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Prepare for adventure with this Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner! Updated March 24, 2007. Related info--- HOME :: Latest News :: I-15 Maps & Info :: Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner :: Las Vegas Attractions for Kids :: More Las Vegas family attractions :: Still more Las Vegas family attractions :: Las Vegas Factory Outlets Your Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner--Fun Beckons!
Fun abounds along I-15 heading to Los Angeles. This Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner will give you the scoop!I-15 travels through some of the world's major tourist sights---both in the area of natural wonders AND in the man-made party town that's called Vegas. Got an extra day or two to spend along your way? The sights along Interstate 15 can fill that time...and then some! If you're headed southwards from Canada or Montana, a sidetrip to Yellowstone National Park is not terribly far off of I-15. It's spectacular geysers, lakes, waterfalls, wildlife and mineral pools are just across the Idaho border in Wyoming. Also for southbound travelers from the northwestern states, Salt Lake City, Utah (and the beautiful Uinta range of the Rocky Mountains just east of the city) provide plenty of opportunities for fun. Thrill lovers will enjoy visiting Lagoon Amusement Park, between Ogden and Salt Lake City, as well. This page, however, is going to cover attractions in the southernmost part of Utah and in Nevada. Southern Utah is world-renowned for its spectacular national parks...some of which make close side-trips from Interstate 15! On this page, we'll be talking about beautiful Zion National Park and spectacular Bryce Canyon National Park, which happens to be one of my personal national park "favorites." To help you visualize the relationship of Interstate 15 to these national parks, use the following link to see a map of
Interstate 15 through southern Utah with the national parks and monuments marked.
Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner -- The wonders of Zion National Park
Interstate 15 passes within the proverbial "stone's throw" of Zion National Park in southern Utah. This park is very popular with visitors from outside the USA as well as those from within. A visit to an area gift shop once amazed me...not because of the merchandise being sold, but for the several different languages I heard being used just in that one small store!
Scenic mountain beauty is what Zion National Park is all about. At times, the rocks themselves seem to have been created by an artist's hand. In these two photos, you see "The Narrows," one of Zion's beautiful features. Taking a hike is a sure way to catch more of the park's beauty than you can see from the parking lot and visitor's center alone. Yet, do mull through the visitors center to get an overview of the park's features and catch the film and the interesting exhibits. Even though I would recommend seeing at least some PART of the park on foot, the scenic drive of Zion Canyon is a major activity at Zion National Park. It's a 13 mile loop (from the south entrance). During the busy summer season, you must make this scenic drive in a park tram, and during the off-season, you'll use your personal vehicle. Other activities at Zion National park include ranger talks & walks and horseback tours. The Zion National Park phone number is 435/772-3256. The Zion National Park mailing address is: SR 9, Springdale, UT 84767. For further details to help you plan your fun adventure at this scenic natural area, use the following link to view the
Zion National Park official website.
Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner -- Bryce Canyon National Park
If you have time to veer off further from the main road, you can see Bryce Canyon National Park, which is also in this region. This very distinctive park is like no other spot on Earth. Erosion has created dozens---no, HUNDREDS, of spire-shaped rock formations. And their color! This is no ordinary rock---it seems to shine red and orange and pink.You can walk through the canyon's bottom. Or, as we did, you can take a horse ride. In addition to exploring the canyon floor, you can view exhibits at the visitor's center; enjoy informative talks on such subjects as geology, astronomy and wildlife (on the canyon's rim--you won't have to descend); or indulge in some evening star-gazing. Camping, of course, is a very popular activity at Bryce. The Bryce Canyon National Park phone number is 435/834-5322. For further info about planning your journey into Bryce Canyon, use the following link to view the
Bryce Canyon National Park official website.
Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner -- Las Vegas family fun!
It's obvious from this photo of the famous New York New York hotel that we'll be talking next about Las Vegas! While I'm going to describe some of the family activities available in Vegas---and there are plenty---you'll have to decide for yourself if you think visiting Las Vegas is right for YOUR family. Yes, your whole group can have fun there. And, yes, you can avoid obviously family UN-friendly spots. But, there simply ISN'T a way to avoid ALL the sleeze--there are too many billboards!On the other hand, there isn't any questionable activity in Las Vegas that isn't also available in ANY metro area. Most families who DO vacation in Las Vegas feel that since they can't avoid seeing sleeze "back home," there's no reason to avoid Vegas. If you do visit Las Vegas with children, they'll enjoy seeing the hotel that "started it all" for family-oriented activities in this town. That's the Circus Circus Hotel...where you'll also find the delightful indoor amusement park, The Circus Circus Adventuredome. I call it "The Pink Dome," because of its large, interesting-looking pink covering. Inside, the dome, you'll be safe from the searing summer heat as you join your kids riding the Canyon Blaster roller coaster or the white-water raft ride. Don't think that because they're packed into the confines of a dome, that these are rinky-dink attractions. They're not! They're quality rides that compete with coasters and water rides in "normal" outdoor theme parks. (But, they certainly had clever designers to be able to "pack in the thrills" while fitting into the space available!) Teens and adults can also enjoy the excitement of hanging upside down (on still another compact-but-exciting ride) or drive the bumper cars. The whole family will enjoy the shooting gallery, laser tag room, the carnival win-a-prize games, or the miniature golf course. For the tots, there are quite a variety of kiddie rides to keep them amused. You'll actually be amazed at all the things that fit into this dome! And how attractive the decor here is, as well! In the center of the arcade area, you'll find the "free circus acts," about which you may have heard. The circus acts are both wonderful AND annoying. They're annoying because each act only lasts 10 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of "down time." This is no accident. The acts are here to draw YOU to the gambling tables. If you're continually busy watching the acts, you won't get busy losing your money! The acts themselves are as high-quality as you'd see in a live circus. There's quite a variety. I've seen trapeze acts, trained animals, and tumblers, for example. As long as you're patient about the wait between acts, this is an interesting place for free fun. Las Vegas Family Fun -- Ethel M Chocolate Factory...and more!
What child doesn't like candy? The Ethel M candy factory tour might be a crowd-pleaser for everyone in your group. (Ethel M, by the way, is the "upscale" division of the M & M/Mars company.) In the photo to your left, you see a worker at the candy factory preparing caramel apples.One problem with this tour is that it's not near The Strip. The other problem is that The Ethel M Chocolate Factory tour is too short. It's length is actually a "plus" if you have attention-span-challenged toddlers in tow, but for adults, you'll probably leave wishing you'd seen more. There are, however, a number of TV monitors which play pre-recorded information about candy-making at the Ethel M factory. Those monitors will, at least, PARTIALLY satisfy those who'd like more depth into the subject. The best part of all? The free chocolate sample at the end of the tour! Will your kids get hurt by the cactus here at Ethel M? Probably not. Just explain to the little ones about these interesting plants & let them touch one gently. They'll get the picture! Believe it or not, run-ins with cactus plants rarely happen, despite kids playing around them on all sides! The Ethel M Chocolate Factory address is: 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson, NV 89014. the Ethel M Chocolate Factory phone number is 702/435-2641. For more information about touring the Ethel M candy factory, use the next link to view the
Ethel M company website.
The Orleans Hotel phone number is 800/675-3267 (tollfree number.) From within Las Vegas, you may call the local Orleans Hotel telephone number, 702/365-7111. The Orleans Hotel address is 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Interstate 15 Road Trip Planner -- Big coaster in little Primm!
Heading south on I-15 from Las Vegas towards Los Angeles, you'll come across the tiny tourist town of Primm. Theme park aficionados will enjoy the rides at the Buffalo Bill Hotel in Primm. (See the photo below.) The roller coaster at Buffalo Bill's was, when it was installed, the tallest in the world! Of course, in the roller coaster wars carried on by the theme parks around the country, a title like that doesn't stick for long these days. Though this coaster's #1 spot has now been eclipsed, you'll still FEEL like it's the tallest when you're on it! Inside the hotel itself, a log ride winds through the western-decorated casino itself. It's hard to find a bad log ride, right? And this is one of the more unusual settings in which you'll ever ride one! Quickly add this page to your Social Bookmarks:
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Either way, getting DOWN INTO the canyon will give you an even MORE spectacular view of the rock formations than you will see from the surface level. If you can spare the time, I'd heartily recommend Bryce Canyon to you. One exception---if your little ones are still so small that they tire easily when walking, maybe you should wait a year or two until they grow a bit. You don't really want to carry them into and out of the canyon!
Here you see the night lights of the medieval castle-themed Excalibur Hotel. This hotel hosts the other of my favorite 2 family game arcades in Las Vegas. If your family likes win-a-prize carnival games, you might want to check out the Excalibur arcade. You'll also find several "magic motion" rides in the arcade area...you know, where you watch a film on the screen in front, while your seat itself moves around, to make you feel like you're part of the movie you're watching. They're great fun...you might want to give them a try.
The cute M & M's themed gift shop (seen in the picture to your right) is also a delight for browsers---you can buy more types of M & M's souvenirs than you thought imaginable! Another pleasant feature on the Ethel M factory site is the lovely Cactus Garden---which doesn't feature ONLY cactus, but also other trees and plants native to the western USA. You'll find SHADE (!) and cute winding paths along which your family can stroll.
As you can see, here I am in the Ethel M Cactus Garden. Are your kids like my grandkids---just can't resist touching a cactus when they see one? Since my family has photos of several of the grandkids touching cacti, I thought, "Well, I might as well get in on the act, too!" (Somehow, I felt the need to explain why I was touching a cactus in the photo to your left!)
If you're a buffet lover, you will find many great buffets in Las Vegas. One good buffet that's reasonably priced is at The Orleans Hotel, located about 2 miles west of The Strip on Tropicana Ave. This buffet, called the "French Market Buffet," is simply huge! It has separate service stations for BBQ, Mongolian, Chinese, Italian, Seafood, and Mexican foods, plus extensive dessert and salad bars. I've been to this buffet with family members of all different ages, and it has been a crowd-pleaser every time. Not only is the food good, but the prices hark back to that time--a decade ago--when ALL of the Vegas buffets were a bargain!
