Long Day - Short Blog: Calico

Heading down the Interstate from Las Vegas to Los Angeles (about 5 hours worth of driving), through more stunning scenery, past the worlds biggest thermometer and the largest solar farm known to man (Ivanpah Solar Power Facility), we stopped at another 'ghost town' done up as a tourist attraction, Calico - folks in period costume, doing things the way they were done at the turn of the century, showing what life would have been like back then. Calico was an old silver mining town, and apparently there is still heaps of silver in them thar hills, but it would cost more to dig it out than they would make from it, so there it stays. Unfortunately, I wasn't as convinced by Calico as I was at Oatman. Granted, there weren't many visitors, and it was mid week, but the folks seemed somewhat disinterested with their occupation. But then again, who knows - maybe people at the turn of the century were disinterested too?

Anyway, we spent an hour or two roaming around looking at things, going on the little rail loop that was still operating, trying our hand at panning for 'gold', and investigating the old silver mine before continuing on to Anaheim, and the last hotel for the trip.

Oh, you want photos too? Here you go then...

Worlds Biggest Thermometer

The road to LA...

First taste of LA traffic...

Calico:

Wooden items for life and death in the one shop!

Sodas (soft drink) in jars, just like in the 'olden days'

Steam driven fire engine

made from bottles....

The Maggiemine Glory Hole

the old school house

Viva Las Vegas - 4 days in Sin City

Well you had to know that would be the title of this instalment :-)

About 5pm we finally rolled into our accommodation for the next four days, the Desert Rose Resort.

And I have to say it was a bit of a score. We didn't really want to stay in a casino on the strip with the kids as we would be stuck in the same room, with me having to share a bed with Cameron (Danielle refuses to as he doesn't stay still). The Desert Rose was less than 10 mins walk from the Strip (5 mins from Hooters, and about 10mins to Excalibur for those who have been there before).

We ended up with a 2 bedroom suite, the kids had their own beds and own toilet and shower. Jo and I had our own room with a king size bed, and an en-suite with the best shower ever...It had 5 shower heads .....(although you could only use 4 max)
 

Dan pretending to do homework

Best Shower Eva

 But I think the highlight for the kids was the pool.
 



After a big feed at Hooters Casino and a decent nights sleep we decided on a 2 day Hop On, Hop Off Bus tour to explore the city. We walked to the nearest stop, just missing the bus. The guy suggested we wait in the air conditioned Casino for the next bus which was due at 10.40. At 10.35 we spied it pulling out. Rather than wait another 1/2 hour we set out to try and find a stop close where we could intercept the bus. After some poor directions (from the same guy), combined with a map that didn't show the stop he told us about, had us doing a run down the strip after the bus to pick it up near Planet Hollywood. Not a great way to start the day; but we were off.

The tour guides were actually pretty good. We had about 3 all up on the first day and they all gave some great info on the various casinos, buildings and other stuff that goes on. Of course we were snapping photos frantically.

Now, I am not going to give you a blow by blow of everything we did over the next three days. Suffice to say that we were VERY busy, took LOTS of photos, and made some GREAT memories with the experiences we had. Experiences that included going to the History of the Mob Museum, for a gondola ride on a canal at The Venetian, watched the dancing fountains at The Bellagio, a trip to the top of The Stratosphere, partaking of the Fremont Street Experience, shooting machine guns rifles and pistols, experiencing a taste of the medieval at The Tournament of Kings, and trawling through four (!) floors of M&M's. And Danielle also did indoor skydiving. Cam was going to, but the noise of the fan was to much for him and he declined the experience. I think I'll just let the photos tell the story:...

The 'Pawn Stars' shop...

The Strip at night

New York, New York Casino

Wynn and Encore - He liked the design so much, he put his name to it. And then gave a repeat performance...

CHiPS! They do exist! Or perhaps that should be 'LVHiPS'...?

kitted up for indoor skydiving

Dan 'flying' on her own, indoor skydiving

... and flying high with the instructor. Out of the group of three, she's the only one that got to do this.

... and then flying upside down. Again, the only one to get to do this.

At the Fremont Experience

copycat sign

Suspicious characters at the History of the Mob museum

The real wall. The red spots are blood where the bullets hit...

Meeting some interesting characters along the way. Love the lifts on Bumblebee!

 

Bellagio fountains

with some of the girls from The Flamingo.

 

Excalibur casino and resort

stretch it!

the Luxor

MGM Lion

M&M World

A wall of M&M's. This isn't the complete wall - it was too big for even 2 photos!

M&M sponsored NASCAR

Gondola ride at The Venetian

Amusement arcade at Circus Circus

Indoor thunderstorm at Planet Hollywood, and the Miracle Mile of shops

 

Rocketship blasting across the 'skies' at The Fremont Experience. The roof is all LEDs.

 

at the Fremont Experience

Downtown Vegas from the Stratosphere observation deck

and The Strip from the same place

 Shooting at the gun range. Such fun! Danielle looks the part, doesn't she? 

Danielle also had a go at zip-lining when we were at Fremont Street. No clear photos of it, and the 'official' photo isn't digital, but I hope the video I took works....

 

We hope you enjoyed Vegas with us. Next time though, it's just going to be me & Calum - the kids are off to grandma and grandpas!

Jo. x