The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

The Americas

The 6 Best Mexican Restaurants In The Las Vegas Area

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If you’re a fan of Mexican food, you’ll want to hit all six of these amazing spots during your time in Vegas. Each offers excellent Mexican cuisine served by excellent chefs and friendly, courteous staff. We’ve compiled this list so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying your favorite Mexican dishes!

1. Nacho Daddy

Nacho Daddy was first opened in 2010 and remains locally owned and operated. Boasting an impressive menu of Mexican dishes and a philosophy of “never a dry chip”, this restaurant has made a name for itself in the industry.

Nachos have never been the same! The restaurant serves “gourmet nachos” of every variety, from their Fiesta Nachos to Lobster and Crab Nachos, there is a nacho variation for any taste you can imagine. If you’re not into nachos, the menu also has other options, including an all-day breakfast sub-menu.

One of the defining features of this restaurant is its world-renowned Scorpion Shot. And yes, it is literally a scorpion in a shot of tequila. The question is, are you brave enough to get stung? The scorpions are kept in a live terrarium inside the restaurant, so you’ll get to see the scorpion before you drink it.

2. Tacos El Gordo

Nothing beats authenticity when it comes to Mexican food, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Tacos El Gordo. Family owned and operated since 1998, this restaurant has gained a serious reputation for cranking out some amazing food.

They only use homemade corn tortilla and high-grade meats in their cooking, making the tacos one of a kind. Since the opening, the restaurant has also opened a location in California, spreading the message that this is real authentic Mexican cuisine.

3. Borracha Mexican Cantina

This Henderson Mexican Restaurant is a must-see for anyone who loves Mexican cuisine. With decor that lends a nod to Dia De Muertos, the Mexican holiday “The Day of The Dead”, this eatery certainly carries its own unique reputation for interior design.

The tortillas are made by hand from scratch, so you can be sure you’re getting the highest quality burritos and tacos made fresh daily. The menu also boasts a Vegan section for those of you that enjoy tacos without the meat.

Don’t worry, the drink menu is up to the task of matching the extensive food menu. Whether you want a glass of wine with your tacos, a beer or margarita, the menu provides. Its extensive list includes tequila as well for added authenticity.

4. El Dorado Cantina

One of the top-rated Mexican restaurants in Vegas is the El Dorado Cantina. Known for its superb authenticity and for being open 24 hours (that’s right, tacos at night!) this restaurant is a force to be reckoned with.

Featuring 181 seats, this upscale location provides excellent customer service and authentic foods. Their ingredients are all sourced from sustainable farms, and everything on the menu is made from scratch.

From tacos to burritos to enchiladas, the menu has something to offer everyone. An extensive drinks menu will ensure that your thirst is quenched throughout your stay at El Dorado, and the dark wood decor will inspire awe as you enjoy an authentic meal.

5. El Segundo Sol

This Mexican eatery boasts handcrafted margaritas and a stunning patio overlooking the beautiful Las Vegas Strip. With a focus on quality and taste, El Segundo Sol deserves its spot on our list.

The restaurant has worked hard to provide an authentic experience reminiscent of Mexico City, without the trip south. The fresh-made guacamole is a staple of the impressive menu and has gained quite a reputation for being delicious.

Tacos, enchiladas, fajitas. The restaurant has it all, and at great prices. You can even order bottomless chips and salsa for less than five dollars. Stop in today to see why El Segundo Sol is one of the top-rated Mexican restaurants in the Vegas area.

6. Hussong’s Cantina

In 1941, a man by the name of Don Carlos Orozco invented the margarita; which would become one of the most popular drinks on the planet. This is a little-known fact held dear by the Hussong family, who in fact provided the restaurant that this iconic drink was created in.

Hussong’s is one of the oldest cantinas around, meaning they’ve had a lot of practice perfecting their menu. Using only fresh ingredients, this restaurant combines authenticity with superb quality for a dining experience you must see to believe.

Burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and freshly made guacamole are just a few of the excellent dishes offered at this unique and savory location. If you find yourself thirsty, house-made margaritas are just the thing to quench your thirst.

Hussong’s also offers catering for your personal events, should you decide that any old place just won’t make the cut. They’ll provide their famous authentic Mexican dishes to make your event a memorable-and tasty-occasion.

The Take-Away

While Las Vegas literally has dozens of Mexican Restaurants and cantinas, these six are the staple of the industry, boasting well-deserved reputations and impressive menus. If you’re looking for authenticity, quality, and customer service all in one place, any of the six restaurants in our list will provide just that. Enjoy your stay in Vegas and remember, always choose higher quality when it comes to food!

Your Zion National Park Questions, Answered!

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The Zion National Park in Southwest Utah is one of the most visited national parks in the United States for a number of reasons. It has gorgeous scenery and plenty of hiking trails to explore, making it the perfect destination for those who love adventures. It is also home to diverse wildlife, from the mule deer to the bighorn sheep.

A trip to Zion National Park is one that you will remember for years to come. To make the trip more fruitful and enjoyable, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the national park, answered.

How Do I Get There?

You can reach the Zion National Park in a number of ways. Those visiting the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley can continue their journey by car; the Zion National Park is about four hours away from the Grand Canyon. The same can be said for those who are visiting Zion from different parts of Utah. The closest national park is the Bryce National Park, which is about an hour away from Zion National Park.

The most convenient way to reach the park, however, is by flying to Las Vegas. From McCarran International Airport, the Zion National Park is around two to three hours away by car. You can easily rent a car from Las Vegas, plus you get the bonus of being able to sample this glamorous city upon arriving or before ending your trip.

What about Accommodation?

Being the popular destination that it is, Zion National Park has a number of accommodation options to choose from. The Bumbleberry Inn, the best Zion hotel in the area, offers homey accommodation for any kind of traveler. It has its own theater and you can use the shuttle rides to get to various points in the national park.

There are several camping grounds too, so you can go all out with your adventure to the national park and spend some time in the wild. The Lava Point Campground and the South Campground are the more popular ones, but you have other options to choose from. There are even RV resorts for those traveling in their RVs.

Is it Safe to Drive to Zion National Park?

Driving to Zion National Park is not only safe but highly recommended. The Zion Scenic Drive is actually one of the area’s best attractions. The route takes you across the national park and straight to the forest area.

The drive itself is special. You will be driving along a twisty road with gorgeous scenery to enjoy from start to finish. There are some areas with sharp hairpins and challenging turns – not all of them have guardrails – but as long as you are focused, you will have a lot of fun taking this route.

Don’t forget to have your camera ready too. You will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the landscape; chances are you’ll be making several stops while driving this route.

Once you get to Zion National Park, you will have even more things to do. Now that you have these questions answered, you can plan for the trip better and have the best time exploring the national park.

Eco-Tours are Booming in Key West

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Ahh, the backcountry of Key West. Flats that extend for miles in either direction, full of game fish, sharks, rays, tarpon and other surprises. Get up close and see it all on one of the island’s many discovery tours. Go kayaking or have a guide drive you to the remotest areas where nature thrives and excitement rules.

What Makes Key West so Special?

Key West is a sub-tropical island set way out in the Atlantic Ocean, 120 miles from the mainland. To the north, we have the Gulf of Mexico and to the south, we have the Atlantic. There are miles and miles of backcountry around this island, too.

All of this means there is a thriving marine ecosystem out there just waiting to be explored. Key West eco tours will take visitors to remote areas to view wildlife and discover nature in a non-obtrusive way so we harm the environment as little as possible. If you’re an eco-tour newbie, here’s what you can expect:

  • Some eco tours take a boat of visitors to special spots to view dolphins
  • Some tours will take visitors to a remote spot to snorkel an area that’s not frequented by the bigger tour companies
  • Some eco tours involve boating out to a remote spot for kayaking on the flats and amongst the mangroves.

Whatever form is taken, an eco-tour means you get to discover nature at your own pace, silently and carefully. These trips are great for picture-taking, too.

What About Diving?

Key West diving is an exciting way to see the living coral reef that’s just minutes away from shore. Experienced divers and novices alike can get out to the reef and discover the underwater world that surrounds the reef system in our waters.

Even if you’re new to diving, you can take a short course and get temporarily certified for some scuba on vacation. If you really love it, why not get certified for real after you return from Key West? Diving is a lifelong sport that you can enjoy for years to come. There are dozens of charter companies in Key West ready to take you out to the reef or to a wreck for some fun exploration.

What Makes the Coral Reef Near Key West so Special

Key West diving is such a big deal because we are just six miles from the only living coral reef system in North America. That means an amazing diversity of marine life and a thriving, diverse ecosystem out there. All sorts of coral flourish on the reef, from soft coral species to hard coral, like rock.

The reef fish that make snorkeling and diving so popular abound everywhere on the reef, from zebrafish to parrotfish and Sargent majors to all kinds of jacks, snapper, rays and more! A Key West diving trip will take you out to the best areas of the reef, like Eastern Dry Rocks or Sand Key Light, for the best time ever discovering the coral reef.

Must See Toronto Group Tour Destinations

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With a barrage of attractions, Toronto is certainly the place to visit if you are a planning a group trip. From museums to galleries, from the world famous CN Tower to the Toronto Islands, it has got everything to keep you up on your toes. The city also offers a wide array of musicals and performing arts. Now you might be wondering as to how to travel to Toronto and thereafter. Well, not to worry. Go for some affordtable Toroto tour bus rentals. Before you make a bucket list of the places which are a must visit in Toronto, check out this list. It might make your job easier.

CN Tower:

The 553-CN Tower is a must see. Towering the downtown, this tower can be seen from anywhere and everywhere around the city. So you can just enjoy the tower while sipping on a piping hot cuppa, sitting on a couch at your favourite restaurant. Also you can take a trip to Lake Ontario, if you want a better view of the tower. Built between the year 1972 and 1976, this tower was once the tallest standing structure in the world. You want to have a closer look of the tower and a wider look of the city, you should go to its highest viewing area, which is from the Sky Pod at 447 m above the city. The view from this place is magnificent.

Royal Ontario Museum:

The Royal Ontario Museum, also called the ROM, houses some of the exquisite pieces of art and craft from across the world. Its world class collection will make any art lover go weak in his’/her knees. Plus the architecture of the museum makes it all the more attractive.

Casa Loma:

Casa Loma is an exquisitely built castle which takes one back down the memory lane. Much like the castles in fairytales, this one is a riveting in every sense of the term. It was built for Sir Henry Pellatt, a Canadian multi-millionaire who was the first to exploit the resources of Niagara Falls. The castle has got 100 rooms and three dozen bathrooms. This castle exudes the essence of European art and culture. It has been turned into a museum now. Visitors can come down to the castle and gawk at its beauty.

Toronto Zoo:

Some 40 kms northeast of the city center, Toronoto’s zoo is a must visit place. It has a collection of several thousand animals. So if you are a group of wildlife photographers, Toronto zoo might come across as a delight to your eyes and camera. One of the major attractions here is the Panda. Plus, its grizzly bear, vast bison park, and impressive polarium are among the other attractions.

St Lawrence Market:

Built in the year 1850, St Lawrence hall place was as a meeting point for many. However, eventually the area around this hall turned into a market place. From flower vendors to food products, this market place has a lot to offer.

Entertainment district:

If New York has the Broadway, Toronto has the Entertainment district. This place comes to life in the evening with a bevy of theatre productions, concerts and other performing arts on the platter. Plus this area has a barrage of restaurants and hotels which make the place all the more lively.

So folks, these are the few hotspots which should definitely be on your list while you are planning a group trip to Toronto. City Hall, Eaton Center, Distillery district, High Park, Ontraio Science Center are among the other places which you should also visit while you or a trip to Toronto.

When is Lightning Season and How Should I Prepare?

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According to the National Weather department, lightning strikes is highest during the summer months of July and August in Florida. Lightning can be deadly and people die from lightning strikes every year in the United States. The chances of being strike or killed by lightning are very small but what if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lightning victims did nothing to attract the lightning to strike them. They were simply unfortunate and just happened to be at the exact spot when the lightning is going to strike. In order to stay safe, the important thing is simply not to take chances but to recognize the warning signs and get to a safe place as soon as possible. The safest place to be in during a thunderstorm is indoors.

A lightning monitoring system will be able to accurately predict lightning frequency in advance and help to improve the safety of especially fishing, farming communities and other outdoor activities. It also allows ample time for those who have to work in the open space or spend a lot of their time outdoor to get indoors or out of danger way once the warning alert is given out.

This lightning warning system is equipped with sensors for the monitoring of in-cloud lightning so that storm and lightning alerts could be generated faster to protect the communities from severe effects. The advanced alerts are helpful to those who needs time to get to safety and also those who are organizing outdoor events such as school events or sports activities where many lives are involved.

Lightning sensors are used to pick up discharges every day and with the information provided, the system is able to reveal the areas with the most concentration of lightning likely to occur. It is the responsibility of heads of big organizations, schools, universities, and others to seriously think of lightning safety for their staffs, students, and people in their organization.

With advance lightning alerts, people are able to plan their outdoor activities e.g. camping or boating, etc. without endangering their lives. If you are caught in a thunderstorm, try to get indoors or get into your car with the windows wind up. If that is not possible, avoid taking shelter from trees, poles or other tall objects, and stay as low as possible. Stay away from water as water is a good conduction of electricity.