TravelswithCharie

Only 20 minutes from your favorite casino on Las Vegas Boulevard, Red Rock Canyon can’t be missed especially when you need a breather . The natural scenery and wide open spaces are spectacular and if Instagram is your photo album, there are lots of photo ops here to impress your followers.   The one way, 13-mile scenic drive is a paved road with lots of overlooks to get up close to the rock formations formed millions of years ago. The Park has 26 numbered trails if you like to hike. You can also go horseback riding or mountain biking as well as rock climbing. The Visitor Center has a lot of information about the evolution of Red Rock Canyon and the flora and wildlife that inhabit its terrain. Pick up your scenic map and trail guide there before you start your scenic drive. Don’t forget to look for desert tortoises in the canyon. Turtlehead Peak in the background There’s a trail here that goes to Turtlehead Peak and Calico Tanks Calico Hills Calico Hills Overlook The reddish color of

The Bellagio Las Vegas celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year with a floral display of thousand of plants and flowers showcasing the “eye of the tiger” (2022 is the year of the tiger). An 8000 pound bronze tiger is at the center of the display amidst an explosion of colors. A golden money tree symbolizing good fortune dazzles to the right of the tiger.  In the Chinese zodiac calendar, the tiger represents strength, wisdom and bravery. Bromeliads add a touch of the tropics to the garden. This vignette represents a knickknack peddler. Notice the pomegranate fruits above the umbrella. The lotus is a symbol of rebirth and regeneration just as the new year brings renewed energy for a fresh start. Children fishing beside a pagoda. What an inviting tea house with a koi pond and carefully selected flora! This enormous flower is a mosaic made from crushed petals and pink roses. The “Eye of the Tiger” will be on display until March 5, 2022. The Spring display follows a week later on March 12th. The f

Ca' d'Oro The last time I was in Venice was nearly two years ago. It was in mid June and Venice was teeming with visitors.  We took the vaporetto which was jam-packed with passengers bound for St. Mark's Square. It was scary full. And I had no view of the beautiful palazzos that line the canals.  So nice to see a replica of the Ca' d'Oro's façade in Las Vegas. This 15th century palace is my favorite building in Venice.  It's all about the balconies, each one with its own distinct personality.  Tour Eiffel Disguised against the black of night, who would think that this tower is on the Strip and not in the City of Light? Were it not for the building in the background, this scene could be mistaken for Paris! Miracle Mile Shops Clouds dot the bluest sky inside a shopping mall. It's nice to be indoors when it's smouldering hot outside and have a glimpse of the sky, faux though it may be.  Fortunately, I have something he

We all dream of having a beautiful garden. Preferably without weeds. Just flowers in bloom and green grass all year round. Which is why I just love to see the seasonal floral display at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas. I know I will never be able to plant healthy blooms such as those at Bellagio on hardpan soil. But I have great expectations anyway. These larger than life lady beetles are made of hundreds of red carnations and are surrounded by a sea of mums and kalanchoe. And the frog prince reigns contentedly amidst yellow, red, and blue flowers anchored by a pavilion draped with stars and stripes banners. The frog prince is appropriately clad in what else? - kermit chrysanthemums, reindeer moss, green coffee bean and sheer moss. A little whimsy goes a long way. Bicycles with floral baskets tossed idly against a wooden railing and a ticket booth signal lazy days ahead. Message: don't rush. Just enjoy the long, hot days of summer un

Lime Green Icicle Tower I finally had the chance to enter the Chihuly Gallery at City Center in Las Vegas recently and marveled at the beautiful pieces that were on display. I was riveted to the Lime Green Icicle Tower  which is almost floor to ceiling in height. It was mesmerizing to stare down at the reflection of the Tower on its mirror base and to check out the individual "icicles" up close. I love the cubicle idea where there's a niche for the smaller artworks. The colors are amazing!  Here's one of the pieces up close. I believe this one belongs to his Persians series. Below is a better picture (than the one I previously posted) of his Cobalt Reeds and Spears . The Gallery also features paintings by Dale Chihuly. Hours are from 10am - 11pm Sundays through Thursday and 10am - 12am on Fridays and Saturdays. *  *  * Images by Charie

The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas consistently produces one of the best floral displays. This spring, the botanical garden is awash with tulips. What a sight to behold amidst the slot machine jungle! This carousel sits in a field of blooms - violet colored mums, yellow tulips. The Bellagio Hotel changes its floral theme every season. It's always fun to see what each season yields. The inspiration of this floral arrangement comes from a landscape painting by David Hockney which is currently on exhibit at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. The exhibition entitled "A Sense of Place: From Monet to Hockney" continues through January 9, 2012. There are a lot of whimsical touches such as shown above. Entrance to the botanical gardens is free. What a relaxing way to spend with family and friends admiring the happy colors of Easter. And I love these parasols hanging from the dome of the Via Bellagio shops. It's just so spring-y! Happy Easter everyone. *  *  * Ima

We couldn't get into the Dale Chihuly Gallery in Las Vegas as there was a private event the afternoon of our visit so we had to make do with admiring Chihuly's works through the glass window.  The images were a challenge to take because the reflection of outdoor lights and the Lumia fountain in the central courtyard compete with the works of Chihuly.  Despite that, this group of blue glass candles or reeds of blue ( I don't know the title of this work) is a showstopper.  We saw enough to make us want to come back for more. Hopefully we'll be lucky on our next visit and get a closer look at these beautiful chandeliers that are bursting with color. You can see through the delicate glass vases and coffee table art. Notice the varying hues of orange of these floral inspired bowls. The Dale Chihuly Gallery is at Aria at City Center on the Strip in Las Vegas. *  *  * Images by Charie

Mastro's Ocean Club at Crystals Retail District It's refreshing to see how the City Center Complex has transformed the Las Vegas skyline with its brash and dynamic architecture and its fine art collection thoughtfully displayed in public spaces. I love to walk around the complex and discover a Henry Moore in one of its courtyards or a Claes Oldenburg en plein air or stop and gape at the leaning Veer Towers and be mesmerized by the incredible and colorful works of Dale Chiluly in one of the galleries. Even at Crystals Retail District there are a number of  artworks like the Ocean Club Restaurant inside a treehouse that rises up three stories (picture above).  Here are more images to give you a bird's eye view of the new Complex. Looking up at Aria Hotel from the outdoor fountains Reclining Connected Forms by Henry Moore (1969-1974)  Typewriter Eraser, Scale X by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen Tony Cragg's stainless steel sculptures Veer Towers *  *  * Im

Intriguing entrance to one of the hottest spots in town The glory days of the Roman empire lives on at Caesar's Palace Hotel's upscale shopping arcade Continuing our tour of Italy, it's on to Venice for a view of these gondolas gliding along the canals of the Venetian Hotel From Venice to Paris is a short walk. Vegas triumphs with its own Arc de Triomphe! Planet Hollywood has a casino, a peepshow , a strip house and a mile long shopping mall Triple 3x. Hey, that's a winner! (it's a five-cent machine, lol) Oops, someone got a little out of hand. Graduation week! * * * Images by Charie