Drive to Vegas...

I got back from my trip to Las Vegas the other day and I wanted to update everyone on the trip. 

We started out at 5:30ish making our way up the I-17 from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon via Flagstaff.  It started out raining Phoenix, so before we made it to the highway we had breakfast and luck would have it the rain stopped.  On the way to Flagstaff we kept seeing little bits of snow and didn't think anything of it, because it was higher elevation, rain in Phoenix meant snow in higher regions. 

 

When we go near the Sedona exit we noticed traffic slowed down and everyone was getting off at the exit.  Then we found out the highway was closed.  So we waited a few minutes and decided to take the "scenic" route through Sedona. 

There was so much snow I forgot that I was in Arizona.  We live in Phoenix, where summer temperatures stay in the triple digits.  It was great to see so much snow. 

After a 4 to 5 hour drive we made it to the Grand Canyon.  Because of the snow it was very cold and very low visibility. 

We are hoping to make another trip to the Grand Canyon to get the full experience.  But I was glad to see it in winter because there were not a lot of tourist, so the roads were clear and it was a very different way to see the Grand Canyon.  After this we made a 4+ hour drive to Las Vegas.  The drive made my husband realize how big the US really is. 

Before we got to Vegas we made a short stop at the Hoover Dam. 

 

Overall, the drive was pretty good.  It was first "real" vacation the hubby and I have taken and he kept me laughing the entire time.  In addition, it is great to see how someone who has grown up outside of the US views the states.  He was amazed at the size and empty space.   We were able to drive through a lot of the elements.  Rain in Phoenix, Snow in Sedona, hail and sunshine after the Grand Canyon.  

It's pretty crazy how all of this happened within one state, but it made me appreciate Arizona much more.