The itinerary as put together by Vicker and Richard Myers – WOW!
I am going to add some editorial comments to the Las Vegas tour portion, the only part I was unfortunately able to attend – they are in Italics and are my personal opinions! If somebody who was at the rest of the reunion want to comment on the balance please supply your copy!
ARRIVAL – DAY MINUS ONE
06/30 15:00 – Monday 3 pm …….. Note: check-in is from 3pm on
Arrive in Las Vegas: if you arrive before 3pm, relax at the pool, explore the strip, do some shopping therapy, or just take a nice nap! Once you arrive, there’ll be something waiting for you at the check-in desk – we’ll have a surprise for you to start your trip!
Venetian Resort – http://www.venetian.com/index.html
Note: an estimate for a very nice meal in Las Vegas is $50, but virtually every hotel has multiple restaurants, ranging in price from less expensive to stratospheric!Avail yourself of the many restaurants in the hotel or out on the strip for dinner. Most restaurants in Las Vegas include vegetarian options. Use the bus pass we’re providing to go up and down the mall as often as you like, or stroll as much of the strip as you feel up to.Shopping on the strip & informal tour of the Venetian, NY/NY, M&M factory, etc. There’s an incredible array of places to shop in Las Vegas! Caesar’s Palace is within easy walking distance of the Venetian, and is well known for its collection of high-end shops, as is the Bellagio.
If you are a naive uncultured Canadian like moi – Las Vegas has got to be seen to be believed and the Venetian is one heck of an introduction
DAY ONE
07/01 08:00 – Tuesday 8 am
Breakfast at the Venetian Grand Lux – breakfast is served from 6am – 11am. We’ll have breakfast vouchers, that are in your Goodie Bag. Pick up your Strip Bus pass at Guest Services if you don’t see Richard at breakfast.
Grand Lux Restaurant – http://www.grandluxcafe.com/aboutus.htm and http://www.grandluxcafe.com/menu.htm
07/01 09:00 – Tuesday 9 am
Free morning – If you came in late last night, this will be your opportunity to catch some of the sights on the strip – or just to rest up before the rest of the week’s activities!
07/01 13:00 – Tuesday 1:00 pm
Meet for lunch at Kerry’s Gourmet Burgers at Harrah’s Casino: a light lunch in anticipation of a leisurely dinner
Kerry’s Gourmet Burgers
Yummy burgers! This was Canada Day and Frances was suitably attired – wait – I’m the Canadian – she’s Welsh – well sort of!
07/01 15:00 – Tuesday 3 pm
Walk from lunch to Mac King show – a very funny, family friendly magic act!
Mac King – http://www.harrahslasvegas.com/shows/mac-king-comedy-magic-show.html
07/01 18:30 – Tuesday 6:30 pm
Take Strip Bus to meet for dinner at the Mon Ami Gabi restaurant at the Paris hotel
Mon Ami Gabi Restaurant – http://www.monamigabi.com/menu/?loc=vegas
07/01 21:30 – Tuesday 9:30 pm
Take Strip Bus to “KA” Cirque Du Soleil show at the MGM Grand – spectacular acrobatics, music, and comedy
KA Cirque Du Soliel – http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ka/default.aspx
This was possibly the most breathtaking live show I have ever seen! If you can only pick one this is it! – The hall, the stage, the set and the performance – WOW
DAY TWO
07/02 05:00 – Wednesday 5 am
Super early special breakfast at the Venetian – today will be the most taxing day – at least the one with the longest ride.
Grand Lux Restaurant
07/02 06:00 – Wednesday 6:00am
Depart underground tour bus lobby Grand Canyon Tour – Newspaper and snack on the way to the canyon, native American barbecue lunch, tour of the Joshua Tree forest, tour of the west rim of the canyon.
Grand Canyon Tour – http://www.grayline.com/tours/las-vegas/grand-canyon-south-rim-motor-coach-tour-from-las-vegas-5862_14/
Newspaper? What newspaper. They did a good job at Grey Bus upselling this tour, with some of us opting for the ‘Skywalk’ and others the ‘Helicoptor & Canyon Boatride’. I did the later and did we ever have fun. This southern rim is on Native land and they have it set up quite well. It was a long bus ride though and a very tiring day
07/02 19:30 – Wednesday 7:30 pm
Open dinner plans
Grand Lux Restaurant
DAY THREE
07/03 07:00 – Thursday 7:00 am
Breakfast at the Venetian
Grand Lux Restaurant
07/03 08:45 – Thursday 8:45 am
Depart Hoover Dam Tour – includes lunch on a paddle wheeler, tour of the inside of the dam, and access to the Boulder City museum.
Hoover Dam Tour – http://www.grayline.com/tours/las-vegas/hoover-dam-city-deluxe-tour-from-las-vegas-5862_11/
Poor Richard – this day did not go well! First – they took us back to the Grey Bus terminal – but that was expected. And they did get us to the dam – No Paddle Wheeler though and an indifferent lunch at one of the casinos – not even the one the bus description mentioned and then to cap it all, the only part of the Chocolate Factory open was the Shop! Some were lucky and saw a road runner in the catcus garden outside!
dinner at Buddy V’s Ristorante
07/03 19:00 – Thursday 7 pm
Buddy V’s Ristorante – http://buddyvlasvegas.com and
http://buddyvlasvegas.com/menus/
My goodness – what a meal! Italian food and we were not even in Italy – but we were in the Venetian
07/03 21:30 – Thursday 9:30 pm
Beatles LOVE Cirque Du Soleil show – incredible blend of music, history, and spectacle
Beatles LOVE Cirque Du Soliel – http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/love/default.aspx
A short walk from our large meal – of course having to go through the casino area to reach the theatre – as we have had to do at every venue – Another great show. Quite different that the ‘Ka” performance.
DAY THREE
07/04 07:00 – Friday 7 am
Breakfast at the Venetian – for our last full day in Las Vegas, we’ll have a fun day, ending with a party!
Grand Lux Restaurant
07/04 08:45 – Friday 8:45 am
Valley of Fire Tour – see petroglyphs and spectacular wild lands, includes boxed lunch, with an experienced guide.
Valley of Fire Tour – http://pinkjeeptours.com/las-vegas/tour/valley-of-fire-state-park/
Now these people know how to provide a tour! Small comfortable buses and knowledgeable interested guides. Lunch was simple but very nice and the place was very interesting – oh, and HOT
07/04 17:30 – Friday 5:30 pm
Shuttle pickup outside main lobby for Las Vegas Party at Lindo Michoacan- we’ll eat, watch Geoff’s video, have photo shows, and lots of food, libation, laughter, and music and dance – with a break to go outside and watch the Fourth of July fireworks.
I have never had a Margarita before! Food was OK, music was way too loud and of questionable quality, and the venue did not show Ben’s wonderful presentation off to advantage. But they did provide transportation there and back and we were all together.
DAY FOUR
07/05 07:00 – Saturday 7 am
Breakfast at the Venetian and Check-out
Grand Lux Restaurant
Oh dear! the end of it for some of us, but most of us met at breakfast. Some of us in the first group to the airport did re-meet the Durango crew there but it was sad departing!
07/05 10:00 – Saturday 10 am
Flight departs to Durango
Majestic Ranch – http://www.majesticduderanch.com
07/05 19:30 – Saturday 7:30 pm
Chuckwagon and Cowboy Show – enjoy old fashioned dinner and rustic entertainment.
Chuckwagon and Cowboy Show
DAY FIVE
07/06 08:00 – Sunday 8 am
Breakfast at Majestic Dude Ranch
Majestic Ranch
07/06 10:00 – Sunday 10 am
Silverton / Durango Tour – Picnic lunch, ride on antique steam train through gorgeous scenery, tour of gold mine, pan for gold & silver.
07/06 10:00 – Sunday 10 am
Mesa Verde Tour – spectacular prehistoric sites and cliff dwellings. Geography, culture, architecture, and archeology, including the largest cliff dwelling in North America.
Mesa Verde Tour – http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
Now wait a second! Both places at the same time on the same day? Somebody needs to clarify this.
07/06 19:00 – Sunday 7 pm
Dinner at the Majestic
Majestic Ranch
07/06 21:00 – Sunday 9 pm
Campfire & sundry other evening activities
Majestic Ranch
DAY SIX
07/07 08:00 – Monday 8 am ………. Note: also check out the Free Time Activities link for more activities available in the Durango area.
All day at the Majestic – choose between horseback riding, mountain biking, fly fishing, fly tying, ping pong, roping lessons, and many other activities – or just lounge in the swimming pool, sauna, or hot tub.
Majestic Ranch
DAY SEVEN
07/08 08:00 – Tuesday 8 am
All day at the Majestic – choose between horseback riding, mountain biking, fly fishing, fly tying, ping pong, roping lessons, and many other activities – or just lounge in the swimming pool, sauna, or hot tub.
Majestic Ranch
DAY EIGHT
07/09 08:00 – Wednesday 8 am
All day at the Majestic – contra dance in the evening (very simple dances – all you need to know how to do is walk – it just takes a few minutes before each dance to teach them), with Richard Myers calling the dance
Majestic Ranch
DAY NINE
07/10 08:00 – Thursday 8 am
Breakfast at the Majestic, then fly back to Las Vegas (or home)
Majestic Ranch
FOLLOWUP – Four days in Los Angeles
Were you not able to come to the AC 2014 reunion in Las Vegas and Durango, but still would like to spend a few days with your classmates?
Zareh Der Serkissian will be hosting four days in Los Angeles, which will occur immediately following the Las Vegas/Durango reunion, from July 10th to July 14th.
If you’d like to attend this gathering, please let Zareh and me (Richard) know. If you are coming, you’ll need to book your stay at the Standard, as well as transportation to Los Angeles.
If you have any questions about this trip, please contact Zareh at Zareh@zdsco.com – he’s looking forward to hearing from you!
Here’s the itinerary as received from Zareh:
Thursday July 10th
Arrival, I don’t know when but I am sure morning or early afternoon. Santa Monica, Third street promenade and Santa Monica pier, for the rest of the day. Shopping and dining at the promenade.
Friday July 11th
Hike to Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Blvd, Chinese theatre, and pm the grove and Farmers Market. Shopping and dining.
Saturday July 12th
All day Catalina Island ferry trip and sightseeing at the Island and at night downtown LA live epicenter of the downtown renaissance . dining and sightseeing.
The Catalina Express costs $ 68.00 and it is about one hour boat trip from Long Beach to Avalon in Catalina Island. The Universal Studios costs $84.00 for the tour but the Universal walk is free, shops and restaurants.
Sunday July 13th
Spend time in my house meal and entertainment nighttime Universal studios and Universal walk. A very Los Angeles scene, a night to remember. Last night in Los Angeles.
Monday July 14th fly back for our classmates
The breakfast can be done at The Standard Hotel downtown and many eateries in the area. Very minimal entrance fees if any for the sites, mostly shopping if desired and meals. Transportation depends on the number of participants. I’ve checked the room rates at the Standard [http://standardhotels.com/downtown-la], and they are in the $228.75/night per room (either 1 or 2 occupancy) plus taxes, etc..
All materials are property of those who have submitted it – site by rjslade.com