Advertisement
Published: November 17th 2015
Chuck and the crew drove to Las Vegas from Wisconsin (that's a long haul) to help our friends Wayne and Mary with the First Choice remodel (for three weeks). First Choice is a NonProfit pregnancy center that offers free Christian minded pregnancy services to expecting mothers. Leila flew out to meet them (for nine days), serve as the beck and call girl, and take in some sites. We stayed at the Extended Stay America Las Vegas Midtown; fair rates (average $74 per night), outdoor picnic area, kitchenettes, free wifi, free grab and go breakfast bar, laundry on site, ample parking, comfortable and clean rooms, central location for our purposes.
For Chuck and the crew, their first day and everyday thereafter involved work from daybreak to beyond sunset and so this will be more of a Leila blog. For Leila, the first day involved becoming oriented, shopping for essentials, and getting snowed on. That's right. I left Wisconsin where it had been sunny and in the 70s, arrived to Las Vegas, and it was cold and cloudy and it snowed on me. Well, maybe God likes to giggle too.
Las Vegas Traffic
No match for Errand GirlLeila's first night in Las Vegas, her and the boys walked to the Smuggle Inn, a local bar off the beaten path for those of us who prefer to not go clubbing like 21 year olds. The Smuggle Inn is a true dive bar with affordable drinks and good conversation. The term dive bar is used here with the utmost respect and appreciation of the wonderfulness that it offers its patrons; it's like being at your favorite neighborhood watering hole; low lighting, music in the background rather then overtaking any and all conversations, friendly smiles and handshakes, and good conversation among good people. That's our kind of place and the Smuggle Inn is that kind of place in Las Vegas. Oh, and "for your safety" you have to "ring the bell and smile at bartender" to get in the place; classic.
For the next couple of days Leila became "Errand Girl" driving back and forth across Las Vegas from morning until evening like a crazy gringa driver in Mexico. Why?!?! Because after day two of driving in Las Vegas I determined this to be the driving style needed to remain sane, meet
your destination, and do so alive (insert evil grin and cackle here). Hence in Las Vegas Leila became "Errand Girl". What's your super power??? With all seriousness though, driving around Las Vegas is not for the timid driver. Las Vegas traffic will destroy the timid driver. Watch out Las Vegas, Leila knows how to drive Mexico style!
Saturday afternoon Errand Girl was relieved of her duties and I had a little window of some much appreciated free time. Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort became first on the list of Leila kind of touristy things to do. This was quite fitting as it was the Mormons who were the first Europeans to settle in the Las Vegas Valley, albeit unsuccessfully. Before Europeans settled the area a spring fed creek flowed through the valley, making it a green dessert oasis. Spaniards passing through the area called it las vegas or in English, the meadows. In 1855, a group of Mormons built an adobe fort and attempted to build a lasting settlement to serve travelers passing through the valley. Less than three years later the Mormon settlement failed and was abandoned due to hardships and disagreements
Mormon Settlement
Sketch by John Steele, Mormon Missionary between leaders of their group. The property was sold and utilized as a ranch until 1902 when the railroad purchased the property and Las Vegas became a town on the map. The old ranch house on the property was last used in 1929 by the US Bureau of Reclamation during the construction of the Hoover Dam. The fort was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1972 and in 1991 became a Nevada State Park. They only charge one dollar to get in, that's it, just one dollar. You want to know why? People complained when admission was three dollars. What?!?!?! We really need to value our history and heritage!!!
With a bit of time left before sundown, the Neon Museum Boneyard was a must stop site along the way. Unfortunately the remainder of the day was sold out. A quick visit to the Neon Boneyard Park was the extent of learning about historic Las Vegas neon. For such a little park, it was a little impressive offering a fun little bit of quirky Vegas history. The park sign itself offers a nod to Las Vegas neon history. Each letter in the word
"neon" was taken from typography used in certain historic Las Vegas neon signs. The first "n" is from the Golden Nugget, the "e" from Caesar's Palace, the "o" from Binion's, and the last "n" from the Desert Inn. And, all of these historic neons are now housed in the Neon Boneyard Museum. We'll have to save the boneyard for another time. And, this little stop charges roughly $20 per person and nobody bats an eyelash. (sigh)
After another morning was successfully fulfilled by Errand Girl racing across Las Vegas keeping the working boys supplied with materials for the First Choice remodel, it was time for the Springs Preserve and Nevada State Museum. Springs Preserve is just that, a 180 acre preserve dedicated to preserving the natural habitat that once flourished in the valley naturally, before overuse of natural resources depleted the abundant springs that once existed here. The preserve is situated around the natural springs that once supported life is the valley. The mission of the preserve is to "create a visitor experience that builds culture and community, inspires environmental stewardship and celebrates the vibrant history of the Las Vegas Valley." The preserve
has done so through preservation and conservation efforts to restore the valley to much of its natural state and implementing interpretive and interactive visitor experiences that promote their efforts. Springs Preserve was listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places. Since then the preserve has been working to share Las Vegas history in a way that encourages improved planning for the future through understanding, appreciation, and stewardship. The preserve features 8 acres of botanical gardens, museum galleries, , a butterfly habitat, a playground, and a series of trails to be enjoyed by hiking, biking, or guided train rides. Springs Preserve is open daily from 10am until 4pm. General admission was $19 for a non-resident, residents and military were $10 cheaper. Travel guides recommended allowing 1-2 hours for a visit. I could have easily spent 4 or even up to 6 hours, but I'm a bit extreme when it comes to these sorts of things. This is a truly wonderful place, a retreat in the city, really an oasis and so a reminder of what used to be and what may be yet again through respect, understanding, and dedication. Well worth a visit. Oh, and the day I visited
the preserve was around the time of the Day of the Dead so there were many beautiful altars on display.
Sharing the site of the preserve is the Nevada State Museum, which opened in 2011. This museum highlights the history of southern Nevada from prehistoric times through to the present day. As visitors walk through the museum they learn of southern Nevada history starting with local flora and fauna, then about indigenous populations, then on to settlement by Europeans first as ranchers, then with the railroad and mining towns, on to military operations, and lastly as a place to ramble and gamble. It was very interesting a quite entertaining to learn about the complexities and peculiarities of the history here. Opposite the permanent exhibit hall featuring Nevada history there is a temporary exhibit hall, which showcased a series of beautiful black and white photographs of Nevada's Mojave Desert. Admission to the museum is included with admission to the Springs Preserve, so you can hardly not take a walk through. Even if I had to pay, it'd definitely be worth the cost of admission.
Monday morning was
spent like the others, running errands to keep the First Choice remodel on schedule. Monday afternoon was spent walking the Lake Mead Historic Railroad Trail. The trail once served as the railroad track for bringing supplies to Hoover Dam during its construction. It is now a recreational trail overlooking Lake Mead. The trail includes 5 tunnels that were carved through the hills to accommodate the once functioning train track. The tunnels are 25 feet in diameter. The trail itself is 3.5 miles from trail head to end. It is roughly another half mile more to the Hoover Dam or the Memorial Bridge. Near the beginning of the trail there is another smaller trail that loops around to the Hoover Dam Lodge. Along the trail there are interpretive displays highlighting various points of interest relating to the trail. This is an easy walk and an enjoyable way to spend part of a day. I only walked the trail and did not continue on to visit either the dam, the bridge, or the lodge; it took me 2.5 hours to do so. After tunnel 5 there is a gate that is locked at sunset. The National Park Service recommends enjoying the trail
Trailhead
Historic Railroad Trail, Lake Mead November through March when the weather is cooler; I'd probably agree! The trail is not at all difficult, but it is located in an arid climate, not to be taken for granted. Bring water (water is available at the half-way point), be aware, take your time, and enjoy.
Tuesday was spent on a drive to the Pahrump Valley Winery with with Wayne and Mary for lunch and wine sampling. both lunch and wine were delicious! Pharm. Valley Winery is located in the town of Pahrump in the Pahrump Valley about an hours drive from Las Vegas. The drive enters the mountains and was very beautiful.
Wednesday was shopping with Wayne in the morning and then the Bellagio with Mary in the afternoon for lunch, a Picasso exhibit, the conservatory, a pastry shop, and a sculpture garden. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art features temporary gallery displays. November of 2015 the display was a collection of Picasso pieces. The collection on display spanned more than 30 years, including works from 1938 until 1971 and all were based on the human figure. Pieces included paintings, woodcuts, and lithographs.
Prayer Stones
I added the top two Although I am not necessarily fond of most Picasso pieces, his work and resulting influence was and still is very impressive. I can truly appreciate his pieces, even those I might refer to as ugly. My favorite Picasso works are La Guernica, Don Quixote, and his Dove; these were not on display. Even still, this collection was particularly interesting and enjoyable to me because it showed how his work changed over time and even how one piece transformed from start to finish. The conservatory was seasonally themed with autumn colors, pumpkins, scarecrows, chrysanthemums, and a bountiful harvest; very fun and festive. The sculpture garden is outside from the main entrance. It consists of four oblong upright boulders representing wind, fire, water, and land.
The end of Leila's time in Las Vegas was full on Errand Girl time. Happy to have been able to help Chuck and the crew get the job done, but really very happy to return home. Las Vegas offers plenty of things to do for all kinds of kinds, but this kind of kind could never call it home. It is a very arid climate and I felt like I
Railroad Tunnel
Historic Railroad Trail was shriveling up every day. While there I averaged like 8 bottles of water daily; seriously a dry place. And the people, there are so many of them it was mind boggling. The traffic, we already covered that fiasco. Of course I enjoyed the free time that I had and I am happy to have been able to help Chuck and the crew, but I was happy happy happy to return home.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.069s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0426s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Mary Rixmann
non-member comment
Great Blog
I had the privilege to spend part of Leila's time in Las Vegas with her, and enjoyed seeing Vegas through her eyes. Leila is a special girl who is interested in so many things. We had a good time.