The Bed Rest Book Club
Share it!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Dining (Vegan and Nonvegan)
  • Running Stuff
  • Recipes!

Discovering Old Nevada

2/8/2013

1 Comment

 
I've been a resident of the Silver State for just over eleven years now, and I'm sad to say, I have done little to explore the the history of this great land. Modern day Vegas was paved by some brave, tough cowboys, and on Tuesday, we got a chance to learn more about the people who helped shape our state.

Just off of  west Route 159 (also known as Charleston Blvd) is a little community called Bonnie Springs. Started as a "tent city," it was a stopping point for settlers to break for the night and dig for water. According to our nice tour guide, neighboring Native Americans would raid the tent city at night and do "not nice things" to the settlers (she really had to wash down her descriptions as two toddlers were in the room.) Lots of people died in horrific ways: hatchets, guns, bears, disease. For a few moments during the tour, I felt like I was in "Parks and Rec," learning about the near-comical violent history of Pawnee.  Bloodshed aside, let's not dwell on the bad stuff for too long. 

Gorgeous blue skies, anyone?
Picture
Today, Bonnie Springs is a great little place to take the kids. The one-street village is lined with shops, a petting zoo, a restaurant and bar and a wax museum. There is even a simulation of what it is like to walk through an old mine shaft, though if you have problems with vertigo or balance, it's best to sit that one out. We were there on a day when they did not have any mock bar fights, gun fights, or hangings in the square (editor's note: I warned you about the violence).  Our guide was kind enough to inform us that they really toned down the faux hangings as "the little ones" would get too upset. My eyebrows almost shot off my head at that comment. All righty, then...

Courtney, Sam, Caryn (Courtney's mom), Karen (my mom), Scotty and I spent the morning wandering through the various attractions. Not surprisingly, the petting zoo was the biggest hit. Like most things, my enthusiasm overrided my common sense. After taking two steps into the zoo and immediately being accosted by a rather aggressive deer attempting to snack on my Michael Kors collection bag, I remembered why I hate petting zoos.  As I fought off the deer, I polled the group. "Who would rather be at Nordstrom?"

Courtney's hand immediately shot up.

Thankfully, my mother is a modern day Dr. Doolittle. She managed to control the animals while talking in a pleasant voice to the children about each. I could barely keep the panic out of my voice, especially when I stumbled on giant hogs not in a pen. Wasn't there a story out of Iowa about a farmer who fell into a pig pen and was eaten by his own hogs? Also, did I mention the wolves seemed agitated? Was a tsunami coming? There were desert mice running in and out of the exhibits - what's the name of that disease you can contract from breathing in the fumes from wild rodents' fecal matter? Anyone? Anyone?

Vegas living has made me soft. I am the Debbie Downer of petting zoos.

But the kids had a great time and my mother only shot me one or two withering looks (I really tried hard to keep my panic-ridden comments to myself). My purse made it out safely, though I can't say the same about Caryn's polka dot green sweater. Enter at your own risk, friends. 

But the happy goat was worth the price of admission. Scotty (and Karen) loved him so much we went back for round two. I battled the deer while they petted the goat's beard.
Picture
Dr. D and her apt pupils
We had a great lunch at the restaurant, which overlooks a duck and turtle pond. Even the turtles seemed happy as they sunned themselves on rocks. I'm pretty sure one was smiling at us.

Scotty and Sam had a great time playing cowfolks, and happily climbed onto whatever equipment they could reach. Here, they are yelling "Yee-haw!' while riding the log. Ah, to be three.
Picture
Yeeeee-haw!
Overall, it was an excellent way to spend a morning. I'd recommend coming later in the week, since the shops are dark on Monday and Tuesday. It literally felt like we were on vacation as we strolled up and down the dusty street. We discussed the possibility of a joint family vacation at a dude ranch when the kids are a bit older, but ultimately couldn't stop laughing as we pictured our attorney husbands riding horses, eating canned beans, or willingly engaging in physical labor on a vacation. Does anyone know of any five-star dude ranches?

So if you get a chance, definitely check out Bonnie Springs. Scott and Sam were the perfect age to enjoy the fun. Best of all, if necessary, you could even do time-out the old-fashioned way.
Picture
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen...
For more information, check out their website at  www.bonniesprings.com.
1 Comment
Theresa
3/20/2013 02:42:16 pm

I would love to talk to you about Kernicterus. My grandson just passed away on 3/2/13. We truly believe that this is the cause. Ironically my daughter lives in Las Vegas. Please e-mail me.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About Me

    Think of this as the epilogue to Bridget Jones' story. Well, mostly. Bridget marries the handsome lawyer, starts a blog while on bedrest, and decides marathon running sounds like fun. Bridget goes through a divorce but keeps running. Hilarity ensues. 

    Archives

    September 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    September 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009

    Categories

    All
    Adolescence
    Baby Activities
    Baby Care
    Bed Rest
    Book Reviews
    Bravo Tv
    Breast Feeding
    Cool Stuff
    Craftiness
    Craig\'s List
    Dogs
    Emma
    Ethical Dilemmas
    Family
    Family Relationships
    Food
    Football Season
    Friendship
    Google List
    Grief
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Bloggers
    I Hate Our Neighborhood
    Junior League
    Kernicterus
    Milestones
    Motherdhood
    Motherhood
    Movies
    My Bladder
    New House
    Numbers
    Pending Reviews
    Post Partum
    Potty Training
    Potty-training
    Pregnancy
    Relationships
    Reviews
    Running
    Scary Stuff
    School
    Scotty
    Sleep
    Sororities
    Sunshine Cupcakes
    Surgery
    The Bobby
    The Holidays
    The Miracle Blanket
    The New House
    Todderville
    Toddlerville
    Toys
    Tv
    Tv Review
    Tv Reviews
    Unpopular Opinions
    Vegas
    Weight Loss
    Weird Stuff Kim Says
    Work

    RSS Feed

Thanks for reading!