One of my favorite outings from Las Vegas is a drive out to Deer Creek Road. It is so magical how you can quickly transform from the desert to mountains. And the drive only takes about 45 minutes from the Vegas Strip, depending on the traffic. The views here are gorgeous, and you just might run across some wild donkeys or horses, which are native to the area.
The Liberty Bell Arch Trail starts from a wash in the desert, and then rises in elevation to provide several scenic views of the hills surrounding the Colorado River, just below Hoover Dam. This hike is a super hot desert hike, always in the sun. It is best left for the winter months. However, if you take the challenge, you will be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views.
The trail for the Liberty Bell Arch starts just around the 4 mile marker off of Highway 93 in Arizona. There is a nice big parking lot, a slightly misleading trail map, and a bridge to cross under to start your hike. What they don’t tell you is that there are several different trails out there, and if you are not careful, you can end up on the wrong one even if you follow the signs. I ended up on the wrong trail that led me for a long, but beautiful, loop through the desert. All the while getting further and further from the bridge with pretty looks back towards my jumping off point.
I always recommend parking at the top level of the parking garage. You never know what the view will offer.
I still have some vacation time to burn before the end of the year, so I flew off to Las Vegas for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Here are some photos from my walking about this evening.
The Austin Central Library is something to explore in awe. It is located at a prime spot along Lady Bird Lake with nice views on all sides. It cost around $125 million and has everything you could imagine a Library would have. Six stories, nearly 200,000 square feet, a three story clock with red grackles, a rooftop garden, a technology petting zoo, portables and MacBooks to check out on loan, a two story underground parking garage, and so much more. The building is full of light and people are everywhere to be seen, admiring the design and discovering their favorite reading locations. It will probably become one of my favorite spots in Downtown Austin to take a break and enjoy a book or magazine, so look for me there on some lazy weekend afternoon.
I kinda liked this film. It’s a little bit dark, and the super heroes are depicted as lonely people with extraordinary powers and the associated responsibilities.
Oh, and afterwards, I went to dinner and found some cool glitter art on the walls of the restaurant. Very timely.
One of the best sights along the Seawall in Galveston is the Pleasure Pier. If you have been, and are missing the view, you can check out the surfcam. It will remind you how nice it is to have the opportunity to visit in person.
A collection of Hermit Crabs for purchase can be found at Murdoch’s in Galveston. Also, a little known secret about this gift shop on the Seawall is that they have a great patio overlooking the Gulf with rocking chairs to relax in for a while. But still, the Hermit Crabs are the most fun in the place.
earthrobert 