One of these days, we will figure out the appropriate intensity for family vacation planning, but so far, we seem to continue to have lofty goals. We made plans for a 6 day, 5 night, hotel-stays only, no camping, Grandma included tour of Southern Utah. This was definitely more realistic than our previous plan for a week of camping in the Tetons/Yellowstone. We survived most of the trip but did come home one day early. It was still a great trip overall, and both Mom's and mine first time to see Southern Utah. I've been to Moab/Arches/Canyonlands several times, but this was my first trip to Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef.
Day 1: We started out at Zion National Park. This park was a bit tricky because you have to take a shuttle bus in and it's always a challenge to plan around the nap and meal schedule of two one year olds when a quick exit can't be part of the game plan. But we made it in and were able to get in a short hike. It was a beautiful park, and we can't wait to go back again!
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| Zion |
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| Shad and Sam on the shuttle bus |
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| Luke and Oma on the shuttle bus |
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| Oma and Luke |
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| group shot at the hike to the Narrows |
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| beautiful scenery |
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| beautiful scenery |
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| first dinner out at a restaurant for these boys; complete with nose-picking |
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| Sam lounging after dinner |
Day 2: We headed to Bryce Canyon National park. The weather was not on our side during this trip, and this first day at Bryce was cold and rainy. We had planned to hike down into the canyon, but we only got a little ways down before the trail was slippery. It was still beautiful!
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| Sam approves of continental breakfast! |
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| Bryce Canyon |
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| group shot |
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| attempting to hike down |
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| just before we had to turn around |
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| one eye peaking out! |
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| night two of dinner out on the town |
That night, however, was the beginning of our trouble. The boys had their one year old doctor's appointment a week prior, and the one year old shots are notorious for giving fever a week later. And right on schedule, both boys had fever that night. They seemed fine and happy the next morning, so we kept going.
Day 3: We had planned to start the drive to Capitol Reef in the morning and stop and hike at Escalante on the way, but we felt gypped that we didn't get to complete our hike at Bryce and the weather was a bit better, so we went back to Bryce for the morning. The hoodoos were amazing! It was really cool to hike down in them.
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| hiking attempt #2 |
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| hiking wears a little boy out! (actually refusing to nap all vacation wears a little boy out!) |
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| hiking among the hoodoos |
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| hiking among the hoodoos |
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| the sun peaked out for a bit |
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| group shot |
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| beautiful hoodoos |
After our morning hike at Bryce, we headed for Capitol Reef and fever struck again. :( Poor little Sam was burning up and pretty miserable. So we skipped the Escalante hike and drove straight to the hotel. It was a rough evening. Thankfully, Luke didn't fever again, but Sam seemed pretty miserable.
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| poor little Sam |
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| meanwhile, Luke was exploring the hotel room |
Day 4: Sam's fever broke overnight and again he seemed fine in the morning, so we decided to keep on going. Capitol Reef was on the docket for today. We drove around some in the morning, trying to encourage morning naps, and then got another small hike in in the afternoon. Capitol Reef was also gorgeous. There are some pretty amazing places in this state!
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| Capitol Reef |
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| Capitol Reef |
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| the adventure van |
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| we stopped in the Fruita orchard for some strawberry rhubarb pie |
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| Fruita |
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| obligatory family photo in front of the barn |
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| Fruita |
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| petroglyphs |
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| happy boys after a lunch break |
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| Sam's serious about his nose picking |
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| working on standing |
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| hiking in the Grand Wash |
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| sleepy boys |
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| hiking in the Grand Wash |
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| big horn sheep |
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| panorama point... aptly named! |
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| group shot with crabby boys |
That night, it all went downhill. Sam fevered again and this time he fevered most of the night. Luke was extra fussy, probably because they'd both been refusing to nap most of the trip. The combination of the two led to only a few hours of sleep for everyone involved. We had been planning to go to Little Wild Horse Canyon the next day, but we were all too sleep deprived and decided to head home the next morning. Even though it didn't go entirely smoothly, I think we did a pretty good job for having two one year olds! And now our appetites are whetted for Southern Utah! I can't wait to take them back when they're a bit older! :)
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| they slept almost the entire 3.5 hours home! |
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