Carefree Resort and Villas review

Leaving my last national park, the Grand Canyon behind I am continuing to Phoenix and then to San Diego. The place where I am staying in Phoenix is named Carefree and located 20 miles north of Phoenix city center. The area is very beautiful with cactus gardens and many big big villas. I am sleeping in the Carefree Resort & Villas for which I would like to provide you a short review.

The rooms of the Carefree Resort and Villas seem a little over-sized what however makes it very pleasant in the hotel's rooms. The rooms' interior is all in a sort of Mexican style and looks very nice and friendly. The air condition is very silent. My room does not have a fridge, what is however compensated by a nearby ice-machine. The pool area is very big with a swimming-pool and a jacuzzi. The pool area looks wonderful and the ambient of the Carefree resort and Villas is amazing. I am sitting at the pool right now, watching the sunset. It is still 100F with low humidity, so very nice and refreshing with the pool.

I am now back in my hotel room. The rates are more than okay with a total cost of 120$ a night. I had a nice all you can eat buffet. Seriously, spend that 20$ on the hotel buffet. You can see the staff putting different sort of meat and sausages on the grill. You can either eat outside or inside the restaurant. Both is nice. Everything was very well prepared and good looking. If you read this part of my review, really, take the buffet in the Carefree Resort and Villas, you will love it.

Afterward I went to an open fire place. A member of the staff team joined me and we had an interesting discussion about different aspects. He has native American background and knew a lot about the national parks, agriculture and problems of Arizona. His name was Lance. If you meet him, make sure to greet him from Hendrik :-).

The hotel was not good, Carefree resort and Villas was very good and I rate it with 10/10 points. Hope you enjoyed my Carefree Resort and Villas review.

I attached a map of the area around the Carefree resort and Villas hotel. Check out the location and how fast you are in Phoenix.


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Williams review

Leaving Tusayan and Grand Canyon behind my next stop is the Route 66 town Wiliams. I wanted to check out the historic remains of the Route 66 in Wiliams. I am providing you a short review of Williams.

When entering the town you will see a lot of Route 66 road signs on the left and right side of the street. Tourists usually take a picture in front of one of those 66 signs in Williams. When you are traveling to Flagstaff I recommend you to stop in Williams to fuel up, as the gas is relatively cheap there. Perhaps because of the historic 66 background of the town.

The rest of Williams is only route 66 merchandise and not really worth checking out. You will encounter a lot of bikers or old timers, as a lot of people want to check the route 66 with their cars :-). There is a visitor center dedicated to the Route 66. There are restrooms inside and a lot of good information on 66.

I did not find it that interesting, perhaps because I am no biker. Anyways, hope you enjoyed my Route 66 and Williams review. I attached a short map of Williams:

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Here a video of the Route 66:



My next stop is going to be Phoenix. The farer you go south, the warmer it will get. It is 90 F here in Wiliams, at least that's what my car says. Ok, leaving route 66 behind now. Thanks for reading my 66 article. Let me know if you enjoyed Wiliams and what you did in the town,

Grand Canyon review

Leaving Lake Powell and Page behind I am traveling to my final national park – the Grand Canyon. I would like to give you a review of Grand Canyon and will write down all experiences I have on my way through Grand Canyon.

Here a Grand Canyon picture (click to enlarge):


To get more information about historic and geographic aspects of Grand Canyon national park, please check this and this link. I am just writing a review and will not focus on the park background.

My hotel is located in Tusayan and named Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn. I am heading there right now. To get there I have to drive through Grand Canyon. I am giving you a review of everything I checked out here in Grand Canyon.

Desert view point was my first stop. It is a relatively large viewpoint with shops and rest rooms. I parked my car and followed other people to a tower from where you have a good view over Grand Canyon. You should stop at Desert View point and check out the amazing view over Grand Canyon.

My next stop is the Lipan point. You have a pretty good view over Grand Canyon, as you are on 2300 meters. You can see the Hance rapid. It is around a mile long and Major and was terrific for early Grand Canyon expeditions.

Moran point is the next point on the way to Tusayan. It's named after a spanish expedition who were the first Europeans to see Grand Canyon. I saw several tourists next to me, climbing on rocks with the Canyon going a mile down right next to them. A biker with several Harley Davidson tattoos stood right next to me and told me with Texanian accent: „Mister, tellin' you somethin' – some people aint no' havin' a god damn brain in there head.“ Really, if you do not suicide in Grand Canyon, don't climb on the cliffs.

Leaving Moran point behind I am stopping at Buggeln point. It's a nice looking picnick area in Grand Canyon where I will now take some minutes off and eat something. Probably a good idea for you too :). Here are only a few benches and I had to choose another location and am now sitting on a tree. Be careful, I was just bitten by an ant. I have never see that large ants before. It hurts a little.

Next point is Grand view point. As the name says it offers a wide view over Grand Canyon. As a reason an hotel as once been there. If you are interested in walking you can take a 2 day trail from here down to Colorado river.

I am exiting Grand Canyon now and heading to my Best Western. Hope you enjoyed my Grand Canyon review. My rating is 10/10 points. You will be amazed. I will be writing a short conclusion tomorrow of all my national park experiences. Anyways, I am a bit fed up with national parks now and happy to see something different very soon. I am going over Flagstaff to Phoenix in two days, to then head back to San Diego and Los Angeles. Anyways, thanks for reading my recommendations, tips and review of Grand Canyon national park.

Glen Canyon Dam review

Lake Powell is nearby the town of Page. What you will want to see when hanging around lake Powell is the Glen Canyon Dam. This is a short review of Glen Canyon.

Here a Glen Canyon Dam picture (click to enlarge):


For more information about facts of the Dam, please see this link.

There is a bridge going over Glen Canyon Dam which everyone can drive on. You will have a fascinating view on the Colorado river and the Dam. There is a Glen Canyon Dam visitor center which everyone can check out for free. You may however take no guns, knives, bags and soft drinks inside. The security is very strict.... The visitor center itself has a lot of information about Glen Canyon Dam. That was very interesting.

Hope you enjoyed my short Glen Canyon Dam review. My rating 10/10 points. It is a must for every engineer. It is human intelligence on its best.

Lake Powell resorts review

With Grand Canyon as my final national park destination I slept one night around Page at Lake Powell. The hotel I was in was the Lake Powell resorts & marinas. This is a short review of my Lake Powell resorts.

Arriving at the hotel I had to wait almost an hour at the front desk to check in. Lake Powell resorts has an own beach which you can access whenever you like. It is only around 50 feet away from the hotel depending on your location in Lake Powell resorts. Lake Powell resorts has a gym and two pools. I have not been in the gym, but both pools are relatively good. You can also book Lake Powell resorts ship tours. In my case they were full and I was required to book them via Internet. Nonetheless, 120$ per person for an 8 hour ship tour is too much if you ask me.

Lake Powell resorts has two integrated restaurants which are relatively expensive (15 $ for a pizza). There are also several open Lake Powell resorts WiFi networks of which none worked for me... The front desk said they were working on it, it seems with no luck because 48 hours later it was still not working. The rooms in the Lake Powell resorts were okay.

My rating of Lake Powell resorts: 8/10. Hope you enjoyed my Lake Powell resorts review. My next hotel is going to be a Best Western at Grand Canyon.

Here a map of the Lake Powell resorts:

Größere Kartenansicht

Page review

Leaving Monument Valley behind on my way to Grand Canyon, my stop inbetween is Page. The town of Page is located at lake Powell, north of Flagstaff. I would like to provide you a short review of Page.

Check this link for more information about Page itself.

My hotel is named Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, it's some miles outside of Page. I went to Page to get breakfast at Taco Bell and to buy some food at Safe way. On the way you will cross the Hayden dam. For all I provided short reviews, which you should check out as well.

All in all Page is a nice little town where you can buy/find everything you need for your daily life (except boutiques). Hope you enjoyed my Page review.

Here a Page map:

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Monument Valley review

After Vesa Merde national park my next stop is Monument Valley. My final national park is Grand Canyon, that's why I am driving from Cortez over Monument Valley to Page, from where I will then continue to Flagstaff and then Grand Canyon. I planned 3-4 hours for Momument Valley and would like to provide you a short review of Monument Valley.

Here a Monument Valley picture (click to enlarge):


For more information about historic background of Monument Valley or geographic aspects, please check out this and this link.

When entering Monument Valley there were so many cars in front of me that it took me almost an hour to get to the fee station. I asked myself several times if I should really wait, or just continue to Page directly. From the outside Monument Valley did not look that special..... Anyways, be glad I entered, because I can now provide you with a review =].

The entrance fee was 5$ per person an no you can not enter with your national park pass. I was excited to see the Monument Valley visitor center, but guess what, it was closed... If you are looking for an Hotel around Monument Valley, consider an hotel directly in the park. I am not sure about the quality of the hotel and can unfortunately not provide a review of it.

Anyways, I drove on a 17 mile offroad tour. It took me 2 hours in total and I can only recommend you to do that. You will see special and unique rock formations. It's an amazing landscape and you ask yourself – huh? How is this possible?

You will need four wheel drive for that road, it has a lot of holes and will shake your car to the wheels.... Was very exciting and I can only recommend you to take that central road in Monument Valley. Oh, and if you like, do as I did and take a picture on a horse for 3$. Very good picture to show friends.

Hope you enjoyed my Monument valley review. If you like you can check out my following reviews of Page and Grand Canyon. My rating: 8/10

Taco Bell Cortez review

For dining I wanted something with low calories. So I decided to check out Taco Bell in Cortez.I would like to provide you a short review of Taco Bell here.

I ordered a Burrito Supreme which I got within a minute. The diet coke was very tasty and consequently very good. The service was okay too.

The Taco Bell restaurant was very clean from the inside, not comparable to Mc Donald's where I had been in the morning. All in all I really liked this Taco Bell in Cortez. My rating: 10/10. 10 because you can not say anything against a 4$ evening meal, still very tasty and in a good facility.

Hope you enjoyed my Taco Bell cortez review. Check out my review of Lake Powell, which I will be writing tomorrow :).


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McDonald's Cortez review

Looking for breakfast in Cortez, Colorado - I chose McDonald's as I only wanted a McFlurry. This is a short review of McDonald's in cortez When I entered the restaurant I already encountered my first shock... The floor was dirty.

It took the waiter around 5 minutes to get me a single McFlurry. I ordered a Diet coke, as I suddenly got thirsty. It was quite okay and you have as many refills included as you like.

I seated at a window and what I saw was disgusting... All windows were covered with flies...

Hope you enjoyed my short McDonald's Cortez review. Don't enter that restaurant. My review, 1/10 points.


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Mesa Verde national park review

Leaving Arches and Canyonlands national park behind I am leaving the town of Moab, heading towards Cortez. Cortez is my next stop as it is relatively close to the Mesa Verde national park. I would like to provide you a short review of Mesa Verde national park.

At first I felt relatively unexcited because I have seen so many national parks in the past weeks. But then when entering Mesa Verde I quickly noticed it would be another unique national park. Mesa Verde is not focused on the nature, but on the people that lived in there. You will encounter a lot of remains from native Americans.

Here a Mesa Verde national park picture (click to enlarge):


For more information about the park, please click this and this link.

And let me tell you, it is amazing, I took a ranger tour down to a small town that was build in an alcove. You will want to see this inside Meda Verda national park because there is no other place on earth that has 800 year old buildings from past peoples in a that good condition. The tour was relatively difficult but still a very extreme experience, we walked down the cliffs with several ladders to the Cliff palace. The cliff palace is a small cliff dwelling consisting of several spruce tree houses built by Ancient Puebloan Indians. I have never seen that before and you can only see that in Mesa Verde national park.

I rate the park with 10/10 points because of its landscape, the ranger tours and the historic background. Check out my next review of Lake Powell. Hope you enjoyed my short review of Mesa Verde national park.

Moab uranium

What many people do not know when traveling to Moab is that Moab uranium was the most popular uranium in the USA for years. Atlas corp. placed an Uranium mill right outside of Moab. The Uranium was part of Project Manhattan, which was the first atomic bomb. In fact, there were no places on earth in that time that produced more Uranium than Moab.

The mill is named Atlas Uranium Mill and was abandoned in the 1980s. At first Atlas Uranium mill pumped they industrial radioactive waste directly into the Colorado river. Then soon after they placed the waste in huge ponds several miles south of the Mill. You can see the Mill when going to Arches national park from moab on your left side.

The local Indians that worked in the mine under really bad conditions very soon after encountered cancer and birth defects. They called Miners' coughing red dust. Red dust because some of them coughed blood.

I attached a satellite picture of the Atlas uranium mill where you can see how closely Moab is related to Uranium production:

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I am not really sure if the Moab uranium is so healthy for the town of Moab. I did not read any reports in my travel guides.

The US government now finances a 600 million $ project named UMTRA, which will start relocating the radioactive waste from Moab into other final deposits. I wonder, they got 60 million $ out of the mine and now it costs 600 million $ to relocate it?

Ramada Inn moab review

My hotel in Moab is the Ramada Inn. I am staying here for three nights. I looked out for something relatively cheap and found out about the Ramada Inn in Moab. I would like to provide you with a short review of Ramada Inn in moab.

Breakfast and dinner is not included, you will be required to get food and drinks yourself. The Ramada Inn in moab has a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. Both are relatively dirty. The WiFi is only available in the office and will not have enough range to your room. I am currently using a WiFi network from a nearby hotel (it is open and I can log in, Gonzo Inn I think).

The rooms are clean, however look a bit old fashioned with an old carpet and a very loud, old air condition. Nonetheless you have cable tv with a very new LCD tv. The Ramada Inn in moab is no place for a living, but very okay if you just want to sleep here. Hope you enjoyed my short review of Ramada Inn in Moab. Check out my reviews of Arches national park and Canyonlands national park, that's where I will be heading the next days. My rating: 6/10


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Fiesta Mexicana Moab review

On my third night in Moab I went to a Mexican restaurant which is right next to my hotel, the Ramada inn in Moab. I would like to provide you with a short Fiesta Mexicana Moab review so that you can decide if you should go and have dinner there.

What I found relatively good in the Fiesta Mexicana were the bottomless Tacos with Salsa. The Salsa itself is very hot. Too hot for me :P. So be careful :-). The service in the Fiesta Mexicana was not that good. You get two diet cokes and then have too pay for more, so no refills. I ordered a Super Burito. It was very tasty and a lot more than I could eat in combination with the bottomless Tacos.

Hope you enjoyed my short review of Fiesta Mexicana here in Moab. I rate the restaurant with 9/10 points. I liked http://go-california.blogspot.com/2008/08/zax-moab-review.html more than Fiesta Mexicana. It was about the same level as Denny's in Moab.


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Denny's moab review

After having dinner at Zax in moab I went to Denny's here in Moab on my second evening. I would like to provide you with a short review of Denny's here in Moab.

My Zesty nachos were okay but had a little bit too much cheese. I asked the Denny's waiter to bring me a milkshake. It took 10 minutes. He excused and gave me 2 milk shakes for free. I did not have to pay for them. Very excellent service if you ask me. Hope you enjoyed my short Denny's moab review. 9/10 points from me because the air condition made the Denny's restaurant interior too cold...


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Zax Moab review

On my first evening in Moab I went to Zax. This is a short Zax Moab review. They advertise to be a good pizza restaurant. Upon opening the menu I was surprised All you can eat wood fired Pizza 12 $. Plus all you can eat salad inclusive.

That's what I ordered in Zax. The pizza was American Style and very good. I liked the diversity of the salad bar and the waiter was very friendly. 10/10 points for a low price restaurant. Hope you enjoyed my short review of Zax here in Moab.


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Moab review

Leaving Hanksville and Goblin Valley behind my next stop is Moab. I rest in Moab because of its close location to Arches National park and Canyonlans national park. I would like to provide you with a short review of Moab.

Moab is a relatively small town, nonetheless it has almost everything you need: restaurants, supermarkets and a large diversity of hotels. Moab even has walkways and you reach everything by foot. I stayed in the Moab Ramada Inn for 3 days. Check out my reviews of the restaurants where I have been, Zax Moab, Denny's Moab and Fiesta Mexicana Moab.

What I found relatively surprising, Moab was the Uranium town of the 60s. Most of the American Uranium came directly from Moab. If you like to read a bit more, please check Moab uranium.

All in all, Moab is a very friendly and tiny town :-).

Hanksville review

Leaving Capitol Reef national park behind I am heading towards Goblin Valley and the town of Moab. One short stop on my way to Goblin Valley is Hanksville, I am driving through the Hanksville and would like to provide you with a review of hanksville itself.

Check out this link for more information about the town of Hanksville itself.

The only reason for stopping here is if you have to get some gasoline. There is really nothing here.... Hanksville is even smaller than Torrey. There is no supermarket and nothing else except a gas station. The Gas station itself is relatively interesting because the shop is inside a big rock. I bought myself a huge coke for 1.2$ which is a very fair price.

Hanksville is relatively close to lake Powell, so don't wonder if you see a lot of boats. Really, don't set Hanksville as a priority destination, better continue to Goblin Valley and Moab directly. Check out my Goblin Valley review.


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Capitol Reef Café review

I slept in the Best Western Capitol Reef resort and returned to Torrey for something to have dinner. There are no supermarkets, at least I found none. So you are required to use your provisions or find a restaurant. The Capitol reef Café is recommended by several tourist guides.

The food way okay, I took cheese Tortillas and it was more than I could eat. What was really bad, I had to wait almost 2 hours for my food to arrive... They seemed overtaxed. The whole restaurant was full. The waiters were also relatively inattentive as they forgot to refill my tap water.

I rate the Capitol Reef Café with 7/10 points because of the bad service I encountered. I went Back to my Best Western and fell a sleep almost instantly :). If you like, then check out my Best Western Capitol Reef resort review.

Goblin Valley review

Leaving the Capitol Reef and Hanksville behind with the destination Moab and Arches National Park, I made a quick trip to Goblin Valley. This is a short review of Goblin Valley.

A picture of Goblin Valley state park (click to enlarge):


For more information about geographic aspects and history of Goblin Valley, please check this link.

Goblin Valley is a state park and therefore you can not use your national park pass to enter it. You have to pay a free of 6$ to get the permission to enter. I can only advise you to enter Gobin Valley, as it is well worth the money. You will encounter bizarre rock formations which look like creatures. As a consequence the state park was named Goblin Valley. 9/10 points from me, 9 because it is relatively small and the fee of 7$,

My next stop is Moab. Check out my Moab review which will be written and added this evening. While driving I can give you a sneak preview of Arches National park which appeared on the left side of the road. It is amazing and I am excited to see the national park and the visitor center. Hope you enjoyed my Goblin Valley review.

Torrey review

After leaving the town of Panguitch, passing through Escalante Canyon and Boulder my next stop is the town of Torrey which is the closest stop before Capitol reef. I would like to provide you a short review of Torrey.

After Panguitch I thought it would be impossible to find a lesser populated town, but Torrey and Boulder are probably the smallest towns I have seen. There is really nothing an the only reason why you want to go to Torrey is its location close to Capitol Reef. Fill up your food and drink bags, there is no supermarket in torrey. From Las Vegas to Torrey the last stop with acceptable supermarkets was St. George.

I stayed outside of Torrey in a hotel around 5 miles in front of the Capitol reef national park. If you are interested, check out my Best Western Capitol Reef resort review. For dining I went back to Torrey, to the Capitol Reef Café, for which you can also read a review written by me.

Here a map of Torrey:

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