Enjoy it. Don’t to be old and wish you hadn’t done it. Everything will be alright. You earned it so enjoy it. Unplug and drink early and often.

I only hated vacations when I was a kid. I could count on getting a spankin every 500 miles

I've done the southern track but not the northern. If you're gonna go thru the upper tier of states and see Wyoming, Montana, I-dee-ho, the Black Hills, etc ...... I'd do it in a heartbeat. I want to see that region and I bet you end up enjoying it........ Pull My Finger told me this evening g that he's done it and recommends it

Las Vegas is a horrible place. I can't imagine going there on purpose. I don't even like changing planes in Las Vegas. I've flown in Reno several times and I usually have to choose between San Francisco or Las Vegas, for the final jump into Reno. It's the famous conundrum of the two bad choices.

I bet when it is all said and done, you will be planning another vacation. EVERYONE needs to just get away, every now and then. Relax, enjoy your family, safe travels.

I don't know what you call the Southern Trail, but if it takes you through Phoenix, go northward on The Apache Trail. It will take you through the famed Superstitious Mountains where the legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine lives on then through the San Carlos Apache Reservation and the Salt River Canyon. It is as fun as the Grand Canyon because you drive down to the bottom and back up. You will arrive in Show Low AZ, which is named because that is the poker game being played when Wild Bill Hickock (I beleive he was the gunslinger) was gunned down. Aces and Eights, The Dead man's hand was what he was holding. Then through the nice little town of Concho, where my grandparents stayed in the Summers. On through the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. Hitting Rt.66 and Winslow, where you can stand on the corner and look for a flatbed Ford. By this point Vegas is not too far away and if you choose you can take a side trip to the Grand Canyon and/or Sedona. You'll be in the neighborhood for both. Catch Hoover Dam from there on your way into Vegas.

There are other things in the N. AZ area you may want to catch too such as the Ancient Cliff Dwellings in Canyon De Chelly and some of the sights and museums around Flagstaff.

If you do this, be aware that The Apache Trail is pretty desolate and dirt road part of the way. Just have water with you and a full tank of gas. Just a cool, cool trip, especially for someone that isn't familiar with the sights.

I thought Wild Bill Hickock was killed in Deadwood, South Dakota?

He was.
But show low was the name of the game he was playing. Hence the name of the Arizona town.

One of the famous gunfighters was killed in Show Low from what I was always told growing up. Doc Holliday maybe?

Nope, just urban legend. Two partners played a game of Show Low for each others share of the city, thus the name. No one died. Cool little mountain town though. A lot of elk up there.