I’m hugely excited about my USA itinerary. I leave on the 27th January 2019 returning on 7th March 2019.
Once I have picked up my car in Las Vegas, I will drive east to explore what is reputed to be one of the world’s largest open-air flea markets in Quartzsite, Arizona. This is well-known to be a great place for gem lovers and enthusiasts to explore and add to their collections. From Quartzite, I will drive East to Tucson, stopping in Phoenix for a night to break up the long drive. Of course, a large part of my trip will be spent at the Tucson Gem Show. For the industry professional, the Tucson Gem Show is one of the key jewellery shows in the world – not just for trading, but for hardcore socialising too! I’m looking forward to catching up with many of my professional gem industry contacts there.
However, despite it being mainly a business show, there will still be many events for the general public, gem lovers and jewellery aficionados alike. Bearing in mind that there will be well over forty events going on simultaneously, I will make it my mission to find out which are the best shows for tourists to attend. Hopefully, I can take the pain out of planning that for you!
After a week in Tucson, I will go back to Las Vegas to enjoy a few days with my husband. We’ve both talked about visiting the Grand Canyon in our lifetime, and I can’t think of a better place to spend my 50th Birthday. I’ll then drive back to Tucson on Valentines Day, to catch the last few days of the gem show.
The next stage of my USA itinerary will involve a lot of driving and exploring. The route I have planned is a two-thousand-kilometre circuit, starting in Tucson heading west to New Mexico and back east to Las Vegas. I plan to visit a couple of gem mining areas along the way, and I’m keen to go and find out what makes the turquoise in Albuquerque so special. There are also a few important museums and tourist shops I want to check out.
This first USA itinerary is only taking me to the West. In May 2019, I will make a second trip to explore the East and I will consolidate my findings from both USA trips to write the next book in the Gemstone Detective series – Buying Gemstones & Jewellery in the USA. That book will be published in September, 2019 and can be pre-ordered at www.gemstonedetective.com.
If you would like to follow my movements whilst I’m away, why not connect with the Gemstone Detective on Instagram or Facebook? I’ll be talking about my experiences and posting photos as I go along.
Kim Rix
Be sure | Be smart | Buy with confidence