Everyone has a magical place to go to where negativity disappears. One of the magical places I go…read moreto is the Magic Tree in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area off of the River Mountains Loop Trail at Mile Marker 13. The Magic Tree is a tall cottonwood tree that got its name from it being magic that a tall cottonwood thrives in the desert. In an exaggerated way it reminds me of the Tree of Life in Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom. Seeing it in proportion to the desert, the Magic Tree looks monumental. Then again, it isn't an exageration that the Magic Tree is The Tree of Life. When my spirit is dying and I have worries, this is a special spot where I leave the material world to open up my soul. This has been a place where I have prayed and spent time in reflection. If anything it has improved my quality of life. This is a magical place that is accessible by a 1.2 mile hike or bike ride on the precious River Mountains Loop Trail (abbreviated RMLT). To reach the parking lot from the Las Vegas Valley, you want to head eastbound on Lake Mead Parkway (Nevada Route 564) all the way to the boundary of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area border. Immediately before the Fee Station, you will turn right into the RMLT parking lot. This is a modern parking lot with sufficient parking spaces. From the parking lot you will head toward a kiosk. Here, you will see some useful information about the area. Beyond the kiosk is a short RMLT spur. At the T-intersection, turn left on the River Mountains Loop Trail. The paved trail starts off straight as it brings you into the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. At this point the trail transitions into a rural landscape with a parallel equestrian trail. The trail gains elevation as the 's-curves blend into the contours of the desert hills. The scenery improves with a scenic overlook of Lake Las Vegas and a vista of the rolling desert carpet reaching toward the mountains and Lake Mead. In the distance below, you could make out a Circle of green. This is the Magic Tree. The RMLT winds along another s-curve as it lowers back to the desert floor. It soon straightens out as it rejoins the equestrian trail. Near the mile marker 13, it will separate from the equestrian trail again. Now you want to keep right on the equestrian trail that will reach the Magic Tree in a short distance. The Magic Tree looks more like a savanna than a desert. It is an oasis. When you look at the Magic Tree you will notice a pipeline travelling horizontal in its shadow. This pipeline itself is interesting for the fact that it is one of the first water pipelines from Lake Mead. This very water is part of the soundtrack to a visit to the Magic Tree. If you close your eyes, it has that nice sound of a waterfall. To take in the Grand views of the Magic Tree, I suggest that you duck under the pipeline. This is the spot to spend time in reflection at the Magic Tree. Beyond the Magic Tree is a magical world of hiking trails. I call the trail originating from the Magic Tree toward the River Mountains foothills the Magic Tree Trail. It travels on a rocky topography through small canyons with slight elevation gains. In March, the wildflower bloom brings the desert to life. This is an area worthy of exploring. I give the Magic Tree five stars. How can I give a magical place any less?

Just a joy of a thing to do to get away from the casinos. Thank you for building these!!!read more

Cool little spot right behind the casinos. The directions on yelp were a little off, but it was…read morejust a little ways down the road. The marker is right in the side of the road so it's easy to spot. Super peaceful and kind of amazing that someone had the patience and artistry to create something like this. I enjoyed walking through the big spiral, there are a couple of them. I think others have made their own little ones nearby and the rock balancings. All the recent rain made for some pretty flowers scattered around. Good for a nice morning walk outside the smoky casino life across the way.

Sightseeing in Las Vegas, Nevada…read more.. While browsing through my Yelp app under "Local Flavor", I remembered seeing "The Wishing Tree", but didn't pay attention to the location because I didn't think we would be in the vicinity. Lo and behold... My friends and I happened to be walking through the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian when I spotted The Wishing Tree! I was so shocked... I forgot about trying to scan the QR code and making a wish. Shucks!!! I guess we'll need to return and try it out!

No one knows exactly why this is called The Wishing Tree. You'll find it on the second floor in The…read moreShoppes at The Palazzo, near Sushisamba. They have cushioned seats around the tree and four charging outlets which is nice! Personally, I think this tree is more like a time-saving compass. From the elevator, I can see the tree. If I go right, the path leads to Sushisamba. If I go left, the path leads to The Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes. But if I keep going straight, that pathway goes through all the designer boutiques and accessories, and I end up shopping!

Great stop on Route 66 between Oatman, Arizona and Kingman, Arizona! They have all sorts of Route…read more66 things to purchase. They have cool jewelry and gemstones too.

Had such a fun time. Staff were very friendly. Such a cool stop would recommend to anyone:)read more

Okay, wife was not happy at all with this detour at all. She basically kept looking at me with a…read moreWTF look the last 1 1/2 miles. The journey to view the journey was around 7 miles off route 93. The last part was rock and dirt, and I do not recommend low clearance vehicles despite what I read. No cell service, so don't break down or you are walking back to Chloride. I have FOMO (fear of missing out), so it was worth it for me, but maybe not the backlash from the wife-LOL. The murals were cool and have withstand the test of time pretty well. The history behind them make them more interesting. Google it (Roy Purcell). For us FOMO peeps, cool stop, anyone else you can probably skip and not feel like u missed out. Visitor center had two great ladies who explained how to get there (watch for arrows) and informed me about the petroglyphs.

The Roy Purcell Murals in Chloride, Arizona, are a unique roadside stop worth checking out if…read moreyou're exploring the area. Located just off Route 93 about 23 miles from Kingman, Chloride is considered the oldest continuously populated mining town in the state. The town itself is small but has a few places to grab a drink, browse for Arizona-themed souvenirs, and see some quirky roadside features--like an old bullet-riddled car. The murals are located just outside of town and can be reached via a rough, unpaved road. A truck or vehicle with good clearance is strongly recommended, and 4-wheel drive can be helpful. Trailers are not advised due to the condition of the road. Look for painted arrows on rocks to help guide you along the way. Once you reach the site, the murals are impressive and the surrounding desert view adds to the atmosphere. It's a quiet and remote area, and you may find yourself the only one there. Overall, it's a nice off-the-beaten-path spot that gives you a taste of Arizona's artistic and historical side.

We have been to Oatman numerous times. If we have just stay more than a couple of days, we always…read morerun them up there for an experience with the donkeys. I especially enjoy it when they know nothing about Oakland and then they get up there and are surprised. It is a small compact two block town; of the residence and employees of all the little gift shops. I've always been very friendly and helpful. They are always welcoming. There are meals and snacks to be bought while visiting. Oh and of course, I forgot the gun fight acting in the street. Out of all the times we've been there there's only been one time we have not seen a donkey. We just went this week and we have seen more donkeys this time that we have ever seen there including about 20 welcoming us into town right on the road as we entered You want to visit this town at least once not a bad drive there either.

We spent a day in Oatman, Az. It was a spectacle. Let's start with the drive in...something called…read more"Sidewinder Road". If you are driving a larger RV, come in from the other direction...this road is so much fun, cutbacks, hairpin turns oh...and beware of a stray donkey or two. Take advantage of some of the amazing overlooks down into the valley. When you get to town, watch where you step, donkeys have taken over this ghost town and they do not care where they leave their "stuff". Make sure to buy some "donkey food" they will eat right out of your hand...and if you are in your car they will stick their head in n to see what you have for them. We brought our 6 year old granddaughter and she spent the entire time giggling at the donkeys. Outside of the donkeys, there are mine tours and plenty of shops to get whatever trinkets your heart may desire.

This is my first time to California. We were staying in Laughlin, NV and wanted something to do…read moresaturday morning. Googled and Needles is 35 minutes away. There are a bunch of cool route 66 murals and you are driving on historic route 66 through the city. There are cannibas stores everywhere and the town smells like pot. Thankfully, we didn't need gas but $5.99 a gallon is crazy. We took some pictures and stopped at 4 dirt cheap thrift stores.

Needles is the last stop in California before entering Arizona. The town is small, but has a lot of…read moreold west charm. Historic Route 66 runs through town and the Colorado River borders the town on the east. If you love trains, Needles has a bunch of trains that run through. Needles used to be a transportation hub where trains moved through in great numbers. Today, the freight trains are enormous. There is a historic train station that has been restored and now houses an Amtrak Station, Welcome Center and a few other offices. We walked around the station and enjoyed watching the trains. There is a museum down town that was not opened during our Sunday visit. Charles Shultz was from Needles, so there are tributes and murals to him and "Spike" around town. There is not a lot of commerce but there are a couple nice hotels and we found a few good restaurants. Gas prices are unfriendly, but you can cross the river and find better prices. The people are super friendly.

Middle of nowhere? That's how I would describe Death Valley Junction. It's a place on the way to…read moreBaker coming from Death Valley, or the other way around. You drive from Nevada to California and this is the junction. It might not sound that appealing but somehow it is. I was a tad obsessed to find it. It's a place, more or less represented by an empty building placed in the middle of the desert, across from Amargosa Opera House. Like any place, this has a story, it used to be more populated and lively. Later on, the building was used in cool movies like: "The Hitcher" (remember a crazy Rutger Hauer chasing a teen C. Thomas Howell through the desert?) or David Lynch's "Lost Highway". This place isn't for everybody, it's for those who love the desert, its ruins, their decrepit beauty. You're not on a lost highway, just a tad in the middle of nowhere. So keep your eyes on the road to see Death Valley Junction!

Death Valley Junction and especially the Opera House and of Marta Becket have always held a great…read moredeal of significance in an early existence while still a child with my Mom, Jeanie May and my sister Deena. We spent several magical months at the Amargosa hotel. Mom had history with Marta, June Schuman who was in the vaudeville circuits and other desert people who found a sense of joy and creativity in this place full of positive vibrations. This was '67 or '68 as I recall.......Mom, June, and Marta would spend the summer evenings recalling past experiences in the world of dance, production, things I didn't fully understand at the time, but which seemed magical. After visiting this wonderful and magical place again, this past year it still retains it's enchantment! Visit this place and you will feel this sense of magic and be uplifted.....

It was a wonderful stop, we stopped by here back in 2021 and it was a gorgeous view, great…read moreformations, and lovely rocks, the colors are so vibrant against the blue sky and the desert background. It was great to check out the installation I believe this place has gotten more popular over the years, its hot and dry, FYI, we stopped by in January so it was cooler

Always see this place on the way to and from Las Vegas, but have only stopped here a couple times…read moreand was super happy to share the experience with my daughters this time! You can't miss the bright colored rock formations from the freeway, and you'll exit the freeway and travel a bit to get to this spot. There's a dirt lot for parking and it tends to be windy. There aren't any facilities that I noticed. My youngest is really into art, so I knew she'd get a kick out of these! It was a nice little spot to take a break from our road trip.

This is near the center at Crystals. They have different size water vortexes that fill with water…read moreand change colors. It's interesting to watch.

In Las Vegas, amongst the glitz, lights, night life, booze, gambling and shopping (don't get me…read morewrong, these are all pretty fantastic in this 2 mile block of Southern Nevada along the world famous Vegas Strip!), art can often be an after thought. A moment in which in your burry eyed, foggy state of boarding your return flight home, you might vaguely remember a giant thing with tumbling numbers or a giant tree house looking thing you thought was a restaurant. But make no mistake, those items (which are indeed public art) have been placed there for you to see, experience, be mesmerized by and enjoy....whether you actually knew it or not. Crystals and the City Center area that surrounds it, is a treasure trove of some of the city's greatest contemporary, cool art installations. From the cool Mihajima Marks U.S debuted piece that went in to Crystals last year, to the funky cool tree house that houses Maestros designed by David Rockwell or James Turrell's Akhob located inside Louis Vuitton (appointments required, so call well in advance)...great art is everywhere at Crystals! Look up City Center Art Collection before you visit, for if art is your thing, this is a fun scavenger hunt around City Center, in addition to Crystals (the shopping entity at City Center). Most of the pieces are large and can make you travel around the entire site to discover. The art at Crystals can rotate from time to time, so keep your eyes peeled for new stuff during each visit.