Las Vegas and Palm Springs Trip - What to see and shoot?

[Rooster]

I'll be leaving in a couple of weeks for a weekend in Las Vegas, followed by a week in Palm Springs. I'm looking for suggestions of things that I just can't miss out on, since I've never been out West before.

I'll have my kit with me at all times, of course.

-GF1 with 20/1.7
-Minolta X570 with 24/2.8, 35/2.8, 45/2, 50/1.4
-Minolta to micro 4/3 adapter
-Tri-X and Velvia

There is a Vegas thread in here, but it's about two years old. What's changed? What are the must-see or must-do things in Vegas? We will be staying at the brand new Aria. As for now, I'm sure we'll stroll the strip during the day, ducking in and out of the casinos. We are also going to try and hit some of the well-known fun and cheap places to eat...hot dog stands and things like that. Pretty sure we're going to see the water-based Cirque Du Soleil show at the Bellagio.

Beyond that, what should we be seeing in Vegas?

After the weekend, we're staying with family in Palm Springs for a week. For anybody from California, what are some things to see around there? Anbody been to the Joshua Tree National Forest?

 

[Paddy C]

I haven't been to Vegas (next year I think). But I will mention that I've seen some photos from a sign "junk yard" there that are really great. From what I gather, this is a junk yard that collects all sorts of old signs from Vegas establishments. Here's a link to get you started (don't know where the place is):

http://cgmoyer.blogspot.com/2009/12/neon-boneyard.html

I go to Palm Springs every two years. I love it. Coming from Ontario, Palm Springs is like landing on a different planet.

Joshua Tree is amazing and I would definitely go there. The Palm Springs arial tram is a bit pricey, but I enjoyed the ride and the view and landscape at the top. If you like hiking there a number of good walks/hikes that you can take (see the visitor's centre). The town of Palm Springs (old downtown and environs) has an interesting mix of architecture, abandoned properties, vegetation, and vistas. I like to get in the car early in the morning and drive around looking for interesting things to photograph. Only catch is that everything is so spread out that it can take a while to make a good survey.

 

[sykotec]

As mentioned, the Neon Museum boneyard is always interesting. I left just before they lit up the first of their restored signs on that end of the strip as well - the old Silver Slipper.

The boneyard isn't a big place, but it's packed full of oddities that should amuse most any industrial archeologist.

It's probably cliche, and now that I think about it, might have camera restrictions as it's 'infrastructure', but I keep meaning to take the IIIf and 15mm to Hoover Dam.

 

[Rooster]

Thanks for the replies! I found the website for the neon junkyard this morning in a previous thread. They are closed working on a new location or something.