After waking up, we rode our golf car from the Casita rooms to the main lobby to eat breakfast. After doing that, we went to The Ranch at Death Valley to buy souvenirs and ate lunch there. After that, we drove to the lowest point in North America.
Badwater Basin
Badwater Basin is the lowest place in North America. It used to be a lake but since had dried up thousands of years ago. The only things that remain are the mounds and mounds of saltwater. We tromped in the salt for half a mile to explore deeper. After taking some pictures, we drove up north again to Artist's Drive.
Badwater Basin at Death Valley National Park of CaliforniaBadwater Pool is not poisonous just salty, as the presence of pickleweed, aquatic insects, and larvae proves. It is also home to one of the Death Valley’s rarest animal - the Badwater Snail.The path heads toward a wider salt field in Badwater Basin at Death Valley National Park
Rain falls on distant peaks from Badwater creates floods that rush ever lower. Along the way, minerals dissolve from rocks and join the flood. As the water evaporates, minerals concentrate until the salts remain. After thousands of years, enough salts have washed in to produce layer upon layer of salt crust.Various colored salt fields in Badwater of Death Valley National ParkThe vast surreal salt flats of Badwater Basin change constantly. Salt crystals expand, pushing the crust of salt into rough, chaotic forms.Badwater Basin is 282 feet/85.5 meters below sea levelDo you see the Sea Level sign in the center of this picture? It tells how deep we are at below the Sea Level in Badwater Basin of Death Valley National Park.
Artist’s Palette
The Artist's Drive in Death Valley National Park is one of the most unique things you can do in the area. The drive takes you through canyons and passes mountains, many of which are covered in loads of fantastic colors.
Once arriving at Artist's Drive, we looked at the incredible sights ahead. What a sight! With colors ranging from green to purple, Artist's Palette is one of the best seanic spots in Death Valley. We went up to one of the purple hills and held a rock. It was pure purple-ish. After viewing the canyon and the colorful mounds a bit more, we went to Golden Canyon.
Artist’s Platte of Death Valley National Park. Colored minerals include red hematite and green chlorite are splashed across the slope. It is truly a natural artist’s platte.A platte of color in the Artist’s Palette of Death Valley National Park
Golden Canyon
This interpretive trail though a scenic canyon in Death Valley is a popular hiking destination. Golden Canyon trail can be extended to Badlands Loop and Zabriskie Point would be the exit. After a short hike, we left for Las Vegas.
Amazing rock shapes in the Golden Canyon trail of Death Valley. Some scenes of Star Wars movie episode IV were filmed in this area.Golden Canyon trail is the most popular trail in Death Valley National Park
Once arriving at Las Vegas, we checked in ARIA Resort and Casino.
We stayed two nights in ARIA Resort and Casino in Las VegasOur two bed room in ARIA Resort and Casino, Las Vegas
Rainforest Cafe
After unpacking at the hotel, we went over to the malls next to Planet Hollywood hotel and ate at the Rainforest Cafe. The Cafe is a restaurant with animatronic animals who move occasionaly. Every 20 minutes there would be a storm, enhancing the experience.
We dined at Rainforest Cafe that is located in the mall next to Planet Hollywood hotelWe saw an ‘alligator’ at the entrance of Rainforest Cafe at Las Vegas StripA bunch of rainforest fruits are decorated in the Rainforest Cafe of Las VegasTwo elephants are found in the dining area of Rainforest Cafe in Las VegasWe also saw a troop of garillas in Rainforest Cafe of Las Vegas
