Just when we thought we had seen it all ....

We had  planned to take the kids to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately the road to the rim is closed until mid May. The alternative is a flight  over the Grand Canyon taking in the Hoover Dam and surrounding area.

They take a tour which includes a pick up and return to the hotel. They are impressed!!











Kim said that she hadn't considered the size of the plane - tiny - until they were walking out to it.
Of course by that time they were a captive audience!

We also manage to do some shopping at one of the outlet malls. That was a fairly lengthy exercise! Trevor went off and left us to it which was an excellent move.
I think they were all happy with the bargains they found. Mace even found sneakers to fit!

We ate well.  Las Vegas is an eating adventure albeit more expensive now than when we were here all those years ago. Most of the hotels have buffets to remember. We have dinner at the buffet in Circus Circus one evening - all you can eat; we dine at a different venue each night  and manage to fit in breakfast one morning at IHOP, a pancake house. Finlay's must do!

I can't say we spent hours in the casinos, for we didn't. We may have spent about half an hour one evening and each came away $20 lighter!  I think we were in the minority as the casinos are fairly popular places for a lot of people.


And then it is time to return to Los Angeles. We drive back on Sunday along with every one else who has visited LasVegas; well it seems as if they are all on the road!






We drop Kim and Finlay off at their motel. We move the RV from storage to a site at Anaheim Resort RV Park.
Now for the next adventure - Disneyland!!


Kim, Mace and Finlay are going for 2 days - one day to Disneyland and the second day to Disney California Adventure. Trevor and I will join them the second day. The best outcome when you are attending for 2 days only is to buy the tickets on the day- cost wise, it is also cheaper to attend at one venue one day and the other on the next day. I purchase a Park Hopper ticket for my day; I want to be able to spend some time at Disneyland and at Disney California Adventure. I particularly want to see the parade at Disneyland in the early evening.

Our friend Terry helped us out with some advice from a co-worker of his - thank you Christy!
In an email Christy explained all about Disney Fastpasses; a virtual queuing system that reduces the time you spend in line for some of the most popular attractions, allowing you to enjoy the rest of the Disneyland Resort while your place in line is saved.
It works wonderfully! After we had decided where we wanted to go, Trevor (this is the second day) went off and made the reservations.

I think she has had a great time!!

We were able to get to everything without long waits ... until we reached Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land.

We wanted to go on this ride very much but there were problems with the track. We waited in our Fastpass line for a long time, not wanting to lose our spot. Eventually we were sent away for an hour or so - with assurances that we would return to our position when we came back! This is really important stuff!!!
Anyway we returned when they suggested - the track was fixed and off we went on the ride. It was great!!!

Disneyland is Walt Disney's original theme park - a 'magical park' where children and their parents can have fun together. Disneyland opened in 1955 almost 60 years ago; today the Disneyland Resort comprises both the original park and the newer California Adventure Park. We first visited Disneyland in 1986. We later took the boys to Disneyworld in Florida. Kim didn't come with us on that trip; she has never been to Disneyland and neither has Finlay.



Disneyland is known as the Happiest Place  on Earth; a parallel world that is squeaky-clean, enchanting and whacky -  everyone needs a dose from time to time.
It is still laid out according to Walt Disney's original plans with Main Street USA  the gateway into the park. At the end of Main Street is Sleeping Beauty Castle with its blue turrets seen from most points in the park.

Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Frontierland and New Orleans Square are some of the 'worlds' that one visits; each has its own theme specific rides and attractions.

The nightly Parade of Dreams down Main Street USA combines music, lights and the most beloved Disney characters.

A ride on California Screamin'

Grandad wouldn't do it twice!

A winery ...?

World of Colour!

We stayed until the end of the World of Colour light show. It was unbelievable.

The show has nearly 1,200 fountains that can shoot water up to 200ft in the air. It includes lights, water, fire, fog and lasers with high-definition projections onto a 380ft long mist screen.

The show presents footage from the Disney library including favourites for all the audience. Music was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Nashville Choir.

Finlay was reduced to tears as she saw images from the Disney movies she has loved as a child, reproduced onto the mist screen.