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  • Well hello hello.

  • We are not in Canada anymore.

  • We are having a wonderful sunny escape in Nevada.

  • We're here for 3 days so we're going to be road tripping.

  • Road trip and this is awesome.

  • I mean we're trading in what our winter jackets for shorts and t-shirts.

  • Yes.

  • Sunshine.

  • Always gotta love that and we're really excited to be back in Nevada.

  • The last time we were here was what in 2015?

  • Yeah.

  • And we mostly explored Vegas and the surrounding regions so this time it is all about the state.

  • So we're going to be visiting state parks and some of the lakes and doing outdoorsy

  • stuff.

  • And I hope that we can visit some quirky like roadside attractions as well too.

  • Oh yeah.

  • That is going to be a high priority.

  • Let's go.

  • Our trip began in Las Vegas, but having already been there before, we wasted no time on the

  • Strip.

  • After a short night’s rest, we grabbed a hearty breakfast, hopped in our rental car,

  • and hit the road for our first stop of the day: Lake Mead.

  • So the plan for today is to go kayaking in Black Canyon but we still have a little bit

  • of time this morning so we're stopping off in Lake Mead and also Hoover Dam.

  • Both of those are along the way and there comes Sam.

  • He's been taking pictures.

  • Taking pictures along the trail.

  • So did you get some good photos?

  • Yeah, there is some pretty good shots but I think like you have to be walking along

  • the path a bit further for you to get a better vantage point of the lake.

  • Yeah, we're going to be making a lot of photo stops on this road trip.

  • It is just so scenic.

  • Like wherever you look.

  • Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the US and it’s also a popular recreation spot,

  • so we kicked off our morning with some light hiking and lots of photo taking, because just

  • look at those views!

  • So we just finished doing a little bit of hiking.

  • Now we're heading back to our car and next up is Hoover Dam.

  • Oh, and we also got a really fancy car.

  • We got an upgrade so we're driving a Camaro.

  • Chevy Camaro and I've got the keys in my pocket.

  • So we have made it to Hoover Dam.

  • We're going to skip the tour today but we're going to check the dam out.

  • Hoover Dam is one of the most visited attractions in Nevada with as many as 1 million people

  • taking the tour every year, and even more driving across the dam.

  • Fun fact: there is enough concrete in Hoover Dam to build a 4 foot wide sidewalk around

  • the Earth at the Equator.

  • That’s a whole lot of concrete!

  • So we've made it to Willow Beach.

  • It is time to go kayaking.

  • Sam has lathered himself up in sunscreen.

  • Yeah, apparently this is going to be a 3 hour kayaking tour so yeah we do need lots of sunscreen.

  • Especially for me.

  • Alright, and the kayaks are already on the water so let's go.

  • Let's do it.

  • Kayaking in Black Canyon was the highlight of the day.

  • We lucked out with blue skies, calm waters, and the scenery was pretty spectacular - especially

  • once we entered the canyon where we were surrounded by rock walls.

  • Halfway up stream we took a break from kayaking and went on a short hike.

  • Our guide told us a little bit about about the flora and fauna you can find in this region.

  • We also stopped at the Emerald Cave, which gets it’s name from the bright emerald green

  • colour reflected in the water.

  • It is day 2 on the road.

  • Where are we off to next Sam?

  • Day two, so we're going to the Valley of Fire.

  • Ooh.

  • We woke up relatively early.

  • We're leaving just after eight so all packed up, all ready to go.

  • Alright, let's go to the car.

  • Let's hit the road.

  • We had an hour’s journey to reach the Valley of Fire that morning, and it was a very leisurely

  • drive down some scenic stretches of road.

  • We knew we were getting closer to the park when we noticed the landscape colours started

  • becoming more saturated.

  • Alright guys so we're almost at the entrance for the Valley of Fire Park and we just keep

  • stopping for photos.

  • It is so scenic and the rocks are so red.

  • Like the colors are so rich and saturated.

  • So yeah, Sam is getting more photos and more video for us and then we're going to drive

  • to the entrance and pay for our permit.

  • Well, well.

  • How are you enjoying the scenery?

  • It is like absolutely amazing.

  • We've just been stopping off a lot to snap photos.

  • I keep saying Audrey pull over pull over we've got to get a shot of that so it has been really

  • cool this morning so far.

  • Once we entered Valley of Fire State Park, the fun began.

  • This park is known for its rock formations, panoramic vistas, and hiking trails, so there

  • was no shortage of things to see and do.

  • One of the most impressive stops was Seven Sisters, where you have seven massive red

  • sandstone boulders sitting on a relatively flat landscape, but really, you can’t go

  • wrong with the views here no matter what direction you look in.

  • Another stretch we really enjoyed was the drive towards Mouse’s Tank, where you drive

  • through a red canyon.

  • Walls of red rock rise on either side of you, and it almost like something out of Mars.

  • So I'm an avid collector of passport stamps and you can actually get your passport stamped

  • over here.

  • So let's go.

  • Let's do the honors on a brand new page.

  • Oh wow.

  • You're even using a brand new page.

  • Yes.

  • Ready.

  • Tada.

  • Valley of Fire.

  • Our next stop took us to Rainbow vista, where we followed a sandy trail up to a lookout

  • that offers 360 degree views of the surrounding valley.

  • And the views are absolutely insane.

  • They are.

  • 360 degrees.

  • You cannot go wrong.

  • No matter where you look it is just like blows your mind.

  • It is incredible up here.

  • We basically spent the rest of the day just driving around and enjoying the scenery, before

  • continuing on to our lodge later that day.

  • Alright guys, so after a long drive we have made it to our final stop for the night.

  • We're in the town of Alamo, NV.

  • And we're staying at the Windmill Ridge where we have a log cabin.

  • So let's go inside and we're going to give you a tour.

  • It is super cozy.

  • Well, welcome welcome.

  • We have a cozy cabin for two.

  • Lazy boy chair, I think maybe Sam can enjoy that one later.

  • Haha, me being the lazy one.

  • We have a pretty cool bed.

  • Like look at this.

  • It is made from tree trunks.

  • So it looks cool.

  • It looks so rustic.

  • So my favorite part is that they have a lot of cute little details so if you look at the

  • lamps they've got like bears clanging to the tree trunks.

  • We've got moose, a welcome sign, we have tin cups that makes me think of camping.

  • And yeah it is just really nice.

  • It is small but it is just what you need for two people.

  • Alright Sam, time for dinner.

  • Are you ready?

  • I'm ready.

  • My tummy is rumbling.

  • And I know this because we ate at this place for lunch.

  • Yeah.

  • And they had ribs on the menu but I said no I'm going to hold off until dinner.

  • Dinner is now.

  • Haha.

  • Alright, lead the way.

  • Well well the food is here.

  • What are we having?

  • So if you take a look down here.

  • I don't know if you can believe this is but this is the half rack of ribs.

  • It is huge.

  • This was not even the full order.

  • So we're sharing this so yeah the portion is already massive and then over here we've

  • got mashed potato with a generous amount of gravy poured over top.

  • This is a vegetable of the day.

  • I'm making out different things.

  • It looks like broccoli.

  • Yeah, there is some broccoli I think maybe cauliflower and potato and then I think this

  • is extra barbecue sauce.

  • Woah.

  • That we can just douse the meat in.

  • So alright let's dig in.

  • Let's dig in.

  • So excited for these ribs.

  • Like whenever I travel in the US or even Canada for that matter if I can find like barbecue

  • ribs on the menu I'm like all for that.

  • So I'm taking this, going for a bit of a swim in the barbecue sauce.

  • Actually that is a pretty big swim.

  • Oh my gosh.

  • Big swim.

  • Mmmmm.

  • Those are done really well.

  • The meat is like crispy on the outside but then tender as you bite into it.

  • That is really good.

  • And I really like the barbecue sauce.

  • It has got a really like strong smokey flavor.

  • So that adds a really nice finish.

  • I don't know how but somebody has room for dessert.

  • What are you having?

  • I don't know if there is so much room as there is just a whole lot of gluttony going on but

  • um we're going to attempt to finish this peanut butter bar.

  • It just looks so good.

  • I was looking at the desserts.

  • They have a nice they had them all nicely displayed in this little window tray and I

  • was woah the peanut butter bars look good.

  • So let's try that.

  • Mmmmm.

  • That is super peanut buttery.

  • Haha.

  • As is to be expected.

  • As is to be expected and it is really dense.

  • We've got our work cut out to finish this one.

  • Well good morning.

  • It is day three of our road trip here in Nevada and today we're going looking for Aliens.

  • Woah.

  • Yeah.

  • This is going to be a really quirky fun day.

  • Um, I grew up enjoying sci-fi so this is bringing out the inner dork inside of me.

  • Yeah, so we're going to be driving the Extraterrestrial Highway so it is time to fuel up and hit the

  • road.

  • Let's do it.

  • Since we were up bright and early, we decided to make a detour before getting on the Extraterrestrial

  • Highway.

  • The previous afternoon we had driven past Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, which

  • looks like a little oasis in the middle of the desert, so we backtracked a few kilometres.

  • These wetlands are an important stop for migratory birds, and it was a fun little stop even if

  • were not the best bird spotters out there.

  • And here is a list of the birds people have been spotting here in the wildlife refuge.

  • Lots of bird watching.

  • Back on the road, we hit our first stop on the ET Highway: ET Fresh Jerky!

  • This is an alien-themed shop selling everything from martian soda to alien sunglasses, so

  • we used this as an opportunity to load up on snacks.

  • And this is the start of the Extraterrestrial Highway.

  • Let's see what we find along the way.

  • So no Aliens in sight yet but we did stop off at ET Fresh Jerky for some Alien jerky.

  • Yeah.

  • So Sam is going to be trying that.

  • So I was joking around with this store owner.

  • I said, I said only she gets to see the Aliens and she processes them so fast that no one

  • else sees the Aliens.

  • They are just inside of this package.

  • Alright, so we got the teriyaki flavor.

  • Teriyaki Alien Jerky.

  • I hope uh, I hope the Aliens taste good here.

  • Oh, that smells good.

  • Mmmm.

  • What do you think?

  • That is nice and sweet.

  • Teriyaki sauce is really good.

  • First time eating Aliens.

  • I think I prefer this even to original jerky.

  • Yeah, this is our first time to have Aliens so a first for everything.

  • And this will be a great uh snack for our road trip today.

  • Nice and sweet and we also picked up something called chili chilled mango.

  • So it looks like mango slices coated in some kind of spice.

  • Chili.

  • Yeah, and that is seriously coated.

  • Try a bite.

  • It smells spicy.

  • Mmmm.

  • Is it good?

  • It is really good.

  • It is sweet and spicy at the same time.

  • It kind of reminds me of tamarind a little bit.

  • Mmmhmmm.

  • You taste the spice at first and then as you bite into it more you get the sweetness of

  • the mango.

  • Mmmhmm.

  • This should be another good snack.

  • Alright, so we've got our snacks for the road.

  • The search for Aliens continues.

  • See ya later.

  • After stopping for photos at the ET Highway marker which is covered in stickers, we journeyed

  • on to the Alien Research Centre, which is pretty hard to miss considering they have

  • a giant metal alien standing guard on a hill.

  • So we just arrived at the Alien Research Center but unfortunately it is closed.

  • It is already eleven thirty in the morning so I don't know if they just opened late or

  • if it is closed on Mondays but here we are.

  • They do have a cool Alien out front so we're going to enjoy that instead.

  • From there, it was on to the Black Mailbox, a random little stop on the side of the road

  • where alien enthusiasts from far and wide come to leave stones, letters, and addresses

  • to aliensperhaps expecting a visitation?

  • The original mailbox was stolen a few years back, so this is kind of a makeshift pit stop

  • nowadays.

  • We are opening the Alien mailbox to see what is in there.

  • Look at this.

  • We got a baseball from Bryan Rodriguez all the way from Puerto Rico.

  • Alright.

  • Pretty cool.

  • And then lots of rocks.

  • You saw the coin collection happening down here so let's add to that.

  • The lonely road then took us further into the desert where we arrived in the town of

  • Rachel that’s home to the Little Al’e’in.

  • The establishment is part motel, part bar and part restaurant.

  • Out front, we spotted a UFO-towing pick-up truck and a green alien welcoming earthlings,

  • while inside we were surrounded by Area 51 warning signs and all sorts of alien-themed

  • souvenirs.

  • And then it was time to turn around, drive back to Vegas, and fly back home, but not

  • before making one last detour along the way.

  • So time for an update.

  • We are visiting a place that we've already been to before.

  • So this is easily the coolest surprise of the day.

  • We are at Red Rock Canyon National Park and we didn't' think we'd have any time to visit

  • here.

  • This wasn't even on our itinerary but we kind of finished visiting the Extraterrestrial

  • Highway a little bit early.

  • Yep.

  • And we're thinking like I was counting down on my watch and I'm like you know what we

  • might have enough time to get here and look at it we are here.

  • So it is time to check it out.

  • We are just going to walk around and maybe do a little bit of hiking.

  • A surprise addition to our Nevada travel guide was visiting Red Rock Canyon, which is just

  • a 20-minute drive from the Vegas Strip.

  • We still had a bit of time to spare before we had to return the rental car, and this

  • was one of Sam’s favourite spots on our last visit, so we did the scenic drive just

  • before sunset.

  • Our final thoughts?

  • There are way more things to do in Nevada than just Las Vegas and were glad we got

  • to experience a mix of nature and quirky attractions on this mini USA road trip!

Well hello hello.

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