Our first family road trip and we can also count it as our first long trip alone. especially my first driving away from bay area, until this trip i never drive more than 50 miles from Sunnyvale/Santa Clara. We are bit excited and afraid of little bit about my driving to be safe side i bought GPS.
One of Lakshmi's cousin's family came from east coast, They flied to San Diego and drove to San Francisco middle of the week. While they were returning from San Francisco we sort of decided to align their itinerary as they also traveling the same places as we planned in the same order as first to Las Angeles(1day) mainly Universal Studios then to San Diego ( 2 nights) 2nd day evening leave to Las Vegas ( 1 night) and leave to Grand Canyon for 2 nights. after that its just return journey if needed thought of stopping in the middle of the way. 
we started (lakshmi and myself) in our own car, initially lakshmi's cousin also wanted to come in our car, But luckily changed her decision in the last minute as it turned out to be that was our last good-bye after that we never met again. it sorted of become bit interesting, we stick to the same order to visit and they changed little bit first they went to SD and next day to LA. Interestingly through-out the trip they is heavy rain only when we are in driving or either in hotel room. 
We left home late after noon from Sunnyvale, thought of driving CA-1 as our relatives want to drive CA-1. we stopped at few places along CA after Montreal and Carmel, it started picking up the rain then once its pouring then we straight drove to one of my long friends Raghu ram Loya, he stayed at Ventura. he asked me to stop at his home before i headed to LA. I thought why not, as it i was driving through Ventura. we were there in the night. we had long chit chat finally slept thinking of long day ahead for next day.
Morning we woke early, we left their home in the morning we were in universal studios on time(may 30 mins after opening) we parked the car and took pictures at universal studios globe at entrance. 
Then grabbed a park map to mark which ones we are interested and marked the order based on timings and routes. we went to few rides and few shows, i think lakshmi enjoyed a lot as it was her first trip to any studios at least i visited once at Ramoji and universal studios once before this trip. i knew what i can expect. She liked general coach ride a lot, as it has lot of small attractions at every corner. But we would have more liked it if we watched lot of hollywood movies and serials.
After sunset we came out of Studios and traffic was horrible we were struck for more than 2 hours just get on to HWY I-5, we drove to san diego. it was around 10ish when reached another friends home, Saravanan, he is my MTech classmate. night after some chit-chat we fell to sleep instantly when we were in bed.
Next morning we had very nice south-indian breakfast, while having breakfast Saravanan found an ad who is selling Sea World tickets on craigslist. we went to his place i was 10 mins drive from his home, we picked two tickets less than actual price. Then finally we were in Sea World, it was first tome for Lakshmi. i visited when i was bachelor. As Saravanan and Thendral, Saravanan's wife are frequent visitors to sea world, we were guided everything went very smoothly i don't think we missed anything. we left Sea World after sunset, took some rest at home before went to dinner at restaurant, Annapurna on MiraMesa Blvd. It was opened very recently and there were not many Indian restaurants specific to south indian by that time(it was 2008/9) period and food was really good. rest of the night we talked a lot about college life , Hyderabad life and about our M-Tech friends. it was very late by the time we slept. Next day was easy on driving need to go to Las Vegas spend night there. 
When we got up in the morning next day, it was drizzling a bit, when started late around 10 by the time we were on car it was heavy rain. after crossing Escondido there was bit of traffic on HWY I-15 at times it was stand still. From Barstow to all the way to Las Vegas heavy traffic, after passing 127 in I-15 it was snowing there it was bit surprise for me i didn't know it snows there. until NV state border traffic moved very slow after mountain pass it was far better But as rain still continuing most the vehicles were moving less than speed limits. By the time we were in Las Vegas it was dark, as sky was filled with dark clouds it became dark way before sunset time. after checking-in to one of the casino's we took some rest before we headed to Vegas strip. we took transport to go to other end of strip from Sahara. 
we were at MGM and Bellagio most of of the time, as we both were not big time fans of casinos we played a bit on slot machines walked inside the bellagio and treasure island casino when we sort of tired, we slowly walked to Sahara by the time we were at casino it was almost 2 in the night. Again i was a bit uncommon phenomemon in vegas to get snow. initially it snowed a bit and as night fell sky was bit clear of clouds. 
on the way back to hotel room, we purchased some hand gloves and woolen cap to Lakshmi as it is going to be chilly at grand canyon. we searched for a hotel to reserve a room before go to bed, luckily i found one inside the grand canyon park at south rim.
Next morning we got up not too late, then we did not waste anytime to fresh up and with 15 mins out we were on road after checkout from the hotel. It was out first time trip to Grand canyon, after googling i came to know south rim is the best place to visit for first time visitors. first thing we did as soon as we came out from hotel parking lot, filled full tank and picked something for breakfast and coffee. we went to lake mead, it is the largest reservior in the united states created by Hoover Dam, spent sometime there before Hoover Dam stop. At Hoover dam we took long break walked on both sides Arizona and Nevada of the dam. There was a bridge construction going on to by-pass traffic away from dam that also shortened the distance.
Next, we drove on hwy 93 without a break, at Kingman we stopped at subway before i merge onto I-40 towards Williams, AZ. There was snowing a lot in I-40 after Kingman, many cop vehicles were stand by to the side of interstate and snow clearing machines ran just before we were there, we saw salt/sand spilling trucks quarter mile ahead of us. it helped us to drive fast even though there was snowfall. after Williams, on why 64 we stopped at gas station to fill the tank and to buy some winter gear for Lakshmi, as what we bought at vegas not holding the cold temperatures and before leaving the gas station we picked some snacks too. there was heavy snow on both sides of the road till grand canon. we see few struck on roads near entrance of the south rim. we were extra cautious while driving we were very slow and most of the time we drove in the middle of the roads within previous vehicle marks till Maswik lodge. 
On the way to lodge we saw a deer very close, few feet away from door, we waited for deer to cross the road. it did not have any fear of vehicles and it was busy with its own business. It was very chilly outside, our first priority was check-in to lodge and sit warm. 
It was almost dark, by the time we park our car and get the room. we did nothing rest of the day except after some rest we stopped at restaurant at lobby. we were not fully comfortable in eating American food whole day, we both ordered burgers and fries.
Next day morning, when we came out we saw our car is fully covered in snow and all remaining water bottles inside the car was fully frozen, luckily we took few water bottles inside the room previous night. we went to lobby to enquire tour packages, then we came to know sunrise tour but missed it. we booked sunset and next morning sunrise tours. Then took shuttle bus to roam the south rim view points rest of the day. we took our own time at each place. First we went to Desert view then we stopped at almost all points shuttle stopped, we spent lot of time at village plaza we were at Maswik lodge before evening for sunrise tour, it was very nice views with evening sun rays on one side of canyon walls and snow on tops of canyon it was very beautiful to just stand there and watch.
But as we came from bus tour we needed to rush with few minutes at each spot. we came to desert view again and we were there till the sunset is over then we came back to lodge. we got bored of eating non-endian food for few days we wanted to eat rice. we prepared rice with electric cooker in lodge, we had rice with pickle and curd for dinner. Electric cooker was very hand for us so that we could prepare when ever we need rice. we were in bed watching movie on TV went to sleep not too late as next morning we need to get a bus for sunrise tour. 
We got up and took very warm bath and came to lobby before our schedule time. Sunrise tour was really worth especially when there was lot of snow and ice on roads. we left driving head-ache to drive we just enjoyed the views.
We were at lodge around 8, we had breakfast before we leave the park. before 9 we were on road, we wanted to go Death-Valley National Park before we go home. 
We came out of the park slowly then till Williams we drove very cautious, we used toe and hand warmers to get warm in the morning temperature. by the time we reach Williams sun was fully up and outside it was warm, out warmers became too hot in the gloves and shoe. we stopped at the same gas station for a small break and also to remove toe and hand warmers. 
Then we straight drove to death valley passing hoover dam, las vegas without stop when we were 10 miles away from Creech Air force Base, we were in dilemma if no gas station there, we will be stuck after that there is no near station, we did not wanted to take risk, we drove back 5 miles to fill full tank before continuing the drive. 
But while passing the air base we see few gas stations but we did not lose more than 30 mins of extra time by going back for gas. we were in death-valley before evening, 
We did most part drive-thru just before sunset(may an hour before sunset) we talked about where o stay, after discussing we decided to go home if i am comfortable to drive. with small break in death-valley at Artists Dr. we decided to leave, we drove on up hills on 190 while sun is setting it was direct sun while driving most of the up hill driving i did with bit of sun glare and slow driving till it merges into 395 south. Sun was fully set when we were on 395, still 6 hours of driving left. we drove all the way to home past 1AM with one break at BakersField another one in the middle when we stopped for gas. 
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