Travel Blog

We visited the Starbucks at the Aquarius hotel in Laughlin Nevada on the Colorado River. It has changed to the Duet, run by the Aquarius casino. The Aquarius is one of nine casino hotels in this area and our favorite as far as casinos in Laughlin are concerned. If you would like to read more about Aquarius, click here.  The Aquarius is the old Flamingo Hotel which was purchased a few years ago.

We will also be adding posts about the Laughlin area and also about Bullhead, Arizona which is just across the river from Laughlin, so stay tuned.

Aquarious Hotel – Prices are Higher

Starbucks has been replaced by the Aquarius hotel’s own coffee shop, called the Duet. It operates the same way, with free WiFi and a 10% discount for those people with a slot card. It is much nicer than Starbucks and is kept pretty clean compared to Starbucks. All in all a good place to spend some time doing your email etc.

This post is all about Starbucks at this location. Regarding the menu, it is much the same as many other Starbucks, however, you should be warned about the prices. We have been paying $1.50 for a tall Pike roast cup of coffee, while at this location, the same coffee is over $2.00 and you have to pay for refills even if you have a registered Starbucks card. They will give you 10% off if you have an Aquarius slot card.  Refills cost fifty-four cents.

Lots of Room to Sit

One of the nice things about this location is that there are lots of places to sit and enjoy your coffee or read your email. Like most Starbucks, they provide free WiFi as well. In fact, I have been sitting in the casino, not too far away, and was still able to review my email and surf the net.  There are also lots of wall plugs to plug into your laptop, which is unusual for many coffee places.

Hours

They open at 6 am in the morning and close around 11 pm. Too bad they are not open 24 hours, since the casino is open all of that time.

For more reviews about coffee shops, click here.

We recently went to the Wynn hotel’s buffet in Las Vegas. We had one of the best meals that I can recall from a buffet perspective.  The only other one that tops it is the Mirage hotel buffet from last year.

We were with a fiend of ours who just a few moments before had won $5280 on a nickel machine so they offered to pay for us and of course we accepted.  By the way that is over 100,000 nickels ! They paid her in $100 bills, but still that is a lot of money to carry around. Anyway I am digressing from the main topic of this post.

Wynn Hotel – Buffet – Pricey

The buffet during the week is #35 per person which initially we found to be a bit pricey. However when you consider the food available and the types of food, it is well worth the money. Try eating as much as can of lobster, crab legs as well as all of the other standard food they have available.

Roasts, turkey, pork chops, Mexican food, Sushi and on and on. You can always find something a little cheaper, but they will not include such a sumptuous set of choices.

Wynn Hotel Location

The buffet at the mirage is easy to find and there was no line up the day and time we went. It was a bit late for dining by North American standards, around 7:30pm.  We were given a nice table in a corner which was great for us since we had some privacy and we could talk about all of our friends winnings. She was really excited as I am sure most people would be.

Wine With Your Meal

All of the restaurants including the buffet at the Wyn hotel offer wine service. A word of caution is in order. If you think the price for the buffet is expensive. The price of wine is even more expensive, especially when you consider what you can pay at the local grocery store for a bottle of wine.

Now I know that you are not at a grocery store, the decor etc, however I found the prices for a bottle or regular California wine pretty expensive.

A neat little trick for those who are cost conscious. Playing the slots is to order a glass of wine from the cocktail waitresses, carry it in with you and enjoy your wine with your meal. Tipping a dollar for a glass of wine is much cheaper than paying $10 for a glass of wine!

Wynn Hotel – Tipping at Buffets

I am never really sure what to tip at a buffet. After all you are getting yur own food. Still a good waiter will make sure your table is cleared of used plates etc and they will bring you soft drinks and coffee if ordered quickly. Refills were no problem as well, so they should be tipped, it is just the amount that is in question.

If 15% is the norm for full service with average level of service by the staff, then 10% is probably reasonable in a buffet. If anyone knows or has an opinion on this please leave a comment. I see lots of people not leaving a tip at all at buffets which I think is not right. Also leaving 15 or 20% is way over the top as well.

Comments are appreciated, especially about tipping at buffets. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For more posts about casinos and slot cards, click here.

Rafting Trip – Verde river rafting Perkinsville to Beasley Flat – 55 miles

Description – White water rafters can put in their rafts at Perkinsville Rd and the last take out is at Beasley Flats. There is  about 55 miles of gorgeous river flowing through a beautiful and scenic river valley. Between Perkinsville and Beasley Flat it is characterized by desert riverbanks, willow and cottonwood trees, ocotillo, and Saguaro cactus. A verdant ground cover of desert scrub. The river flows as a Class I to II stream with usually gentle currents and a moderate gradient.

Paddle trips can be taken year-round if there has been sufficient recent rainfall around Sullivan Lake to keep the river flowing, or not at all during drought years. Check ahead to confirm sufficient water flow. This reach of the river flows past the confluence of Sycamore Creek on river left, the towns of Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Camp Verde, Dead Horse Ranch State Park and Camp Verde State Historical Park, ending in the “scenic” portion of the river that has been designated as “Wild and Scenic”. Adjoining land along this reach is private property, and care should be exercised to avoid trespassing without advance permission.

Places to Stay

The river is very remote, though access at the small towns is good where paddlers can find places to stay (other than the usual riverside camping, if so inclined). Hence food and supplies, restaurants and other services and amenities are available. Dead Horse Ranch State Park offers an excellent place to stop and explore the surrounding area. Permits are not required for private, non-commercial groups. But upon entering the “Wild” section of the “Wild and Scenic” area group size is limited to a maximum of 15 persons. Also o more than 15 horses, cattle or other livestock per group.

The area is popular for many outdoors recreational activities including horseback riding and camping. In addition hiking, mountain biking, bird and animal viewing, nature photography, hunting, fishing and other activities. Be sure to pack the camera. Because there is much to see and photograph along this river. For example this is a green oasis in the midst of a large desert state.

Verde River Rafting Summary

River Rating – I to II

Number of Rapids – Gentle rapids throughout

Minimum Age – all ages

Departure Dates – January through April and August through December

Boat Type – Canoes, Kayaks or rafts since this is only a class I or II rated river.

What to Bring – Standard rafting can camping gear if you plan to camp along the river.

Reviews – None yet

Outfitters – Permits are not required, there are no known outfitters along this river

If you decide to white water raft along this river, always go with someone. In addition always tell someone else where you are going. This is the golden rule of rafting and hiking. Ensure you remain safe and can be found if there is an emergency.

This is a 3rd post about allergies and asthma. We feel so strongly about this subject that we are devoting four posts to this subject. Our family has to deal with allergies and asthma on a daily basis and spring time is the worst time of year for us. You can also read “Asthma From a Patients Perspective” and “Allergies and Were You Live”, which were our two previous posts. Allergy season is here for us and we are dealing with it the best we can.

There is also a link to diet and allergies. When you are suffering from allergies, there is a tendency to be less active, which means you burn less calories and sit around more leading to weight gain. If we can assist you in managing your allergies, then maybe you will not gain weight.

Allergy Season is Here – Spring can Be Difficult

This post is being made live on our web site at the beginning of March. Which for some people will be in the middle of prime time for their allergies. While for others they will be just starting. People living in Florida for example may be already dealing with severe allergies. While those of you in northern Canada and Alaska, your season may be just beginning as the evergreen trees begin to pollinate. Allergy season is here for many.

We decided to provide a simple list of the things that people can do to make their lives a little more bearable during allergy season. Depending on how severe your reactions are you may want to apply all of them or only a few. It really depends on were you live. It depends how severe your reactions are to the local allergens in the area that you live or spend most of your time. Allergy season is here!

Allergy Season is Here – Here we go:

• Keep your home and office spotlessly clean
• Keep all windows and doors closed.
• Ensure that all furnace filters are changed on a regular basis
• Leave your outdoor clothes in the laundry room
• Avoid taking them into areas were you sleep
• Take a shower before going to bed at night to remove pollen from your hair and skin
• Request that members of your family and especially your spouse follow the same rules about clothing and also taking showers to avoid pollen / dust contamination
• Avoid strong perfumes / cologne / hair spray etc
• Drive to work
• Delegate out door gardening to other members of the family or hire someone
• Take prescribed medication as required and explained by your doctor
• Avoid being around pets and other animals if you are allergic to pet dander
• Install an in-room air purifier or have one on the forced air system
• Ensure there is no mold in your home
• Think about were your allergens might come from and try to avoid them
• In extreme cases
  • keep your bedroom door closed
  • cover your bed with a plastic sheet
  • wipe the plastic sheet off at night and then remove it
  • dress and undress in another room to keep your room clear of pollen
  • keep the windows closed
  • use an in-room air purifier

If  we missed something obvious, please leave a comment and let us know. It will help other readers improve their quality of life as well.

Living inside a Bubble

If it feels like you have to live inside a bubble then you are probably right. Basically you are trying to eliminate all of the possible exposure to the things you are allergic to. This will require some thought on your part and maybe even some work as well depending on what needs to be done. The good news is that you only need to do this when the allergy season is here for you.

It is always a trade off, even with the medication that you may be taking. There are side effects to everything, it just depends on whether the medications benefits are worth more to you that the potential side effects. This is also true when it comes to depriving yourself from going outside or spending money on air purifiers etc Is the expense worth the quality of life improvement that you are going to receive.

Did You Know that Allergens are Additive

What we mean by this is that if you are allergic to let’s say 3 different things and when you are exposed to only one of them, you may not react at all or only in a minor way. If you are exposed to all of them at the same time, you may have a significant reaction due to the cumulative effect of all of these allergens.

Even if you can eliminate one of the allergens from your environment, you may receive a significant improvement in your quality of life. Avoiding newly cut lawns for example might be all that you need to do when you are also allergic to tree pollen and mold.

Everyone has to work this out for themselves and attempt to make their own quality of life improvements. The immune system is very complex and the best way to deal with allergies is to educate your self and also experiment until you find the best approach for your particular situation.

If that does not work, then you may want to consider moving to a climate that is more suitable to your particular health needs. Comments are welcome, especially those that will help our readers deal with allergies and the management of the environment around them. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

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We recently stayed at the Wynn Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. After staying at a number of other hotels in Las Vegas as well other cities, this hotel is by far the best we have visited to date.  Steve Wynn has done a fabulous job of designing and building a work of art. He also runs a hotel the way it should be run. Everything is kept clean and sparkling. It is updated on a regular basis with new furniture in the rooms, electronic controls for the lighting and the curtains. Everything is state of the art.

For a full review of the Wynn Hotel and Casino, click here.

Wynn Casino Las Vegas Update

We used to think that the Bellagio, which was also built by Steve Wynn, was the best hotel in Las Vegas. Make no mistake, it is a beautiful hotel. One that we would love to stay at anytime. However if I have to rank the two, the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas is a step above the Bellagio.

Dining at the Wynn

We ate at the deli the first  night, not wanting to take too much time out from playing the slots. The service and the food was quite good. This is a deli after all and a fast food kind of place for a casino. I hesitate to use that term at the Wynn, since it does not compare at all with the traditional fast food kind of places that we think about. Cloth napkins,  regular utensils and meals served to you at your table. You order your meals at the counter. This is the style we are describing at the Wynn’s deli restaurant.

We also dined at the Wynn buffet. Now this buffet would probably be considered expensive by many people who go to buffets at $35 a person. However when you consider that you can choose from lobster, crab legs, and all of the other usual types of food, the price does seem to be more reasonable.  Very few buffets will include lobster ! Need less to say we thoroughly enjoyed the meal and also ate way too much!

Our Room

Our room at Wynn was located on the 23rd floor over looking the strip and the western mountains. You could not ask for a better view. We could see the pirate show at Treasure Island as well as the volcano eruption at the Mirage.

The room itself was simply elegant and we did not have an upgraded room. I can just imagine what a suite would be like. White Leather furniture, two flat screen TV’s, one for the bathroom, one for the main room, a desk to work at and a fantastic view. There was also an electronic console which allowed you to control the lights and the curtains as well as the temperature all from the comfort of your bed. The only thing missing is the ability to make a coffee for your self in your room.

Waterfalls

Outside at the front of the hotel along the strip is an actual mountain complete with large pine trees, several waterfalls and lakes. surrounding the lakes are several restaurants that on nice days in Vegas you can sit and enjoy your meal outdoors. Most days are spectacular in Las Vegas, although you do get a few when it is too cold or even rain, however these are very seldom.

The picture on the left is one of those waterfalls, however on the day I took this picture it was turned off for maintenance. There was a guy in the lake at the bottom taking out leaves and other debris that accumulates from time to time. Still even with no water it is a spectacular view in the middle of the desert!

We will stay at this hotel again and we can personally recommend it to anyone reading this post. Feel free to leave comments if you also have stayed at this hotel. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

This particular Starbucks – Cathedral City location is quite close to Palm Springs and is located on Hwy 111 at  Canyon Plaza in Cathedral City. There is a Target and a Trader Joe’s in the same plaza so it makes it a great place to stop, do some shopping, and then have a coffee before heading home. There is also a drive-through if you are limited in time.

Starbucks – Cathedral City

This Starbucks location has a shaded outdoor area at the back of the store which actually faces Highway 111. It can be a bit noisy at times, however, it is a really nice spot to sit, enjoy the sunshine, and gaze at the mountains in the west. The only real negative about this location is the occasional noise from the highway and the occasional homeless person who takes advantage of one of the comfortable seats for a snooze. We only saw this once, but it really does not lend itself to an enjoyable relaxing coffee. Most of the time it is a really nice spot to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Starbucks – Cathedral City – Trader Joes

If you have never gone to Trader Joe’s it is definitely worth the stop.  This is a relatively small grocery store with all of the basics at great prices. You can pretty much get everything that you need here unless you are looking for something special. They also have a great selection of wines and liquor at very competitive prices. They are known for the 2 buck chuck, which is a local California wine that is priced at $2 a bottle.

Now I would not normally write about wine, however, there is a story about this wine that I just have to tell. Most people will not admit that they drink $2 wine, after all how could it be any good? Well it seems many people drink it and serve it without anyone knowing.

My daughter and son in-law would not drink  it and even made fun of me for buying it and drinking it. They preferred to pay $12 for a bottle of wine which is a lot in California. When we got home we each opened our bottle of wine and made fun of each other of course. Well it turns out that they could not even drink their wine it was so bad. They were forced to try mine and what do you know, they actually liked it. They drank 2 buck chuck for the rest of their vacation!

Comments on Starbucks or Trader Joe’s are welcome. Strongly recommend that if you are in the Palm Springs area, to take in Trader Joe’s and their wine.

For more reviews about coffee shops, click here.

For the best burgers in Palm Springs, you simply have to visit Tylers Burgers Palm Springs.  Located at 149 South Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262-6603, United States it is in the central part of Palm Springs within easy walking distance of many motels, hotels and living areas. They are licensed so you can order a beer for example while waiting for your meal.

Get there early to avoid waiting in line. During busy seasons, Jan through March, the line forms around 11:30 am. The restaurant is already full at this point and people will sign the list to be the next in line to have one of the best burgers in Palm Springs. They are only open for lunch from approximately 11 am until 3 pm. They also close during the summer when the temperatures are just too high.

What is Unique About Tylers Burgers Palm Springs

There are several unique aspects about Tylers that brings people to this burger place in the middle of the desert.  Tylers is located in the middle of a side street between North Palm Canyon and South Indian Canyon.  Patrons eat under canvas rain or shine, although there is a small bar area inside that will seat about 4 or 5 people. Finally they are only open for lunch, serving burgers, fries, soup and other assorted items, however they are known for their excellent burgers and sliders!

Tylers Burgers Palm Springs – Get There Early

Tylers is so popular that people start lining up to get in before 11:00 am and the place is often full by 11:15am. We arrived at 11:30 the other day and had to place our names on a waiting list which lasted about 20 minutes. For the women there are lots of shops nearby to look at while you wait, while the men are unfortunately stuck weighting on the street or on the few benches that are provided.

During high season, the wait can be long and if you are impatient the best approach is to get their early. However if you are not in a hurry, the best approach is to arrive 20 to 30 minutes ahead of when you want to eat and place your name on the waiting list. Then you can relax and investigate the nearby shops. Unfortunately one member of your group will have to wait in case your name is called.

Burgers and Sliders

We have already mentioned sliders. In case you are not aware, these are mini burgers that are suitable for the smaller appetite. Many women will order these. They are just as good as the regular burgers and have all of the toppings that their larger cousins have. Add an order of fries or a soup and you will be more than satisfied.

Toppings include all of the regular items such as mustard, catchup, mayonnaise, lettuce and relish. You can also have your burger with either raw onions or fried onions as well which are very tasty!.

Tylers is only open for lunch, 7 days a week, so if you plan to go, get their early!

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The Match Box restaurant is another eatery that we like to go to for happy hour.  The Match Box has recently reopened under a new name called the American Brickworks Bistro. They have the same menu, and according to the owners better quality and presentation. We have not gone there yet and cannot comment directly on the menu and atmosphere. Check it out and let us know what you think of the new revamped restaurant location.

The Match Box restaurant is located on the second floor beside the Falls Restaurant and above Ruby’s Diner. Access is via the stairs or the elevator behind the out door patio on the street level operated by the Ruby’s Diner. By the way this diner is another excellent place to eat as well, especially their breakfast in the mornings. Sitting outside, enjoying the sun having breakfast, what could be better! However this post is all about the Match Box , so we will focus on this restaurant during this post.

Match Box Restaurant – The Fire Pit

One of the unique aspects of this restaurant is the fire pit that extends along the front of the bar area overlooking the alley and the street. This is a great place to sit, take in the view and to keep warm during cooler evenings. This is usually the first place to fill up in the bar area.

There are also tables to sit at in the bar area as well and during cooler days, the restaurant provides heaters to keep you warm. Sitting at the tables you have a view of the western mountains, which seem so close you could reach out and touch them. The only negative about the Match Box is that during windy days, the wind will blow through the bar area, since it is open at  both ends.

 Happy Hour

Happy hour at the match box is from 4 to 6, however confirm the times before you go since they do change from time to time. Most drinks are either half price or $2 off the regular price. Appetizers are half price and fairly large so you can easily make a meal of them while enjoying happy hour.

We have met a number of people during happy hour since almost everyone is a tourist and love to talk about were they are staying and the deals they come across.

The menu for happy hour includes burgers, salads or pizza, so there is lots to choose from.

Many restaurants have happy hours, some great, some average, however this restaurant ranks among the better ones to go to. We have been there many times and plan to go back again.

If you have been there and want to leave a comment, please feel free to do so. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

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Unfortunately The Falls Restaurant Palm Springs is now closed as of the spring of 2016. The Falls restaurant in Palm Springs used to be one of our favorite places to go for dinner as well as happy hour. The location is upstairs beside the Matchbox Restaurant and above Ruby’s diner. Both of these restaurants are very good as well, however this post is going to be all about the Falls Restaurant!

We got stiffed recently at the Matchbox with the restaurant adding $10 to the tip without our approval. The understanding was that our friends were picking up the tip, but the restaurant added $10 to our bill and charged our visa without our approval. be careful of this restaurant! For lots more posts covering restaurants in Palm Springs, click here.

Getting to The Falls Restaurant Palm Springs

You can take an elevator or walk up the stairs from the alleyway just past the Ruby’s diner outdoor patio. The Falls Restaurant is actually a fine dining kind of place complete with table cloths and  decor that provides for an intimate dining experience. The menu is excellent and the food measures up to our expectations, which are very high. They also have a happy hour available in the bar area, which is separated from the restaurant area. If you are spending a lot of money for a great meal, you will not be bothered by patrons in the bar area.  For excellent dining and a romantic evening, this is the place to spend some time.

The Balconies

There are 3 balconies that really put this place over the top for us. The balconies look out over Palm Canyon drive, they are two that are large enough for a table of 4 while the 3rd is really for 2 people. There is room for a small heater if needed as well on cooler evenings. We have dined here 4 times, on the balcony that is closed off to the rest of the restaurant by French doors so you can have a private dining experience, yet be part of the action overlooking the street below with the many strollers and hot cars on the street. For us this is the best place to really enjoy a beautiful evening.

If you order a Cesar salad, it is made from scratch right in front of you with the flourish that many waiters will provide. Their steaks are excellent!

The Martini Bar at the Falls

Before you enter the actual restaurant, there is a bar in the shape of a horse shoe. It has a waterfall  at the open end of the horse shoe. There are also tables for four situated around the bar as well. So patrons can choose seating at the bar or at one of the tables.

We like going here for happy hour. Smoking martinis, half price well drinks and beer along with wine. Also half price appetizers are on the menu during happy hour. The timing of happy hour does change from time to time, so you should check ahead of time, however usually it is from 4:30 to 6:30 in the afternoon’s. Lately they have changed happy hour to happy day, that’s right all day long to compete with Lulu’s down the street.

Everyone has a laugh over the smoking bubbling martini’s. They are entertaining, but they also taste excellent. There is a large selection of regular martini’s as well as fruity types as well. If you go to the Falls restaurant, you have to try one of these at least once.

The appetizers are unique and excellent. Presentation, taste and quantity are top of the line. For light eaters, two appetizers will likely be sufficient for your dinner. Anyone who needs something more substantial can always order off the menu.

As we mentioned earlier in the post, we have dined in the restaurant 4 times. We have been to the bar for happy hour numerous times. We have yet to be disappointed.

If you have been to the Falls, please leave a comment on your experience. We loved it and would recommend this restaurant to all of our friends.

There are two Starbucks coffee shops in the Mall. One is located on the strip right across the street from the Wynn Hotel and Casino, while the other is located inside the fashion view mall catering to shoppers and tourists who are taking some time out from the casinos. Both Starbucks locations have the usual coffees and pastries following the cookie cutter design that you will find across the country.

The Starbucks location on the strip is part of the mall. It has limited indoor seating as well as a small patio area with umbrellas. Patrons can sit outside and enjoy the early morning sunshine. They can watch people going to work or jogging by on the strip.

The only negative that we found with this location is that the mall is continually playing music that is just a bit too loud for us. It repeats as well so if you stay for a reasonable length of time you are going to hear the same song a couple of times.

What Is Unique – Fashion View Mall

What you will find unique about this Starbucks location is that there basic coffee is less expensive that any coffee you will purchase inside the Hotels on the strip. They all have coffee shops somewhere in the casino. And they charge an arm and a leg for their coffees and their pastries. If you are staying anywhere close to the Starbucks in the mall, it is definitely worth the trip over to buy your coffee.

In addition to less expensive coffee, you also receive the standard free WiFi at this location and if you use a Starbucks card that is registered, the refills are free for regular coffees. Now that is a much better deal than what you will get from any of the hotel coffee shops.

Going for a Walk

All of the hotels are huge and Wynn is no different, neither is Treasure Island Casino, which is also just across the street from the Fashion View Mall. At this location there are cross walk bridges including escalators for pedestrians to cross the Las Vegas Strip and Spring Mountain road.

These are very busy streets with approximately 3 lanes of traffic in each direction. You can only use these bridges to get across the street and it is not only safer but it also saves time in that you do not have to wait for cross walks.

By the time you leave your room, walk to the elevator and out to the strip, you probably have already walked for 5 minutes. These hotels are so large that literally you can walk that long. Walking to Starbucks at these locations will take more time since it is at least a 10 minutes walk from your hotel room, even if it is only across the street, but look at the morning exercise you get.

We used this Starbucks every morning while staying at the Wynn hotel across the street. Check out our posts about the Wynn Casino as well along with some pictures we included.

Comments are welcome about Starbucks or the mall. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

We recently stayed at the Wynn Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas and we are convinced that this hotel is by far above all of the other hotels on the strip and in Las Vegas. The atmosphere, the cleanliness, the decor, the ambiance and the richness of the designs and layout just surpass everything we have seen in Las Vegas. There are so many areas to review about the property, we will probably miss a few, so if we do leave a comment for our readers. The pictures tell the story and we have included a few to give everyone an idea of just how nice this property is.

Starting with the entrance from the strip, you encounter a mountain covered with trees and several waterfalls that cascade down the mountain into pools of water were you can throw coins as you make a wish for whatever you are dreaming about.

There are also restaurants that you access from inside the hotel and shopping areas that have patios looking out on to the mountain and the waterfalls. Who could imagine in the middle of the desert that you would be dining beside a mountain lake and waterfalls?

Shopping Center

Across the street is a modern looking shopping center with a master peace that dominates the skyline. This is a saucer that looks like a spaceship and can be seen from many block away. Obviously they built this attraction to attract people to the mall  and to match the stupendous designs of the hotels around it.  This picture shows the saucer as seen from in front of the Wynn Hotel.

On the four corners of the Las Vegas Strip and Mountain Spring Road you have the Fashion Show Mall, the Wynn Hotel and Casino. Also the Treasure Island Casino or TI as it is now called and the Palazzo Hotel and Casino which is part of the Venation Hotel and Casino. As you enter the Hotel, you actually are in an upscale shopping area. All of the stores that you would associate with movie stars and celebrities. Obviously they are way beyond our means. However it is always nice to window shop and look at the outrageous prices that some people will pay for things. For example , my wife saw a purse that she would love to have for $2500! Not in my lifetime!

The Rooms

We were given a standard room on the 23rd floor. The number of floors is around 60 so we were almost halfway. However the view was fantastic even from the 23 rd floor. We had a view of the strip and the western side of the valley and the mountains. Spectacular at night! A friend of ours was on the other side and looked out on to the championship golf course. Which is located immediately behind the hotel, the pools and the eastern mountains.

Our room had all of the state of the art electronics. A controller that at the press of a button allowed us to turn on and off any light, open and close the curtains. In addition to indicate that our room should not be disturbed when we retired for the night. There were also leather chairs and a leather couch. There was a desk to work at if you were so inclined.  Oh and there was a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. As well as a flat screen TV in the bathroom. Should have taken a picture, but I forgot. Next time !

The Wynn Casino

There is something about being in a really nice casino vs. one that is just average. Everything is sparkling, the employees all have neatly pressed uniforms and the cocktail waitresses are sexy and elegant. You really have to see this place to appreciate the difference.

It is bright and colorful with plants and flowers along one side of the casino. There is a bar to relax in while you take time away from your conference or the casino.

The drinks delivered by the cocktail waitresses are in actual wine glasses, along with mixed drinks. This is a classy place. We would recommend that anyone looking for an experience stay at the Wynn hotel any time.

Of course as with all of the hotels in Las Vegas, if they are busy the rates go up and if they are running a little slow the rates will come down or you may even be given a free room. Check often and if you are flexible in timing, you can always obtain a room at a reasonable rate.

Comments are welcome. Our readers will appreciate hearing about your experiences at the Wynn Hotel. For more info about casinos, click here.

American South Fork White Water Rafting – 21 miles of class III,III+ and IV rapids. Recommended for athletic users only. Other rafting trips involve shorter trips as well. There are half day trips, full day trips and 2 days trips available.

Description – The American River flows down the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and offers a blend of relaxing calms and thrilling Class III rapids. This is the absolute best rafting run for beginning rafters!

The American Rafting River Whitewater experience consists of the South Fork American River; the Middle Fork American River; the North Fork American River. There are rafting trips on each of these rivers. Customers can experience rafting whitewater river trips on all of them.

The South Fork American River flows down the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It offers a blend of relaxing calms and thrilling Class III rapids. This is the absolute best rafting run for beginning rafters!

Moving first among big foothills and later through a steep granite canyon, the South Fork struts out quickly, surging powerfully. Then yawns coyly before suddenly rushing headlong through the fabled American River Gorge.

American South Fork White Water Rafting

The North Fork of the American River flows down the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It carves a deep, sheer gorge, which plunges in a deep crevasse down the western slope of the Sierra.

The Middle Fork of the American River flows down the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just east of Sacramento. A great run for hardy, adventurous first timers and experienced rafters alike.

River Rating

The 3-mile, Class II “Coloma to Lotus” stretch is an ideal introduction to whitewater. Intermediate boaters enjoy the increased challenge of the Class III “Chili Bar” and “Gorge” runs. Expert kayakers spend hours perfecting their rodeo moves in the world-famous Chili Bar Hole and other play spots.

Number of Rapids

Numerous class III, III+ and class IV white water rapids. The flow rates on the river can vary widely between spring , summer and fall. Also storms and rainy weather can change the flows quickly. Check with your outfitter for current conditions.

Minimum Age

8 years is the minimum age for going on south fork rafting trips.

South Fork White Water Departure Dates

California rafting starts early in mid-March and usually runs through the end of September and occasionally into October. Other times, after a major storm, whitewater rafting is available due to increased flows of the rivers in the late fall and winter months. Rafting schedules are at its peak during the summer months in California.

Boat Type

Rafts as well as Kayaks. Canoes are not recommended

South Fork White Water What to Bring 

In colder weather or spring time, we advise wet suit gear to keep you warm on the river. Check for local conditions and time of year with your outfitter.

If you are on an overnight camping trip, review the lists for what to bring on a rafting trip from your outfitter. Each one will have slightly different requirements.

In the summer, basics are needed. Swim wear, shorts, tennis shoes and lots of sunblock!

Outfitters

There are multiple outfitters for all 3 sections of the American River. Search for the section you are interested in or go to the American North Fork review or the American Middle Fork review. These reviews will be posted within two weeks of this post about the American South Fork River.

Allergies and were you live can make a huge difference in the number of allergies you have and your reaction to them. There are some areas of the continent that are just worse than others due to the predominance of pollen, dust and mold as well as pollution that just makes it uncomfortable for millions of people every year. There is not much you can do about it if you want to live a normal life. However you can protect yourself by avoiding those things that trigger allergic reactions.

We recently read a report that provided a list of the cities in the United states and ranked them for bad to best in terms of allergies. They ranked them based on pollen counts and over the counter drugs and prescriptions used to treat allergies.

Allergies and Were You Live

What they found was pretty interesting and yet when you thing about it not that surprising. The conclusions are that if you live in an area were there are lots of trees, grasses and flowers, dust and mold, along with high humidity, there are going to be more people being treated for allergies as well as asthma. If you have traveled the continent at all you will quickly realize that any were in the eastern side of the continent is not a good place to live if you have a lot of allergies.

High Pollution Not a Huge Factor

Even Los Angeles with it’s high pollution, was well down on the list due to its arid climate and location close to the ocean. There are pockets of areas that are better than others on the eastern side of North America. For example if you live close to the ocean and there are strong off shore breezes blowing the pollen away from you then this will be a good place to live.

If you happen to be allergic to grass pollen and not tree pollen, then many forested areas in the north east will be fine. You need to understand and learn what your body reacts to and then find out what the pollen levels are in your area.

Worst Areas to Live

Knoxville, Tenn had the highest ranking of all of the cities, while places like Los Angeles, much maligned for its air pollution, ranked far better — number 92 on the 2010 list. San Diego was 99, with both cities being near the ocean, off shore breezes and arid climates.

The study took into account factors such as the region’s pollen score (pollen count and other factors), along with the number of allergy medications prescribed and the number of board-certified allergists practicing there. Each city received  a score and then the list of 100 cities is drawn up.

Cities with an exceptionally high concentration of trees, grass, or weeds will have more pollen in the air, and local environmental factors such as wind, humidity, typical temperatures — and air pollution — also play a role in allergies. Knoxville is were it all came together to put it at the top of the list.

Geography Also Plays a Part

Anywhere grasses and trees do well may be places that you want to avoid. If you are allergic to certain types of weeds, such as golden rod you may want to stay away. River basins, such as in Ohio or Mississippi, were higher pollen counts occur due to high humidity levels, were everything sits,  pollen is likely to be worse.

In mountainous areas, there are fewer plants, resulting in less pollen overall.

Pollen from evergreens is typically heavy pollen, so it falls to the ground relatively quickly. It poses less of an allergy problem simply because it is airborne for a shorter time however if you are allergic to this type of pollen you will want to stay away. Try going from the desert into a mountainous area in the spring  were there are lots of evergreens  and see what happens. I did and will never go back at that time of year due to the almost immediate reaction from the pollen in the air.

The closer to the sea the better, especially if there are off shore prevailing winds which keep the pollen away from that part of the land.

How Do you Decide Were to Live Based on Your Allergies

The first step is to get tested and find out specifically what you are allergic to. Knowing that you are allergic to grass and trees is not enough. You must find out which types of grass and which types of trees that will impact you the most. Armed with this information, you can then look at various cities to see what is best.

Next find out what is the prevalent type of pollen in the area, or dust or mold.

For example, if you are allergic to evergreens, then the north eastern areas of the continent, mountainous areas are places to stay away from along with some river basins. If grasses do not bother you, the plains states might be a good place to live. It is also the type of grass or the type of tree that may be important for some people.

On the other hand, if grasses are a problem, then arid areas would be better, although you will have to be careful about the various local tress that are in the area. Asthmatics must take a great deal of care both in treating their symptoms as well deciding were to live.

Avoiding your Triggers

Basically it is all about avoiding your triggers, those allergens that could trigger an asthmatic attack or at least a severe allergy attack. Coastal areas seem best, however try to avoid polluted areas. Although Los Angeles ranked well on the list we saw, I would not want to have to deal with the pollution and the traffic every day.

If you generalize in your assessment you may not get the results you expect in terms of improvement to your allergies. Be specific, know exactly what you are allergic to and how to avoid them.

Comments about allergies and tactics to avoid them are welcome. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

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All you can eat hot juicy crab legs,at the Aquarius buffet on Friday or Saturday nights, or perhaps you like prime rib or both! We just ate at the Aquarius buffet for two for the huge price of  .92 cents. Can you imagine what a deal this is. We also had  4 glasses of wine! There was a choice of red wine, white wine, beer or margaritas and we could have had more to drink, however this was enough for us.

Nice View at the Aquarius

We sat by the windows along the Colorado river, had our meal of crab legs, desert and coffee, and we could have also had all of the other selections such as mashed potatoes, gravy, prime rib, salads, soups, buns and a hundred more items from this fabulous buffet. So how did we have such a fabulous buffet for only .92 cents. Well it is all about using the casino slot card while you play and then taking advantage of your comps! Some of our other posts have talked about the advantages of using slot cards, however this just demonstrates why everyone should have a slot card and use it when they play.

The following is a short video of Laughlin Nevada, taken from the eastern side of the river in Bullhead City, Arizona. Click on the following link.

Colorado River in Laughlin Nevada

We are also taking advantage of a free rooms offer from the hotel while we stay here. This is  because of the slot card that we use. We have had breakfast as well on the comps which was also actually a brunch. We had one of the best omelets we have had on our trip.  For more information about slot cards and why you should always carry and use them when you are playing the slots at any of the hotels, click here.

If you would like more information about the Aquarius Hotel and our original review of the hotel and casino, click here.

Aquarius Hotel Casino Updates

There has not been a lot of changes at the casino or the hotel. We noticed that the elevators are being updated. Some of the rooms have been redone since we here last. There seemed to be more poker and keno machines around the floor. We spend most of our time in the non smoking section of the casino. However there are just as many people smoking as ever. So if the stale cigarette smoke bothers you, then this is the place to be.

We noticed one new penny slot machine which was getting a lot of action. This is the wheel of fortune with 6 seats or slot machines sharing a giant 10 by 8 foot TV screen were you get to watch everyone’s wheel of fortune wheel spin when they get the free spin award. It is fun and exciting to see people win, however as with all of these machines you must be careful about how much money you bet. The maximum is $2.70 per spin, so you can go through a $100 in a hurry. We watched one lady work her credits up to over $300, only to lose it all over a period of 30 minutes.

As the saying goes, know when to fold them. It was fun to watch these players as well as play. Unfortunately for us we did not win anything on this machine.

Buy Gas on the Arizona Side

A note to readers if you drive to Laughlin, Nevada. While you may be tempted to fill up with gas on the Nevada side, take the time to drive over to Bullhead, Arizona. It is just on the other side of the river. Gas is a lot cheaper on the Arizona side. You can even get better deals if you wash your car at the same time. When we filled up, gas was selling for $3.09 on the Nevada side, while it was $2.91 on the Arizona side . I also got my car washed and while the car wash cost $10.00 for the works, the gas was further discounted to $2.71 a gallon for regular gas. A great deal!

They even scrubbed the car  first with a brush to get the worst of the dirt and bugs off the bumper before we went through the car wash. They gave us a cloth to dry the car and an air  freshener, what a great deal.

There are water taxis along the Colorado River which you can take for $6 a ride or $10 a day. check with the local taxis to confirm prices, since they seem to change on a regular basis.

Satisfied with the Aquarius Casino

We were very happy with the service and the quality of the food and drinks that we received at the Aquarius casino. Although we did not win anything at the slots, our room and food was comp’d and we had as much as we wanted in terms of drinks. All in all not a bad deal.

We are off to Vegas next, staying at the Mirage Casino and Hotel. If you would like more information about the Mirage, click here.

Your comments are welcome, to assist our readers enjoy their vacation in Laughlin Nevada. Spam comments will be auto-deleted. For more posts about Laughlin, click here.

This is a continuation of our blog about our travels during the winter and spring of 2011. If you missed our first post about Snow Bird Travel, you can review it by clicking here or on Snow Bird Travel. We left off our last post as we were heading to Bisbee, Arizona and Benson.

Snow Bird Travel – Bisbee Arizona

Bisbee is an old historic mining town close to the border with Mexico. A mine still operates there, however the town and businesses have seen better days when the copper mines were running at full tilt. The historic section of Bisbee is now confined to old antique shops, 60’s style hippies and old saloons. There are a few bed and breakfast places as well as hotels in the area.

However there is not a lot to do in the area, other than relax, enjoy a coffee, visit the many art and craft shops . We had lunch at the Savory Spot and did not find it to be the most enjoyable place, however it was very interesting due to the clientele that were having lunch while we had ours. You can read more about snow bird traveling in Bisbee and our lunch experience as well as see several pictures, click here.

Benson Arizona

Next we went to Benson, Arizona for the night. Nothing special about Benson, however the hotel we stay at is called the Desert Rose and we consider it one of the nicest places to stay at on our trip. Clean, decorated in desert tones, great value, only $80 per night which includes breakfast and WiFi and close to Bisbee, Tombstone, Tucson, PIMA Museum, the Bone Yard, the Titan Missile Museum and Old Town Tucson to name a few. All are within an hour driving and most are less than 30 minutes drive from the hotel.

Titan Missile Museum

We visited the Titan Missile Museum on this trip and I have to say it is one of the highlights of our trip. For those of you who may not be aware, during the cold war both Russia and the US had many missiles aimed at each other armed with Nuclear weapons.  The Russians located Nuclear war heads in Cuba during the 60’s which precipitated the Bay of Pigs confrontation and lead to the US building these missile sites.

There were 54 missiles located around the US all aimed at various locations in Russia. They could be launched within 1 minute of getting the launch order once Russian missiles were detected. Canada and NORAD played a significant part of the early warning system.

These missiles have been replaced by newer more sophisticated systems, and all were taken out of service in favor of new more sophisticated systems. This site is the only one left and has been converted into a museum. For more information and pictures, click here.

We are also taking advantage of a free rooms offer from the Aquarius hotel while we stay here in Laughlin, Nevada for a few days, also again because of the slot cards that we use. We have had breakfast as well on the comps which was also actually a brunch. There are lots of snow bird traveling deals in the Laughlin area.

We had one of the best omelets we have had on our trip.  If you would like more information about the Aquarius Hotel, click here. For more information about slot cards and why you should always carry and use them when you are playing the slots at any of the hotels, click here. More about locations in New Mexico, click here. Click here for Snow bird articles and posts.

Las Vegas Nevada

On to Vegas and the Mirage hotel.  We ate at the Carnegie Deli at the Mirage today for lunch. We shared a pastrami on rye sandwich which had to be 5 inches tall. There was also a plate of french fries that was more than enough for 4 people. The food is really good. There is lots of it, so if you want to share the restaurant will not mind.

When we stay at the Mirage Hotel we always try to go to Kokomos restaurant. This is stylish contemporary restaurant bordering on the lush tropical jungle. I always order the 8oz fillet .  The pool was closed for maintenance so we did not get a chance to use it. When we are in Vegas, we like to go to all of our favorite places such as the Bellagio, the Mirage and the Wynn hotels. For pictures of the Mirage hotel, and more information about Las Vegas, click here.

Palm Springs California

We arrived in Palm Springs on the 1st of Feb were we will stay for the next month. These are relaxing days spent in the sun, going for coffee, hiking and swimming in the pool at the Deauville (Click Here for Information) were we stay.

The Deauville is a luxury condo that comes with 3 pools and hot tubs, tennis courts. It also has  a gym along with underground parking. It is located in downtown Palm Springs, which allows us to walk to almost everything. One place we went for brunch was a place called Leon’s! This restaurant is located at Indian Canyons Golf course and they offer brunch ordered off a menu with unlimited champagne for $15 per person. Click here for several pictures and a view of one of the cutest golf carts we have seen.

I surprised my wife on Valentines with a trip to Las Vegas, staying at the Wynn Hotel and Casino for two days. We met her girlfriend there, which was another surprise. She won a jackpot on a nickel machine, $5280!

We have included other posts about various topics in and around Palm Springs. They are listed on the right hand side under recent posts. More to come in our next major post about our trip in 2011! We are off to Bullhead Arizona for the month of March, 2011. There are lots of snow bird traveling throughout the US.

We just finished lunch at Chipotle Palm Springs and found it to serve one of the healthiest fast foods with a Mexican flare that we have ever had.  This restaurant is located at 2465 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Unit 1110, Palm Springs, CA 92264, United States. We have eaten there many times since this original post and found the food to be excellent every time.

Chipotle Palm Springs

For those of you who have never heard of Chipotle, this is a new chain of restaurants that is spreading throughout the US in the fast food category. You can dine in the restaurant as well as take your meal with you if you are on the run. This particular restaurant was also licensed and had both an indoor eating area as well as an outdoor patio. The patio was broken into two parts, one was covered and the other had tables with umbrellas. The entire outdoor area is shared with a sub place and a frozen yogurt place as well.

High Quality

We cannot say enough about the quality of the food, the service, and the price. All three are rated excellent. The picture on the left is from the Chipotle website. We hope they do not mind because we love their food so much. Looks good or what?  The decor is ok, after all, it is a fast food restaurant.

You can choose from a bowl, burritos, tacos, and two other combinations which we have forgotten. Readers, please leave a comment if you know the others. You can choose between vegetarian, chicken, pork and beef, with rice, onions, chili sauce , corn, lettuce, and guacamole. The menu can be a bit confusing, however, the staff is more than willing to help you with your choices.

Value for Price

We found that a bowl plus a drink came to less than $10 and was large enough to be shared between two adults unless you are really hungry or have an extra large appetite. The food and vegetables were fresh and hot so everything was tasty. You can also add mild, medium or hot chili sauce to suit your tastes. They provide hot sauce which you can add separately.

Drinks are the fountain type and you can have as many refills as you need. All in all, this is a really good deal, healthy as well and fresh food. We noticed that when a tray of rice was almost gone, they replaced it with a full tray and threw the old one out. They do not add hot food on top of the food that has been sitting there for a while, even though it has not been there very long.

If you like Chipotle’s or have comments that you would like to add, please feel free to do so. Our readers will appreciate the response and the comments. Spam comments will be auto-deleted.

For more posts about Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

This Starbucks Palm Springs is right at the corner of Sunrise road and Ramon. It occupies one corner of a small mall with a Ralph’s grocery store, dry cleaners and several other small stores. They even have a drive though. Which we have not seen a lot of at any of the Starbucks that we go to.

They also have a nice patio with umbrellas as well. Part of the building provides some shelter from the noon day sun. The only negative about this particular Starbucks is that several transients will hang out. They are on the Sunrise side of the building among the cacti landscaping. They have never caused us a problem. But they do tend to make one less willing to go to this particular Starbucks. Apparently there is nothing the store can do. Since these guys stay on public property and as a rule do not bother the customers.

Starbucks Palm Springs

The patio is in the shade in the morning and then gets the full sun during the afternoon. It can get a little hot in the summer time when sitting in this area. They also have free WiFi and are part of the corporate system that provides free coffee refills when you have a registered Starbucks card. There is lots of parking since they are part of the parking lot for the grocery store and the dry cleaners.

Many people will go to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and then go on to do their grocery shopping at Ralph’s, the grocery store and then head home. It is also an excellent location since it is at the intersection of two busy roads, but still has easy access and lots of parking.

Comments are appreciated about this Starbucks coffee location. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For more posts about coffee shops, click here.

Driving around Palm Springs and the other desert cites that occupy the valley can be very easy as well as stressful depending on your point of view. The streets are wide with lots of signs and most parking is free and there seems to be no problem parking along the side streets.  In fact the side streets are so wide it is sometimes difficult to know whether you there are two lanes or four lanes, since only the dividing line is marked.

Parking

As far as parking is concern the basic rule is to never park along a curb that is painted in red or green. Almost anything else goes unless there is a specific sign saying other words.

Drivers – Old and Fast

There are many slow drivers in the desert. These drivers are a combination of older drivers who are nervous driving on these streets which are pretty flat and easy to navigate. Some will stop at stop signs and some will not. As you approach any intersection it is a good idea to always drive defensively and observe what the oncoming traffic is doing as well as people approaching from side streets. Sometimes these older drivers miss the stop sign. We are not picking on older drivers, we just noticed that many of them are not driving as well as they maybe should be.

There are also the usual fast drivers as you find in any city. Usually younger people they have faster cards and drive aggressively.  Nothing new here, it is just an unusual combination with the younger and older drivers being on the same roads.

Respect for Pedestrians

One thing that seems to be a common element here in Palm Springs is the respect for pedestrians. Crossing streets at stop lights or walk signs, people in cars are usually very patient. Everyone seems to take their turn and they seem to wait patiently while you cross.

Having said that there have been one or two instances that we have heard of were people have been hit by an impatient driver, or someone on drugs or has had too much to drink. So even if you find that drivers respect pedestrians more here, don’t let you guard down. Always make eye contact before you cross with drivers and only cross when you are sure they will stop.

Traffic Fines

We have read several news items lately where California has double their traffic fines. The state is short of money and they are making people who break the law pay for their bad driving. So if you get a parking ticket or are stopped for speeding, expect a big fine!

Highway 111 is the main road through the valley that takes you through all of the desert cities. This is the scenic view. If you have never been here before it can be a nice drive to pass through the valley. Take the exit off I10 and into Palm Springs from LA. 111 turns into Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs and continues on to the other desert cities.

I10 is the major route from Los Angeles to Phoenix. There are approximately 10 exits that you can take to the desert cities, 2 of which will take you into Palm Springs.

For many more posts about Palm Springs and things to do in the area, click here.

We love to visit Starbucks Palm Springs almost every morning. Besides the coffee which is great. This particular location was at the corner of Tahquitz and Palm Canyon drive at the center of Palm Springs. You can sit outside and watch the world go by. Starbucks has opened a new coffee shop shown in the picture above. We have  been there and look forward to visiting it everyday.

This is a traditional Starbucks with a few seats inside along the window and a few chairs to sit at. Outside there is a large patio with covered umbrellas to provide shade from the sun right on the corner. Many people go there every morning to meet people, to read the paper or just to people watch.

Folks who are on their way to work stop for coffee along with the many tourists who are in town and especially the snow birds who love to spend there mornings with a great cup of coffee. If this sounds like an ad for Starbucks in Palm Springs it is not meant to, however we do spend a lot of time their and really do enjoy the mornings over a good cup of coffee.

Starbucks Palm Springs

The picture we have included is not one of the best. We will replace it soon with a better one without the store in the shadows.Starbucks provides free WiFi for all visitors and now you do not need to sign in. Just agree to the terms and conditions and you are good to go on the internet.

Across the street is another coffee shop called the Coffee Bean. It also occupies a prime location with tables and chairs located on the corner and along Tahquitz road under umbrellas as well as a small overhang. For those of you who may not be aware, when the sun gets hot, you really welcome those umbrellas to protect you from that burning sun.

They also provide free WiFi, although you must get an access code by going inside and finding the code number on the TV screen on the bottom right hand corner. They have a small seating area and a fireplace for those cooler days. We like both locations and will move from one to the other based on how we feel that day.

Starbucks is a little cheaper than the Coffee Bean and Starbucks offers free refills for people with registered Starbucks cards.

Both locations suffer from time to time from transients coming by and asking for money or handouts. There are also a few people who buy coffee, but are of questionable character. Sometimes they will make guests a bit nervous. This does not happen often, but it does  happen.

If you have comments on either location, please feel free to leave comments. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For more reviews of coffee shops we like to go to, click here.

The Starbucks at the corner of El Paseo &  San Pablo, in  Palm Desert is an excellent place to spend some time enjoying the desert sun and watching people, reading or in conversation with friends. This El Paseo Palm Desert location is right on the corner, the patio area is fairly large and is in the shade in the morning, and full sun from around 11 until sunset. There are lots of umbrellas as well so you can get in the shade if that is your preference.

This Starbucks also has a fairly large seating area inside if it is just too hot for you outside, or if all the seats on the patio are already taken. We find that it  is a great place to relax and enjoy the surroundings. This El Paseo Palm Desert, like many of them provide free WiFi connections and also free refills if you have a registered Starbucks card. Well worth the time it takes to register your card.

For those of you who may not know, El Paseo is the Rodeo drive of the desert. There are many high end stores and shops in approximately 6 blocks which cater to very specific tastes. They have very high quality and of course very high prices as well.

You will see more BMW’s, Mercedes, Jag’s and even Bentleys driving along the street. There are a large number of expensive cars and also golf carts. It is not un-common to see someone going up and down the street in their replica golf cart. They may look like a Mercedes or some other vehicle. There is also several carts that will transport you from one end of the street to other end , all free of course. We have not used this service, however you probably should leave a tip for the driver. They are older seniors, mainly women who drive these vehicles.

This is a great place to shop as well as people watch if you are into that sport as well. You may see famous people occasionally along the street and certainly many people who are very well off.

Feel free to leave your comments about this Starbucks or the El Paseo area. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For more Starbucks locations in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Unfortunately, Leons Bar and Grill Palm Springs is now closed. While it was open it certainly was a place you should visit while in Palm Springs. We just got back from Leon’s Bar & Grill at the Indian Canyons Golf Resort in Palm Springs. What a wonderful experience. We went for the Sunday brunch, which was priced at $15 per person.  For this price you receive all you can drink champagne, juice, coffee and an entree of your choice which includes everything from omelet’s to Chicken pot pie, to salads with crab cakes. They also come with a small dish of fruit. A great deal by any standards especially when you consider the view.

The dining area at Leons Bar and Grill Palm Springs looks out onto the golf course with a breathtaking fountain and the mountains in the background. Resort owners can drive their golf carts up to the bar and come in for a drink or a meal any time. We just had to take this picture of a 1959 BMW golf car powered by a 1 cylinder motorcycle engine. Two people can travel in this little car and when it was manufactured you could by it for $800 in 1959! Today as an antique it is apparently worth $35,000!  Everyone wanted to take pictures of it and have their picture taken with it.

Leons Bar and Grill Palm Springs

We had brunch with our friends. As you can see the champagne is flowing with some of us having mimosa’s along with our meals.  If you have the opportunity to be in Palm Springs, we strongly recommend that you take Leon’s brunch in on Sundays. Reservations are needed. We had a choice of seats with a 1o am reservation, however by 11 am the place was full and there was a waiting line of people to get in. At 12, I am sure the waiting time is at least 30 minutes or perhaps even longer.

I had chicken pot pie. Which as you can see from the picture was huge and I have to say was also delicious. It also came with a bowl of fruit as well. Our friends had an omelet with real fried potatoes and salad with crab cakes. There are approximately 12 to 15 items on the menu. There is something for everyone.

A Fun Place for Everyone

The gay community feel free to be seen together and to act out sometimes and valentines brings the best or the worst out in them depending on your point of view. Many came bearing valentines gifts for their friends. There were four or five guys who we think are part of an entertainment group who walked in wearing red hats and red high heels! Not my thing, but they were funny and attracted a lot of attention.

The Indian Canyons golf club is part an old Palm Springs club that used to be private and now is open to the public, however I understand the fees are quite high.

If you have eaten at Leon’s and want to add your comments, please feel free to do so. Comments on the golf club are also welcome. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For information about other Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

We dropped into the patio at the Azul Patio restaurant located at 369 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs the other day. We had seen an advertisement for this patio were they advertised their happy hour and the outdoor patio experience. When we arrived there were lots of people on the patio. So we thought this would be a good place to spend some time, enjoy the sun. We wanted to enjoy a few drinks along with some appetizers.

The Azul Patio Restaurant is unique in Palm Springs as are many of the restaurants. There is a central bar area were you can sit and meet other patrons around the bar. You can talk to the bar tender and enjoy the surroundings. We like to do this at most places we go since you have a chance to talk to people. As a result you get to know the place you are in a little better. On one side of the bar next to the street, are swings with tables that will seat four people. This is kind of neat. As a result it obviously popular since all of them were occupied when we arrived.

Azul Patio Restaurant

On the other side of the bar are traditional tables. Some are high up with stools , while the others are regular tables. They also have awnings that slide forward to protect you from the noon day sun. They slide back for the evening. On cool nights there are heaters to keep you warm.

We found out that happy hour started at 4 pm and lasted until 6:30. Most drinks were either half price or $2 off the regular price. Once thing that did not appeal to us was that there were no prices on the happy hour menu for drinks although you could find them in a different part of the menu.

We found that the bar tender was decidedly unfriendly, not only to us but to pretty much everyone. Maybe he was having a bad day and he was really busy, however he never smiled and was pretty focused all of the time. We are used to bar tenders knowing that part of their job is to not only serve drinks, but to also spend some time socializing with the guests, even if it is only a few comments here and there.

Our Order

We decided to order a draft beer and a glass of wine. The Pinot Grigio, my wife ordered was not part of the happy hour, so we had to pay full price for this drink. Beer was $2.75, a pretty good price.

We also ordered Natcho’s and humus for $3.00. When it arrived we were surprised. There was a small container of humus about the size you would get if you ordered catchup on the side at some restaurants. There were about 7 large tortilla chips. Needless to say were surprised and disappointed in this order being so skimpy. I guess we are used to most American restaurants providing large orders of food even if it is part of happy hour.

Although the patio was full, and seemed to be enjoyed by a lot of people, we would not really recommend this place. There are many other restaurants and patios that are more fun and have better appetizers than the Azul restaurant patio in Palm Springs.

If you have comments or have spent some time at this restaurant, please fell free to leave your comments as well. Maybe you had a different experience than us and really like this particular restaurant. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For information about other Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

The Desert Rose Benson Arizona is located in southern Arizona, east of Tucson and close to Bisbee and Tombstone. Tombstone as you may know is home to an old western cowboy town were the famous Bird Cage Saloon was located. Many card games, bar fights and gun battles took place inside and outside of the Bird Cage. There is a tour you can take of the Bird Cage in Tombstone which I would recommend. Very interesting and informative about how women and men lived a 100 years ago in this area. They also have cowboy gun fights at various times during the day if you are into that sort of thing.

Why We Like to Stop Here

We like to stop at the Desert Rose hotel in Benson just off I10 for a number of reasons. For those of you who have never heard of the Desert Rose, it was the Benson Holiday Inn Express.  We like staying here because it is the price reasonable. In addition it is always immaculately clean, has a great breakfast and a very nice pool area just off the breakfast area. Which is very enjoyable during warm spring, summer and fall days. You can also do a laundry if you have been traveling for a while. There is a small gym for those who want to limber up and get some exercise after being in the car for some time.

Also at this particular exit off I10, there is the usual gas stations, fast food joints and one other hotel.

Benson itself is not that exciting. Consisting of a spread out village ( There is a Walmart), there does not seem to be a lot you would want to do here. There are many trailer parks for RV travelers to stay at, although we cannot attest to how good or bad they are.

Nearby Attractions

You are only an 30 minutes from Tucson, 30 minutes from Tombstone and an hour from both the Titan Missile Museum and old town Tuscon.  There is also the Bone Yard and the PIMA Air museum. For those of you who do not know what the bone yard is, it is a place were old airplanes and planes that are not currently needed to be in service are stored.

There is well over a thousand planes at this one location. It was chosen because of the dry climate. In addition there is also the hard packed earth that will support the weight of the planes. The PIMA air museum is an excellent place to go. But be prepared to spend a day  touring this facility. You can see World War 1 and 2 planes. There are many other famous planes that have played a part in our history.

Desert Rose Benson Arizona

As we mentioned we always try to stay at this hotel if we are passing through the area. However we are concerned that it may not last, since it no longer is part of the Holiday Inn Express chain.

They lose out on a lot of advertising and many people might not stay there if they do not know about it. We heard the operator at the front desk explain several times that they were under the same management, just no a member of the Holiday Inn group any longer.

If you have stayed at this hotel and would like to offer your comments please do so. Our rating is high and we recommend it to everyone. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For more information about places to stay in Arizona and things to do in the state, click here.

Upper Salt River White Water Rafting – Rafting Trip – Full Day 10am – 4/5pm; 3,4,5 Day Trips (52 mile Wilderness Bridge to Bridge Trip); Overnight trips ; Two Day 10am – 4/5pm the next day; Half Day 10am – 1/2pm; and Custom and Charter Trips. With a variety of trips available, there is pretty much something available for just about all skill levels and age levels. This is a beautiful place to visit and view the vast scenery that nature provides. Book early so that you can get the dates and raft sizes that will suit your group.

Upper Salt River White Water Rafting

Description –This Salt River watershed contains approximately 32,100 very rugged acres and was established in 1984. The Salt River and its spectacular canyon bisect the wilderness for its entire length. Elevations range from 2,200 feet at the canyon’s lower end to 4,200 feet on White Ledge Mountain. This area can be visited practically any time; however, there are no maintained trails within the entire wilderness. Travel is basically done by raft or kayak during the short and dangerous river-running season.

Mandatory Visitor Permits for river-running are required between March 1 and May 15.

River Rating – The Upper Salt River of Arizona rapids are rated class III.

Number of Rapids – number of rapids vary with the trip taken depending on half day, full day and multi day trips.

Minimum Age – Depending on the flow rate some outfitters will allow children as young as 7 years of age.

Departure Dates – Mandatory Visitor Permits for river-running are required between March 1 and May 15.

Boat Type – White water rafts suitable for one to 12 people.

What to Bring

What to Bring – Temperatures vary quite a bit in the spring time in Arizona, requiring different gear for different days, even hours. As a result check with your outfitter to confirm what you need to bring. For example bring a swimsuit to wear under a wetsuit. Cotton t-shirts, sweatshirts and denim keep you cold once wet and does not belong on the river. Tops and bottoms made of synthetics such as poly-pro, capilene, fleece, silk or wool are designed to keep you warm when wet.Bring or rent wet suit booties, Extra clothing, Sunscreen, Water, Restraining Strap for Glasses, and Waterproof Cameras as needed!

Gear required for day trips is much different from what is required on camping trips. Some have car access while others do not. Hence your outfitter will provide details based on specific trips that you sign up for.

Outfitters – There are numerous outfitters providing white water rafting trips on the Upper Salt River. Check with them directly to book your white water trip.

Asthma From a Patients Perspective is  a Problem for Millions of people and if you have ever experienced an asthma attack then you know how scary it can be. The first time I had the experience,  I was so tired, could not get enough air. I really was not functioning at even 80%. I drove myself to the hospital, which was not a good thing to do.

However I was probably worse than someone who had been drinking in terms of reaction time and ability to deal with emergency driving situations. Not a smart thing to have done. I could have easily had an accident or gone through a red light. This is not a good situation to be in. It would have been better to call a friend to drive. This is Asthma From a Patients Perspective.

Asthma From a Patients Perspective

The worst part is that I really did not know what was happening to me at the time and why I could not get enough air. I found that I could only walk about 50 feet before I had to stop and rest. This is really scary for a young guy who is fit and active!

Turns out that there are millions of people in the US and Canada that have Asthma and suffer from it on a routine basis. Going to emergency rooms at the hospital is not fun, the waiting, the explanations , the assessments and being treated although the relief is truly huge, when you can breathe, your head clears and you can function again.

What Brings on an Asthma Attack

There are many different trigger factors that will bring on asthma. In my case it is a combination of pollen’s, dust, mold and specifically aerosols from hair spray and deodorizer. In my case I have a lot of allergies to dust, pollen and mold, but it was the hotel deodorizer that really put me over the top.

There are many people with asthma in the US and Canada and many visit the hospital every year to get help and treatment. Unfortunately there does not seem to be any magic pill that you can take to be cured. They can treat the symptoms and make you feel a little better for a while, but they cannot cure the underlying problem. Asthma From a Patients Perspective is really scary.

Why does your body react to something in the air or something you eat? How can you stop it from ever happening again? All they can do is tell you to avoid those things that trigger a reaction in your system or give you something that will help to manage the symptoms.

Asthma seems to affect all races and colors of people.  Although Asians seem to have this problem a little less than whites and black people apparently have more reactions than white people do.

Asthma Rates Higher in Northeast

Were you live can sometimes make a difference, especially if things like pollen, mold and dust are the triggers for your asthma attacks. Reports have shown that people living in the north eastern part of the continent are more prone to asthma attacks. If you are lucky enough to live in the desert areas of the south east, you may be better off when it comes to how many asthma attacks you experience. Dryer air , less mold, fewer trees means less pollen and there may be more dust, but them you stay inside on windy days.

Asthma From a Patients Perspective – Triggers

For me it is all about avoiding triggers. I learned pretty quickly that I would get much worse when I was exposed to aerosol sprays, particularly the kind that many hotels use to make a room smell nice. Even scented candles will trigger a response.

We were visiting a friend one night and she likes to have scented candles burning all of the time to make the house smell nice. By the end of the night I could hardly breathe. She does not light these candles any more when we are visiting!

We live in the north east and try to get away to the deserts of Arizona and California in the late winter. This is prime pollen and mold time back in the northeast and if I can avoid these triggers I will. For many people without the means to get away there are other ways to avoid pollen and mold that is in the air we breathe.

Avoiding Triggers

Stay inside. Use filters on your furnace which are changed regularly. Keep the windows closed. Take a shower at night before going to bed. Even wear a mask are ways to reduce the pollen intake. Obviously it depends on how strongly your body reacts to these triggers and which ones.

Takethe time to figure out which ones your body does not like. Then avoiding them is well worth the time spent. Go see an allergist and get tested. He or she will be able to tell you which allergens you most react to and when to avoid  them.

Educate yourself about the avoidance mechanisms and the treatments that you should consider. Get tested for asthma to determine at what stage you are at. Find out what the short term and long term treatments are for you.

Follow the doctor’s advice. Trying to second guess the doctor usually does not work. In my case I got better and then decided that I could stop taking the longer term puffers that I was on. Bad idea, because my asthma came back quite quickly!

Asthma From a Patients Perspective – Summary

• Get tested by an allergists
• Avoid your triggers as much as possible
• Find out what you need to do to decrease the chances of an attack
• Take your puffers and manage your asthma
• Educate yourself on the disease, symptoms and solutions
• There is no cure, but you can manage the problem well

If you have read this post and would like to contribute, please leave a comment that will help our readers. We all can use any help we can get to avoid this problem or at least make it livable. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

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We just finished staying at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi Mississippi for two nights and have to report that it is just as nice as it always has been. Unfortunately for us the weather was a bit on the cool side so we could not use the pool. However we did have a great view of the ocean from our room on the 18th floor. To look at the original review of the Beau Rivage casino, click on the link in bold.

They have rearranged some of the slot machines around as most casinos do from time to time. Of course they still had all of our favorites. There are more penny and nickel machines, however their casino floor is large enough they can accommodate slot machines of all types and denominations. We ate in the cafe and enjoyed a really nice meal as well as had our coffee in the coffee shop, called the Roasted Bean. For those of you over 50, Wednesdays are seniors day which means you get double points and you can eat at the buffet for half price for breakfast as well as lunch. Sorry dinner is the regular price.

Beau Rivage Bloody Mary’s

They still also have fantastic seasoned bloody Marys, with olives and okra in the drinks. I can only handle about two of them, but they are excellent and everyone should try them at least once.

The MGM chain, which the Beau Rivage is part of, recently updated their casino slot card membership system. It is now called “MLife”, with new cards and a couple of new benefits which we like. The card still lists all of the properties with individual phone numbers that are hard to see because they are so small and they are color coded depending on the level of play.

Express Comps at the Beau Rivage

One of the new features is the addition of express comps, which show on the screen on the slot machine so you can monitor how much you have to spend on food in the restaurants. Express comps can only be used in restaurants in any MGM family casino. You do not have to see the slot host. Just go to the cash when it is time to pay and present your MLife card and they will deduct what they need from your express comp balance. This is a nice new feature.

We also like the Roasted Bean and have included a  brief review of the Roasted Bean. Hope you enjoy it.

Coffee at the Roasted Bean

Coffee at the Roasted Bean at the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi! Fresh coffee under a glass canopy with shrubs and trees around you, background music and free WiFi. Wait it gets better, although the first coffee is expensive, as long as you have your receipt, all of your refills are free for the rest of the day! For a large coffee you are going to pay $3.85, which is one of the most expensive around, surpassing even Starbucks. However all you need to do is show your receipt and you can get a free refill any time that day. So if you are a coffee lover, then after even a 2nd cup of coffee you are starting to get to a reasonable price for coffee.

The Roasted Bean coffee shop is better than any coffee shop we have been in, including Starbucks! Muted earth tones decor, open to the atrium above, it is an enjoyable place to sit and savor your morning coffee. It can get a bit crowded at times, especially if the hotel is full, however most people only stay for a few minutes and they are on to their conference, the pool or to the casino.

Seating Arrangements

All of the chairs are padded and they have invested in easy to clean marble tables. None of these short stay uncomfortable non cushion chairs make you want to leave. And the place is clean, which says a lot about the management.

On nice warm days in Biloxi, you can also go outside. Enjoy the warm air on the patio while you enjoy your coffee. The Roasted Bean has solid tables and chairs with umbrellas for patrons to sit and enjoy their coffee! All in all the Roasted Bean coffee shop is one that we enjoy going back to! This is one of the features that keeps us coming back to the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel.

The only negative thing about the Roasted Bean coffee place is that there are not enough wall plugs to plug-in your computer. I could only find two. I guess they really do not want you to stay too long working on your computer.

Informative comments are appreciated especially those that will help our readers with their travel planning. If you need additional information about general travel planning, click here.

We stayed at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on the last two nights of Jan 2011. The Mirage used to be one of our favorite hotels to stay at, however unfortunately they have changed their decor and also their service.  This is still a very elegant hotel and glamorous, however, it just does not suit our taste. We stayed at the Mirage because they sent us two free nights, so naturally we were going to take advantage of this offer.

The decor over the past two years has been updated. The Casino is decorated in darker mahogany wood grain with a more contemporary feel to it and we feel it is really catering to the younger crowd who I guess are more willing to spend their money on meals and drinks at the bars.

The rooms are nice, very up to date and we also had a great view of the city and the mountains. Las Vegas is well over a million people now and at night from the 23rd floor of a casino, the lights seem to go on forever.

The Mirage Pool

They also have a pool that caters to those of you who like to go topless, which is also aimed at the younger crowd and all of the dirty old men willing to pay to get in.

We were also disappointed that the pool was closed for maintenance. “This is a news alert for anyone planning to go to Vegas and stay at the Mirage Casino and Hotel in Jan and Feb of 2011. The pool is closed for major maintenance.”

Internet Access

Speaking of email, one of the things that the MGM group has started in Vegas and Atlantic City is that they now charge $15 per night for access to the internet, newspaper, and the gym. There is no choice in this, even if you do not use these features. Apparently, Harrahs also does this as well. Most of us cannot exist without the internet these days, however, there are also so many free sites around that we do not need to pay for the service.

As of this writing, we do not think that Wynn is levying this daily charge.

Mirage Restaurants

We had lunch at the Carnegie Deli at the Mirage and what a meal. We ordered pastrami on rye bread and french fries. The sandwich was over 5 inches tall and the best pastrami we have had in a long time. The french fries came on their own plate and were the size of regular dinner plate. We had already decided to split the meal and it was a good thing that we did because there is no way one of us could have eaten this meal by ourselves.

Other customers were even taking pictures of the sandwiches because they are so big. We strongly recommend that you either split the order or ask for a take out if you cannot eat it all.

On our last night, we had dinner at Kokomos in the Mirage. The decor of this restaurant used to be in a tropical setting with bamboo all around and a waterfall. It has also been updated to be more contemporary, you still have the waterfall and one section is beside the tropical setting that still exists, although much reduced. We still enjoy it because the food here is always perfect!

This restaurant has been a favorite of ours for many years. Carol loves to get the Alaskan King Crab legs. These are really huge with lots of meat in the legs and done to perfection. Unfortunately, I guess it is hard to get them at this time of year. They were marked “MP” or market price.

When we inquired, the price quoted was $167, which was way more than we wanted to pay. Considering we had all-you-can-eat crab legs a few days before we decided to go for steak instead. It was also excellent. An 8 oz fillet looks more like a 10 or 12 oz steak and you can almost cut it with your fork! They are so tender!

More Information – Mirage Hotel and Casino

For more information about the Mirage Hotel and Casino, click here.

We visited the Wynn hotel and the Bellagio hotels which are our favorite hotels to stay at. Both are elegant, bright and have a style that seems to cater to our tastes. For example when you order a glass of wine while playing, it is delivered in a wine glass. In other hotels including the Mirage, your wine comes in a tumbler instead. I think you actually receive more wine in a tumbler, but who wants to drink wine out of a tumbler?

Also at the Bellagio, when you order champagne, it comes in a champagne glass!  Click here for more information about the Bellagio and click here for more information about the Wynn Casino.

Comments about your opinions about these hotels are welcome. Our readers will be interested in your opinions. Spam comments will be auto-deleted. For more posts about casinos and slot cards, click here.

We spent 4 days at the Aquarius hotel on the Colorado river enjoying the scenery, the food and of course the casino. The deals here are great with both rooms and meals at prices that you really don’t see anywhere else. Of course if you combine a slot card with your stay everything is pretty much free except for your play at the slots which sometimes can be pretty lucrative.

We had crab legs, all you can eat, 4 glasses of wine, buffet, by windows, by the Colorado river, and coffee all for $.92 cents the other day!  All of our room charges and our rooms were free including the drinks while we were playing the slots. There is a new game or should I say an updated game from an old show, called the wheel of fortune, with a large screen that shows the spinning wheels for all players on one screen. It is fun to watch to see who is winning and how much. I tried it and won about $30, which is ok!

I have to mention this, because we just do not see these type of deals in Canada or in other parts of the US. Arizona is just across the river and there is also a one hour time difference when you cross the river as well.

Gas on the Arizona side is at least 10 cents per gallon less on Arizona side, and 20 cents less with a car wash. They  scrub the car first to get all of the bugs off the bumper, the windshield etc and give you a drying cloth and freshener for your car. What a great deal.

Aquarius Casino – Laughlin Nevada

There is a sidewalk on the Nevada side that runs along the river past all of the casinos. On Saturday on the boardwalk there are bands playing country music. People are dancing in the sun shine, there are barbecues ,Mexican food and also beer, wine and mixed drinks. The people here come from every walk of life and every age group. Some should not be walking. They are so old or so weak. Some appear to be straight out of the mountains! This is a laid back kind of place were people really are relaxed and enjoy themselves!

Vegas is all glamor and glitz, with lots of shiny marble and lights. Laughlin is more low key and in the a style that Vegas used to be back in the late 70’s. They have all of the current slot machines and even some of the older ones. But prices and service are much better. I guess Vegas has to pay for the billion dollar casinos that have been built and so they charge a great deal for just about everything. For example we wanted to stay at the WYNN hotel in Las Vegas on the weekend and we were quoted $269 for one night , while in Laughlin, we stayed for free.

Things to do in Laughlin

There are lots to see in the Laughlin area and when we come back in March we will do a lot more site seeing, including going to Oatmen, which is an old mining town were the wild donkeys still roam the streets. click here to read all about Oatmen.

If you would like more information about the Aquarius Hotel, click here.

We are also taking advantage of a free rooms offer from the hotel while we stay here. This is because of the slot card that we use. My wife and I have had breakfast paid for by comps which was actually a brunch. We had one of the best omelets we have had on our trip.  For more information about slot cards and why you should always carry and use them when you are playing the slots at any of the hotels, click here.

Comments about the Aquarius are welcome , anything that will assist our readers in their travel plans. Spam comments will be auto deleted. For more information casinos in the area and across the US, click here.

We are traveling across the US and writing posts about different places we have visited. Our main page can be found by clicking  here. We have included several pictures of Bisbee Arizona throughout the post for your enjoyment .

One of the places we like to visit is Bisbee, Arizona.  This is an old mining town that has preserved a historical district and then converted into a kind of 60’s style art and craft place.  It is not uncommon to see many people who live in Bisbee who dress as if they are still in the 60’s and enjoying that life style. They do not exactly blend in with the tourists, but that gives a flavor to the village that you would not otherwise have.

There are lots of antique shops, gift shops, shops selling stuff that has been collected at garage sales as well as old saloons and restaurants located in buildings that have been around since the beginning of the century. There are of course new buildings as well and some have been fixed up, but for the most part this is a town that relies on tourists visiting to get a taste of the past.

Mining Operations

The mine still operates and there are tours as well, which we did not take of the copper mine. Bisbee is located almost on the border with Mexico. A short drive to Douglas will take you to one of the border crossings into Mexico.

This is a quiet town, with the locals seeming to know everyone. We went into one saloon to see if we could have lunch. Bunch of guys sitting at the bar, a few tables scattered around with a couple of tourists sitting at the tables. The menu was scribbled on a white board and had to be deciphered before you could figure out what was actually on the menu. We decided to continue up the street and look for another place. Wish we had just stayed were we were.

We ended up at The Savory Spot, at 105 Tombstone Canyon, Bisbee, Arizona. Another old building, but they had a nice little courtyard outside which was inviting. Unfortunately we thought it was just a bit too cool to sit outside, so we went inside the restaurant. Can you picture a small 15 foot by 10 foot room with 4 tables and as soon as we walk in the waitress asks if she can help us. We felt as if we had been caught and had to stay whether we wanted to or not.

Turns out that many of the locals go to this place including the local editor of the paper. She sat at a little bar and ordered her Wednesday burger on Tuesday, whatever that means. We sat at one of the four tables and just listened, after all any conversation anyone had could be heard by everybody in such a small room.

Local Restaurant

The food was ok, a bit over priced considering the decor which was non-existent. The table was greasy as were the vinegar and oil bottles for the salad. We ate our food, a salad and a toasted tuna sandwich, and we did not get sick, however this is not a place I would recommend.

The waitress was missing teeth and the apron she was wearing was in need of cleaning. She was friendly and helpful. But I couldn’t help wondering how this place continued to exist. Other than the locals seeming to like it which brings me to another story about the editor of the paper.

She came to the restaurant under the guise of ordering her Wednesday hamburger on Tuesday. Bcause she said she just could not wait another 24 hours. However the real reason she was there was to pump the waitress for information about a police situation. It had occurred the day before. Turns out that a routine traffic stop for a cracked windshield had turned into an arrest with possible police abuse of the driver.

She was pumping the waitress for information, since it appeared the individual was known to the waitress. We could not hear all of the discussion, however it sure was interesting. It also shows how much power a local editor has when it comes to printing information in the paper!

Hot Cars

For those of you reading this post, and considering making the trip to Bisbee, it is definitely worth the trip, if only to spend an afternoon wandering in and out of the craft shops and antique shops. There is also an old hotel to visit. On a nice warm day you can sit on the veranda and enjoy a nice cold beer.

I could not resist taking a picture of this car. Obviously a tourist who enjoys antiques and the quiet ambiance of an old mining town such as Bisbee Arizona!

If you are looking for a quiet evening spent in the 60’s you might even stay the night in one of the motels or BNB’s. Obviously this is not for us, since we prefer more modern situations and service.

If you have been to Bisbee and have similar comments or even a different perspective, please leave a comment for our readers. Spam comments will be deleted. For more posts About Arizona, click here.

We visited the Titan Missile Museum just south of Tucson Arizona. This is an excellent museum to visit and well worth the $18.00 for the one hour tour.  The museum offers 3 kinds of tours. Every day there are one hour tours that stat at 9 a.m. and run on the hour. There are also 4 hour tours on special days, check the web site to confirm what days these tours are being offered. There is also an over night tour were you spend the night inside the missile launch center 6 stories under ground.

For us the one hour tour was sufficient, however if you are an enthusiast, I think the longer tours would be of interest to a lot of people. The picture above is an old warhead without the nuclear material of course. The entrance to the museum is via the old elevator shaft that takes you deep into the ground where the control center etc was. Your tour begins at the top where someone from the military will guide you through the museum.

Titan Missile Museum : 1580 W. Duval Mine Rd., Sahuarita, Arizona

We arrived first thing in the morning for the first tour and ended up having our own private tour of the Titan Missile Museum facility. A normal tour can have as many as 20 people so we were very fortunate.

The picture on the left is one of the fuel trucks that provided the fuel for the missile. There were two of them, kept on opposite sides of the property to avoid accidental mixing and of course explosions.

The following is a summary of what we picked up during the tour and can also remember.

These Titan missiles carried a nuclear war head that was considered to be 100 times stronger than the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. It would flatten an area of 945 square miles.

Our guide emphasized that the US followed a deterrence strategy, which meant that they would never launch a first strike against the Russians. Instead they apparently advised the Russians of how many missiles they had. Also were they were aimed. In addition their capacity along with the time it would take to launch them from time of detection of a launch against the US. What it meant is that both countries would be annihilated if the Russians launched a first strike which was a huge deterrent for them both.

The picture on the left is the missile in the silo taken from about 30 feet underground.

Titan Missile Museum – How Long to Launch?

From the time the crew was given the order to launch, the missile would be in the air in less than one minute. The president of the United States is the only one who can give the order to launch these missiles. Before the crew can even begin the launch process, they must first receive a coded order from the president. Once the order was transmitted and received by the Titan Missile Launch Crew team, they referred to a very specific process to prepare to launch the missile. This process was put in place to protect everyone from premature launches of a devastating missile.

The crew followed a very secure process to ensure that the order was real and that it would always take two members to launch the Titan missile. There were two codes that needed to be entered from different sources. Two crew men must turn separate keys to launch the missile. There was a 4 man crew. None of them could be alone while inside the installation  other than the kitchen or the head. This was to ensure that a missile could never be launched by a single person.

The crew had sufficient food and water to last a month. Also air supply that would last up to 10 days. If there was an attack, the crew was expected to survive. Although there may not be much left top side for them afterwords.

Decommissioning

When this site was decommissioned, the blast doors had to secured in such a manner that it is impossible to launch the missile. This was done to convince the Russians that this site was decommissioned. The Russians are watching via satellite and observing that nothing has changed at this site even today.

The crews launch quarters and control center is sound, blast  and vibration suppressed. There are 3 foot steel and concrete doors. The entire crews quarters and launch center are on giant springs that will dampen any vibration when the missile launches.

There was a four man crew, with a senior commander in charge and 3 other people responsible for various operations. They completed a 12 hour shift. There was intense security around the site for entry and exit to this facility.

Our guide demonstrated for us how the launch took place and specific steps that the crew would go through. My wife got to be the senior commander for an hour and launched the missile after following these specific steps. I am never going to be able to live this down. One of the keys that needed to be turned was located in this console shown in this picture.

The location of these missiles in Arizona was chosen because of the arid climate. Now that it is a missile museum, there are lots of retired military people to act as guides for this site.

If you have been to the museum and would like to make comment that will assist our readers please do so. Spam comments will be auto deleted.

For more information about places to stay in Arizona and things to do in the state, click here.