2015 Big Bear Jeep Jamboree- Days 1 & 2

The first weekend in May, Dan and I attended our second Big Bear Jeep Jamboree. Learning from last year, we planned to arrive early for the Thursday night check-in. Home base for the event is at the Elks Lodge, located right on the edge of the village. Our vacation home is still under construction, so we booked three nights at the Northwoods Resort, which is just across the street from the Elks Lodge. It's also across the street from our favorite local business, the Le Dolce Vita Tasting room. Our plan for the weekend- Jeep, Wine, Bed. Repeat.

We parked our Jeep Wrangler in the inspection queue and had an hour to kill. The weather was starting to turn cold and we heard rumors of rain and possible snow. Luckily, the Elks opened their doors, so that we could get out of the cold. We had coffee and caught up with friends from the previous Jeep Jamboree.

We were near the front of the line for inspections and as soon as they got started, we breezed through. Last year, we had a brand-new, stock Jeep and went in the intermediate group.. It was a challenge enough with no modifications, but we wanted more. Immediately after the last Jamboree, we took it to Rebel Off-Road and got modified. We wanted to tackle the toughest trails, so we joined the red group.

Advice for anyone who is thinking of doing a Jamboree; some of the groups fill up fast. This year, there were a lot of people trying to get into the beginning groups and some of them had to be pushed into intermediate. The guides are great and they will not allow you to be in a group if your vehicle can't handle it, but to truly get what you want, arrive early to registration. When we finished, the line for the vehicle inspection extended out of the parking lot and wrapped around the block.

We woke up early the next morning to this view from our hotel room window.

Snow in May!!!!

Dan was an excellent husband and he let me stay warm inside the room, while he tackled scraping ice off of the Jeep. The Los Angeles girl in me, actually thought that the event might be canceled. Oh no, the snow only makes it more fun. Snow = Mud.

It was too chilly to have the morning driver's meeting outside, so they held it in the lodge. This is the same room where the evening dinners are held.

Our Friday trail was Mottino Wash and Rattlesnake Canyon, which is only accessible by driving through a privately owned ranch. Luckily the owner is very cool about letting Jeeps access the trail.

We aired down in Big Bear, where the weather was just beginning to ease up.

The landscape and weather changed as we drove away from Big Bear and into the desert.

We saw a cow family!

At first, Mottino Wash didn't seem like a big deal, but very quickly the trail narrowed and the rocks turned into boulders. We had the Jeep with the smallest tires, only 33 inches, but thanks to great guides, Dan's skillful driving and winches, we still managed to make it over all of the obstacles.

We finished Mottino Wash and made it back to the Elks Lodge in plenty of time for the BBQ Rib dinner. The Yellow group, who was doing the same trails as us, but on alternate days, was late returning from John Bull. The snow created problems for them. After our Jeep survived Mottino Wash, we were ready to attempt John Bull, the toughest trail in Big Bear and our destination for the second day of the Jamboree.

Bryce Canyon Lodge- April 2015

On our 2012 trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, Dan and I stayed in a cabin. This time, the cabins were not open for the season, but we were able to book rooms in the main lodge. Honestly, I was a little relieved. Although the cabins are cute, staying in the woods was creepy. I'm used to city noises, not nature.

The lodge books up fast and we were only able to get a suite for our one night stay. The lodge has three suites, all named for locals important to the history of the area. We were in the John Wesley Powell suite.

It was very comfortable and located on the second floor of the main lodge, which made it convenient for both dining and walking out to the canyon. The rooms at the Bryce Canyon Lodge do not have television or wifi, however they did provide us with a CD player and several new age discs for our entertainment. It was nap inducing.

I thought that the carpeted bench was a tad odd.

The main lobby was filled with rustic decor, like log lighting fixtures with fake candles. This was the one area where wifi is available, making the lobby an extremely popular place.

We splashed out and ate dinner in the restaurant at the lodge, which was very good and pricy. It's really the only meal option, so it also gets very crowded and they do not take reservations. I ordered the special, which was crab cakes. Yum. They were rich and creamy, definitely a departure from my diet!

In efforts to get to the canyon to catch the sunset, we postponed dessert. We also mixed things up and went to the empty sunrise vantage point, which proved to be plenty spectacular for the sunset.

Numb from the cold, we ran back to the restaurant for part two of our meal, dessert and coffee.

The next morning was reserved for a hike through Bryce before the drive back to Vegas. I bundled up and went to breakfast, fully intending on joining Dan and Niklas on the hike. After a bowl of oatmeal, I walked outside and it was so cold, that I felt like I was being stabbed by a million icicles. I turned around and ran back to our suite, where I turned cranked the heater to full blast and read my book.

Dan took some absolutely breathtaking pictures from their hike. If you've never been to Bryce, it's other-worldly and a must-do. It's truly one of the most magical and unusual places that I've ever visited. Here are some my favorites from their hike. Also, as usual, Dan gets credit for any picture that I've posted that looks amazing. The less spectacular food photography is all me.

We had another wonderful visit to Bryce Canyon National Park and I learned my lesson about packing appropriately for cooler climates. Not everywhere is sunny Los Angeles! Imagine that?

Las Vegas March 2014- Silverton Casino

Our Las Vegas must-do list always includes a stop to the Bass Pro Shop. In a city where everything is large than life, nothing is quite as spectacular as the Bass Pro Shop. It's a spectacle. The store is located adjacent to the Silverton Casino and on our Christmas trip, we spent a little time gambling in the hotel. When I say little, I mean little. It didn't take a whole lot to have the offers of free rooms, slot tournaments and dining credit come our way. We decided to take them up on an offer during a weekend in March.

Silverton has a nature/lodge theme, with wood beams and wildlife art. The theming of the Bass Pro Shop spills over into the theme of the hotel. It's cozy. We liked the decor of the casino and anticipated that it would carry over to the rooms.

This is a small hotel and we were given a room on the top floor with a partially obstructed pool view. Our room was basic, but it met all of our needs. Did I mention that it was free?

The bath tub was too small and shallow for a proper bath. I loved that they featured Bath and Body Works products. Rainkissed leaves smelled wonderful.

My favorite part of the room was the reading material. What other hotel are you going to get this?

Our room had a funky smell when we arrived, but it was late and we didn't call to complain. The next day, we noticed the smell when we came back from the pool. It was awful. We called and within ten minutes a nice woman from housekeeping came to the rescue. We were moved to an identical room, minus the smell and she gave us a handful of vouchers for our trouble.

Every single staff member that we encountered at Silverton was super friendly and helpful. Seriously, they were giving Disney a run for their money in the customer service department.

This was first really warm weekend of the year and I was very excited to use the pool. We practically had the pool to ourselves. It was too early in their season to have staff working the pool area, so no cocktail service. The pool is tiny and a concrete jungle. It wasn't very nice and I can't even imagine it on a busy day. The pool complex desperately needs an upgrade.

We had food credit and coupons, so we tried several of the restaurants. I was most impressed with the cafe, which has good quality food with a wide selection. It's inexpensive and the restaurant is pretty with a continued nature theme. I was less than impressed with the buffet, especially steer clear of "Polynesian Night." Ick.

The best spot in the hotel is at the Mermaid Bar, which has chairs facing a giant aquarium. It's mesmerizing. Several times during the day, the aquarium has shows with women dressed as mermaids, who swim with the fish, sharks and stingrays. They have a smaller aquarium with beautiful jellyfish.

We enjoyed our stay at Silverton, but it doesn't compare to staying on the strip. Silverton is a much quieter casino that attracts both an older crowd and large families with young children. We fit in neither category. Since the pool is a disappointment, it's not really a warm weather hotel. We found ourselves leaving the Silverton frequently to get to the strip for entertainment and better food options. The hotel is clean and safe, but very basic. You can't beat staying for free, but I wouldn't pay more than fifty-sixty a night for a room here. That said, if you have a car, it's probably cleaner and nicer than comparable hotels on the strip. Plus, it has the best staff in Vegas!