Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.
Valley of Fire State Park is nestled in the heart of Nevada. It is a breathtaking testament to the power of nature. With its otherworldly landscapes, vibrant rock formations, and rich history, this park is a must-visit for any outdoor enthusiast or nature lover. Last time we were here was with my sister in 2018. From Cedar City, Utah it was about a 3-hour drive. We stopped in Overton, Nevada at the Inside Scoop for lunch.
Golden Spike National Historic Park is located just north of the Great Salt Lake at Promontory Summit, Utah. We were in route from San Diego to West Yellowstone and weren’t sightseeing at all, but had to check this site out because of the historical significance.
Pahrump is in southern Nevada and only an hour drive from either Death Valley or Las Vegas. The town is known for it’s legal brothels and for electing a deceased brothel owner, Dennis Hof, to the state legislature. Hof wanted legislation that would bring the federal government into talks with Nevada to negotiate solutions to Pahrump’s water situation. Years of nuclear testing contaminated their local water supply.
Last Updated: May 2026
Las Vegas was a perfect location to spend Thanksgiving with Terri and Jerry. We were lucky to have warm days and cool nights to explore Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon, and Valley of Fire State Park. It was about a five-hour drive from San Diego. There is a Freightliner service center north of Vegas where we spent a couple of days having our annual service, steering alignment, and warranty shock replacement done.
Last Updated: May 28, 2026
From Idaho we headed south through Nevada to visit Great Basin National Park — one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the lower 48 — before swinging east to Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah and then south to Las Vegas for a week of rest and family.
