646936 Sun Aug 23 17:54:45 -0700 2009 0 28 Kosher 0 4971015 Began in Vegas--excellent kosher food options there. spent the easiest kosher shabbos in our vacation history out there at the la quinta motel directly next door to the Young israel and across the street from the Albertson's with huge kosher section plus take out. NOTE: order your Shabbos food in advance. Not a lot is left out on Friday for those who haven't ordered. Good chicken soup, rotisserie chicken and potato kugel. Good shnitzel. Our fellow vacationers at the La Quinta ordered from Ramis or Rafis catering and were extremely impressed with the portions and the delivery of the hot food on time an hour before Shabbos by a lovely woman named Shoshanna. Others bought Shabbos take out from Smiths supermarket on Rampart. They were happy too. La Quinta was even ok with some of us eating in the breakfast room so we didn't have to have Shabbos food smell in the room (small rooms) and deal with the overhead light needing to be turned off. Excellent dairy restaurant, Panini (see my review) is also across the street. You can actually get an amazing breakfast there if the La Quinta free cold cereal and banana is not enough for you. Nearby is Village Steakhouse (good but expensive), Sabra (overpriced, but typical scnitzel, kabab place). The pizza store (Adar) near the strip is expensive but has very good sandwiches, pizza and homemade fries. GRAND CANYON: take a cooler. do the north rim (about 4 hours from Vegas). Quiet. Peaceful. Not crowded like the South Rim. Book the Grand Canyon Lodge a couple of months in advance. Cute log cabins a stone's throw from the rim. Beautiful views. The camping store has some simple items, but you will be jealous of those eating at the lodge with a view of the rim so pack something good for yourself for dinner. SAN DIEGO: about 31/2 hours from Vegas. We stopped in Vegas on the way back from Utah which was on our way back from the Canyon. Ate dinner in Vegas, then went on our way to San Diego and stayed in a motel near Baker. BTW, stayed in a very nice, brand new holiday inn express in Washington, Utah right near St. George, Zion National Park. Balcony views of the mountains and a great pool, nice lodge-like breakfast room. Like in most of these motels, if you ask the staff to show you the packaging of the breakfast bagels and muffins, you will find they are kosher. we had stopped off on the way from Vegas to the Canyon to leave a frozen pizza so we could eat it the next night on our way back. They were very accommodating and it wasn't out of our way at all. In San Diego, stay at the Residence Inn by Marriott walking distance to the La Jolla Shul around the corner from Ralphs (see my review). There are also Shul apartments right behind the Beth Jacob Shul in San Diego. If you want pizza, choose Orly's cafe over the Place. When I asked the Place if I could have a sandwich, they said they have no pita or bread at all. I had to settle for a huge salad and one tiny scoop of tuna. Expensive. Pizza costs more there than at Orly's where we had our first bagels in two weeks. It seems Vegas and San Diego don't do bagels. Orly's gave my kids free cookies and we loved the pastries. On our way home now to better pizza, restaurants that open on Saturday nights and bagels. Will miss the jaw-dropping scenery out here. Very convenient family trip kosher wise. Sun Aug 23 17:54:45 -0700 2009 163929 cappucino