A Trip Born from a Train Obsession (and Family History)
Ryan has had his eye on the Rocky Mountaineer since 2018, when he first heard about their Canadian Rockies routes at a travel conference. Add in a grandfather who was a train engineer between South Bend and Chicago, and a new Canyon Spirit line running from Salt Lake City to Denver — it was only a matter of time. About a year ago, Ryan brought the idea to his parents, and six months before departure, it was officially booked. The result: three trips in one — Las Vegas, the Mighty Five National Parks of Utah, and a two-day train journey from Moab to Denver, with the 4th of July spent riding the rails on the 250th birthday of the United States.

Las Vegas: More Than Just the Casinos
Ryan, his wife Jasmine, and his parents stayed at Park MGM — smoke-free, well-connected to the strip via tram, and conveniently the pickup point for their Hoover Dam tour and Mighty Five transfer. Day one was a hop-on, hop-off bus tour to orient the first-timers, covering the old strip, new strip, and Fremont Street. A word of caution from Ryan: know exactly what you're buying. Their "24-hour pass" ran from 10 AM to 5 PM and only circled one direction — worth knowing in advance. Day two was a VIP Hoover Dam tour, complete with a comedian-guide who grew up in the area, a descent into the dam's tunnels to see the power plant and turbines, and bridge views overlooking the dam. Lunch was included. Total time: about 8 AM to 2 PM — leaving the evening free for dinner and a little fun.

A Few Vegas Tips Worth Knowing
The airport is a 10-minute Uber from most strip hotels. Ubers and Lyfts are easy and reliable. And a heads-up for anyone who hasn't been in a while: Las Vegas has fully reinvented itself as an entertainment city — the 99-cent buffets are long gone, and the price tag reflects it. Budget accordingly.

The Mighty Five: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands
All five parks are in Utah, and Ryan's group covered them in three days through Moab Express — a highly recommended tour company operating out of 12-passenger vans with a guide who doubles as driver. Groups of eight, stops every hour and a half, snacks and water onboard, and a guide named Ben who could riff on geology, history, or nature depending on what you wanted. The pacing was relaxed — visitor centers, photo stops, souvenir shops, and a few short hikes on day three. Not a trip for serious hikers, but absolutely the right vehicle for first-time park visitors who want to see a lot without driving themselves. Meals were included, accommodations ranged from a well-kept Best Western Plus in Bryce to the Hoodoo Hilton (Curio Collection) in Moab, and the only out-of-pocket cost was alcohol. Each park managed to one-up the last — from the red-rock drama of Zion to the alien hoodoos of Bryce Canyon to the staggering scale of Canyonlands, which Ryan says rivals the Grand Canyon.

Where in the World? 🗺️
Julie shares a back-to-back Royal Caribbean cruise surprise in the works for a repeat client family — a four-night Bahamas sailing on Wonder of the Seas added on to their already-booked seven-night Icon of the Seas cruise. The kids don't know yet.

Next week: Ryan boards the Canyon Spirit for two days from Moab to Denver. Visit wonderandbeyondtravel.com to start planning your own adventure.

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