My Forty-ninth State

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Mr. Right and I recently took a quick trip to Arizona.  We were there two full days and saw the Hoover Dam, Sonoma, the Grand Canyon and some beautiful countryside.  It was my forty-ninth state to visit which just leaves Arkansas.  I hope to check it off later this year.

 

We flew into Las Vegas and arrived there late at night, thank goodness.  It is not my kind of city.  We spent the night there and then left the first thing the following morning.  We stopped for a great cowboy breakfast and then drove on to Arizona.

 

 

Our first stop was the Hoover Dam, and it was magnificent.  I am always blown away by what man can accomplish.

 

This bridge was built in response to the September 11 attacks.  Before, the only way through here was by driving right over the dam.

 

 

The bridge is a memorial bridge, and one of the people it honors is our friend’s son.  You might remember the story about Pat Tillman who was a professional football player.  He left the NFL and enlisted to fight the war against Afghanistan.  He was killed there.  Although he grew up in California, he was a star football player for Arizona State.

 

The dam is art deco in style and was built to keep the Colorado River from flooding.

 

After leaving the dam, we worked our way over to a small town called Williams, Arizona.  It was about a three-hour drive, but the sites were breath-taking.  We spent the night there and caught a train the next morning to the southern rim of the canyon.  The day started with a wild west show.  It was all very family-friendly and very cute.

 

We boarded the vintage train and rode 65 miles in mid-century luxury.  We were in wooded terrain and…..

 

…..open fields.  The weather was cold but sunny and beautiful.

 

The train was loaded with entertainment.  Our car had a snack buffet, bar, singing cowboys and…..

 

bandits, all in the name of fun.

 

We just sat back and took it all in.

 

When we arrived at the canyon, we took a bus tour rather than venturing out on our own.  I was blown away by the beauty.  We had lunch in a wonderful old hotel, and after four hours, we headed back to Williams on the train.  When we arrived there, we drove our rental car back to Las Vegas (3 1/2 hours) and took a red-eye flight back to Kentucky.  We were home by 9:30 the next morning.  It was a great way to see my forty-ninth state.  As part of my birthday gift, Mr. Right is making sure I get to Arkansas this year.  What fun!!!  Arkansas needs to be pretty darn special to top this.

 

 

 

 

Take care.