Friday, January 30, 2009

The Natural Beauty Surrounding Vegas

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about las vegas to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from las vegas experts.

The first thing most people think of when thinking of Las Vegas is the strip. Bright blinking neon lights, loud music, and spotlights are more of what people envision in Vegas than wide open spaces, natural park like settings, nature watches, and the beauty of the desert at sunset. Of course that is if you can get a little ways out of Vegas otherwise you'll never notice the sun going down for all the bright lights.

Granted most of these beautiful places to visit are fair distances from Vegas but if you are this close to them it would be a shame to miss out on their beauty for the sake of a car ride. The first one I'd like to mention is Bryce Canyon National Park. It is actually in Utah and about 270 miles from Vegas. The fee to enter is $20 per vehicle but the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The views you will see are worth every mile and every penny. You should also be on the lookout for some of the wildlife particularly the Great Basin Rattlesnake, bald eagles, and golden eagles. There are beautiful flowers that often bloom in the spring and early summer months if you happen to be visiting at this time it's worth keeping an eye out.

The Grand Canyon is about 300 miles southeast of Vegas. This is another beauty that is well worth seeing if you have a day free or even really to make a priority of. There is a fee to bring your car into the park and you should check to see exactly what the current rate is before making the drive. For most people any fee is well worth experiencing this piece of American legend and lore. You can also opt to take one of many tours that will take you around the canyon and some that will take you to the bottom and back up again. If you are truly brave you should also consider one of the helicopter tours.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

Floyd Lamb Park is open each day from 6 in the morning until 7 at night. This park is located about 20 miles from the strip in Vegas. It also has four fully stocked ponds, a barbecue area, and is home to some very interesting fossils and remains. The fossils and remains that have been identified here include the following: bison, mammoths, camels, giant sloths, and horse among other animals. This area became a state park in 1977 and visitors who have a fishing license for Nevada may fish in any of the park's ponds but there is a limit of three fish per person.

Lake Mead is another great area nearby in which to enjoy the great outdoors of the Nevada desert. Lake Mead is a man-made lake and the 16th largest of its kind in this hemisphere. This lake was created by the Colorado River and the Hoover Dam and is about 1.5 million acres (I don't know about you but that figure to me is actually staggering). This area is a very popular area for boating, swimming, and as wildlife observation area.

If you love the great outdoors there are plenty of places to get out there and enjoy nature in and around the Las Vegas area. You can do a lot more than view wildlife in any of these parks and each one offers something special to those that visit. I would hope that you could enjoy them all, however I would recommend that you spend at least one day of your trip outdoors in nature somewhere.

As your knowledge about las vegas continues to grow, you will begin to see how las vegas fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Preparing for Your Trip to Mexico

Preparation is the key to your safety when visiting Mexico. You should begin your vacation with a careful and well thought-out plan. Your plan should include your budget, where you will be staying, as well as important information and contact numbers in case there is an emergency.

You should be current with your immunizations before leaving the country and follow all safety precautions while in Mexico. You should also register with the United States Embassy and make sure that you leave a copy of your itinerary with a family member, close friend, co-worker, or neighbor. You may also want to consider registering with the United States Travel Registration, for added convenience. This can easily be done over the internet. This is an important precaution to take. It helps to notify the United States Government that you are leaving the country. By taking necessary precautions and planning your trip efficiently, you can ensure that your vacation will be what you expected, it will also help to eliminate the chances of a problem occurring.

Staying up to date on current events in Mexico is very important to timing your trip. You should begin watching the news and plan your trip based on what you see. If there are internal conflicts within the Mexican government, you may want to delay your trip for a period of time. You should also learn as much as you can about the country before you embark on your journey. Finding out the country’s weather and climate is extremely important to planning the perfect trip. Traveling to Mexico during hurricane season can put a damper on your vacation, so make sure that you keep this in mind when planning your Mexico vacation.

Before leaving, you are encouraged to find out as much information about the location of your trip, the culture, and customs. Another important step to take when preparing for your trip to Mexico is to check with the Consular Information Sheets. Consular Information Sheets are valuable resources that all tourists should examine. It will provide you with information that will give you all of the details that are applicable to traveling in Mexico. The sheets will give you emergency contact information, and describe the current conditions within the country.

The importance of your passport cannot be overlooked. There are many places where your passport, along with other forms of identification will be needed. You should make copies of your passport and your tickets and leave them with a close friend or relative. In addition to your passport, you will also need other proper forms of identification. This identification most often is picture identification.

You will want to review your health insurance policy before you leave the country. Certain medical insurance programs will not provide services outside of the United States. If you become ill outside of the country and are not covered, you will be responsible for any bills that result. Some medical insurance policies will provide coverage for those outside of the country, but you should verify with your provider before your trip. If you travel frequently, it may be beneficial to add additional coverage to your current policy.

The above mention tips and precautions are just a few of the many that can help you have the perfect vacation in Mexico. Properly preparing for your trip is the best way to prevent unnecessary problems from arising.