The Beauty of Solo Traveling Westward (Part 1): Las Vegas Trip

America, to me, has always been a country full of temptation.

It originated from the education system, deepened with the understanding of American history, and was fascinated by the special geographical location and natural scenery of the United States. It was also fascinated by its free, open, and democratic environment.

As a New World country with a history of only more than 200 years and a country of multi-ethnic immigrants, in a short time axis, it has become the world's largest power integrating politics, economy, science and technology, culture, and military strength. There are many reasons. Since the Revolutionary War, the territory has been gradually extended through aggression and expansion. After the Westward Expansion and the Civil War, the unified United States began to embark on the path of rise.

As a huge beneficiary of the two world wars, the United States was not only reflected in the exponential increase in wealth brought by trade in cars, guns, artillery, agricultural and livestock products, etc., but also made the United States a refuge for countless talents from all fields around the world. and a place to show your ambitions. The free, stable, and prosperous domestic and international environment has allowed the immigration boom from all over the world to continue in the United States to this day. The gathering of talents has become a powerful driving force for the development of the United States.

I occasionally talk to my friends about issues related to the atomic bomb in World War II. There are many factors why the United States took the lead in Germany to successfully develop it. Friends who want to know more can go online and read. There are many articles on related analysis. To speak generally, the United States has the manpower, financial resources, material resources, and attention (investing US$2 billion, involving more than 100,000 people, the famous Manhattan Project).

As a country where gun owners are free to bear arms, the frequent shooting cases have made people worried. In addition, the incidents of violence, pornography, drug abuse, homicide and ethnic conflicts shown in American TV dramas and reported in the news have exposed the United States as a powerful country. Chaos in the order of the country. Despite this, it still hasn’t diminished my curiosity and affection for this country.

The two-week trip to the west of the United States (3.3~3.15) was subject to constant changes in the ever-changing plans and itinerary.

The number of companions ranged from four to two to traveling alone; the destination ranged from Florida in the south of the United States to Las Vegas in the west; the air ticket changed from arriving in Las Vegas to Los Angeles; the travel method changed from a group tour plan To the final freedom trip...

Friends who learned that I was marching alone in the United States said bluntly that I was brave. Although on my wish list for 2018, I look forward to a solo trip. But the destination, the United States, was indeed not in my original plan.

With helplessness, anxiety and no detailed travel plan, the American Airlines AA182 direct flight from Shanghai Pudong to Los Angeles Airport officially started when it took off and landed.

The flight took off from Shanghai Pudong at around 6 pm on March 3 and arrived in Los Angeles at around 2 pm on March 3. After the long and frustrating wait for entry, I passed the customs smoothly. Fortunately, I didn't open the box for inspection, otherwise the instant noodles, ham sausages and some temporary hunger-satisfying foods that came with it would have been in vain.

Walk out of the vast Los Angeles International Airport and look for a transfer to the Virgin Airlines Terminal in Las Vegas. Traveled a long way.

Tips: Most American terminals are named after airlines. There are several major airlines such as AA, Virgin, Delta, etc. If you take a taxi to the airport, in addition to the terminal number, you can directly tell the driver which airline you are flying on. That’s it.

When we arrived at the Las Vegas Airport smoothly, friends who came from another city for a meeting were already waiting at the airport. In a strange country and city, I was severely lacking in confidence in my language, but thanks to the reception of my friends, I felt a sense of security.

I didn’t make any travel plans for the entire trip to the West. Travel as you please. The initial idea was to join a local group and do a few-day trip. After all, in such a country on wheels, I, who can’t drive, have no idea about self-driving travel.

After arriving at the hotel, I accidentally met my friend Weizi who arrived in Vegas on the same day in the WeChat group of Ctrip America. The group tour plan was terminated.

As a desert city, Las Vegas is famous as a gambling city and enjoys the reputation of "Entertainment Capital of the World" and "Wedding Capital".

As the most prosperous avenue in the city, the Las Vegas Strip is full of luxury hotels and shopping malls with various themes. Famous ones include venetian, treasure island, ballys, wynn, luxor, Bellagio, etc. In a hotel with a travel and vacation theme, the lobby on the first floor is basically a small casino, integrating catering, entertainment, and shopping. Of course, it also includes a travel agency information desk, car rental consultation services, etc.

Venice Hotel

We made an appointment with Weizi, and on March 4th we visited several special hotels in Vegas Street with another Italian girl, Pola.

With a total investment of US$1.8 billion, the Venetian Hotel has become the world's largest hotel with casino and comprehensive entertainment facilities due to its magnificent decoration and design. There are 4049 rooms in total including the hotel building. You can imagine how huge it is. When you actually walk into the Venetian Hotel, you can truly feel its luxury: the ever-changing artificial ceiling, a replica of St. Mark's Square, an arch bridge full of Venetian style, and world-famous stores and brands...

In the pairs hotel, the entire exterior is designed like the Eiffel Tower. You can take the tour elevator to the highest floor and get a bird's eye view of the entire Vegas. When walking in major hotels, walking through them is like walking through a maze.

Tips: Many hotels launch special offers every day, and the prices are relatively affordable. I am very envious of Weizi's three-night stay in Vegas, where I experienced French pairs and the Egyptian pyramids. During non-peak travel seasons, same-day reservations are available.

The trio's original plan to drive to Antelope Canyon the next day was scuppered because they failed to purchase tickets in advance. In a hurry, I was in the lobby of a hotel. After comparing several times, I booked a day trip there. The price is $150 per person.

Because going to famous classics (Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Death Valley, etc.) is more than three hours one way from the city center. In order to arrive at Antelope Canyon at the best time to enter the valley (12 noon to 1 p.m.), I got on the bus at 6 a.m. on March 5.

The scenery along the way reminded me of déjà vu: the endless mountains, the vast Gobi beaches, and the shuttles in the valleys, which gave me the illusion of revisiting northern Xinjiang. When I saw the valley with red and white sand stripes that have been eroded by sea water for more than tens of millions of years, I felt a different shock.

Pass by Lake Powell, the second largest man-made lake in the United States, located at the junction of Utah and Colorado: deep blue lake water, steep canyons on both sides, red and white sandstone, winding lake channels... Standing on the arch bridge, it is far away Hope, this lake that shuttles through the vast and boundless Grand Canyon will become a beautiful scenery and vitality in the canyon.

It was exactly noon when we arrived at Lower Antelope Canyon. The groups were led into the valley by local Indians. As a world-famous slit canyon, it is formed from soft sandstone after millions of years of flash floods and wind erosion. It has long been famous for its strange shapes, mottled and bright light and shadow, and canyon walls with different postures.

Go down the narrow and steep artificial escalators and walk slowly along the narrow passages between the canyons. The noon sun shines down through the slits between the canyons, and the red sandstone glows with bright colors under the sunlight. When you are in it and look up, the visual feast presented by the beauty of nature cannot be expressed in words.

When walking out of the canyon trail, look back at the canyon you passed and the stretching valleys on the ground. It is hard to imagine what a miracle it must be to form and discover this resort. This is a wealth given by nature not only to the local Indians, but also to the world.

On the way back, we passed by Horseshoe Bay, and after getting off the bus, we walked some distance to the viewing point. It is famous because the river bend is shaped like a horseshoe. The red sandstone and emerald river water are so beautiful under the sunlight. The surrounding valleys are either dangerous or steep. From a high position, looking at the intermittent canyons in the distance and the yachts shuttled between the valleys under the canyons is extremely shocking.

Tips: If you have enough time, you can drive there by yourself, but tickets need to be booked at least two days in advance and can be booked online. You can stay in the small town of Page at night, which is closest to the canyon. You can visit the Nanxia and Xixia. It is said that the Nanxia is more beautiful. Of course, if you have sufficient funds, you can also choose to take a helicopter to get a bird's eye view of the Grand Canyon. It will also be a different experience. Living in the small town of Page, you can have enough time to visit the entire Grand Canyon and the not-to-be-missed Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

When you come to Vegas, watching shows is a classic that cannot be missed. There are many categories (O show, KA show, blue man show, love show, etc.), there are also many shows, and many big hotels have them. Among them, the O show of le reve (meaning the dream in French) has high online reviews. We also watched this show at the Wynn Hotel. I bought the discounted ticket for 145 knives. An hour and a half. O show is a water show with many artists, integrating acrobatics, gymnastics, dance, diving and comedy. Although it is not very understandable, the visual experience is still very shocking.

Tips: When I was doing a little guide before, I saw someone recommending a place with discounted tickets: tix4tonight. There are many ticket outlets all over Vegas Avenue. Generally, you can get discounted tickets with varying discounts. In short, it will be more cost-effective than buying tickets on site. Fares vary greatly depending on location.

During the few days in Vegas, I was always suffering from jet lag. I wake up at around one o'clock in the morning every day and can't fall back to sleep. The trip ended at 11pm on March 5th, so I set a relaxing time on March 6th.

After falling asleep again at around 6 a.m., I slept until around 11 a.m. Go with weizi to experience the lunch buffet at Bellagio buffet. Follow Vegas Avenue all the way to the Bellagio Hotel, pass through the water view of the hotel store, and you will see the buffet logo when you enter on the first floor. $30 per person at noon.

There are many types of lunch, including seafood, drinks, desserts, various dishes, etc., and it is quite cost-effective. This is also one of the more highly recommended buffets. It's a pity that I don't have a big appetite. Although the gain outweighs the loss, the experience is more important.

Weizi and I originally planned to take a self-driving trip to Yosemite that day, but due to some strange circumstances, we were unable to make the trip. However, from the subsequent guide, I saw that the road was far away, the route was difficult to follow, and the supplies on the road were lacking, which still made me feel regretful and lucky. After all, driving alone on a mountain road for more than eight hours is still too hard.

Due to a change in schedule, Weizi flew back to Seattle in the afternoon. The journey together comes to an end with a farewell at the airport.

On the last day of Vegas, my friend rented a car in advance and set off very early on the morning of March 7, heading to death valley.

As soon as you hear the name, you can feel the feeling of despair. The Grand Canyon, covering an area of ​​1,408 square kilometers, is part of the Mojave Desert. It is the lowest and driest region in North America. It is known as the "Extinct Crater", "Dry Bones" and "Funeral Mountain". .

The weather in Vegas that day was gloomy. After refueling and buying medicine (the cold and cough persisted), it was already past nine o'clock when we set off.

Go all the way north along the highway, speeding along. Stop at Zabriskie point and walk up the valley. At the observation point, you can have a panoramic view of the valley below and the rolling mountains in the distance, as well as the naked peaks and valleys. There are tawny and dark brown peaks, one after another. In this area where vegetation is difficult to grow, what you see most are the shapes and colors of mountains.

Continuing to drive north, on a straight road, my friend said that it was the place where "Forrest Gump" was filmed, but I just have no impression of it.

Since we had a flight in the afternoon, we took a small detour through the canyon before heading towards the road and heading back.

Change cars, pick up luggage, take a taxi, and arrive at the airport in a hurry.

As the first stop in the parade, Vegas was full of rewards and feelings. From being overwhelmed to being calm. Proving once again that traveling alone is not scary. Only when traveling alone are you more likely to meet like-minded friends, meet, travel together, and share...