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ONE Trip!!! THREE States!!! THREE National Parks!!! December 16-20, 2018.

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by xman30, Jan 20, 2019.

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  1. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    Day #3. December 18, 2018. Tuesday.
    ---------------------------------------------------------

    I woke up at 4:15am & got ready for the day. Like the day before, I had a tour. Originally the tour was just for Zion National Park in Utah. I got a voice message the day before telling me that my tour had been changed to the Zion/Bryce Canyon combo tour (Bryce is also in Utah). My pickup time was moved from 7am to 6am. The tour guide told me that the reason for the change was that there were only two people for my tour & four for the combo tour. The company decided to combine all of us.

    We got to Zion at 10:19am.

    [​IMG]IMG_4090 by grooverman, on Flickr

    We stopped at the visitor's center first.

    [​IMG]IMG_4092 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    Deer crossing!!!

    [​IMG]IMG_4125 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    Came across a deer eating.

    [​IMG]IMG_4175 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    Videos I shot at Zion.





    We then headed towards Bryce Canyon.

    We made a pit stop at the White Mountain Trading Post in Orderville, Utah. 1:15pm. I took some pictures.

    [​IMG]IMG_4228 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    We made it to Bryce Canyon National Park. 2:40pm. For those of you who liked seeing the snow in my Grand Canyon pictures, you'll really like these pictures!!!

    [​IMG]IMG_4238 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    Videos I shot at Bryce Canyon.





    On our way out we stopped at Ruby's Inn.

    [​IMG]IMG_4316 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    Took some more pictures along the way.

    [​IMG]IMG_4324 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    I made it back to my room at 7:46pm.

    For dinner I ate at the California Pizza Kitchen inside the Mirage. I had The Works pizza. It was good.

    I was too tired to go anywhere. I made my way back to my room & went to sleep. Next up is Day #4.

    xman30
     
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  2. Sparky4

    Sparky4 VIP Whale

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    Beautiful pictures!
     
    Happy birthday to me!
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  3. LVisBeautiful

    LVisBeautiful High-Roller

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    I have a few questions, this is obvs a beautiful trip report and your photos are amazing...did you take this on an I-phone? and if so what are your filters, these are beautiful.

    Also, were you exhausted after the Grand Canyon trip, I've been thinking about one but thought it might be a little much with Vegas.

    Thanks for these pics! I'm planning a summer trip and very interested in going to GC
     
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  4. NittyOne

    NittyOne VIP Whale

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    Love these parks, need to go back. Bryce covered in snow is a treat.
     
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  5. split10's?

    split10's? Low-Roller

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    Great shots! You took a couple of lenses to reach that far down in to the Canyon. Pretty sure it was a deer there, and an elk in Zion...Great report, thanks!
     
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  6. fabriano

    fabriano Low-Roller

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    Still following your great AND timely(for me) report. 3 years ago I spent 2 nights/3 days at the GC. Putting the finishing touches for an April trip to Bryce---2 nights; Zion 3 nights. AND, of course, LV for 2 nights. Thanks for sharing!
     
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  7. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    No I-Phone pictures. The camera I used for about 95% of the pictures I took for the trip was with a Canon Powershot SX530. The rest were with a Canon Powershot SX710. I was tired, but not exhausted. The tour guide did the driving. It was about nine hours in a vehicle.

    The cameras I used do not have detachable lenses. They both have really good zooms. The SX530 has a 50X zoom. The SX710 has a 30X zoom.

    xman30
     
  8. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    Day #4. December 19. Wednesday.
    -----------------------------------------------------

    I woke up at 5am & got ready for the day. For breakfast I went to the buffet at the Bellagio. $40 holiday price. 7:32am. Good food. Good selection of food. More sweets than the previous time I was there.

    I went to the Luxor to pick up my ticket for the show I was seeing that night. Along the way I took some pictures (shocking, I know!!! :goofy:).

    [​IMG]IMG_4352 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    After getting my ticket I made my way down to the Fremont Street Experience, 11am. I putzed around for a while taking pictures.

    [​IMG]IMG_4362 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    I then went to the Madame Tussauds wax museum at the Venetian. 12:59pm.

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    I then went back to my room to rest for a while. 2:20pm.

    For dinner a went to Taps Sports Bar inside the MGM Grand. 5:25pm. I ate a Philly Cheesesteak, fries, onion rings, & a Diet Coke. It was all very good.

    My entertainment for the night was the show Fantasy at the Luxor. 10:30pm. I sat in the first row, middle of the stage. It's my favorite show in Las Vegas. Afterwards I bought the show's 2019 calendar & took pictures of the dancers & singer. Each one also signed her own month.

    [​IMG]IMG_6422 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    Next up is Day #5 (aka Go Home Day).

    xman30
     
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  9. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Love all the pics, thanks!
     
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  10. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    Fantastic pictures as always. Your trip reports are always filled with amazing photos, and of course the Fantasy girls never disappoint.:woot:
     
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  11. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    Isn't that a shame? $40.00 for a single person getting breakfast. Absurd!!:thumbsdown:
     
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  12. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    My original choice for breakfast for that day was the buffet at Caesars Palace. That would have been over $60!!!

    xman30
     
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  13. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    :cuss:
     
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  14. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    The canyon pics, the snow pics and Inspiration Point are well......inspirational. Thanks for sharing!
     
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  15. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    Day #5. December 20. Thursday (Go Home Day)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I woke up at 6:53am. For breakfast I ate at Cravings, the buffet at the Mirage. 7:26am. Good food. I then went back to my room. Got ready for the day & checked out of my room before 11am. My plane was scheduled to leave at 9pm. I was scheduled to be picked up for the airport at 6:30pm. I decided to putz around the Strip & take pictures.

    [​IMG]IMG_4485 by grooverman, on Flickr

    I went to the Gallery of Fine Arts at the Bellagio. It had an exhibit featuring Yayoi Kusama. 10:04am.

    [​IMG]IMG_4487 by grooverman, on Flickr

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    I then went back to putzing around & taking pictures.

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    I made it to the Flamingo Habitat. 12:38pm.

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    Back to the putzing!!!

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    I made it to the airport. My flight was delayed an hour. 10pm take off. I made it home to Houston in the early morning hours of Friday.

    My next trip is already set for April 14-19, 2019. Get there early Sunday morning, leave Friday evening. I'll be staying at the Mirage again. I'll be in a Volcano View room. It will be the first time I will be going to Las Vegas with other people. Several family members will be there with me. I think everyone will get there the day after I do. Most will leave the same day as me. I'm not sure how much of a trip report I'll be able to do for the trip. I'm not sure how many pictures & videos I'll be able to take. Hopefully I'll be able to at least take the notes like I normally do.

    xman30
     
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  16. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    Appreciate your photo artistry @xman30 - a real treat.
     
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  17. robert m.

    robert m. High-Roller

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    Enjoyed every photo!

    I loved the way that you were very accurate with times. That made me smile because my family teases me when I tell them that I will meet them at 12:38 p.m.

    Thank you!!
     
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  18. spicole

    spicole No shirt, no shoes... NO DICE!

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    I love the lighting in some of those pictures, especially the distant shots of the Rio.
     
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  19. bshowell

    bshowell VIP Whale

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    I really loved your bird photos. The detail you got was is amazing. And now I'm pretty amused that flamingos have hot pink knees.
     
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  20. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Great pics! And lol at the SLS mascot.
     
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