Exploring Our Great National Treasures – National Parks + Vegas

There’s nothing more American than a good-ol’- fashioned road trip, but don’t limit yourself to a 100-mile radius around your house. Head out west and visit our great country’s national parks with a pit stop in Las Vegas.

There’s nothing more American than a good-ol’-fashioned road trip, but don’t limit yourself to a 100-mile radius around your house. Instead, head to your nearest airport and embark upon an epic fly-drive. On this vacation, take to the air before landing in a faraway destination – say, Salt Lake City or Las Vegas – and hit the road for an unforgettable adventure.

There’s no better time to head out west and visit our great country’s national parks! This year, the U.S. National Park Service is celebrating its centennial, so make sure to say “happy birthday” by visiting its majestic parks on a Liberty Travel Discovery. Designed for the independent traveler looking to explore the U.S. and Canada’s history, culture, and landscapes, these personally curated road trips are equipped with a rental car to go from one incredible destination to the next, with stops at various monuments, sights, national parks, and other fascinating places, all along the most famous roads and highways.

Check out these national treasures – Zion National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Grand Canyon National Park, and Las Vegas – for a road trip you’ll never forget.

Zion National Park

Start in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas
Bookended by the Mojave Desert and the Rocky Mountains, Zion is high on life – literally. With an average of 5,000 feet in elevation, you’ll find yourself with your head in the clouds at its highest point, Horse Ranch Mountain at 8,726 feet. Even its lowest point, Coal Pits Wash, is at 3,666 feet! And its natural wonders never cease with 229 miles of breathtaking beauty, including 2,000-foot Navajo Sandstone cliffs, the Petrified Wood Forest, and the Narrows, a 20-foot wide section of 1,000-foot Zion Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park

Start in Las Vegas
Grand Canyon National Park lives up to its name – it’s certainly grand at 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep in some areas. The park receives more than 5 million visitors a year, many to the majestic South Rim which is open year-round. Most visitors stop by Mather Point, the first look at the canyon, but continue onward for more awe-inspiring sights, like Desert View, where on a clear day you can see for more than 100 miles. Hermit Road is a popular route, providing spectacular views of the desert sunrises, and sunsets.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Start in Los Angeles or Las Vegas
With national parks, you should go big or go home, and that’s never a problem at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. These parks, located in west-central California, feature the largest trees in the world as well as Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. Don’t miss Crystal Cave, an underground excursion with fantastic stalactites and other formations. Tickets are required for this natural attraction, so make sure to speak to your travel agent about grabbing yours before visiting. (Make sure to bring a jacket!)

Las Vegas

Perhaps one of the greatest national treasures in terms of entertainment, Las Vegas is an ideal start or end destination for your road trip. Before or after your quiet time in the wilderness, enjoy the noise and excitement of this desert oasis by visiting one of The Strip’s hottest clubs, like the rooftop Marquee at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas or the 24,000-square foot JEWEL Nightclub at Aria Resort & Hotel Casino Las Vegas. Gain a new perspective on the phenomenon that is The Strip from the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller, or during a Vegas Nights helicopter tour.

Vegas is a surreal experience, taking you to Italy, France, and Egypt all along one street. But perhaps the most impressive feat is bringing the beach to this desert destination. Enter Rehab Beach Club, one of the hottest pool parties in Vegas, featuring hard-pounding music and entertainment at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.

For the epitome of a Vegas getaway, look no further than The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This luxury hotel has “just the right amount of wrong,” or so we’ve heard, with a tapas bar called the Wicked Spoon and a breakfast delight café with a name so scandalous, we can’t even post it here. “The Cosmo” has the only hotel on The Strip with balconies and a yearly ice skating rink.

Explore all our country’s national treasures – whether in the great outdoors or the exciting cityscapes. Talk to your Liberty Travel consultant today about booking your next Discovery to lively Las Vegas and the serene national parks.