Las Vegas
Stay at the Cancun Resort for $99/night for all six of us from a Groupon deal. Comes with full kitchenette.
Activity ideas:
Hoover Dam
historic railroad tunnel trail (Hoover Dam area)
pick one section of the strip to tour like Excalibur, and hopefully go the "knights" show
visit Valley of Fire State Park;
Red Rock Canyon;
Bonnie Spring old west town
St. George
Activity ideas:
Snow Canyon
Dino Museum,
Zion NP
Visit the ghost towns of Grafton and/or Silver Reef near Zion's;
Red Cliff Rec area.
Moab
Activity ideas:
bike the paved trails;
hike Fisher Tower (famous for a climb Tom Cruise did for Mission Impossible)
Visit the Needles district of Canyonlands
Dino track hunting near Potash Road.
Lake Havasu, Arizona
Activity ideas:
London Bridge;
Visit Oatman town on Route 66 (50miles NW of Laka Havasu)
Kanab, Utah
Activity ideas:
Try for a chance to hike "The Wave" (have to obtain a permit)
Pipe Spring Natl Mon.
family history on the Arizona Strip??
Old Paria ghost town/petroglyphs
historic Moqui Cave and see dino footprints and Native American artifacts
Explore Grand Staircase Natl Mon.
Zion Nat. Park
Friday, September 20, 2013
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Summer 2013
Wow, where did the summer go! I can't believe school has already begun. Of course, I have greatly neglected this blog as I have had much frustration all summer regarding other issues, but I am trying to be more optimistic and get back to doing and even thinking about doing the things I love.
First off, a recap of our summer to be reminded of dos and do nots for future reference!
June: spent a weekend at a cabin near Bear Lake
What to do: take canoe/kayaks and play at the lake (kind of a given, I know!), bike around the lake and splurge on yummy shakes afterwards, hike to Bloomington lake (possibly make it an overnight backpack trip).
What NOT to do: Rent four wheelers/razors--may as well just buy them or have awesome family/friend connections!
June: spent a weekend at The River's Edge campground near Jordanelle Reservoir.
Stayed there because it had cabins that slept 4-8 people and campsites to please all family members. Cabins were nice with a small kitchen area and a bathroom, but one family member said they seemed overpriced. Campsites were kind of small with not much room for tents, but overall it was acceptable. Would look elsewhere for future reunions but this type of campground set up is not easily found in Northern Utah so we may stay here again. Played out on the lake all day Saturday.
July: Spent a weekend camping at Mirror Lake campground in the Uintah's. We had fun fishing, wading, kayak/canoeing, and treasure hunting. I was kind of disappointed in Mirror Lake. I have heard how gorgeous it is up there but we have seen much more pristine beauty other places. My husband has spent a couple of extra trips up there, and he says he has seen much more pretty parts of the Uintah's by backpacking, not to mention there was a lot less people backpacking. Boy was the lake area thick with people. This area is definitely not a place to go to "get away from it all." The campgrounds were lovely with plenty of space between camp sites so we just went back to camp to "get away from it all"! I guess that is what we have to deal with because of the area in which we live. Close and convenient are popular excursion factors.
If time permits I would highly recommend backpacking the Uintah's or traveling 6-8 hours up to the Wind River Range of Wyoming.. east of Jackson Hole. (The last 20 or so miles are torturous...awful dirt road, which later caused furnace issues in our camp trailer!!). The Wind Rivers area is truly breathtaking. In fact, I need to do a write up of its own on here sometime because I would love to go back. It has been quite a few years since we have been.
Aug./Sept: Camped at Wasatch Mountain State Park near Midway, Utah. So much to do in the area over Labor Day weekend! We spent Saturday at the sheep dog festival and the evening at Midway's Swiss Days...both events are annually held on this weekend.
Do: go to the sheep dog festival on Saturday. Depending on how much you like dogs or other animals will probably determine how long you will stay! Plenty of activities for the kids. Cost is around $8-12 a ticket but discount tickets can be found at sponsor locations.
Do: Go to Swiss Days Friday if you want to have a chance at purchasing the pie/ice cream the relief society makes every year since it is pretty popular. We went Fri. evening and they were out of chocolate pies and my thought was oh well, they will stock up and have more tomorrow, BUT no they were out of many more flavors! Swiss Days was perfect to visit after 5pm when it was not so hot. Nice setting for the entire family (well, minus the little ones if possible) as the guys can hang out watching the entertainment under the big tent while the women shop the many booths. Wow was there a ton of booths, and many with great new and cute items.
Don't visit the Heber Valley Air Musuem unless you LOVE airplanes or WWII memorabilia. We went in hopes our boys would enjoy it but they were not as overjoyed as I had thought they would be. It was small with 4-5 airplanes that I believe they still fly occasionally, and a small hanger with memorabilia displayed around the edges. Not worth $8 for our family. The hot weather could have played a small factor in our disappointment.
Hope for next year: Camp at Wasatch Mtn. State Park...in a shady spot this time. Our campsite was awful while the grandparents had a lovely shaded camp. There was plenty of space between sites though.
Visit Swiss Days on Fri. and Sat. evenings and hope that Joshua Creek perform again!
Walk/hike the trails in the area
Visit Huber Grove and have a picnic
Splurge on Aggie ice cream at Heber Valley Cheese
Fish at the state park pond
Maybe take a warm dip in The Homestead Crater. Have to reserve your 40min. dip which will cost $11-16 pp depending on the day of the week. Life jackets are required which they provide. They have a small built in seating area so you don't have to float around the small crater the whole time, and kids are welcome, but I wonder if they would get bored...would be comparable to sitting in a hot tub. Personally I would leave the little ones with someone else mainly because of the price. People are welcome to walk around the top of the mound/crater and inside to check it out and get your own opinion.
First off, a recap of our summer to be reminded of dos and do nots for future reference!
June: spent a weekend at a cabin near Bear Lake
What to do: take canoe/kayaks and play at the lake (kind of a given, I know!), bike around the lake and splurge on yummy shakes afterwards, hike to Bloomington lake (possibly make it an overnight backpack trip).What NOT to do: Rent four wheelers/razors--may as well just buy them or have awesome family/friend connections!
June: spent a weekend at The River's Edge campground near Jordanelle Reservoir.
Stayed there because it had cabins that slept 4-8 people and campsites to please all family members. Cabins were nice with a small kitchen area and a bathroom, but one family member said they seemed overpriced. Campsites were kind of small with not much room for tents, but overall it was acceptable. Would look elsewhere for future reunions but this type of campground set up is not easily found in Northern Utah so we may stay here again. Played out on the lake all day Saturday. 
July: Spent a weekend camping at Mirror Lake campground in the Uintah's. We had fun fishing, wading, kayak/canoeing, and treasure hunting. I was kind of disappointed in Mirror Lake. I have heard how gorgeous it is up there but we have seen much more pristine beauty other places. My husband has spent a couple of extra trips up there, and he says he has seen much more pretty parts of the Uintah's by backpacking, not to mention there was a lot less people backpacking. Boy was the lake area thick with people. This area is definitely not a place to go to "get away from it all." The campgrounds were lovely with plenty of space between camp sites so we just went back to camp to "get away from it all"! I guess that is what we have to deal with because of the area in which we live. Close and convenient are popular excursion factors.If time permits I would highly recommend backpacking the Uintah's or traveling 6-8 hours up to the Wind River Range of Wyoming.. east of Jackson Hole. (The last 20 or so miles are torturous...awful dirt road, which later caused furnace issues in our camp trailer!!). The Wind Rivers area is truly breathtaking. In fact, I need to do a write up of its own on here sometime because I would love to go back. It has been quite a few years since we have been.
Aug./Sept: Camped at Wasatch Mountain State Park near Midway, Utah. So much to do in the area over Labor Day weekend! We spent Saturday at the sheep dog festival and the evening at Midway's Swiss Days...both events are annually held on this weekend.
Do: go to the sheep dog festival on Saturday. Depending on how much you like dogs or other animals will probably determine how long you will stay! Plenty of activities for the kids. Cost is around $8-12 a ticket but discount tickets can be found at sponsor locations. Do: Go to Swiss Days Friday if you want to have a chance at purchasing the pie/ice cream the relief society makes every year since it is pretty popular. We went Fri. evening and they were out of chocolate pies and my thought was oh well, they will stock up and have more tomorrow, BUT no they were out of many more flavors! Swiss Days was perfect to visit after 5pm when it was not so hot. Nice setting for the entire family (well, minus the little ones if possible) as the guys can hang out watching the entertainment under the big tent while the women shop the many booths. Wow was there a ton of booths, and many with great new and cute items.
Don't visit the Heber Valley Air Musuem unless you LOVE airplanes or WWII memorabilia. We went in hopes our boys would enjoy it but they were not as overjoyed as I had thought they would be. It was small with 4-5 airplanes that I believe they still fly occasionally, and a small hanger with memorabilia displayed around the edges. Not worth $8 for our family. The hot weather could have played a small factor in our disappointment.Hope for next year: Camp at Wasatch Mtn. State Park...in a shady spot this time. Our campsite was awful while the grandparents had a lovely shaded camp. There was plenty of space between sites though.
Visit Swiss Days on Fri. and Sat. evenings and hope that Joshua Creek perform again!
Walk/hike the trails in the area
Visit Huber Grove and have a picnic
Splurge on Aggie ice cream at Heber Valley Cheese
Fish at the state park pond
Maybe take a warm dip in The Homestead Crater. Have to reserve your 40min. dip which will cost $11-16 pp depending on the day of the week. Life jackets are required which they provide. They have a small built in seating area so you don't have to float around the small crater the whole time, and kids are welcome, but I wonder if they would get bored...would be comparable to sitting in a hot tub. Personally I would leave the little ones with someone else mainly because of the price. People are welcome to walk around the top of the mound/crater and inside to check it out and get your own opinion.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Bike riding and BYU Astrofest
BYU Astrofest is held every year in May. This year was the first time I had heard about it and this FREE event was well worth it!
Here is a list of activities that I thought were very well rounded and geared to all ages:
Planetarium shows
Telescopes...roof observation deck--weather permitting!
Paper rocket craft as well as "launching pad" outside
Physics and acoustic demos throughout the day
Tours of the bldg.
Paper airplanes
climbing wall and bounce houses located outside the bldg.
The kids had just as much fun walking across the BYU campus as they did at the actual event! Lots of fun landscape structures to climb on!
Earlier in the morning I attempted my first bike event, Goldilocks. When I first signed up I planned to do the 60miles. Since the end of April I have been plagued with this scary physical symptoms that so far to the doctors is nothing serious, but none the less it has significantly affected my daily life both mentally and physically. I still had hope of being about to do a 40mile ride with my sister-in-law (her first bike event too), but the day came wet, cold, and raining. Our first thought was to just make it 20 miles, but as we got to the first rest stop (at 10 miles) we were both super soaked to the bones and miserable. Luckily Eric was there and transported us back to the start line. Yes I am disappointed but given the weather and my physical circumstances I am slowly accepting this conclusion. Now we just hope for a much better outcome at some future event yet to be determined! The whole set up for the race was exceptionally well done and totally catered to women....which is why it is a girls only ride...not even timed...just a nice ride enjoyable ride. Well, it could have been!!
Here is a list of activities that I thought were very well rounded and geared to all ages:
Planetarium shows
 |
| planetarium show |
Paper rocket craft as well as "launching pad" outside
Physics and acoustic demos throughout the day
Tours of the bldg.
Paper airplanes
climbing wall and bounce houses located outside the bldg.
The kids had just as much fun walking across the BYU campus as they did at the actual event! Lots of fun landscape structures to climb on!
Earlier in the morning I attempted my first bike event, Goldilocks. When I first signed up I planned to do the 60miles. Since the end of April I have been plagued with this scary physical symptoms that so far to the doctors is nothing serious, but none the less it has significantly affected my daily life both mentally and physically. I still had hope of being about to do a 40mile ride with my sister-in-law (her first bike event too), but the day came wet, cold, and raining. Our first thought was to just make it 20 miles, but as we got to the first rest stop (at 10 miles) we were both super soaked to the bones and miserable. Luckily Eric was there and transported us back to the start line. Yes I am disappointed but given the weather and my physical circumstances I am slowly accepting this conclusion. Now we just hope for a much better outcome at some future event yet to be determined! The whole set up for the race was exceptionally well done and totally catered to women....which is why it is a girls only ride...not even timed...just a nice ride enjoyable ride. Well, it could have been!!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Bear Lake
Family reunion planning is already under way for the summer of 2013. For one side of the family we intend to spend a weekend in June at a cabin near Bear Lake on the Utah/Idaho. (Can go to this website for a list of Bear Lake rental properties: www.bearlakelodging.com Since growing up near Bear Lake I have traveled there often to recreate with family. The first attraction many people associate with Bear Lake of course is water recreation..boating, swimming, jet skis, paddle boats etc. With that a given we will look at other items to do as well. We find the north shore of Bear Lake to be less crowded than the south and there is also the Bear Lake Hot Springs on the north where you can soak in the hot springs right next to the cooler water of the Bear lake!
Last summer a few of us road our bikes around Bear Lake (just about 50 miles exactly), which was a great ride for the recreational biker: no major hill climbs and traffic is tolerable if you ride the right time of day.
This summer I hope to add a hike and a possible over nighter up at Bloomington Lake which is a beautiful high mountain lake of which can be accessible by trailhead up St. Charles Canyon or travel by dirt road through Bloomington Canyon. Our hike will be tentative as it is based on if there's still major snow pack blocking the trail!!!
Minnetonka Cave is a popular attraction in the area. It was the first cave I ever went to. Many people compare it to Timpanogos Cave as they are the main caves of their kind in the area that offer tours.
Speaking of caves, Paris Ice Caves is nearby and is a totally different kind of cave. Many people repel down into it because there is not much of a cave roof. Nice and quick little side activity.
Paris tabernacle: open 9:30-5:30 daily. Free self-guided or guided tours available. Beautiful Mormon pioneer tabernacle built in 1889 and is on the national historic register.
Update after reunion in mid-June.
Last summer a few of us road our bikes around Bear Lake (just about 50 miles exactly), which was a great ride for the recreational biker: no major hill climbs and traffic is tolerable if you ride the right time of day.
This summer I hope to add a hike and a possible over nighter up at Bloomington Lake which is a beautiful high mountain lake of which can be accessible by trailhead up St. Charles Canyon or travel by dirt road through Bloomington Canyon. Our hike will be tentative as it is based on if there's still major snow pack blocking the trail!!!
Minnetonka Cave is a popular attraction in the area. It was the first cave I ever went to. Many people compare it to Timpanogos Cave as they are the main caves of their kind in the area that offer tours.
Speaking of caves, Paris Ice Caves is nearby and is a totally different kind of cave. Many people repel down into it because there is not much of a cave roof. Nice and quick little side activity.
Paris tabernacle: open 9:30-5:30 daily. Free self-guided or guided tours available. Beautiful Mormon pioneer tabernacle built in 1889 and is on the national historic register.
Update after reunion in mid-June.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Midway, Utah
For the last couple of years we have been able to visit the Sheepdog festival at Soldier Hollow. We were still able to have fun last year amid the awful thunderstorms! It helped that we won a dog sledding adventure. Isn't this little sled dog adorable!!!!??? I have a hard time recommending this festival to everyone as I feel some would find it boring, but if you love animals or even like animals I think it would be an enjoyable experience. We especially love the water jumping dogs, and some of the mini animal shows that go on throughout the day which are fun for the kids too. My little 8 yr. old actually won $20 in their coloring contest. Tickets are not cheap....around $13 for adults, and $8 for kids. They have family pkgs for $39. If you go to any IFA store they will have $2 off coupons.
This year we hope to camp throughout Labor Day weekend, which is when the event always takes place. There is a large state park, Wasatch Mountain State Park where we desire to camp this year so in the next couple of days we hope to make reservations.
Midway's Swiss Days is also in progress for a couple of days. Haven't been yet, but have always wanted to. Probably your typical city celebration??
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Prehistory week in Price, Utah
Traveled to Price, Utah this past Sat. to visit the Prehistory museum where they had activities going on throughout mid-day to celebrate Utah's prehistory week. The museum was free all day. The museum is divided into two sections: archaeology and paleontology. Most all of the artifacts from archaic Indians and the dino bones were discovered in the Price general area. That part of Utah is so rich in ancient geological, archaeological, and paleontological history as we have witnessed in our visits to the Cleveland Lloyd Dino Quarry which is about 15 miles south of Price, Buckhorn Draw which is located in the San Rafael Swell, and Nine Mile Canyon. I had the opportunity to speak a guy who is helping with the Nine Mile Canyon field trip this coming Sat. I asked him about the possibility of the public being able to go into Range Creek. Range Creek was discovered to have a major amount of undisturbed Fremont Indian evidence because it was private property up until 2001 when the owner told the government about his special treasures. As of now there is limited access..have to apply for a permit and such, but for the untrained eye walking in without a guide, it may be a rather disappointing venture. I have also heard that where the gate is locked and where vehicles must be left behind, the walk in is very long until the first bits of Indian evidence is possibly seen. The ideal way to see Range Creek for us unprofessional but very interested people is by tours offered through Carbon County Recreation. The day tours include transportation and lunch. The Range Creek tour is $80pp.
Stayed at the Best Western Carriage Inn. Decent place although the Greenwell Inn had rooms with three beds that would have made for a much better night, but they didn't have a continental breakfast.
Had dinner at GROGGS (Pinnacle Brewing Co.) Had great reviews but I am afraid we can't give it great reviews. Tomato soup...too tomatoey, burnt fries, and no flavor French dip sandwhich. Big disappointment!!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Church History Tour
References for a future LDS church history tour:
Voyager cruise and travels or Fun for less-Two different types of church history tours: A regular tour and then an extended tour. Also have cruise tours down around Central America. Probably more pricey because of the well known guides that are in charge of the trip.
Price of the 8 day regular tour is around $1700pp and that does not include airfare. They have group airfare available or you choose to purchase on your own. Tour begins in Palmyra and ends at Carthage Jail. . Don't think any meals are included.
11 day Extended tour begins in Vermont and ends in Hannibal. Price is about $1800pp w/o airfare.
Mormon Heritage Assoc.-Offer about 4 different types of church history tours; An eastern tour, a mid-western tour, a tour including both eastern and western areas, or a grand tour that begins in Vermont and ends at Winter Quarters. Seem to fit in a lot of extra experiences such as visiting Niagara Falls. They offer different tours from June through Oct. Fall season tours seem to be at least $100 cheaper.
6 day Eastern tour Palmyra to Kirkland- $1600-1700pp if their is two per room, price goes down $60-100 if you sign up as a three or foursome. Many meals, airfare from SLC, lodging, all transfers, taxes are all included in the price!!
6 day Western tour Missouri, Nauvoo, Winter Quarters -Around $1350pp based on two people and includes everything.
7 day Sharon, VT-Kirkland tour-$1800pp based on two people and includes everything.
12 day Grand Tour-$2675pp based on two people and includes everything. New York to Winter Quarters
Latter Day Tours-Offering one nine day tour this summer for $2600. Includes: airfare, bus transfers, hotel, some meals. Geared towards families. Includes many non-church sites in New York and Wash. D.C. area. Also offer a teen church history tour.
Church History Tours- 12 day tour, $1800 based on double occupancy. Price does NOT include airfare but does include hotel accom., bus transfers, breakfasts, and 10 other meals.
Anderson Tours-15 day tour for $2880. Airfare not included but most other items are, and the tour travels to Martin's Cove, Wyo! Probably only need one-way airfare.
Brian Judd Tours-14 day tour for $2400. Includes airfare, hotels, 23 meals, bus transfers. Has another church history tour for $1345 but stays in Nauvoo area. Includes airfare, hotels, some meals, and bus transfers.
Morris/Murdock Travel-Airfare not included
What about doing our own self guided tour???? Let's see if there is a big price difference or not and then decide if it would be more beneficial and worth our money to go with a tour who we know would provide much more information and will have done on the travel prep for us.
One way airfare to New York area: $250 average unless you get a special deal then it could go down to around $150. One way airfare from Kansas City-around $120.
Hotel accommodations: near Palmyra- in the range of $100,
Nauvoo-average prices between $80-100 for hotels five miles away.
Kirkland-prices can be found in $80-150 range
Unless a hotel is needed in the heart of New York city a good hotel price can be found.
Rental car from New York for 8 days: For an SUV or mini van it would be $1200-1400 for 8 days. Of course that does not include gas!! A regular economy car would be around $800 for the week.
I am not even going to total this up because I can already see the cost will be much higher than a tour pkg or at best comparable to one depending on the best deals you find. Unless we were to take our whole family....then it would be worth it to do our own pkg, or we could save money by visiting one area at a time making lots of trips "necessary"!
Voyager cruise and travels or Fun for less-Two different types of church history tours: A regular tour and then an extended tour. Also have cruise tours down around Central America. Probably more pricey because of the well known guides that are in charge of the trip.
Price of the 8 day regular tour is around $1700pp and that does not include airfare. They have group airfare available or you choose to purchase on your own. Tour begins in Palmyra and ends at Carthage Jail. . Don't think any meals are included.
11 day Extended tour begins in Vermont and ends in Hannibal. Price is about $1800pp w/o airfare.
Mormon Heritage Assoc.-Offer about 4 different types of church history tours; An eastern tour, a mid-western tour, a tour including both eastern and western areas, or a grand tour that begins in Vermont and ends at Winter Quarters. Seem to fit in a lot of extra experiences such as visiting Niagara Falls. They offer different tours from June through Oct. Fall season tours seem to be at least $100 cheaper.
6 day Eastern tour Palmyra to Kirkland- $1600-1700pp if their is two per room, price goes down $60-100 if you sign up as a three or foursome. Many meals, airfare from SLC, lodging, all transfers, taxes are all included in the price!!
6 day Western tour Missouri, Nauvoo, Winter Quarters -Around $1350pp based on two people and includes everything.
7 day Sharon, VT-Kirkland tour-$1800pp based on two people and includes everything.
12 day Grand Tour-$2675pp based on two people and includes everything. New York to Winter Quarters
Latter Day Tours-Offering one nine day tour this summer for $2600. Includes: airfare, bus transfers, hotel, some meals. Geared towards families. Includes many non-church sites in New York and Wash. D.C. area. Also offer a teen church history tour.
Church History Tours- 12 day tour, $1800 based on double occupancy. Price does NOT include airfare but does include hotel accom., bus transfers, breakfasts, and 10 other meals.
Anderson Tours-15 day tour for $2880. Airfare not included but most other items are, and the tour travels to Martin's Cove, Wyo! Probably only need one-way airfare.
Brian Judd Tours-14 day tour for $2400. Includes airfare, hotels, 23 meals, bus transfers. Has another church history tour for $1345 but stays in Nauvoo area. Includes airfare, hotels, some meals, and bus transfers.
Morris/Murdock Travel-Airfare not included
What about doing our own self guided tour???? Let's see if there is a big price difference or not and then decide if it would be more beneficial and worth our money to go with a tour who we know would provide much more information and will have done on the travel prep for us.
One way airfare to New York area: $250 average unless you get a special deal then it could go down to around $150. One way airfare from Kansas City-around $120.
Hotel accommodations: near Palmyra- in the range of $100,
Nauvoo-average prices between $80-100 for hotels five miles away.
Kirkland-prices can be found in $80-150 range
Unless a hotel is needed in the heart of New York city a good hotel price can be found.
Rental car from New York for 8 days: For an SUV or mini van it would be $1200-1400 for 8 days. Of course that does not include gas!! A regular economy car would be around $800 for the week.
I am not even going to total this up because I can already see the cost will be much higher than a tour pkg or at best comparable to one depending on the best deals you find. Unless we were to take our whole family....then it would be worth it to do our own pkg, or we could save money by visiting one area at a time making lots of trips "necessary"!
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