Wednesday, May 26 2004 – Got up checked out and got Dave a Starbucks coffee to settle his tummy. Jenn drove out to North Lake Tahoe area to a viewpoint and took some pictures and then drove back to Carson City. Dave was feeling better and drove us thru the desert into Vegas with one pitstop in Beatty (The Gateway to Death Valley) where we used the facilities and bought candy from their collection of over 400 candies, nuts and chips…wild! Toured the Vegas strip trying to find all the hotels listed in the coupon book to see if they were OK to stay at and decided to go for the $39 room deal at the Sahara. Jenn booked tickets to Wayne Newton’s show the next night as Dave was too excited to talk to the ticket agent. Went out after checking in and drove the strip stunned at all the changes.

Thursday, May 27 2004 – Got up, had power bars for breakfast and went over the parking garage at Caesar’s Palace and toured the casino (Jenn played an I Love Lucy nickel machine). Went into the Forum shops and looked around. Had lunch at Planet Hollywood (not so good anymore) and then went out onto the street and over to the Venetian. Toured the shops at the Venetian and the other casino’s on the strip around there. Jenn bought a Marilyn Monroe Purse at Imperial Palace. Went across and into the Bellagio and found the Circe Du Soleil shop and bought Jenn a mask and Dave some T-Shirts. Found the Dale Chihouli ceiling over the main lobby and Dave took pictures, it is more stunning in person! Then went into the conservatory and saw the garden displays – very cool! Headed back to the Hotel to get ready for the Wayne Newton show. Went to get our tickets at the Stardust and waited for the show by touring their shops. Jenn bought an Elvis Presley purse and some postcards to send out and had her picture taken with a real life show girl while Dave got into a fight with the photographer! Dave wouldn’t get his picture taken with her…boys. Saw the Wayne Show and both of us were blown away…he is so good on stage and made you feel like you were the only one there…too cool! Dave was in his happy place! Picked up dinner at Wendy’s (Salads) and went back to the hotel to eat and hit the pillow.

Friday, May 28 2004 – Jenn checked out the other hotels to see if we could get a cheaper room for the night and booked us into the Hilton all the while Dave was trying to calm down from seeing Wayne Newton the night before. Checked out the Nascar restaurant at the Sahara before checking out to see if there was anything Dave’s brother Mike couldn’t live without. Drove over to the outlet mall and shopped and then went to the Paris Casino and took pictures of the Eiffel Tower replica, too bad it wasn’t open to ride to the top…too much wind. Went back to the Sahara and had dinner in the buffet (really bad buffet) and then went to the Hilton and checked in. Dave rested a while – he was tired and sore from walking and then we headed out to the Fremont Experience. Kind of cool, but kind of lame, done it, seen it, don’t need to again! Drove the strip one last time and caught a bit more of the Bellagio show and decided to miss it as there were so many people. Went back to the hotel to sleep.

Saturday, May 29 2004 – Checked out and headed out to find camera places for Dave found Casey's Camera's where he drooled and then we stopped at Wal-Mart where we got a cooler for the car (for drinks!). Left Vegas, and washed the car in Boulder City and then headed over the Hoover Dam (Really cool!) and Lake Mead (Really low in the water department…there is going to be trouble this summer there). Didn’t get out of the car to tour as there were so many people. Kept going thru the desert and headed towards the Grand Canyon. Arrived at the Grand Canyon around 7:45pm and witnessed the sunset. Jenn had a “Moment” as the Canyon is so stunning. Drove out of the park and tried to find a place to stay but no campgrounds and the hotels were booked so stopped and had dinner at Wendy’s (Salad again) and then gassed up and drove to Williams (Route 66) to look for a hotel but everything was full. Dave stopped on the road out of the Canyon and stared at the stars for a few minutes which were cool because they were so bright. Went on to Flagstaff, but all the rooms there were booked as well so we gave up and went to Phoenix where we found a Motel 8 at 1am and crawled into bed.