We just returned from the most amazing road trip. I’ve had road trip fantasies for years, starting when our kids were young and continuing. We have traveled many of California’s highways, but lately, since they’ve grown, trips via vehicle have been far and few between.
This time, we drove from Southern California to Broomfield, Colorado (between Denver & Boulder) for my sisters’ wedding, and it was spectacular. We gave ourselves 3 days going and 3 days coming back, with stops in Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Vail, Boulder, and Denver. And I have to say, our world is gorgeous.
And I have to say, our world is gorgeous.
Admittedly, we could have driven further the first day, but I had an ulterior motive. Recently, Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone installed a large-scale public art display, called Seven Magic Mountains, off the I-15 just outside Las Vegas. We drove by it on a trip out that way in May, and I was dying to explore it up close. I’m intrigued by public art, and this reminded me of the Prada Marfa installation outside the city of Marfa, Texas. This art display is seven towers of stacked boulders, standing over thirty feet high and painted in bright colors. How they are secured is beyond me.
We clearly weren’t the only ones with this idea, and it was impossible to get a photograph without any people. Still, it is spectacular in terms of size, depth, and logistics. If you are headed out to Vegas, this is must see.
We stomped around for a while in 100-degree heat, I trudged into the brush in an effort to get away from the crowd and get some good photos, and then we continued to Las Vegas, where we spent the first night.
On a side note, we visit the area frequently, but always stay outside the city with friends in nearby Summerlin, and actually never go to the strip. So it was fun to actually stay on the strip, and being that we started our trip on a Monday, were able to take advantage of a great rate at the Wynn Hotel & Casino. We were given a corner room on the 27th floor, with a view of the strip from two floor to ceiling windows. This is now my favorite hotel in Las Vegas!