golden Valley, just a few miles from Kingman, where we had a great time visiting with friends, Ron and Linda..  Saturday found the four of us ‘yard-saleing’.  It was hard to tell who was the most pleased with their bargains.

The last leg of the trip took us from Golden Valley, Arizona through the corners of Nevada and California back into Arizona and Yuma on new (to us ) roads. 

Antique vendor wagons caught our eye at a  small restaurant from the past near the tiny community of Vidal. When we began seeing irrigation canals and green fields, we knew we were nearing our winter destination.  The stretch from Quartzsite to Yuma boasts some of the most impressive desert life in the area. Yuma produces much of the lettuce consumed in the U.S.  The fields as we arrived had been planted and were under various stages of growth.

After 64 days and 6638 miles, our trip from Indiana to Yuma was finished.  

Last day:

Afternoon in Las Vegas

Las Vegas gaming didn’t appeal to us, but we did decide to check out some of the free shows we’d heard so much about.

The road we took into Las Vegas passed the famous Las Vegas Welcome sigh,  created in 1959.  Even then, it cost $4000 to build and install.  It is now on the Register of National Historic Places.

We parked at Sam’s Town, and took the shuttle bus to the strip.

The first casino we visited was Caesar’s Place, and the opulence is unbelievable.

 Perhaps most amazing though was the circular escalator.  Not quite sure how that is engineered.

The fountains are beautifully lit with concealed colored lighting.  One hosts the show,  Fall of Atlantis, complete with animatronics and fiery effects.

Just to the side of the fountain is the 50,000 gallon saltwater aquarium.  Feeding time provides another show of its own.

Next on our list was the Bellagio, hosting several attractions. 

The Conservatory is outstanding.  With a pleasant mix of whimsy and nature, it boasts approximately 40 trees (some as high as 40 feet), 1500 shrubs and 10,000 plants in its 13,500 square foot area. 

  The plants are changed five times yearly, providing seasonal displays.  It truly is amazing.  Be sure to check out our slide show link below. 

The outside fountain show, however, was perhaps our most memorable part of the afternoon.  Located in the quarter mile long lake in front of the Bellagio, the water show is choreographed to classical and popular music.  Water soaring as high as 460 feet from 1,214 jets takes your breath away.  You want it to continue for hours instead of minutes.

By the time we ate, we were tiring of all the walking, and caught the shuttle back to Sam’s Town, where we watched the Sunset Stampede, a symphonic journey through the Wild West.  The animatronic animals seem very lifelike as the animals and water come alive to the music.

We left without seeing the night lights on the Strip … that will have to wait for another time.  

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam stretches from the Nevada shore of Lake Mead to the Arizona shore, trapping the waters of the Colorado River to provide energy to much of the surrounding area.  When finished in 1936, it was the largest dam in the world, but that claim was passed to the Grand Coulee Dam, when it was opened in Washington.  Hoover Dam now ranks 38th in hydroelectric energy in the world.

As of this writing, the Hoover Dam is still open to vehicular traffic, but a new bridge is underway within a few feet of the dam.  Once opened, the dam will be open to tourist foot traffic only.

There are two tours that take you inside the dam.  We took the shorter, lasting about 45 minutes.  For pictures of the dam, lake and from the tour, click on the map.