Lake Powell and all the boats are rented

Getting an early start from Page was easy as my buddy gave terrific stories of how enjoyable a motorboat experience in Lake Powell would be. I have to say when we flew over Lake Powell, I was speechless with its beauty, and that was 5 miles up in the air. Going to the Lake Powell Marinas, we saw lots of people heading towards the docks where you rent your boat. After 30 minutes waiting on the line, an employee came out saying only people with reservations need wait as all of their boats were out for the day. WHAT! Being fast-thinking New Yorkers, we both hit our cell phones and systematically called every boat rental place in the region. Some apologized some laughed, but the reality soon set in, and we realized that unless we hijacked a boat we weren't going on Lake Powell. I will say upon a closer look; this seems like something I would suggest you do. But by all means, rent the damn boat as early as you can. Defeated, we choose to head towards Las Vegas with a plan to make day trips from there.  

The good news is that the Grand Staircase-Escalante is on the way; the bad news is we were pretty much-canyoned out.

It's 4 1/2 hours to Las Vegas, and we stopped in St. George for lunch. Overlooking the St. George Valley, we dined at Cliffside Restaurant. A little pricey but excellent food and service.  

We decided on a room at Caesar’s Palace as a room with a king-sized bed was just $68 a night. Checking in, they offered us a deluxe two-bedroom suite with a living room and dining room and the most enormous bathroom I've ever been in. At just $100 a night it was well worth it.

Before hitting the craps table, we dined in a classic New York steakhouse, the Old Homestead. Typical steakhouse fare with meat, seafood, and a pricey wine list. Why eat at a restaurant that we can visit in New York? My buddy had dinner choice that night. I always believe in trying places you don't have in your hometown, and it's why when I lived in Paris I would shout to tourists eating at Subway "You're in Paris, you don't eat in fucking Subway!". 

Lodging: Caesar’s Palace and its two-room suite for $100 a night - priceless.

Dining: Old Homestead Steakhouse with a proper Wedge Salad, Prime rib steak for two cooked medium instead of medium-rare as requested. Bottle of wine not in stock, so a substitute for a higher-priced wine at the same price was offered Eight Years in the Desert, available on Vivino for $39.99.  A nice touch.