Arrival Piont: Grand Canyon South Rim
We left Las Vegas with our trusty 1993 940Volvo in the early morning and traveled via US-95 S and US-93 S crossing over the Hoover Dam reaching I-40 to Williams Arizona. From there we headed due North on a straight road for about 80 miles until we reached the National Park in the early afternoon. Our Volvo did get a bit bored on the last leg of the trip as the traffic was very slow with many large mobile homes.
Just before entering the park, there is a National Park sign with a small parking ahead. Here there is a great photo op you should take advantage of where there is a stand for your camera if it has a delayed timer. This will give everybody a small relaxing break.
One tip, which your Volvo will appreciate as you will save you a bit of time waiting in traffic, is to get a Park Pass ahead of time which you can do online or at the last gas station before the Canyon. This way you can feel like royalty as you and your Volvo go in the express lane instead of waiting at the National Park Gate to pay for a pass which will cost you $25 for as many people as you can fit in your vehicle; thus the reason for all of the big rigs. But your 940 Volvo can fit comfortably up to five people. This way your average cost per person to experience a view of a lifetime is only $5 which is much better than getting a Foot Long from Subway.
After crossing into the park your GSP won’t be very handy, but not to worry you will be given a map. Then there is a bit more driving (about 7 miles) until you reach the South Rim. Parking during this time was a bit limited and we had to park on the side of the road but for our Volvo this was not a problem as it can turn on a dime. Then we walked the paths, saw the canyon and returned to the comforts of our Volvo for the remainder of our trip.
The Hoover Dam, originally known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada (wikipedia).
It was quite an honor to be able to drive over the Hoover Dam on I 93 from Nevada. The traffic moved slow due to construction but it was definitely worth the wait. As we got closer to the dam we saw the new bridge being constructed. I can’t wait to be able to drive over that one. It was even temping to do a Dukes of Hazard trying the bridge out anyways.
If you are planning to walk to the dam or take a tour you may be better off paying for the parking which was $5-10 dollars. But if you keep on driving southeast you will find free parking and it is actually a prettier view becuase of the elevation. And if your Volvo doesn’t mind, like I don’t, and your camera has a delaied timer, you can use the roof or hood as a tripod. I did pretty good throughout the trip taking pictures as my owners appreciated my contributions.
Las Vegas, Nevada is one of the most populated and brightest cities in the US. It is an impressive city, as you drive your Volvo up and down the strip going by The Bellagio, MGM, Caesar’s Palace, Wind, and so much more. There are a few must sees that you will definitely have to leave your Volvo behind for. And not to worry you can park for free in the parking garage of any casino but be ware that once you enter a casino they are truly built like mazes so you don’t get out but you end up either at their slots or in another connecting casino.
The sights which are breathtaking are first of all the Venetian. It is a mini replica of Venice with real Gondoliers which you can ride for $20 per person. As you walk the “streets” you hear people singing and you see actors dressed in authenic wear. When you look up you see a painted sky so real that you forget you are indoors.
The Bellagio not only has the popular singing fountains, but has a botanical garden display which is very relaxing to walk through. The Ceazar Pallace will make you feel like you are in Rome with grand architexture and scuplures. The Wind is also impressive with a man build mountain and Waterfall. And then there is Circus Circus where every 30 minutes their is a circus act. We saw Irena the Acrobat.
One thing I did learn after being in Vegas was if you want to leave with a small fortune, you better come with a large fortune. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is a popular statement but what was really implied was that your money will stay there. This does not have to be the case, becasue there is so much to do for free and the all-you-can- eat buffets are very cheap during 2-4pm, Excalibur particularry . But one thing is for sure, your Volvo is too precious to stay in Vegas.
Posted by OurVolvo.com on Mar 30, 2009 in 1993 Volvo 940
Good Looking Out:The act of watching out for someone in their best interest.
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San Francisco was a pretty cool place to drive around. I got to cruise up and down the boardwalk and saw the historic Pier 39, the sea lions, Alcatraz and these cute little motorized tour cars.
If you would like to park you can do so on the streets if you have coins for the meter or you can use a pier garage and get your ticket partially validated if you eat at a local restaurant. But this is still a bit expensive. And you cannot leave the Bay Area without trying the world-renown clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.
I was also able to go over the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. After the Golden Gate there is a great lookout point where you can take pictures. If you are ever in the area you have to stop.
And pretty cool of all for a Volvo like me, I was able to drive down the windiest road in the world after chasing the street cars and loosing a hubcap.
Posted by OurVolvo.com on Mar 27, 2009 in 1993 Volvo 940
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If you are ever traveling through Seattle, a must see is of course the famous Space Needle which has become the city’s icon. It is located in the Seattle Center where the 1962 World’s Fair was held.
When we first got to the Center we drove our Volvo around the Needle so we could appreciate it from all angles at ground level. If you are not too afraid of heights you can take an elevator to the top observation deck at get a topside-360 view. But unfortunately our dear Volvo could not make the trip with us. So we parked her on a nearby street just steps away from the Needle. During the daytime there was a paid meter but it was free parking in the evening.
The cost for the short trip to the top when we went was $16 for adults and $8 for children and the deck was open between 9am -12am, but it is definitely worth the trip back to see the Needle in the evening light although your pics will not turn out as good as in the day time. There is even a restaurant which revolves on the hour.
Posted by OurVolvo.com on Mar 27, 2009 in 1993 Volvo 940
California is one of the most refreshing states I’ve been through so far. You have the coast for the ocean lovers and then you have the plains and mountains as well. The elevation changes from one area to the other are so drastic that you can go skying and water surfing in the same day if you wish.
The landscape is very unique. I found interesting that most of the neighborhood lawns did not have grass. Instead, most had water retaining plants and rocks. But on the other hand, there are luscious green hills one after the other which makes for happy cows. And we all know that “great cheese comes from happy cows”.
I did get to see some of those famous happy cows, but no luck with catching a glimpse of Governor Arnold.
Posted by OurVolvo.com on Mar 26, 2009 in 1993 Volvo 940
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Just when I thought I had see the greatest monument of them all, Mount Rushmore, I drove roughly 17 miles southwest via US 16/385 and came upon another mountain sculpture that I didn’t even know existed. It is called “Crazy Horse” and is located in Black Hills, South Dakota. This monument is being constructed in honor of Chief Crazy Horse.
It is very impressive although it is not yet completed. The final dimensions of the monument are planned to be 641 feet wide and 563 feet high. The head of the Chief Crazy Horse alone is 87 feet high. This is 27 feet higher that any of the President’s heads on Mount Rushmore.
I learned that the monument has been in the making since 1948 and from what I saw there is still a lot of work to be done. Once finished, it is to expected to be the world’s largest statue. Pretty crazy.
Posted by OurVolvo.com on Mar 25, 2009 in 1993 Volvo 940
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I really felt like royalty as I drove the windy highway 244 to see Mount Rushmore. I was the only car on the road due to that there was a complete whiteout blizzard just the day before. If you are traveling through the area and would like to call ahead to get weather and road conditions like we did you can call (605) 574-2523.
Technically you are not allowed to stop or park before you actually get to the National Monument Park, but it was just too tempting to miss this photo op where I pictured myself as the Fifth President. Funny I know, but hey it could happen.
The park itself doesn’t have an entrance fee yet there is a $10 dollar parking fee. Hummmm? And don’t forget about the cave on the side of Mount Rushmore. Yes, it’s true, just like in the movie National Treasure with Nicolas Cage, there is a cave.
Posted by OurVolvo.com on Mar 24, 2009 in 1993 Volvo 940
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Going West on I-90 through South Dakota there were hundreds of billboards every other mile advertising five cent coffee at this place called “Wall Drug”. This of course sparked my interest and I was getting tired of driving anyways so I stopped at exit 109 in Wall, South Dakota.
Well sure enough, I found the place, which was like a scene you would see in a Western. I parked in front of the drugstore, and my owners mosied on in to find the famous 5 cent coffee. The people inside were very friendly and helpful although the coffee was self-serve on an honor policy. Also advertised was free ice water but since we were all just stuck in a blizzard for 2 days, the coffee was much more appealing. When my owners returned they surprised me with a souvenir bumper sticker which was free per each constomer. They had several too choose from but the one shown below was the what they brought me. Green goes great with white and it really brings out the color of my headlights.
