I remember back when you could walk into the south entrance to the Mirage from the Strip and see tigers walking around in glassed-in area right next to the hallway. That is the same spot where Diablo’s Cantina is now.
But the shopping center connected to Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas strip combines lots of high end shops with some fun architecture and entertaining fountains.
The Strip looked a lot different this time around due to all the fencing and seating areas set up for last weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Look for the tower at the Stratosphere, which is at the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard, and you’ll see all the big casinos right after that. If this is your first trip to Las Vegas be forewarned – the casinos look smaller and a lot closer together from the air than they do when you’re walking.
This time I got a break in the clouds long enough to get a few shots of the Grand Canyon. The light might be better in the middle of the day, but taking these photos shortly after sunrise created some interesting shadows.
Since it was already the third week of November, I kept an eye out for snow but I didn’t see any.
It includes both civilian and military aircraft as well as displays from our exploration of space.
The thing that I found most fascinating was the Enola Gay, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan at the end of World War II.
As of this writing (September 2023) Udvar-Hazy Center is open daily except for Christmas and admission is free (fee for parking).
Official site: Udvar-Hazy Center: airandspace.si.edu
Official site: Enola Gay photo gallery: airandspace.si.edu
There is a lot more to see than what I have here. Many of these planes can still fly. One of them had just come in for a landing when I was visiting. At certain times of the year on the weekend, you can even take a ride on one of the planes. Check their website for the details.
Official site: Military Aviation Museum: militaryaviationmuseum.org
At the entrance to the Military Aviation Museum I was visiting was a collection of metal dinosaurs. The attraction was started by Jerry Yagen, owner of the museum – thus the name “Jerrasic.”
I wouldn’t have made a special trip to see the dinosaurs, but since I was there, it was a fun addition worth a little wandering around.
Both are located at Fort Story, still an active military base, at the north end of Virginia Beach.
The older brick lighthouse was authorized by the United States government and dates to 1792 – just after the American Revolution.
The newer black and white lighthouse was built in 1881.
The older lighthouse is usually open to the public to climb up the stairs. It was closed the very hot September morning I visited because it was considered unsafe to climb the stairs in the extreme heat inside. Bummer.
There is nearby statue honoring French admiral Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse – who engaged the British fleet in 1781 to help the American cause in the Revolutionary War.
Also on the grounds is the First Landing Cross to commemorate site of the first English settlers from the London Company in 1607.
National Park Service: Cape Henry Lighthouse: www.nps.gov/came/cape-henry-lighthouses.htm
Visit Virginia Beach: Cape Henry Lighthouse: www.visitvirginiabeach.com
Virginia Beach is located a short drive from Norfolk, Virginia, and Naval Station Norfolk – home port of the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command.
