Feb break- Vegas, Grand Canyon, San Diego

Spent February school vacation week 2007 in Las Vegas NV, Grand Canyon AZ, Sedona AZ and San Diego CA. Myself my 10 yo daughter, her 13 yo friend and her mother. Great trip!

We took a direct flight (5 hr) from Boston MA to Las Vegas NV on USAIR, the kids loved flying into vegas at night and seeing the strip. We picked up our AVIS rental car (one of the few companies that did not charge a one way drop off fee) and we were in the car and on our way to the MGM grand in 15 minutes. Check in at the MGM was a little slow (the NBA all star game was in town and it was busy and there was a conflict regarding the rate we had booked over the internet and the rate they wanted to charge us). The room was fine-very comfortable beds, large bathroom, clean and for $59.99 (join MGM players club online) it was perfect. We spent Monday walking the strip, had lunch at the Paris, rode the Gondola and went to the wax museum at the Venetian, went to the dolphin and tiger habitat at the Mirage and the roller coaster at NYNY-the kids loved it!
We went to the ½ price ticket booth on the strip and got tickets for Mamma Mia ( 2nd row for $50 instead of $100) and had dinner at the MGM Grand Buffet before the show.
The show was great and I am not a big ABBA fan but it was a lot of fun. The next morning the kids spent the morning in the pools (6 of them). The MGM is one of the few hotels that keep their pools open all year and heat them in Dec, Jan, and Feb. We left at 12:00 and started driving to the Grand Canyon ( 4 ½ hr drive-260 miles) and stopped at the Hoover Dam along the way. Make sure you gas up as there are long stretched where there are limited exits/services etc.

Arrived at the Grand Canyon and checked in at the El Tovar and had a very nice dinner in the dining room. The kids wanted to watch American Idol at night so we stayed in the room for the night which was nice after vegas and driving. Set the alarm to see sunrise (the kids were not that thrilled) but it was breathtaking-pictures and words do not do it justice. Elk were everywhere. The kids went back to bed and we took turns walking the rim. We all had breakfast at the Mawswik Cafeteria and then drove the rim out to Hermits rest and stopped at all the lookout spots and walked part of the Bright Angel Trail. Left around 2:00 and went to the IMAX Grand Canyon movie in town and had lunch. The movie chronicled the initial settlers and explorers of the Grand Canyon. My daughter bought the movie and brought it back to her class (they happen to be studying the Southwest this month) and it was a hit. Drove to Sedona AZ ( 110 miles 2 ½ hrs).

Stayed right in town at the Best Western Arroyo, great room-indoor pool that the kids loved. Ate at the Space Café-casual and good. Next day went on a pink jeep tour through the red rocks, went to a psychic in town and went to a mini-spa (facials, manicure/pedicure). Sedona was beautiful and we would have stayed longer but we had to drive to San Diego.

Drove (464 miles-7 ½ hours) to San Diego. Listened to a book on tape, Mamma Mia soundtrack-went by pretty quick. Filled up the tank in Sedona and Yuma and made it to San Diego with 1/3 of a tank. Met husbands in CA( had to attend a family party Friday night in San Diego)

Spent Friday and Saturday in San Diego. Went to Sea World, Old Town and Cabrillo on Friday and drove around Balboa Park in the morning and Lajolla in the afternoon. Took the red eye back on Saturday night. Great trip everyone got along well, beautiful part of the country. The mothers loved the Grand Canyon and Sedona and the kids loved Vegas and La Jolla.