Vacation: Feb 2012 [Los Angeles, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, back to Los Angeles and then back to Chicago]

Laguna Beach, Orange County, California..

Vacation: Feb 11 to Feb 22, 2012..
Trip to Los Angeles, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, back to Los Angeles and then back to home in Chicago...

Day One, Feb 11, 2012: Chicago to LA
Day Two, Feb 12, 2012: LA to Grand Canyon
Day Three, Feb 13, 2012: Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
Day Four, Feb 14: 2012: Las Vegas to Hoover Dam to LA
Day Five to Day Eleven, Feb 15 to Feb 21: LA
Day Twelve, Feb 22: Back to Chicago

Santa Monica: Downtown and 3rd Street Promenade [California]..

Day One: Feb. 11, 2012..
Los Angeles..

Grand Canyon, Arizona..

Day Two, Feb. 12, 2012
Grand Canyon, Arizona..
We reached in extremely bad weather conditions, with snow-fall and very poor visibility, almost near zero. But every now-&-then there was a break in clouds, and some sunshine, and we could see the grandeur of the Grand Canyon! Breathtaking!!! Even under extremely bad weather conditions!

Musical Founatin at Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada..

Day Three, Feb. 13, 2012
Grand Canyon, Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada..
Las Vegas, Hotel Bellagio, Musical Fountain..
We reached Las Vegas by night and drove around in the city. For whatever reason, I was not in a mood to take many photographs. Few shots include the Musical Founatin at Bellagio Hotel. Our stay was at the huge Circus Circus Hotel. Next morning, we checked out by 11 am; and left for Hoover Dam. So the trip to Las Vegas was extremely short. And I have to admit, my first impressions on Las Vegas was not very favorable! It was too ostentacious, theatrical, flaunting. Not my type! But then, my stay was very short, to come up with a reasonable assessment!

Road trip, from Las Vegas [Nevada] to Los Angeles [California] ..

Day Four, Feb. 14, 2012
Road trip from Las Vegas, Nevada to Los Angeles, California.. and a detour to Hoover Dam..
Perhaphs the best day in my trip!!! The weather too was beautiful. Sunny, blue sky with some cumulous clouds and the temperature around 40 degree F. Perfect!!! Hoover Dam was very impressive and so was Lake Mead and the wonderful sculptures by Oskar Hansen..

Hoover Dam and Mike O'Callagham-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge...

Day Five to Day Eleven, Feb 15 to Feb 21.. Was in LA..
Day Five, Feb. 15, 2012 Stayed at home..
Irvine, Orange County, California.

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California..

Day Six, Feb. 16, 2012
Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California ..
The least said, the better! Been there, Seen that! Never Again!
[Although, I do believe in never say never again!]

Sunset at Laguna Beach, Orange County, California..

Day Seven, Feb. 17, 2012..
Trip to Laguna Beach, Orange County, California....
Loved it!! Beautiful everything! Saw many art galleries, Heritage Houses, many pieces of Public Art around on the streets, beautiful Laguna Beach and gorgeous sunset at the beach!

Oranges of Orange County, California..

Day Eight, Feb. 18, 2012..
No "tourist spot" in particular. Just small walks around the house, Irvine, Orange County, California..
Exploring some plants & trees of Orange County, California..

"Urban Light" by Chris Burden.. at LACMA, Los Angeles, California..

Day Nine, Feb. 19, 2012..
LACMA.. Los Angeles County Museum of Art!
LOVED IT!!! Wonderful art pieces by Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, Degas, Matisse, German Expressionism.. and lots more.
Also walked on the Miracle Mile!!

Universal Studio, Los Angeles, California..

Day Ten, Feb. 20, 2012..
Universal Studio, Hollywood, California..
I enjoyed the Universal Studio, A LOT!!! Wish I had more time to take more tours. Most memorable, the Studio Tour, Jurassic Park tour, Mummy Returns tour..

Day Eleven, Feb 21, 2012..
Star Homes Grand Tour [Starline Tours]
which included a tour of Star Homes, and then a trip of Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive and few other spots..
Hollywood and Highland Center and Hollywood Walk of Fame..
Beverly Hills: Rodeo Drive..
Movie Star Home Tours...

Flying in the clouds..

Day Twelve, Feb 22, 2012..
Back home!!
Flight back from Los Angeles to Chicago [Virgin America - LAX to ORD]..

RELATED LINKS..
Grand Canyon, Arizona..
Las Vegas, Hotel Bellagio, Musical Fountain..
Road trip from Las Vegas, Nevada to Los Angeles, California..
Hoover Dam ...
Sculptures by Oskar Hansen..
Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California..
Universal Studio, Hollywood, California..
Hollywood and Highland Center and Hollywood Walk of Fame..
Beverly Hills: Rodeo Drive..
Movie Star Home Tours...
Flight back from Los Angeles to Chicago [Virgin America - LAX to ORD]..

NOTE: I have many images from LACMA [Los Angeles County museum of Art], which I will post later.. Some are here..
Los Angeles: LACMA [B. Gerald Cantor Sculpture Garden]..
Los Angeles: LACMA [Pablo Picasso - Various Paintings]..

LAST YEAR's VACATION..
Two Weeks Summer Vacation [Trip to New York City, Washington DC, New Jersey and Philadelphia]..