I'm an adventurous soul on a mission to explore all 63 national parks. My passion lies in crafting short stories and sharing personal photographs that capture the essence of these remarkable journeys. Through my words and images, I strive to convey...
In 2003, on a scorching summer day in the triple digits, my parents and I set out for a road trip from our Palm Desert home in California for an adventure in Las Vegas, Nevada. Swapping one desert for another. We embarked on the journey through the Mojave Desert in our trusty Mitsubishi Gallant, stopping to witness the world's largest thermometer and passed a sign for a town with a name you couldn't pronounce: Zzyzx.
You won't find any shops, restaurants or even houses there. They only thing you'll get is a raised eyebrow, some laughs and messing up the pronunciation.
Arriving in Las Vegas, we relaxed by the hotel's pool and explored the bustling Strip. We enjoyed gondola rides at the Venetian, witnessed volcanic eruptions at the Mirage, and marveled at the Bellagio fountains. Enjoying all the attractions Las Vegas has to offer.
Despite my dad's initial reluctance, I convinced him to visit the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. We started at the dam, crossing from Nevada into Arizona, where the bus driver humorously pointed out a colossal drain, saying it was King Kong's toilet. I appreciate that type of humor, and it certainly kept me engaged throughout the journey.
As we reached the Grand Canyon, I was mesmerized by the magnificent formations and the breathtaking depth of the canyon. My first thoughts when seeing such a natural wonder was how did the Colorado River carve its way through this and how cool would it be to raft through it someday. Admiring the Grand Canyon feels like describing Bob Ross colors on a massive canvas, where fiery reds mingle with earthy browns, much like the familiar paint color he often used, burnt sienna, creating a natural masterpiece that's simply magnificent.
I wish we could have spent more time exploring the West Rim, but when you're on a tour with a group of people, you have to keep a tight schedule. And there we were, back on the bus, en route to Sin City.
On the return journey, our bus driver treated us with a VHS recording featuring comedian Charlie Prose, a man who always sees the humorous side of life. The bus was equipped with overhead screens that were positioned throughout the rows, and the volume was controlled by the bus driver. Reflecting on this, it's quite amusing to see how technology has evolved over the past two decades. We've transitioned from watching VHS tapes with no volume control to the seamless experience of streaming content on our personal devices, with the ability to adjust our own volume through our AirPods.
It was a memorable journey with my mom and dad. One that I will forever cherish because my dad is not a tour person, he loved to be by the beach or the pool. Or watching his favorite TV shows, like Judge Judy and Law & Order. Yet, on this day, it marked his inaugural visit to a National Park.
Be on the look out for my return visit to the Grand Canyon, where new experiences and memories await.
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