|| Phoenix, Sedona, Tucson in Arizona (Dec 2021)

 Phoenix, Sedona and Tucson in Arizona (12/24-12/7/2021)

• Holistic planning
• 365 miles to Phoenix, 5 hours 20 minutes on Sunday
• Hyatt Place Airport Tempe with breakfast and free parking #H-C4PHN43L2ZRW
• Central one hour ahead of Pacific Time; sunset at around 20min past 5pm
• Friday - home to cracker barrel mesa (arrive at 12pm local time); taliesin west 420PM last term (12345 N. Taliesin Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85259,  reserved and paid for 2:40pm to 4:10pm); hotel then dobbins lookout (arrive 5pm-530pm); cocina madrigal taco; hotel (in total 7.5 hours drive); japanese friendship garden (last admission 330pm 1125 N. 3rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003; $10 and $8)
• Saturday - hotel to Boynton canyon to devils bridge to amitabha peace park to airport mesa vortex to chapel of the holy cross to cathedral rock to bell rock to hotel (269 miles, 5 hours 20min)
• Sunday - hotel to Saguaro national park (giant cactus) to Rincon mountain to Sabino canyon to eat at Kiwami to Red Hill to back at hotel and eat at Sicilian Butcher at Chanler (203 miles, 3 hours 20min)
• Monday - hotel to to hole in the rock to pagaya park / Lost Dutchman state park somewhere back to home

• Phoenix
• Desert botanic garden, closed on Christmas day, advance tickets required, $40 adult, evening hours available https://tickets.dbg.org/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=ST&c=CHIHULY
• Pagago park and the Hole in the rock (was just ok); park at west buttes parking lot;  https://www.visitphoenix.com/sonoran-desert/parks/papago-park/
• Dobbins lookout for sunsetting; moderate (very nice place, love it) trail; https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/holbert-trail-to-dobbins-lookout
• Saguaro national park, 1 hour 30min in the south, https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/saguaro_hiking.htm
• Lost dutchman state park; 30min drive; $7 per vehicle; Christmas day closed; https://azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/
• Biosphere 2; https://tickets.b2.arizona.edu/; $25 per adult; about an hour and 44 minutes drive
• From the locals
• Taliesen West located at 12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85259. It is open daily from 8:30 to 6:30. There are several tours to choose from ranging from 45 minutes and $38 to 3 hours and $75 and all visits are guided; $49 per adult
• Dobbins lookout The Dobbins Lookout is located at 10919 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042. There is no cost to see it and you have the option to drive to the top of the mountain or hike up. If you do drive, there is a short, uneven walk to get to the Lookout. The park is open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• West Valley Thunderbird Conservation Park (https://www.glendaleaz.com/live/amenities/parks_facilities_trails/regional_parks/thunderbird_conservation_park) is a nice small neighborhood park area located in the NW valley at 22800 N 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85310. There is also an entrance on 67th Ave. It is open from 7 to 5:30. There are three hikes in the area that all are around an hour or so, depending on your speed
• The Japanese Friendship Garden (closed on monday) is located at 1125 N. 3rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003. It is open from 10 to 4 Tuesday through Sunday and general admission costs $10
• Restaurant - Phoenix Palace for dim sum (chinese); Old town taste chinese; Chen's noodle house (Tempe) Barrio Queen Tempe (mexico); Taste of Peru; Thai Elephant (americanized thai food, was just ok), Zu Izakaya (asian food, large portion, was ok) Cocina Madrigal (close to old town but on street, Mexico; love this place, sit outside, simple menu); Stone Korean Tofu House (Scottsdale); Hiro Sushi at Scottsdale (traditional Japanese); Hodori Korean (Tempe); Baby Kay's Cajun Kitchen (Tempe); Angry Crab Shack - Food (Tempe); Sicilian Butcher (Chandler in the south; italian food); DeFalco's Italian Eatery, Grocery & Deli (fast food italian)

• Arcosanti (didn't stop there)
• About an hour in between, cafe and hikes
• https://www.arcosanti.org/hiking/
• Sedona
• Chapel of the holy cross (didn't go), two hours from Phoenix, limited parking, see website https://chapeloftheholycross.com/hours/
• Cathedral rock, can stop at mescal trail head (for devils bridge, but it's very hard), Subway cove is also very hard, limited parking but can use the national park pass http://www.arizonahikersguide.com/all-hikes/hike-cathedral-rock-trail-sedona
• Airport Mesa trail, moderate, https://thehikehouse.com/trails/airport-mesa-trail
• Bell rock, again moderate trail, http://www.arizonahikersguide.com/all-hikes/hike-bell-rock-loop-sedona
• Slide rock state park and the Devils bridge trail (at least 3 hours for round trip and another time to wait on getting on the bridge and taking the picture), moderate trail again, https://www.earthtrekkers.com/hike-devils-bridge-sedona-arizona/
• Amitabha stupa and peace park, free parking, tibet like temple and rolling prayer
• Mature tourist area, free parking downstairs; bell rock inn etc has nice places to live by
• Yayapi trail, stopped by there, but couldn't get too long in the trail
• Tucson
• Noodleholics and Kiwami Ramen (didn't go)
• Saguaro National Park, 9-5pm; closed on thanksgiving and christmas
• On the west, red hills visitor center for scenic Bajada loop drive valley; view overlook trail
• On the east, Rinton Mountain visitor center for cactus forest scenic loop dirve; and desert ecology trail;The visitor center is also the starting point for a scenic auto/bike tour around the Cactus Forest Loop Drive offering incredible views of the Rincon Mountains.
• https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/saguaro_hiking.htm
• Sabino Canyon https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recarea/?recid=75425; go for visitor center, lush green
• West side has rugged roads, many trails; east side has more of a garden feel, has trails in the neighborhood
• Sabino canyon is a very popular place, can walk to the dam, very paved and very walking friendly

|| Hawaii Big Island (May 2022)

Big Island - May 7th to May 13th 2022, arriving just after midnight on May 14th (due to 405 road construction blocks)

• Live in Hilo (small, boutique, Naniloa Hotel, coconut beach)
• Not in the volcano village (vog, ashy volcano fog)
• Kona (beachy resort area)
• Hilo Bay hotel - close to coconut beach
• LAX Prepay parking Marriott $85
• Flight $520 to KONA from LAX; Avis rental $500
• Dolphin Bay Hotel $800 for two nights with delicious banana bread and papaya and banana
• AirBnB $320 for two nights

• Travel blogs

• Five day itineray https://www.lovebigisland.com/five-day-itinerary-for-big-island-hawaii/
• Seven day https://www.lovebigisland.com/seven-day-itinerary-for-big-island-hawaii/
• Three day Oahu https://wandereroftheworld.co.uk/3-day-oahu-itinerary/
• Five day Oahu https://adventuresofaplusk.com/5-days-on-oahu/
• Dolphin Bay Hotel guide

• Day 1 (Sat, 7th) - From KONA airport drive to Hilo in two hours via the fastest mid island highways, passing a few trails and passing Mauna Kea 
• Walk into the Hilo downtown, lots of homeless but overall feel safe
• KTA has a store in the downtown with a smaller selection of goods, and no poke bar
• KTA on the way to the volcano national park is much bigger that has a poke bar that opens late around 4pm; also just on the side, a chinese fast food joint, Sim Leung, old school choy suoy style

• Day 2 (Sun, 8th) - Volcano national park, stay at Hilo, boat tour around champaign ponds (may have terminated)
• Makuu farmers market, 7-12 Sunday morning only (couldn't make it on time)
• In the morning, drive Crater rim drive and chain of craters road; driving only without walking the trails for half a day; saw the steamed vents in misty rains
• Stream vents, Kilauea lookout, Lava tube, Puhimau Crater, Jaguar museum, Puu Huluhulu Trailhead, Holei Sea Arch; walked the Kilauea Iki trail from rain forest to the ground crater lava rocks; couldn't find the loop entry to the center of the crater, so walked all the way back, in and out in 2.5 hours
• Some “must see stops” in the park are the Thurston Lava Tube (pitch dark, need a flash light), Kilauea Iki Overlook, and the Chain of Craters Road. If you feel up for it, we recommend you hike the Kilauea Iki trail, which descends from the beautiful Volcano rainforest into the caldera where you can see firsthand the effects of millions of years of volcanic activity.
• In the afternoon, drive the blue line of chain of crater into evening, Thurston Lava tube, Kealakomo lookout, holei sea arch
• Sea arch was a lot of drive all the way to the beach; it was a scene in the far away place
• In the evening, Devastation Tail, visit after 5pm, then walk the lava tube, then eat dinner then come back for the evening trail; check youtube 2Pineapples for livecam for volcano status
• Live volcano after sunsetting; if arriving after 8pm, will see the volcano burst in total darkness, will be more beautiful

• Day 3 (Mon, 9th) - Coconut beach (lava rock), Ice pond (with manta rays), Astronomy center (ancient Hawaiians), MacKenzie State Park and Isaac Hale, jungle, hike, lava fields, stay at Hilo going to the south and center
• Stop at south point,  Punaluʻu black sand beach (saw three Hawaiian green sea turtle)
• There is a south point park (missed); there is a green sand beach (did not visit)
• It's a long drive to the south; coming back for the forehead injury and visited the Hilo urgent care center; ate at the Hawaiian style cafe for fried chicken; 
• Arrive at Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station (VIS) before 6pm, Mauna Kea, stay at the visitor center for sunset and star gazing; late afternoon 5:15pm from the Dolphin bay hotel
• Calsmith Beach Park with sea tortoise (didn't see), but this is an excellent place for snorkeling (saw elderly couple swimming) inside of the lava rock ponds
• Richardson ocean park (didn't visit)
• Akaka (north, one car and two passengers for $21 parking fee) and the Rainbow fall (HILO center, actually close to the dolphin bay hotel, along with the boiling pots), peepee fall (HILO center further inland)
• Japanese garden (close to the ice pond, downtown) - buy the poke plate (2 poke and 2 sides) from the Suisan market before 1130am ideally, then eat at the Japanese garden park, excellent days

• Day 4 (Tue, 10th) - Hilo, rainbow falls, Waipiʻo Valley, stay at Hilo going to the north

• Ken’s Pancake House (didn't visit)
• Hilo Farmers market (mid downtown, probably good for coconut drinks)
• Onomea trails 0.6 miles (this cuts the botanical garden with fee), good walk down and back up; Akaka in the north (less than 1 hour), Laupahoehoe Point Beach park (big wave on the rocks) then drive 40min to the Waipio
• head out for a stroll through Lilioukalani Park and over the bridge to Coconut Island. Or, stop for a brisk swim at one the beaches in the majestic Keaukaha area. 
• Afterward, head up to Rainbow Falls for a couple of photos and then continue up Kaumana Drive past Hilo Hospital to the Boiling Pots.
• Rainbow falls doesn't have much water so not too impressive
• Now it is time to drive up Saddle Road to go stargazing at one of the best locations of the world: Mauna Kea. 
• Akaka state falls park - rain forest (up after Hilo), $5 per and $10 for parking with falls
• Kaumana cave is super cark will need headlight (didn't visit)
• Pololu or Waipio Valley
• Pololu may need tour bus, trail is moderate then Waimea is the town at the bottom of the hill

• Day 5 (Wed, 11th) - North shore, stay at east side or north shore, stay at Kona

• Pololu (difficult hike) or Waipio Valley (road under construction until 2025/26)
• Pololu may need tour bus, trail is moderate then Waimea is the town at the bottom of the hill
• Waipo Valley shuttle $67 per person ((808) 775-7121). but not to the black sand beach down the hill; hiking is strenuous, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm Monday to Saturday, call to reserve
• Pololu or Waipio Valley, look for a tour to go down the hill
• Pololu may need tour bus, trail is moderate then Waimea is the town at the bottom of the hill
• Waipiʻo Valley overlook at the end of Highway 240, which will allow you a stunning view of the “Valley of Kings”, one of the most culturally significant spots for the native Hawaiians and a hot spot for the traditional cultivation of the locally prized “kalo” or taro crop.
• Afterward, continue to Waimea for a luxurious dinner at one of the locally renowned culinary gems (we recommend Merriman’s or Edelweiss) or continue a half hour to the Kawaihae harbor for sunset and dinner there before returning to Waimea for the night.
• Waimea is an old ranchers town and offers easy access to great hikes and beautiful beaches. 
• Pololu valley, go down 450 feet in 0.6 miles; eat at the fish and the hog

• Day 6 (Thur, 12th) - stay at Kona

• Two steps (excellent snorkling place, but a bit adventure, this doesn't have the lava rocks for protection), park at Kalahuipua'a Historic park parking, then via lava cave and get to the Kalahuipua'a fishponds and Mauna Lani Beach club
• Ala Khahakai, Kalua-Kona, HI 96740
• Visit the Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (also known as the City of Refuge or Honaunau Bay)
• UCC Hawaii farm, Japanese owner, Kona coffee in general has more acid.  The house is on the other side of the route 11, through the mountain road, go up hill to see the view; there is no tour, but we can walk around till the yellow line of private property; eat coffee ice cream

• Day 7 (Friday, 13th) -  Kona and back
• Captain cook monument trail
• Sunset at the beach to the south of the magic sand beach (tiny), morning walks in 6000 steps but a bit tiresome

Waimea - nothing special, urban developed commercial areas

• Hawaiian Style Cafe - This is a small American style breakfast place that services local breakfast such as spam and eggs, loco coco, and kalua hash (just some of my favorites.  The restaurant is relatively small and can get quite busy
• Merrimans 
• Fish and the Hog Market Cafe
• Red Water Cafe 
• Underground Pizza - I know its a pizza place, but sometimes after eating local food for a week I really miss pizza!

KONA restaurant and tour -

• Da poke shack (closes at 4pm) yes 11-4pm (very good sweet potato mashed with bacon), fried chicken regular size has four large pieces
• 808 Grindz yes 7-2pm for breakfast
• Kona seafood market, just 1min to the blue vending machine
• Teshima japanese restaurant (traditional)
• Broke the mouth Gindz (Korean and Hawaiian fusion) yes 10-6pm, and get the furikake fried chicken
• Shaka tacos with free guacamole
• Umekes fish market
• Sakura, for fried chicken, fuji roll
• Scandinavian Shave Ice
• Captain cook - to the low tides, boat tour
• The coffee shack
• Kona town, tide pool
• Big island abalone, tour $12, including a free abalone
• Manta Ray tour
• Heavenly coffee farm
• The Ohia Retreat at booking.com
• Two steps snorkling
• Mauna Lani - A few miles north of Waikoloa there is a Ruth Chris, Monstera (sushi), Tommy Bahama
• Airbnb - 1200 feet aboe Kealakekua Bay, south kona; need to share the open space
• Airbnb - search for Kealakekua Bay cottage with a vew #2 $120; Kealakekua Bay Bali Cottage $150
• Airbnb - Sunset, partial ocean view studio - king bed, Lanai guest suite - entire home / apt hosted by Caleb, $150

HILO restaurant -

• Hilo big island candies, Annette recommends short bread cookies; foodakoki party mix
• Ding Tea
• Kenyichi restaurant, yes10-8pm
• Suisan for poke yes 9-3pm
• KTA's poke yes 7-8pm
• Puka Puka Kitchen - deep fried pork, yes nut closed on Sat sun and Monday morning only; (Annette recommended)
• Hawaiian Hilo Cafe, yes 7-2pm then 5-830pm
• Taco place at street
• Sweet cane cafe (vegetarian)
• Tetsumen for ramen, curry chicken
• Poke N sides for loco moco
• Kuhio grille (for Lau Lau)
• Hilo lunch shop for cheap japanese deep fry and musubi, long lines -yes 530-1pm; Annette recommended
• Naung Mai Thai Kitchen (not impressive)
• Hilo farmers market, daily and the Tamari Lunch nearby (cheap bento and rice balls)
• Two ladies mochi (not that good) 
• Kula shave ice bowl
• The seaside restaurant and aqua farm besides the carlsmith beach park for seafood
• Ken's house of pancakes for brunch, 24 hours open, american style
• The Dolphin Cottage at Kehena beach, booking.com
• Maureen's bed and breakfast at booking.com
• Vlog with user name deliazzz

|| San Francisco (2007, 2015, May 2021)

San Francisco (2007, 2015, May 2021)

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/united-states-travel-guide/san-francisco/

Day 1 - Friday

• Drive or fly, arriving at SFO
• Drive 101N then passing the bridge to CA1 to Muir.  This place requires a parking reservation
• National monument Muir woods
• Muir woods trail, 1.3 miles, 30min
• Fern creek, lost, canopy trail, 3.2 miles, 1.5 hours
• Hillside trail, 0.8 miles, 22min
• Walk 4 bridges, Fern creek then turn back to the camp then to the base
• Twin peak (not worth it, and so windy) - By Car. Twin Peaks is very easy to get to if you have a car. Just follow Market Street west (away from downtown) all the way to the top of the hill (where the name changes to Portola Drive), then turn right on Twin Peaks Boulevard. A short, winding road brings you to the free parking lot at the top.
• https://www.sftodo.com/sanfrancisco/twin-peaks-san-francisco/
• Sausalito - quaint small town, harbor parking $4 an hour, should have walked to the other direction; mostly yacht parking at the harbor, small bars, and restaurants

Day 3 - Saturday

• Japantown
• From twin peaks, take LBus or Kbus or 37 then at Church and market change to 22 Fillmore St & Geary Blvd
• Golden gate state park https://goldengatepark.com/
• CA academy of science, 55 Music Concourse Dr.; 930am open, $34 adult and $30 senior online ticket purchase
• Conservatory of flowers, 100 John F. Kennedy Dr; 10am open
• De Young muserum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr; 930am open, $12.5 adult and $9.5 seior online ticket purchase
• Japanese tea garden, 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. (this place is tiny, not worth the ticket or the tea experience, over rated)
• SF Bontanic garden, 1199 Ninth Ave; 10am open
• Shakespeare Garden, Strawberry Hill, the Lily Pond
• Similar to the central park concept, cars can park along the roads inside the park; park to the east side have more tourist visiting places whereas the west part is quiet and spacious
• Prefer to have a car, but the park is not huge huge, can walk one hour from west to east if not stopping
• Twin peaks 
• Take bus 44 from japanese tea garden to Woodside ave or Portola dr, then walk 20 minutes
• You can walk up to Twin Peaks from Grand View Avenue and 24th Street in just 20 minutes
• Restaurant
• Old Shanghai, 25 minutes walk north of japanese garden
• Jiangnan Cuisine, 45 minutes walk to the west of japanese garden
• Sasa, need reservation 
• Oma sushi takeout (web only, saturday 4pm) - have only 5-7 bar seats inside the Japan center buildings at a corner place
• An Japanese restaurant

Day 2 - Saturday

• Alcatraz, look for coupon
• https://www.cityexperiences.com/san-francisco/city-cruises/alcatraz/checkout/?bookingTypeId=1000016&propertyID=hacco&preselection=%7B%22selectedDate%22%3A%2205%2F29%2F2021%22%2C%22selectedTimedTicketTypeId%22%3A1653936%2C%22ticketSelection%22%3A%7B%221000016%22%3A%7B%221%22%3A1%2C%222%22%3A1%7D%7D%2C%22costRateId%22%3A%22%22%7D
• Lombard 
• It starts at Levi's Plaza, takes you to the top of Coit Tower, down the hill to explore North Beach and then up the hill to the top of Lombard Street San Francisco. This 3-hour hike is strenuous and best for those that love to climb steep steps and hills
• https://www.sftourismtips.com/lombard-street-san-francisco.html
• Worth the visit, follow google maps to get to the spot, very hilly place
• Then walk to pier 39
• Coit Tower https://freetoursbyfoot.com/coit-tower-san-francisco/
• Fisherman's dwarf, most disappointing place, sea lions exactly at 39, turn slightly left onto the deck (do not get into the shopping center places)
• Ferrybuilding, northeast direction of hotel fusion, blue bottle, empanadas (delicious), very quiet and slow life, worth the visit
• Chinatown has two streets Stockton and Grant
• St Mary square has the statue and the golden gate
• Lots of good places
• Muni bus 30 passes china town going to the golden gate
• 30, 70, 101 go to the golden gate, need to use the clipper card, swipes on way in and way out
• one hour every run of 70 and 101, they start from the salesforce building close to the ferry building

Day 3 - Sunday

• Golden gate bridge https://www.nps.gov/goga/index.htm
• Total length: 1.7 miles (2.8 km) 
• Welcome center 9am open, city 28 bus stop.  The #28 - 19th Avenue - Muni Bus stops right next to the Welcome Center, at the SF end of the bridge. You can catch it on Van Ness Avenue, between North Point and Bay, at the western end of the Fisherman's Wharf area, a couple of blocks west of Aquatic Park.  
• The #30 Golden Gate Transit bus runs daily, about every hour, from many downtown stops, including stops all along Mission Street. It also runs through the city with numerous other stops on its way to the bridge. Get off at the Toll Plaza just before the bridge
• From union square, The #76X Marin Headlands Express bus also stops at the Toll Plaza. Catch it at Post and Powell streets, at Union Square Note: weekends only.
• All the double-decker, Hop On Hop Off buses stop at the Welcome Center parking lot right next to the bridge
• $7.5 toll to cross over the bridge into SF
• https://www.inside-guide-to-san-francisco-tourism.com/golden-gate-bridge.html

Restaurant - 

• Breakfast Good Mong Kok Bakery (yes)
• Ippudo ramen 5min
• Mensho ramen and mushroom chips 10min (yes)
• Old shanghai restaurant, close to golden gate bridge
• Bund Shanghai, 20min to chinatown (yes)
• Dojima Ann, 2min from hotel, may be closed because of pandemic
• Sushi Taka, 16min to chinatown
• King of Thai noodle house, 3min from hotel
• La Fusion, 13 min from hotel, close to Ferry Building
• Rooster and Rice, for hainan chicken, 10min walk from hotel
• Dumpling home, 27min from hotel walk in the southwest direction
• Kabuki springs, women wed, fri and sunday, reservation required
• Ryoko's (tendon donburi, chirashi), need to make reservations (yes)
• Tonton restaurant, small for mostly curry and ramen dishes
• San Sun restaurant for chao zhou style and hainan chicken (maybe)
• Good Mong Kok and Hao Wang Li are the best breakfast places, the second one has changfen
• The BBQ shop at the far end of the stockton has good roast pork (with duck hanging), not mixed with other proteins and no fried noodles

Airport and Transportation - 

Use Muni bus fares for Bus

https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares/munimobile#:~:text=Save%20time%20and%20money%20with,or%20on%2Dthe%2Dgo!

 - tickets in use, daily $5 and senior $1.25 for two hours

- scanners outside the bus and inside the bus but clipper only

Use Clipper on BART

https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares/munimobile/munimobile-frequently-asked-questions#:~:text=MuniMobile%20is%20a%20Muni%2Donly,are%20only%20available%20through%20Clipper.

- Yellow bart 30min every run

• Airport to Hotel Fusion, 31min on BART Yellow N towards Antioch, $9.65
• Hotel Fusion to Pier 39, 1.8 miles one way in 36 minutes; 
• Hotel to Lombard street, muni bus 8, 45, 30, or walk 1.8 miles and 36 minutes
• Hotel to ferry building, walking 1.1 miles, 22 minutes in the north and east direction
• Hotel to Colt tower, walking 1.4 miles, 33 minutes, in between ferry building and pier 39
• Hotel to Golden Gate Park, muni bus 7, $3
• Hotel to Japantown, walking 1.3 miles 29minutes or muni bus 38 or 38R, $3
• Hotel to Twinpeaks, KBus, LBus 40min, $3
• Hotel to Golden Gate Bridge, muni bus 30/70/101
• Hotel to Muir national monument, muni bus 30 then 61, then walk 50minutes in total 2 hours 22 minutes; take 101 muni bus then walk to marin transit station for the shuttle bus (suspended)

|| Las Vegas (2021-2022)

 Las Vegas (4/30-5/2 2021, 11/27-11/29 2021)

• MGM Grand mlife.com, $475 for three nights inclusive of resort fees and taxes, free parking
• Red Rock canyon (to the west)
• 25 minutes, 23 miles, $15 for vehicle, 8-430pm
• A must-see in the area are the petroglyphs, only a short trek from the Willow Springs Picnic Area, the drawings are estimated to be over 800 years old
• https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/lasvegas/hikes-trails/
• Easy trails are Pine Creek canyon, lost creek trail, red rock canyon scenic drive, lost creek and children's discovery trail, Moenkopi trail, Fire Ecology trail, Red Springs broadwalk
• Requires reservation at the Rec.Gov website with $2 processing fee; should be able to use the national park pass
• Small place, about 10 miles, one-way drive only; Red Canyon overlook is outside of the park with public and shaded shelter place with overviews
• Valley of Fire (to the northeast)
• One hour, 50 miles, $15 vehicle, 630-7pm
• https://www.vegas.com/attractions/near-las-vegas/valley-of-fire/
• Easy trails are Fire Wave trail, While Dumes trail, petroglyph canyon via mouse's tank trail (did that), rainbow vista trail, elephant rock trail, fire wave and pink canyon via seven wonders trail, atlatl rock
• Can't use the national park pass, probably worth another visit
• Seven magic mountains (on the way back to home)
• 35 minutes, 25 miles, free
• Death valley
• 2.5 hours, 150 miles, $30 vehicle 
• https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/upload/2020-2021-Winter-Visitor-Guide-508-compressed.pdf
• https://www.nps.gov/tripideas/death-valley-must-see-spots-in-1-3-hours.htm
• Eating
• Lobster me, 15 minute walk on the same street side of MGM, 10-12am
• Luke's lobster, 40 minute walk in the fashion show mall, 12-7pm
• Ping pong pang, 10-3am, 4000 W Flamingo Rd, 10 minute drive (yes, Cantonese dim sum)
• Sakana, 11-12am, 3949 S Maryland Pkwy, 10 min drive (yes, Japanese buffet)
• Gordon Ramsey Fish and Chips, 25 minutes walk, close to Flamingo
• Aria tea is opposite the x-pot, on 2nd floor of the Palazzo (no, very light peach tea flavor)
• Kungfu tea should be a couple blocks away
• Tiger Sugar is at the one block ahead of the Viet Noodle Bar (yes, strong tea flavor)
• SK Seafood (Cantonese)
• Asian BBQ Noodle (Cantonese cafe)
• Shanghai Taste (Shanghainess cafe)
• Makino Buffet ($35 and senior has discount, evening starts at 5:30pm, morning 11:30am)
• Taco El Gordo (10min drive from Park MGM, can probably walk from Wynn, 10-2am)
• Beef Abobada (marinated beef, good)
• Carne Asada (flank steak; mulita is with cheese)
• Lengua (beef tongue)
• Vampiro (grilled taco flour on top)
• Al Pasto (spit grilled pork)
• Strategy - Crack Shack / Istanbul Mediterranean (evening), Wicked/Wynn (lunch), Taco (evening), Ping Pang Pong (lunch)
• XHS recommended barbecue heaven - Rollin Smoke Barbeque (4115 Grand Canyon Dr Ste 00, Las Vegas; 3185 Highland Dr, Las Vegas)
• XHS recommended Cantonese cafe - no wait; 88 Noodle Papa (4276 Spring Mountain Rd unit c-104, Las Vegas)
• Free things to do
• The arts factory 12 minutes drive
• Flamingo wild life exhibit
• Freemont street experience, 15 minutes drive
• Rainstorm show Monday-Thursday top of each hour 10:00am - 11:00pm; Friday-Sunday every half hour 10:00am - 11:00pm at miracle miles shop, 14 minutes
• Wynn lake of dreams show, Shows are complimentary and run nightly every half hour beginning at dusk.
• Mirage volcano show The Volcano is located outside the Las Vegas Boulevard Main Entrance Walk into the Casino and turn left just past the Front Desk. Continue outside through the Main entrance towards Las Vegas Boulevard. The volcano will be on your right; 7-10pm
• https://www.visitlasvegas.com/experience/post/free-things-to-do-in-las-vegas
• Chinatown, spring mountain 99 ranch
• Try getting a free parking spot at Fashion Show Mall, Shoppes at Mandalay Palace, and the Shops at Crystals (FREE Parking)
• Flamingo Wild Life Habitat (FREE)
• Lake of Dreams at Wynn Las Vegas (FREE)
• Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (FREE)
• The The LINQ Promenade (FREE)
• The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (FREE)
• Mike O’ Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (FREE, arrive early to get free parking, 42 min drive from Park MGM)
• Welcome to the Las Vegas sign, 5200 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89104 (FREE)
• Fashion Show Mall (FREE), Watch the models walk every Friday – Sunday from 12pm to 6pm, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Ste. 600
• The secret garden & dolphin habitat at The Mirage (adults $25, senior $20) 
• https://mirage.mgmresorts.com/en/amenities/siegfried-roys-secret-garden-and-dolphin-habitat.html
• High roller at the Linq, reservation online (anytime $35, 30min in one roll, starting at after 4pm)
• Ethel's Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden (2 Cactus Garden Dr, Henderson, NV 89014) - https://www.ethelm.com/pages/botanical-cactus-garden
• Mandalay Bay aquarium https://mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/shark-reef-aquarium.html (adult $29, senior $27)
• Paris Eifel Tower (anytime $25, senior $20 with ID reservation online, same day not available)

• 4/30-5/2 2021 MGM Stay
• Drive 4 hours from the Irvine to MGM.  MGM self serving garage, turn at the second left at the Tropicana avenue then slide right in.  3C/D is close to one of the elevator, then 3J/K to the far side of the elevator
• MGM underground is the garage/uber ride-share takeoff; garden arena is close to the west wing that has the street dance show; also the david copperfield show is at the theatre place
• From MGM, it's 30min walk to Bellagio, another 30min to the Venetian area
• Pirate show permanently cancelled; Volcano show is right on the strip and in between Mirage and TI
• The WA and Aria area are my favorite, very contemporary

• Death Valley
• One day strategy http://lovehardtraveloften.com/united-states/death-valley-day-trip/
• Father's view, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, creek visitor center, Gold mine recovery, Zabriske point, Artists pallette, Artists drive, Badwater basin, Dante's view (the last two were the most impressive spots)
• Coming out of death valley, go north to connect to 95 to go south into Vegas, will by pass a correction's center, but smooth drive and not much traffic
• Hoover Dam
• Drive 40 minutes passing the security check point, then park at the right first parking lot (free) to go up the pass-through bridge; then drive onto the dam, pass a couple paid fee parking lots, into the upper hills in Arizona for free parking, nice walks, 2 hours
• Lake Mead
• Another 15 minutes, it's national park recreation, so can use the annual pass
• Drive through the many overlooks, but roads are rugged, drive and hike, very rugged but organized
• Drive on and out of the other entrance and into the Vegas direction