Howdy,

My name is Andrew and I've been an occasional visitor to the group for a few years.
The more Area-51 related posts of those like Miso have been especially welcome &
very educational. Well, guess what? I may finally be getting my chance to take a trip
up Rachel way ! Hooray! A lot for me - considering I live in the Wash.D.C. 'burbs.

My family and I will be going to do a "grand tour" of Vegas-to-Zion,etc.-to- 4-Corners
area ruins,etc- back to Vegas with lots of stops along the way. I made a similar trip
back in 1970( yikes!) but without Vegas. I have got the family on aboard for a one day
or overniter up to Rachel when we leave Vegas and then hump it over towards the parks.
I've made it very clear that this probably means snapping a few pix at the mailbox,etc.
and quaffing a beer at the Little Ale-inn (sp?) and not much else to do.  I did swap a few 
emails with Kaye Allison-Medlin but that was a few years ago and I doubt she'd remember.

So, anyway,... My question is not really Area-51 related. Instead I'd like to ask about other
activites along the way in and out of there. Things the kids and I might enjoy. For example:
Ghost towns, abandoned mines, indian ruins or petroglyphs, rock hound or fossil sites, short
but fun hikes, gold panning --- well, I think you get the idea. It is not my 1st trip out on the
desert and the rest of the family are experienced scouts including the Missus.

I suspect the reality for most tourists to the area is a few photos and souveniers and not much to
see. That's OK. I could never expect to get the level of involvement some of you guys do. But 
since you're out there I thought maybe you might have some suggestions, tips, etc. for family stuff
and thought I'd ask. I also figured we'd pull off somewhere on the way out at nite to get some
star-gazing. These Eastern kids of mine have no idea how really dark and beautiful a Western Sky
can really be. I'd like it to memorable for them.

TIA,

Andrew