October in LV: where would you go?

[Steph_B]

Dear All,

My professional/student activity will give me the opportunity to attend a conference in Las Vegas at the end of October. I am planning to take 1-2 days off and go visit the country... I was planning to go to the Grand Canyon to get some scenics/landscapes. However, there are a number of national parks nearby as well. I do not think that I will have enough time to go as up North as Arches though!

Where would you go considering a limited time frame and this period of the year?

Thanks!

Cheers,

Steph.

[mjm]

i love vegas , never make it out of town once i get there....

[walterick]

Hello Steph

I too love the Las Vegas area. I was planning on flying in last month and driving around the area. Time and money slipped away though.

There's a little-known area about an hour east of Vegas called the Valley of Fire. I camp there now instead of sleeping inthe grand hotels on the Strip. It's a wonderful place to visit, totally unexpected in that type of desert.

Grand Canyon is a beaut, but I don't think you can make it there and back in 2 days while giving yourself a satisfying expereince of it all at once. I'm guessing it's about 5 hours from Vegas to GC, though they look on a map like they almost touch!

Death Valley is another area worthy of consideration, if you're into HOT and scorched earth. Visit the sand dunes there if you go. The park's entrance is about 2 hours west of Vegas. The it's another half hour+ to get anywhere from there.

Go out, have fun, and feel lucky you're there in Oct and not July

Rick

[another view]

I've been looking into Death Valley with some people who have already been there a few times. They had some floods over the summer that washed out some of the roads, but I'm not sure exactly where. Might want to call the Park Service before heading out that direction to see what the latest news is. October though - it will be hot there. We're talking about January which I guess is still usually in the 80's. I think Hoover Dam is pretty close too, but a different direction.

[Toot]

Hoover Dam is a nice place to visit. It is just south outside of Vegas....probably less than an hour. Also another place is Laughlin, which is also south, not too far. Never been there myself. My guess is you will never make it outside of the city. There are beautiful desert sunrises and sunsets if you get out in the open area's. Have fun!

[Emo]

Lake mead might be a nice place....hey i live in vegas so...if anyone wants to visit...let me know

[Steph_B]

Dear All,

Thank you for your many replies! I have never been to this corner of the US before but it looks awesome (Penny, you definitely got me drooling! Thanks for the great pics!). It seems that the Valley of Fire, the Sand Dunes and the Red Rock are the places to go!

Thanks Rick for your advices concerning the Grand Canyon. It does look close but the road seems to go like forever!

Thank you Toot and Emo for your Hoover Dam/ Lake Mead suggestions. While not very fond of this type of structure, the Hoover Dam is one of the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th... at the price of many lives. I think I will visit it maybe during another trip. Time is of the essence and I want to work on my Landscape portfolio!

Another View: I must admit Death Valley has a definite appeal to me... But I will heed Penny's advice and check the temperatures first before commiting my sensitive Caucasian hide!

Hopefully I will get some interesting shots to share with you!

Cheers,

Steph.

[carney2]

Hopeful I am not to late to get my two cents' worth in.

I have done almost exacly what you plan to do a number of times. In my mind the only reason that Las Vegas exists is to provide access to the desert and its photo ops. I am amazed that no one has mentioned the following three possibilities:

MONUMENT VALLEY Absolutely my A number one stop anytime that I am in the southwest. The photo ops are endless and spectacular. Unfortunately, it is a long haul from Las Vegas. I mention it only because I love it so much.

ZION N.P. A mere 3 hours out of Las Vegas and a straight run up I-15 and over Rte. 9. The beauty of Zion is that if you move around and keep your wits about you, quality shooting can go on all day. Scenics and wildlife abound, and there is always the old ghost town of Grafton where numerous movies have been filmed, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Grafton is not far off of Rte. 9 a few miles before you hit the entrance to Zion.

BRYCE CANYON N.P. Only about a hundred miles beyond Zion, Bryce will give you the most unbelievable sunrise and sunset shots that you have ever taken.

If you like any of these and want specifics, let me know.

[walterick]

"In my mind the only reason that Las Vegas exists is to provide access to the desert and its photo ops."

Ditto!

Rick

[Steph_B]

Hopeful I am not to late to get my two cents' worth in.

I have done almost exacly what you plan to do a number of times. In my mind the only reason that Las Vegas exists is to provide access to the desert and its photo ops. I am amazed that no one has mentioned the following three possibilities:

MONUMENT VALLEY Absolutely my A number one stop anytime that I am in the southwest. The photo ops are endless and spectacular. Unfortunately, it is a long haul from Las Vegas. I mention it only because I love it so much.

ZION N.P. A mere 3 hours out of Las Vegas and a straight run up I-15 and over Rte. 9. The beauty of Zion is that if you move around and keep your wits about you, quality shooting can go on all day. Scenics and wildlife abound, and there is always the old ghost town of Grafton where numerous movies have been filmed, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Grafton is not far off of Rte. 9 a few miles before you hit the entrance to Zion.

BRYCE CANYON N.P. Only about a hundred miles beyond Zion, Bryce will give you the most unbelievable sunrise and sunset shots that you have ever taken.

If you like any of these and want specifics, let me know.

Thanks Carney!

Actually, I'll be in LV at the end of the month ... so I am still making plans. Right now, we are headed toward the Valley of Fire, but if we get up early enough, I will definitely consider Zion. I have been looking for an opportunity to get there for AGES! Unfortunately we have only 1 day to get some fun ... Monument Valley will have to wait!

Thanks for your suggestions!

Cheers,

Steph.