Standing in Two States At Once – The Hoover Dam

Chris Boothman
-
20
Standing in Two States At Once – The Hoover Dam

When you head to Las Vegas, Nevada your first thought is probably going to be about the dazzling lights and sounds associated with the casinos and the infamous Vegas Strip. Of course that is part of going to Vegas but I would urge you to think outside the box for a moment when you first arrive at McCarron International Airport in Vegas and consider heading East to Boulder City, home of the Hoover Dam.

Aside from this being an amazing piece of infrastructure, you have the ability to stand not only in two states (Nevada and Arizona) at the same time but also two different time zones (Pacific and Mountain). This in itself is pretty cool and I can only imagine how difficult this would be to adjust to if you lived in Vegas and then drove to say Kingman, AZ on a daily basis.

The Hoover Dam – Nevada Side

Approaching the Hoover Dam from Vegas, your first obstacle to overcome after driving through Boulder City is to get through the security checkpoint. Fortunately our experience was seamless and we were waived through (I guess we should take that as if we don’t look suspicious, so that’s a positive!) without having to be thoroughly searched. There are several exits along the way as you drop down into the canyon to the Hoover Dam that you can get out and take some excellent shots of Lake Mead and surrounding area. One of the really cool views was on the side of the mountains where the trains used to run through, the old disused tunnels are now available for hikers to walk through and explore. You can also access the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge which is the central portion of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project and crosses over the width of the Colorado River, extending from the Arizona side back to Nevada.

IMG_0132

As you drop down to the actual location of the Hoover Dam, you are presented with the option of parking in the ‘official’ parking garage for $10 which despite it’s apparent excellent location is rather misleading and I would recommend continuing across the Dam, into Arizona and parking on one of the several parking lots on the side of the road which are FREE. The main visitor center offers a wide variety of souvenirs and also encompasses a cafe for anyone wanting to grab a bite to eat.

The Hoover Dam – Arizona Side

Crossing the Nevada-Arizona State line half way across the Hoover Dam, you enter Mountain Time Zone. As I just mentioned, parking on this side is for the most part free and highly recommended. If you follow the scenic drive to the summit of the canyon, there is a quaint little gift shop offering Hoover Dam souvenirs but given that you can’t go any further into Arizona on this route, you are required to turn around and head back down towards Nevada. Beware though that the prices in this Arizona store tend to be a little higher than the official visitor center which may be surprising but maybe it’s because each store is located in a different state.

IMG_0117

Parking in one of the spots on this side and then wandering back down to the main Hoover Dam feature is a worthwhile experience and you then have the decision to make whether you want to participate in one of the Dam tours available to you. The two main tours include the cheaper Powerplant tour option which is only $15 per person and the more expensive Hoover Dam tour which is a fairly steep $30 per person. We opted against either of these tours as we felt we experienced the dam sufficiently from the outside without having to explore the interior. I am sure it is a worthwhile experience if you decide to do either of these tours.

Frequently driving up and down the canyon is the comically named, ‘Dam Bus’ but appropriate for the location of course! Tourists from all sides of the globe venture here to see the magnificent design of the Hoover Dam, it really is  a spectacular piece of human manufacturing that clearly has benefits to the local areas along the Colorado River.

The Memorial Bridge

The first thing to say about the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is that it really is a spectacular sight from the Hoover Dam itself and also when you are physically on the bridge. Spanning across the Colorado River, this arch bridge measures over 1200ft and has a similar elevation at the crest of the bridge with the river flowing beneath. A warning for anyone with a fear of heights that walking across this bridge may not be for you but I have to admit it’s a really cool experience. As you leave the Hoover Dam area, you can park near the top and then walk up a series of steps that depict the history of the construction of the Memorial Bridge.

IMG_0151

As you cross the bridge, you have some really amazing views of the canyon and Hoover Dam. There is a plate secured in the bridge floor indicating the state line, without doubt a popular spot for tourists to get that perfect shot.

The overall experience at the Hoover Dam is awesome. I would highly recommend anyone taking an afternoon out of their trip to Las Vegas to head beyond Boulder City to see this because the construction, innovation and overall design is a must-see to really appreciate the magnitude of this dam and Memorial Bridge. Plus you get the added incentive of being able to tell your friends and family that you ‘stood in two states at the same time’ and even better ‘two different time zones’.

Cocoon Grid-It Organizer – Product Review

Heather Boothman
-
8
Cocoon Grid-It Organizer – Product Review

Cocoon Grid-It has several different product options that will meet your every need. I opted for the Medium (10.5 x  7.5) Grid-it Organizer but they offer a wide range of other sizes. As far as price goes I paid $17.99 but they have options starting as low as $9.99.

grid

I have always brought my handbag with me on trips and everything I need (that is allowed on the plane) I packed. The problem I found with this process is when it came time for me to use something I wasted time searching in what seemed like the bottomless pit of my handbag, ladies you understand.  After purchasing this product it has helped me to be more organized both on our travels and in everyday life.

The Pros

  • It has a loop built in for hanging if needed
  • Sturdy and well made
  • Having go-to items easily accessible
  • Wide range of different product lines
  • Lightweight, easily fits in any bag
  • Unique design making this a top rated item

The Cons

  • Sometimes difficult to organize multiple items because of the grid design
  • Expensive for a cable holder

Conclusion

This is a clever way to organize all those cables that often get tangled. Many people may be put off by the price of this item, but I think its worth the expense to ensure I have everything I need in one convenient place. I would recommend this product to anyone who struggles with organization. Consider researching Cocoon Innovations for more information about this product because it is imperative you pick the correct size for your needs.

*In no way was I compensated for this review, this is solely my personal opinion/experience*

Flying the Southwest Airlines Experience

Chris Boothman
-
28
Flying the Southwest Airlines Experience

How many times have you heard folks complaining about cancellations, missed connections, poor customer service etc.? Let’s face the facts we are all accustomed to reading negative reviews about airlines. However, we don’t frequently read too many positive reviews on airlines so I wanted to reverse the norm here and share our first experiences with Southwest Airlines that have been extremely positive.

southwest plane

In 2013, I applied for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa credit card offered by Chase. The benefit at the time was a bonus 50k miles which sounded great but still in the back of my mind I had no idea what to expect given that we had never flown Southwest before. I heard a lot of mixed reviews about this airline that has just purchased AirTran to expand their flight networks but it’s one of those that you just have to experience yourself before arriving at any conclusions.

I was also able to achieve the Companion Pass status in 2013 that enabled me to purchase flights through the end of 2014 and get a free ticket each purchase for Heather. This seemed like another great deal, almost too good to be true especially given our lack of flying time with Southwest.

The Check-In Experience

The first unusual aspect of Southwest Airlines is the check-in process. 24 hours prior to your flight departure you are required to be online and check-in. This is purely a first come, first serve basis to establish a boarding number. Yes, that’s right it is a boarding number rather than a seat assignment!

What does this mean you may ask if you have never flown with Southwest? Well, Southwest Airlines have a unique system of no seat assignments and you can literally sit wherever you want on the plane as you board, so essentially the earlier you check-in the better seat choice you will have!

Our return flight from Philadelphia to Memphis via Chicago was actually cancelled and we were alerted by e-mail the night before providing contact details on how to reschedule. The customer service agent was extremely helpful and rebooked us on a direct flight via Orlando (not sure how they can claim this was direct aside from the fact we stayed on the plane in Florida).

The Airport Experience

Our first trip using Southwest Airlines almost started disastrously as we almost missed our flight from Memphis to Philadelphia (via Chicago-Midway). Departing at 7:25AM, we arrived at Memphis terminal around 6:55AM and still had to get through security and make our way to the gate. Fortunately we arrived in time, but we lost our early advantage of checking-in, as we had to make do with what seats were left available. We were lucky that this was a relatively quiet flight to Chicago so still had two seats together on the very back row of the Boeing 737-300.

IMG_2301

Another benefit with Southwest is the ability to take not only one but two free bags if you decide to check them in. Added to your usual hand luggage you take on to the plane and you have the potential to take quite a substantial amount of luggage if you need to.

The transition and layover at the Southwest terminal in Chicago was smooth without any issues. Boarding for the second time we were able to really take advantage of our early check-in and with position A27 and A28 we were able to get seated on the emergency exit rows, which have the extra legroom.

The Flight Experience

The most notable aspect of Southwest Airlines is their laid back approach with customer service and the way they conduct business. This is certainly not what you would associate with a major airline and may be slightly concerning to many, but honestly this works really well for them! I was very impressed with the flight attendants and how friendly they were, always talkative and appearing more relaxed than most airlines.

SW Interior

To put this into context, I feel that many airlines have their flight attendants almost following a script, not only when reading the safety guidelines but also with everything they do onboard. Southwest Airlines is the exact opposite and I appreciated that.

Drinks are offered early in the flight which is standard practice but rather than struggling with a drinks cart down the aisle, the attendants walk by asking each traveler what they would like to drink. The menu seems to be more extensive in terms of soft drinks and of course they offer alcohol beverages for a small $5 charge if you are interested (plus if you fly on certain holidays such as New Year’s Day and Valentines Day, they give you a free alcoholic beverage!)

IMG_2317

Overall Experience

Southwest Airlines have a major competitive advantage over their rival domestic airlines with so many aspects including their free baggage, no seat assignment and extremely friendly customer service. I hope we will continue to have such positive experiences with Southwest as we hope to be flying with them frequently over the next 12 months with our Companion Pass status.

IMG_0083

With the acquisition of AirTran, Southwest are heading international. AirTran’s routes include destinations such as Aruba, Cancun and the Dominican Republic. Whenever Southwest have transitioned over all of these routes, they will be a very powerful airline throughout the USA that I feel many folks will be hard pressed to ignore!

What are your experiences with Southwest Airlines?

The Louvre – Art Fanatics Dream

Chris Boothman
-
22
The Louvre – Art Fanatics Dream

Before you start reading this post, I want to start out by saying that I am NOT at all interested in art or art history. So you may be wondering why I would even bother visiting the Louvre Art Museum in Paris? Well, I think the simple answer to this is that it is ‘the Louvre’ – need I say anymore!! If you are ever going to visit a museum to experience the works of historical artists such as Da Vinci et al, then the Louvre is probably ‘the’ museum you will want to see.

The Louvre

The Louvre is an amazing piece of architectural mastery in itself and that is even before you enter the doors of the Pyramid to gain access to historical masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa. The exterior of the Louvre is extremely impressive and you can spend some time just wandering around the grounds and looking in awe at the architecture that has gone into the design of not only the museum but also Napoleon’s former residence on that wing.

Once you enter inside the pyramid and descend into the basement to purchase your tickets, you begin to realize the scope and magnitude of the Louvre’s size. I can honestly say that I never thought I would spend over 3 hours in a art museum but that is the reality of what we did as we tried to see as much of the Louvre as possible.

DSC_0016

There are three wings inside the Louvre, all of which contain very different pieces of art ranging from Egyptian and Greek sculptures to those infamous paintings:

  • the Richelieu (after Armand Richelieu, 17th Century French statesman, cardinal and monarchist)
  • the Sully (after Maximilien Sully, 17th Century French statesman)
  • the Denon (after Dominique Denon, 18th Century French illustrator, scientist and author).

There were many aspects of the museum that I have to openly admit I was a little bored with, probably because of my lack of knowledge and appreciation of these works of art.

DSC_0115

However, I did enjoy seeing the Mona Lisa or ‘La Joconde’ in person and I was very surprised by the size of the painting. I was expecting something more substantial but just being in the same room as the most famous painting in the world is a pretty good feeling. Added to this the security in that room and the fact that this was the only painting behind what I figured was bulletproof glass.

DSC_0110

The final wing we visited was the former residence of Napoleon. The majestic décor throughout of all the rooms was clearly visible but I think the most interesting room was his bedroom which housed a bed that appeared to be not much more than 5ft in length, chairs lined up to the left of the bed which were likely for his security, and an abundance of grandeur scattered on the walls and mantelpiece.

DSC_0151 (1)

I am not going to go into details of everything you can see in the Louvre Museum; rather I would encourage you to experience this for yourself. Admission prices are certainly reasonable because you can easily spend at least half a day in the museum and probably miss several areas.

Do you enjoy visiting art museums?

Have you visited the Louvre and if so, what are your opinions (positive/negative)?

1...153154155...183Page 154 of 183