Anyone who knows me knows very well that I am a Vegas girl through and through.  Growing up, my father would have me roll the craps dice at our kitchen table between bites of Cinnamon Toast Crunch before school.  If we crapped out before making our point, our day at work and school would be predictably woeful. On the contrary, if we made our point, our day would be blessed with good fortune.  As my aunt likes to say, “A family that gambles together, sticks together.” So naturally, Alex and I couldn’t bypass the fabulous little minx of a neon oasis I’ve come to call a second home on our trek to the Southwest!  Our Spring stint started and ended in Vegas, primarily because I cannot seem to keep myself away from that city longer than 6 months at a time, but also because it serves as the most proximal and affordable airport for a trip to Zion National Park.

I’ll  regale the highlights of this somewhat spontaneous extended honeymoon getaway in the fashion of an overview of the trip with some pro’s and con’s included.  Hope it might provide you with some pointers or inspiration!

Overview

Where we stayed in Vegas: Planet Hollywood

Pro’s: 

-Great prices, especially if you’re a Total Rewards member (easy to do- just sign up any time you’re in a Total Rewards casino property, all you need to give is an e-mail and home address).  Alex and I got a great deal on a Bellagio fountain view King room using our TR members cards.

-One of the best locations on the strip, in my humble opinion. PH is basically smack dab in the middle of the heart of the action on the strip.  It’s across from the Bellagio and next -door neighbors with The Paris.  It allows for Bellagio fountain viewing and a lovely, brief walk to all the other best casinos on the strip (Cosmopolitan, Aria, Caesars, Bellagio, The Cromwell, etc.).  It’s a tiny bit further from The Wynn and Encore, but it’s not a bad walk, unless you’re in uncomfortable heels.

-Excellent restaurants such as Strip House (a phenomenal steak house that pays homage to beautiful pin-ups of the past), a fun and young casino, and home to the Britney Spears “Piece of Me” residence performance… need I say more?!

Con’s:

-The rooms themselves are “meh” … we upgraded for the view of the Bellagio fountains, which we did get, but the window didn’t stretch the whole wall as we felt it should have, so we felt a tad short-changed and claustrophobic due to that.  Additionally, the room didn’t have a coffee maker, nor would housekeeping bring us one upon request, not to mention, the room lacked a mini bar…however, on second thought this was probably a blessing in disguise.

In conclusion, amenities were slim to none in the room.  However, the hotel and casino have a lively, gregarious vibe, with a bevy of shops and restaurants to please a diverse crowd. If it’s high class luxury you’re seeking, try The Aria, Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, or Wynn and Encore properties instead.  Next time, I would really like to stay at The Cromwell! Hopefully I’ll have a future posting to tell of that good fortune :).

Vegas

What we did:  Our time in Vegas was brief, so we had three typical Vegas objectives: gamble (hopefully successfully), eat/drink well, and see a show.  We merrily achieved all three, and actually had quite the streak of luck in three card poker and craps; always a pleasant surprise leaving Vegas on the up! On our full day we had a long, leisurely brunch, and then bar and casino hopped until dinner, which we followed with a typical into-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning night seeing DJ Snake at XS nightclub in the Encore.  XS is my absolute favorite nightclub due to its half indoor, half outdoor sprawl of poolside dance floors, bars, and table games barricaded by the glittering skyscrapers of the Wynn and Encore.  DJ Snake was slightly disappointing, seeing as he didn’t play his hits that I like until about 3 AM and my tootsies were hurting too badly to make it past 2:30.  We still had a blast and jumped up and down like we were one of the 20 something’s on spring break ;).

Where we ate and drank:

–Herringbone at the Aria.  I highly recommend!  They’ve got an extensive bar and unique cocktail menu. We went for brunch and sat outside on the patio that overlooks the pool.  Lined with palm trees and tucked away from the barren, desert backdrop, we felt as if we were dining in a tropical haven. Though a tad overpriced, the food was excellent and so was the service.  On Saturdays and Sundays, for brunch, they offer Bloody Mary carts to your table, as well as pitchers of various boozy brunch delights.

–Beer Park attached to The Paris.  This used to be Chateau, so if you remember Chateau, it still boasts prime real estate, perched atop a flight of stairs just to the left of the Eiffel Tower and across the boulevard from the Bellagio. However, Beer Park has a drastically different vibe and aesthetic than Chateau.  Once a swanky and chic Parisian open-air cocktail lounge, Beer Park’s concept seems to rival that of a spirited tail-gate or college pub.  The bar serves yummy mixed drinks out of hard plastic cups that mimic everyone’s favorite tail-gate drinking vessel: the red solo cup, and true to its title, serves up an extensive list of beers. Al and I posted up at the skinny shelf bar lining the patio edge, where we imbibed, soaked in the desert sunshine, and ogled the array of people and cars showboating along the boulevard.

–Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan. This is one of my go-to favorite bars on the strip.  It’s got different cocktails per level, each one draped in strung crystals, hence the name.  By far one of my favorite cocktails of all time can be found on Level 2, called The Royal Tenenbaum.  If you’re into jalapeno and cucumber as much as I am, you won’t regret ordering this savory refreshment!

–Clique Bar in The Cosmopolitan. This was my first time visiting this lounge, since it’s a bit outside my price range, however, it offered a luxe atmosphere and unique cocktail menu.  If you’re feeling lavish, give it a try! My husband and our friends enjoyed the lollipop buffalo chicken wings.

–Yardbird in The Venetian. I highly recommend! This is a newer spot that got rave reviews on many of the sites and blogs I frequently consult for restaurant and travel recommendations.  Yardbird offers down-home southern cuisine, as well as unforgettable bourbon concoctions. I am not a huge southern foodie, only because it’s typically inordinately laden with fat and sugar, however, when in Vegas, one must truly indulge! We were joined by our fun friends from home and decided to order everything for the table to share, which made it cozy and communal.  Two of the dishes made lasting impressions on me, worthy of a repeat visit: the cornbread, loaded with cheese and jalapenos, as well as the fried green tomatoes, stacked with the thickest cut bacon I’ve ever laid eyes on… sorry Wilbur.  Yardbird’s ambiance is both casual, yet chic.  We went dressed for a DJ show at XS, but yet didn’t feel overdressed, even though you totally could get away with wearing jeans and t-shirt as well.  Yardbird somehow achieves this classy yet casual atmosphere that fits in perfectly with a Vegas goer’s agenda of eating deliciously in between fast-paced fun.  The prices were quite reasonable as well! I’ll definitely be returning.

Zion National Park

Getting there: We reserved a car through Fox Car Rentals, since it seemed to be the cheapest option online. Fox is a tiny bit more of a journey to get to than other more mainstream car rental companies, but it’s not that bad, just one more shuttle bus ride than the others. The drive from Vegas to Zion is approximately 3 hours without traffic.  *Be advised, there is a time difference that we were completely unaware of until our friends informed us, so you lose one hour when you get into Southern Utah. The drive is spectacular, especially if you’re not well acquainted with the desert landscape.  As you near St. George, Utah, the roads start winding in between piles of boulders and mountains of layered rock. From afar, the mountains and rock faces reminded me of sand art; colorful layers upon layers of vermilion, sandstone, and fired red clay. Be sure to stop off at River Rock Roasting Co. just before getting to Springdale (the town at the base of the park).  They have an incredible back deck that overlooks the Virgin river, as well as some delicious handcrafted smoothies, treats, and coffee beverages!

Where we stayed: Zion Mountain Ranch. I was a little apprehensive about our lodging in Zion because Alex and I decided to book this trip pretty last minute, and everything in the town at the base of the park (Springdale) was completely booked, as well as nearby Air B and B’s.  However, Alex and I ultimately decided that Zion Mountain Ranch was the perfect place for us to stay, and here is why: to get to ZMR you have to drive through the entire park, which is an experience to be had and relished.  The road winds through the most stunning display of unearthly looking rock formations, sloping mountainsides of rippling rock, layered cliffs of wavy orange and red rock, and if you’re lucky, grazing wildlife such as mountain goats and mule deer. You’ll also enjoy the tunnels that barrel straight through the mountains, intermittent with arching openings that allow for brief windows of vermilion sunshine and sweeping views of the somewhat menacing giants that inspire feelings within of both awe and insignificance. ZMR is just about 2 minutes beyond the back entrance to the park.  You’ll drive past a pasture of grazing buffalo as well as mule deer, until you arrive at the idyllically rustic ranch, equipped with horses, chickens, a lovely restaurant, and fun little gift shop stocked with some necessary traveling accouterments. The property offers cabins of various sizes, accommodating couples to multi-family groups.

Pro’s:

-We loved our adorable little cabin that had its own private deck with a gliding love-seat. It provided privacy, comfort, and coziness after long days of strenuous hiking.

-The restaurant was adorable and the food was excellent.

-We got to drive through the entire park a total of 8 times!  To some, this may seem like a con, but to us it was a total pro!

-They had Wifi that functioned pretty well, even though we didn’t use our phones all too much.

-We didn’t end up doing it, but they offered reasonably priced horse back riding tours.

Con’s:

-The service at the restaurant, though great once they got to you, is in dire need of learning some strategies for efficiency.  All three times we dined in the restaurant, we had to wait for at least 15 minutes before they even acknowledged our presence in the waiting area.  Once we sat down, our servers were very friendly, sweet, and personable, but it still took quite a while.  We aren’t too impatient by nature, but it ended up costing us an hour longer than we anticipated per visit.

-The water in the rooms was wonky.  It was really slow to build up pressure and if you tried to run two water sources at once, good luck!

-The town of Springdale and ZMR’s restaurant, called Cordwood, close up really early.  Do not expect to go out bar hopping or get a dinner reservation past 8:30 or 9.

-The TV’s in the cabins are super outdated.  Not that this mattered much to us, but on our last night we were exhausted and just wanted to watch a movie. They don’t get cable, but they did have DVD’s that were free to rent in the gift shop, which we did peruse and use. The selection was random and highly outdated.  We ended up renting a 90’s childhood throwback- Andre, which was far worse than how I remembered it. Oh well, kind of fun, but also kind of a let-down.

What we did:  HIKING! If you’re not into hiking, Zion isn’t necessarily the park for you.  Sure it can be taken in and appreciated without hiking, but in my opinion, it’s a hiking paradise.

On our arrival day, we didn’t get to the ranch until around 5 PM, and then didn’t get out of our cabin until around 7, so we opted for a short sunset hike on a trail called the Canyon Overlook before meeting our friends, same ones we met up with in Vegas, for dinner in Springdale.  This hike was a pleasant 1 mile hike (round trip) that is easy and ends with an unbelievable view.  We caught the lookout at the tail end of sunset and actually had to traipse back in the dark, using our phones as flashlights- kind of unnerving, but kind of fun!

On our first full day we decided to take on the more harrowing of the two strenuous hikes we wanted to pursue- Angels Landing.  Known for its mile stretch of the mountain’s spine that requires hikers to scramble rocks and use bolted in chains for stability, Angels Landing is not a hike for the faint of heart or those suffering from acrophobia. Needless to say, I almost backed out at one point, but pushed through and felt highly accomplished in the end.  I admittedly went down on my butt for about 1/4 of the return hike, regardless, I was proud of myself for prevailing! This hike isn’t so much physically strenuous as it is mentally strenuous, in my opinion.  It’s a total of about 6.5 miles, with a rather steep incline for the first two miles. It is one of the most unforgettable hikes I have ever done, and we got some hair-raising Go Pro footage to prove we did it!

After Angels Landing we did the Emerald Pools hike, which was a total of about 3.5 miles to go to all three of the pools.  This was a pleasant hike that I would categorize as easy.  The only tricky element was navigating past all the other hikers and tourists on narrow parts of the trails. There is a cool, thin waterfall on the highest pool worthy of a gaze.

On our second full day we took on the longer, yet much less nerve-wracking of the strenuous hikes we wanted to do- Observation Point.  This one is a total of 8 miles round trip and mostly all ascent. I think I liked this hike even more than Angels Landing because it offered such rich variety of terrain, all the while, providing generous, sweeping panoramas of the entire park as you ascend and descend the zigzagging switchbacks.  The observation point is breathtaking. Stop up there for a nice rest, snack, and water and revel in your accomplishment with the other friendly hikers, it’s a marvelous feeling!

On our final day we had to catch our flight out of Vegas again, so we took our time on the ride back by stopping at this silly little outpost with a fake wild west playground and sad little petting zoo where we fed them all ample carrots out of guilt.

Where we ate and drank:

–The Bit and Spur in Springdale. I loved this place: great menu, amazing jalapeno margaritas, and a fun saloon meets hole-in-the-wall vibe.

–Whiptail Grill in Springdale. We just got chips and guac here (which was great) and some drinks, but it was popular and is all outdoor seating with heaters.  My only qualms were the highly inattentive and almost rude service, and many of the heaters weren’t working.

–The Spotted Dog Cafe in Springdale. We got margaritas here while waiting for our table, which were pretty good.  This was more upscale on the interior than I had expected, but the great thing about Zion is that it’s very casual.  Alex and I didn’t bring a change of clothes from our hiking clothes and just went as is and felt completely acceptable.  The food was good, nothing to write home about, but lovely presentation and better service than other spots in Springdale.

–Meme’s Cafe in Springdale. This place was adorable inside and out.  Alex and I were ravenous after our 8 mile hike, so we sat out on the patio and ordered a bacon grilled cheese sandwich, fries, and wings- gluttony, we know! The service was friendly and prompt and the views on the patio are spectacular.

Other Traveling Tips/Suggestions:

-We traveled to Vegas and Zion mid April.  Vegas was uncharacteristically windy, and on the cooler side in the A.M. on our full day.  By 2:00 PM in Vegas, the desert sunshine was beating down at a pool-worthy level.  If you’re seeking bass-thumping pool parties, the pool clubs are open in April, but on the scantier side.  Once Memorial Day hits, the pool clubs are the wild parties typically imagined when you think of Vegas pools. They’re generally a tad quieter in April unless a big DJ is performing.  *Packing tips for Vegas in April for ladies: bring a long-sleeve or pants option for going out at night, it tends to get chillier AND the casinos consistently deck their halls with chilling AC 24/7, so you’ll want a sleeve or kimono or sweater of sorts, or go for a panted ensemble.  In Zion, the weather was definitely on the cooler side.  It was in the 40’s in the A.M. and didn’t climb beyond the upper 50’s in the P.M., with low 40’s, sometimes 30’s at nightfall.  *Packing tips for Zion: bring LAYERS.  I wore long spandex pants that I typically wear for running (my favorite are the kind that have pockets), skiing socks, running sneakers (though I highly recommend actual hiking boots or something with a strong tread that can grip the often loose-rock or sandy boulders), an exercise tank top, an exercise long-sleeve top (similar to an under armor shirt), a raglan long-sleeve top, and a rain jacket.  I ended up tying the rain jacket around my waist once the afternoons hit while hiking, but I needed it on for the mornings as it was still chilly.

-We wanted to do The Narrows, Angels Landing, and Observation Point in Zion National Park.  If you read previously, we successfully hiked Angels Landing and Observation Point, but unfortunately, The Narrows (one of the biggest natural attractions at Zion) was closed and had been closed for the last 3-4 weeks.  The Narrows is a long hike that is more of a canyoneering experience, since you’re sandwiched between two rock faces, wading through a creek that runs between.  If you’re interested in hiking The Narrows, which is said to be a unique and breathtaking experience, be sure to call the park to inquire if it’s open or not.  If they’ve recently had a lot of rain and flash flooding, it won’t be open.  If it is open, you do need to get a permit, which I think you can do online fairly simply.  Additionally, you need to bring proper footwear and even body wear.  The water is chilly.  I have heard of people donning full body wet suits since the water can become waist-high. Just be advised to do your little bit of homework before going if it’s The Narrows you’re seeking.

-Splurge for a convertible!  We got a luxury car, which was nice and smooth with a moon-roof, but we wished we had rented a convertible since we drove through the park so many times.  The star gazing, the looming mountains, the moon, the sunsets, would all have been enjoyed even more spectacularly with the wind in our hair, completely unobstructed.

-Consider adding on an additional park to your trip such as Bryce Canyon or even The Grand Canyon, both not too far away from Zion. If you do add these to your itinerary, tack on at least two additional days for a full week trip minimum.

All in all, we had a well-balanced trip of happily toxifying our bodies in Sin City and then with equal merriment, detoxifying our bodies in stunning Zion National Park. To me, it was the perfect amount of time spent in both destinations, with a perfect blend of physical activity paired with indulgence.

Hope you enjoyed the post, stay tuned for my upcoming post about a Memorial Day Weekend trip to the ever-enchanting Walt Disney World!