Las Vegas
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! But you’ll probably want to tell all your friends about your visit after you return home. Las Vegas is a city like no other. Known for its gambling scene, it's no wonder why it has been infamously referred to as "Sin City." By the time the practice was legalised in 1931, after being outlawed in 1910, the city was already full of speakeasies and illicit casinos.
Found in the Mojave Desert, temperatures are high here - especially in the summer months where average temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius. But the evenings bring some relief, and that might be part of the reason why Las Vegas never sleeps. Stroll along the legendary Strip and explore Fremont Street, where you will marvel at graceful hotels and casinos that are open 24/7.
Top sights include The Bellagio's fountain shows, Hotel Paris' Eiffel Tower, and the New York-New York Hotel's recreated New York skyline. Gamble your heart out with unlimited drinks and have the best time! If the bright lights become a little too much, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers a respite to hike, bike and climb.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is arguably the most famous natural phenomenon in the United States. Carved some six million years ago from erosion by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is actually bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island, and it's so big in fact that it influences the weather. To give you some perspective, there is an entrance on the north rim and the south rim to Grand Canyon National Park. These entrances are about 16 kilometres apart - but only if you're a bird and can fly from one to the other.
If you're driving through the park, you have to go over the Colorado River and loop around the canyon, meaning you actually have to travel almost 350 kilometres to see both sides. The south rim of the park never closes and is home to Grand Canyon Village. Hermit’s Road and Desert View Drive leading from the village will take you on a journey along the rim. Off these roads are various walking routes to get up close and personal with the gorge.
Parking is sometimes difficult, but there is a free shuttle bus available. The most spectacular part of the Grand Canyon are the sunsets, best seen with few visitors at Pima Point, Yaki Point and Grandview Point. The Grand Canyon's enormity is not to be missed! There are few other places that will instil inside you the same sense of wonder, and there is no other place that offers the same view.