Located near Stovepipe Wells and just east of the Mesquite Flat Dunes along California Hwy 190 is the Devils Cornfield. You know, it's funny how often the Devil's name shows up in Death Valley, and even funnier that there isn't a stalk of corn to be found in this photogenic patch of weeds. Rather, these clumps of brush are actually Arroweed, and if you use your imagination a bit they sort of resemble harvested sheaves of corn, and did to the pioneers as they crossed the desert, thirsty and desperate for food. Unfortunately for them, it turned out to be "corn" that only the Devil himself could grow and eat!
A little over two hours west of Las Vegas lies one of the most desolate places in the United States. Encompassing over 3 million acres (roughly 5,000 square miles), Death Valley is the largest national park within the 48 contiguous United States. With temperatures soaring over 120-degrees in the summer, it is on average one of the hottest places on Earth. And believe me, the heat is ridiculous, especially at the bottom of the valley floor. Within Death Valley you will find some of the most barren and surreal landscapes on the planet, which you can enjoy through the windows of your car, or on foot while you explore the park. Since we visited Death Valley in June, we did a little of both.
One of the oldest botanical gardens in North America, the US Botanic Garden, sitting on 3 acres, is a 30,000 SF oasis in the middle of Washington, DC. Along with it's permanent exhibits featuring rare and exotic plants from around the world, the botanic garden features rotating exhibits that interpret the role of plants in supporting the earth and its ecosystem and how plants enrich human life. With it's 3 story tall greenhouse, the botanic garden is easy to spot at the corner of Independence Ave. and First Street, across from the United States Capitol.
I have experienced the feeling of deja vu a few times in my life, and when arrived at the Paris Hotel in Vegas, I felt it. It was like we had been transported back to Paris, France. We had been there three years earlier and here we were, once again standing near the Eiffel Tower, albeit one that is a tad bit smaller.
And I must say the hotel does a very good job at bottling up all the charms of the French capital and bringing it to the Vegas strip. From the replica cobblestone streets winding around the restaurants, cafes, and casinos on the ground floor, to the smell of freshly baked croissants in the morning, I found myself pleasantly surprised during our stay.
