Our trip in numbers...

We have been on the road for 4 weeks here in the US:

•  travelled 3887 miles, (6255 km)

•  been in 3 US states – California, Arizona, Nevada

•  explored 3 National Parks - Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Death Valley

•  visited 6 State Parks - Big Sur, Salton Sea, San Jacinto Mountain, Hearst Castle, Red Rock, Red Rock Canyon

•  National Forests; 1 Sequoia

•  slept in 10 beds; 3 hotels, 4 motels and 3 timeshare unit (make it 16 with Bahamas)

•  ate Ben & Jerry ice-cream, 2, Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey

•  added 31 birds to my US bird list which is now 195 and my world list is 1478, top bird Roadrunner

•  popped into 1 museum

•  decaprio 3 movie catch-up, Aviator, Gatsby and Departed

•  relished organic extra virgin olive oil, 2 farms 

•  walked 76 miles; beach, mountain trails, coastal meadow, high altitude lake, golf courses, climbing red rocks, canyon rim, valley trail, desert paths, Las Vegas Strip

•  walking on schedule, (for each 50 miles driven we want to walk 1 mile)

•  watched 7 episodes of Game of Thrones, season 4

•  got cold at the lowest temperature below 40 degrees F in Tehachapi (3 degrees C)

•  was hot at the highest temperature of 115 degrees F while walking in Death Valley (46 degrees C). Car registered 125 degrees F at one point – over 50 degrees C

•  wine tasting, 2 at Tablas Winery, Paso Robles and Souza Family Vineyard

•  1 new mode of transport, helicopter over the Grand Canyon

•  show, 1 in Las Vegas, O Cirque du Soleil

Crazy world of the Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas, the Bellagio

Could not say it better than Liberace!

I can watch films and get house envy, I now have hotel envy.

Fell in love with the Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip. Everything I loved about this weekend was embodied in the hotel.

Quixotic, colourful, generous, expensive, free, energy, larger than life, world class, artistic, sculpted, eclectic...

The flowers were spectacular

Hermes scarf as a window treatment

The creative glass work of the Bellagio

Larger than life displays

Fresh flowers in the Conservatory

The magical Cirque du Soleil's O

Bellagio, Las Vegas Strip

And the Bellagio fountains, my favorite stop along the Strip

Foodie Interlude: Las Vegas

'The artistic genius of Chef, Jean-Philippe Maury is displayed daily at Las Vegas' first truly European-style pastry shop.'

 Afternoon bliss while walking around the gorgeous Bellagio Hotel, people watching and a delicious sorbet.

Shawni sent me a Facebook link for the best burgers in each state and the lister in me got happy - so collecting burgers now.

The Nevada pick was Gordon Ramsey's BurGR on the Las Vegas Strip and specifically The Hog Burger. After the fabulous Cirque du Soleil's O at the Bellagio we walked across to Planet Hollywood, queued for half an hour, then devoured this burger. Best burger of the trip by far.

From the website: 
Already receiving rave reviews, the Hog Burger at Gordon Ramsay BurGR features a special grind Mangalista patty, perfectly grilled over oak, apple and alder woods, basted with maple butter and served with melted English sharp cheddar and arugula on a signature Brioche bun made fresh daily and topped with black and white sesame seeds.