Three national parks and a little place called Vegas

In the last ten days we've re-established ourselves in the US after Mexico, covered a lot of ground over three different states and explored some fascinating and contrasting places. From the big lights of bustling Vegas, brimming with gamblers and party-goers, to the serenity of the vast Grand Canyon, eerily silent Death Valley and the beautiful wilderness of Yosemite national park.

Everyone hears so much about Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps, and all it's craziness. Before we even got to the states I had a clear picture in my mind of what it would be like. But when we arrived, eventually (there was a slight issue involving strawberry margaritas at Houston airport that meant we had to get a plane later than planned) it was not at all what I expected. I can't really pinpoint exactly why; perhaps it's because the strip was so long - we never made it up to the Stratosphere at the other end. Or perhaps because the city does sleep, things close and people drift off to bed from about 1am, albeit later than a normal day in a normal city. I'm not sure, but it took some re-adjusting. For the first few days I wasn't sure what I made of it, but by the end of our eight days - which everyone was right, is more than enough time in Vegas - the place had captured my heart.

Sophie and I took a (needed) day out from Vegas to visit our eighth state and what has been described as 'the most stunning natural spectacle' and also 'a big hole in the ground' (Chloe), the Grand Canyon.

Our tour guide on the way said we can take as many pictures as we like and describe it to our friends and family, but it's just not possible to explain exactly what it's like. And he is absolutely right. As George Wharton James, author of 'The Grand Canyon: How to See it' said:

"Though only two hundred and seventeen miles long, [The Grand Canyon] expresses in that distance more than any one human mind yet has been able to comprehend or interpret to the world. Famous word masters have attempted it, great canvas and colour masters have tried it, but all alike have failed."

With that in mind I will not exhaust my vocabulary in a feeble attempt to explain the feelings and thoughts this natural wonder conjures up. Instead I will say just two things: 1) I could have sat there staring with fascination all day - it's stunning, everyone should go see it; and 2) If you visit at the end of October, as we did, bring some warm clothing. Somehow we lost perspective that you are at altitude when you are staring down in to the Canyon, so of course it's colder than at sea level.

After our eight days in Vegas were up - highlights of which included Marquee Mondays, seeing Shania Twain, Calvin Harris at Hakassan for Hallowe'en, and the central bar at our hotel, which became our regular hangout from 4am till 7am - we headed on our way to our ninth and final state, California. First stop, Death Valley.

Now it may not sound all that appealing, but the drive in our new car, or LD as we call him, was spectacular. Again, for fear of not doing the landscape justice, I'm going to rely on the words of another:

"Strange how a landscape so unwelcoming and intolerant of life can be so inexplicably and compellingly beautiful" - H Wormington 

We then moved from one remarkable national park to another, heading straight from Death Valley to our final stop before San Francisco, Yosemite. In addition to the change in temperature being quite something - after two hours driving the desert landscape transformed in to snowy mountain tops - our accommodation in Yosemite was quite different too. 

Not only did we have bear lockers to put all our food and toiletries in (we didn't actually get to see any bears, rather disappointingly), in stark contrast to our luxury casino hotel in Vegas, we opted for tents; originally unheated, but that was an idea we quickly re-thought.

An evening spent snuggled by the fire in the guest lodge, playing cards - for fun rather than money - actually turned out to be one of our favourite nights. And our interrupted sleep, as we piled on another layer of clothing on to keep warm, was made worthwhile by the breathtaking scenery and wildlife engulfing us. 

It looked picturesque in its beautiful Autumn setting, but I'd like to return to Yosemite in the summer months. Although the evident devastation from this summer's wildfires suggest it may not be the best time to go, revisiting when it's not so cold, when Yosemite falls is flowing at its best, and when I can really make the most of my favourite national park is definitely on my to-do list.