And so is Karen's input.
She does not want to revisit Las Vegas, especially on a weekend again (pity as it would have been on my birthday). She does not mind an extra night in Flagstaff but would prefer a break from all day in the car, which a trip up to Monument Valley would entail. Her choice is a half day drive to Prescott and Sedona (with a stop in Jerome) after a very leisurely start to the morning. (we are generally on the road before 8 am when travelling so a 9:30 or so start is luxury, allowing her to enjoy a full bathroom experience in the morning).
I really would have liked to get up to see Monument Valley, but not this trip it seems.
As for our second "Vegas night", well she wants to spend it in L.A.
In 2018 we had two days in Houston before returning home. Last year we drove from San Antonio straight to George Bush Intercontinental in Houston. That and the flight was a bit much she says.
Personally I have no desire to spend more time in L.A., but as she is generally deferring to me with our travel plans I will give her these little wins. It will allow us to fully explore the western part of Route 66 through the city though, so maybe not a complete loss of a day.
As for Monument Valley (and a return to Vegas) I am thinking of adding one more trip to our list, sometime around the northern summer of 2027, covering Utah, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and a few other places. Time will tell.
But hey, we never thought we'd get back to the U.S. after our 2018 trip, so never say never.
As has been stated, there are things to do there that you can't find anywhere else. Also, on the way is Joshua Tree National Park. Another beautiful place to visit.
