Our Arizona Trip

We left Baltimore last Saturday morning for the IFEBP conference in Las Vegas. We arrived in Vegas about noon and picked up our rental car and headed for Caesar's Palace. Check in was not until 2pm so we had some time to kill. As we were heading down Las Vegas Boulevard we passed the world famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop as featured on the History channel Pawn Stars. We stopped there and just missed the Old Man and Corry. It was pretty neat browsing the store and seeing some of the things featured on the show. I often watch the show. Afterwards a few blocks down was the Stratosphere hotel. We have always wanted to have a meal there and the opportunity presented itself so we decided to have lunch at the Top of the World restaurant. The view from the restaurant was breathtaking. We arrived about 1PM, which was great because there wasn't any line and we got right in. We were seated right by the windows and could see for miles. The restaurant is in constant motion and the view is always changing at one point we saw bungee jumpers whizz past the windows. I had a 3 course meal with a nice fillet entree and Maureen had a crab cakes. The service was superb and I'd highly recommend the experience. Afterwards we went upstairs and walked around on a viewing platform where there were thrill rides and a spectacular view. We then went to Caesar's Palace to check in but on the way I answered a few adds on Craig's list for Jimmy Buffett show that evening at the MGM. I go t a response back from a guy who had 2 tickets a couple row from the stage for $75 each. I set up to meet him in the lobby of the Caesar's and was pleasantly surprised when he arrived with the tickets which had a face value of $231. He had been comped the tickets and didn't wan to go. We've seen Buffett a number of times but never at an indoor venue and never that close. We had a great time at the show. Our seats were right in front of the stage and we could see the band come and go off the stage. It was pretty cool seeing Buffett jump into a big SUV at the end and leave the MGM via police escort. 

Sunday morning we ate breakfast at the New York New York Hotel. It was American fair and was the best breakfast we had in Las Vegas. Afterwards we wen to the Mandalay Bay to register for my conference and to visit the exhibit hall which allows guest to attend on Sunday only. There are a couple hundred vendors related to health care and pension services. Signa was giving out flu shots, and we each got one. We filled up on little trinkets and candy and got scanned in for all kind of door prizes. The next day I got a call that I had won a "Mean" Joe Green autographed football from Ullico Insurance group. I guess I'll have that on EBay soon. I would of much rather won an Ipad, golf club or some cash. Oh well it's the first thing I've won in 6 years attending this conference.
Rather than go back to our hotel we realized that my conference credentials would get us into the pool at Mandalay Bay. The pool there is one of the best in Vegas, complete with sandy beach and a wave pool. After an hour or so all the chocolate we received from the vendors began to melt. We did our best to consume it and had it all over or face and fingers. Grown ups and chocolate.
That evening we a spectacular dinner at Old Homestead Steak House in Caesar's Palace. One of the most expensive steaks I've had in my entire life, but hey, its Vegas and fine dining is just another one of the expenses in which to indulge. The 24 oz Rib eye was to die for. Maureen had a crab cake and we shared what appeared to be a 1lb potato. Then of to the tables and back to the room with $80 more than we left with by midnight. 

Our room at Caesar's was wonderful. I loved the double bathrooms connected via a double shower in the middle and the Jacuzzi tub made our time in the room very relaxing. We were in the Roman Towers and at the bottom of the elevator was the entrance to the pool. There was pool side black jack and very good pool side wait service. Maureen spent a good bit of time there both Monday and Tuesday while i was attending classes at the conference.
Monday evening we attended 2 separate events hosted by vendors the local does business with. The first was at The House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. There was a nice spread of seafood from Stone Crab, shrimp, and crabcakes along with prime rib and other assorted pasta dishes. There was a hopping blues band playing that reminded me of the old Danny Gatton blues band. We stayed about an hour and a half then went to another reception at Madame Tussauds outside the Venetian Hotel. We arrived there a little late so most of all the food was gone but there was plenty to drink. We had fun doing the tour and taking pictures with all  the wax figures.

 
I had a little hiccup that evening on a video black jack game. Put in $50 and thought I was playing $5 and it was actually $25 then got dealt 8,3, doubled down and dealer hits 20. Lost $50 on one hand. Wound up making that back the next night up on Fremont street.
I wrapped up the conference on Tuesday, while Maureen pampered herself with a Manicure and lazy afternoon around the pool. That evening we had another fantastic meal at  Strip House Steak House, then we drove out to Fremont street and hit a number of the casinos and watched the people. It's quite entertaining.
The next morning we made the mistake of eating breakfast at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, which is across the street from Caesar's. By far the worst meal of the week. Stick to burgers, fries and booze when visiting Margaritaville. The conference was over and this was truly my first day to relax. We had a nice lazy afternoon around the pool and nice poolside lunch. Later that afternoon we decided to check out early and make our way to the Wyndham resort in Flagstaff AZ. It was about a 4 hour drive and since i was beginning to come down with a cold Maureen was nice enough to drive most of the way. We didn't arrive until after 11pm, but easily got our keys and found our way to our suite. It was rather small one bedroom efficiency type unit with a pull out couch. Our plan was to leave early the next morning for the Grand Canyon and then return Friday afternoon to meet our son Jack who was driving in from Show-Lo AZ. for the weekend.

The following morning we drove the 90 minutes to Grand Canyon State park. We had reservations at the Maswick Lodge but check in was not until 4pm. We ventured out on our on and found the Bright Angle trail and made our way into the canyon. It was about a 3.5 round trip hike and we did it in about 2.5 hours. The views were spectacular. The air was wonderfully clear (we could see the San Fransisco Mts over 100 miles away) helping the Canyon colors stand out in amazing clarity. Along the rim, the oaks added a pleasant yellow contrast to the green of the pines and junipers.  We took all kind of pictures but they just don't capture the beauty and immense marvel that was created over millions of year. October was a great time to be there because there were no lines or crowded buses and the temps were perfect. I here it can get brutal there in the summer months.
I still wasn't feeling well so we went to bed rather early that evening and were excited about seeing Jack the next day. Our plan was to do the bus route along the rim and then meet him back in Flagstaff early that afternoon. He called about noon and told us he had arrived and was waiting in Flagstaff. We got back there a couple hours later. After not seeing your boy in 10 months it pretty exciting getting that first hug. He looked good. Tall, clear eyes, lean and smoke free. He seems happy and content with his new home and job but you can tell he misses his family. We sure wish he wasn't so far away. We went out to some organic pizza place for beer and pizza and chatted it up over dinner for quite a while.  We checked out the entertainment building at the resort and played some pool for awhile. Later that evening Maureen and Jack went back for movie night. I stayed behind and rested.

The next Morning we took Jack to Brandi's Restaurant as featured on Diner's, drive-ins and Dives on the food network. We had eaten there Wednesday and new the service and food were awesome and that he would like it. Afterwards we drove to Sedona to go on an 3 hour ATV adventure. We thought he would enjoy that and it was something different that neither of us had done before. It was very dusty out there and we were certainly  covered with dust at the end. It was a little to tame for Jack and I as the guide wouldn't let us to the ATVs over about 25. The trails were quite bumpy and dusty. We rode about 10 miles and then stopped for a pictures like 3 times. The ride was about 30 miles total. The scenery was OK but nothing as spectacular as we saw driving in through Sedona earlier in the day. Afterwards we walked around in downtown Sedona and grabbed dinner at a barbecue joint. I think next time we are out that way we may stay in Sedona.