If you have ever fantasized about taking a nature walk, the Mountains to Sea Trail in North Carolina might be the perfect vacation for you. When it’s completed, it will span 1000 miles. The directions are easy: just keep walking until you hit the ocean.
This trail just won the Steward for the Environment Award from REI. I don’t know what I would do with a 1000-mile trail through the wilderness. It would be hard not to keep going. I can imagine me urging Mike on, “Let’s just walk a little bit further. I’m sure the end is soon, we’ve been walking all day. It’s not like it’s going to take us all the way to the ocean or anything.” Hours later, exhausted and only partially through the trail we would come across a map, showing us that, yes it DOES take us all the way to the ocean.
I only had one thing on my list for this trip to Las Vegas. I wanted to see the Neon Museum that’s on Fremont Street. I had never been to the Fremont Street Experience, which is a travesty since I’ve been to Las Vegas so many times. There were only two interesting things at the Fremont Street Experience. One of them was Deep Fried Oreos at Mermaids and the other was the Neon Museum.
There is no charge to wander the dark area just off Fremont Street. I would have felt unsafe, but there was a security guard there, so I let my guard down and took out my camera to take pictures. The signs are anything but PC with depictions of scantily clad women, Indians and “smokin’ good times,” but I love them all anyway. Both the neon and the paint were in really good repair. It’s wonderful to see these old signs restored and beautiful.
If you are planning on going, I recommend going at night so you can see them in their fullest glory. A tripod is very helpful to get a steady photograph of the signs, especially since many of them flash on and off. It’s difficult to stay steady AND click at the exact right time, so a tripod is a must for photography.
One note of warning: The Fremont Street area isn’t the safest place to be in Las Vegas. Make sure you secure your valuables, stay alert and go to a busier spot if you are worried about someone following you. On our visit, we had a man follow us half-way to our car. All of us were ready to attack the guy if he had tried anything, but because it was four-to-one, he decided to leave us alone.
Where:The Neon Museum: 821 N Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV Google Map Phone: (702) 387-6366 Admission: Free, outdoor exhibit
The Boneyard is available for photography by appointment only. Next visit to Vegas, I’m shelling out the 50 bucks to see the boneyard!
