Death valley in August-madness?

[thirtysomething]

We have booked flights to Clifornia for 2 week flydrive in August-are very tempted to have 2 nights in death valley then a night or two in Las Vegas...however temperatures look unbelievable for death valley-up to 55C!! Has anyone been and will we literally fry? DCs age 9 and 11-they cope well at around 35-40 degrees in the sun in Italy, Spain etc but not wure if this would be foolhardy!!

Well there is no denying it is hot.

I did it as part of a "Thelma and Louise" type trip with a friend when we were 21, hiring a car from LA and driving out across the deserts to Las Vegas before then driving back to San Fransisco.

Everywhere inside will be air conditioned. And all cars will be. Though at times you were advised to turn air conditioning off when driving across Death Valley to conserve petrol.

The children will cope with it, it will be an adventure. They might whinge about being hot but what a great trip it will be.

I am v jealous.

Thanks Bigbad you have convinced me!!