I arrived in Las Vegas late in the evening and went for a walk around midnight. The first place I wanted to visit was the Stratosphere. After taking a few shots from the street, I went inside.

There are plenty of attractions inside the tower, but what I really wanted was to reach the top. Unfortunately, the observation deck was closing, so I decided to save it for the next day.

I wandered down Las Vegas Boulevard, surrounded by the glow of neon lights, flashing signs, and the constant hum of the Strip. The energy of the city was incredible, but after driving nearly eight hours from San Francisco, I was completely exhausted. I managed to snap a few shots of the casinos, their bright lights reflecting off the streets, before heading back to the hotel for some much-needed rest.

Famous sign Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas.

DEATH VALLEY

The next day, I set out for Death Valley. I topped off the gas tank and stocked up on plenty of water and food, knowing that my destination — the Racetrack Playa — was deep in the desert. This is the place of the mysterious “moving rocks,” which leave long, winding trails across the flat, white salt crust. No one knows exactly why the rocks move, though several theories try to explain the phenomenon, which only adds to the area’s eerie charm.

The 27-mile unpaved road leading to the racetrack had been my main concern, but it turned out to be surprisingly smooth. The heat, however, was relentless. The sun baked the desert landscape, making the salt flats shimmer like a mirage. The silence was almost complete, broken only by the crunch of gravel under the tires and the occasional gust of hot wind. Standing among the scattered rocks, with their mysterious trails stretching out into the distance, felt otherworldly — like walking on an alien planet.

On my way, I ran into a National Park ranger, who was incredibly kind and handed me a detailed map of the area. When he heard where I was planning to go, he looked genuinely surprised — the Racetrack Playa is usually recommended only for 4×4 vehicles, and I was driving a regular four-door sedan. I could almost see him picturing the rough, unpaved road ahead.

Still, I pressed on. As I approached the end of the pavement, a sense of excitement mixed with a little tension settled in. The road ahead stretched out as a dusty, rugged path, disappearing into the remote desert landscape. This was it — the point of no return before the real adventure began.

And oh my lord — what the hell was that?!

In the photos I had seen before, the road looked like simple sand. But this… this was something else entirely! Sharp rocks, deep bumps, and washed-out sections stretched as far as I could see. After just a few miles, I made the decision to turn back. The risk of blowing a tire was way too high, and my tires were already incredibly soft — the first real obstacle of the journey.

I turned around and decided to explore other nearby sights instead. The first one I visited was a crater called Ubehebe — a funny name, but an impressive sight nonetheless.

Another small one was located in half a mile from it and called Little Hebe.

Here are some photos of the surroundings and the road in various parts of Death Valley.

This is one of the hottest places on Earth — the temperature soared to 114°F (about 45°C). It was scorching, like walking inside an oven, and I went through almost four liters of water just to stay hydrated.

Not far away from the crater there was a castle called Scotty’s Castle

The last spot I visited in Death Valley was Zabriskie Point, located in the eastern part of the park and famous for its striking erosional landscape. The area was named after Christian Brevoort Zabriskie, who served as vice-president and general manager of the Pacific Coast Borax Company in the early 20th century. The company famously used twenty-mule teams to transport borax from its mining operations across Death Valley.

Standing there, with the sun casting dramatic shadows across the rugged terrain, it was easy to imagine the history and the immense effort it took to work in such a harsh environment.

That wrapped up my time in Death Valley. I drove back to Las Vegas to rest at my hotel and recharge, getting ready for the next leg of the journey — visiting Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.