A Delicate Arch

Arches National Park in Moab, Utah is another underrated National Park. We got up early (again) and went on the Fiery Furnace guided hike.  This hike required climbing on rocks and sqeezing ourselves through narrow crevices. You need a Park Ranger to show you how to manage some of the obstacles and lead you out safely because once you are in this area, everything looks the same. It took over three hours to complete the two mile hike but it was worth it. After that, we went back to the condo we are renting and had lunch and rested up for the evening hike to the famous Delicate Arch. In Utah, this arch is one of the symbols of the state. You see photos of it everywhere and it's even on the license plates here, but like so many other places, pictures cannot recreate the experience of seeing it in person. It was three miles round trip with a 500 foot elevation gain in 90 degree heat but we all made it no problem. This is our 8th and last National Park and the Delicate Arch was a great way go out. We're heading east the rest of the way now - 8 days to go !

                                              Fran squeezing through a tiny arch

                                                Taking a break in the Fiery Furnace

That's a tight squeeze !

You gotta slide down

If you look closely you can see me, Jillian & Kayla in the middle of Delicate Arch

What exactly does this mean ??  I must be getitng old

Could I ask for anything more ?

"How did I get here ?"

Run Forest Run

After the Bryce Canyon mules we headed to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. But first we drove through Monument Valley on the border between northern Arizona and southern Utah. This is the exact spot where Forrest Gump ended his running across the country. I wasn't the only one recreating the scene right there in the middle of the road. This is real Navajo country - native Americans live all around the area.  (This is our second Gump stop - two years ago we made it to the Forrest Gump park bench in Chippewa Square in Savanah, Georgia) And by coincidence, guess what movie was on when we got to our room in Moab ?

                                              Welcome to Utah............Life Elevated

I've had some requests for a jumping picture.....here it is from southern Utah

This is not the exact spot.....but it still is far from home

Here it is, the exact spot Forrest got tired and went home....

"I'm So Keeno on Beef-A-Reeno"

I think that's what our mules must have been eating for breakfast just before we got to Bryce Canyon for our ride. We all got on our mules and again a little unsure what this new adventure would be like. Overall it was basically uneventful and not something we'll have to do again any time soon. They stunk (the trail was their toilet) and they moved slow. But they did get us down to the bottom and back up to the top of the canyon safely. It was a great way to see the sights of Bryce Canyon, but this time I think the kids would actually rather have hiked !

                                                                       Kayla riding Crazy Alice

Jillian riding Johnny

Brendan on Kookberry

                 The formations and colors in Bryce Canyon are incredible - pictures cannot do it justice.....

On the way out of the park

The Narrows

Zion National Park ! This is definitely a hidden gem among the National Parks. The Virgin river has dug a thin canyon in Southern Utah and we got up early to hike "The Narrows" . For this hike you must walk an easy mile and then enter the water where the trail becomes the river. We were set up with our river shoes and hiking sticks and hiked upstream for about an hour through rapids and waist high water. At one point the canyon walls are only 22 ft. wide, hence the name The Narrows. The only real danger was the threat of flash floods that run through the canyon - lucky for us - no floods today ! This was a great experience.

                                         Big Horn Sheep were here to welcome us into the park.

Our first steps in the river.....a little nervous

The water's getting a little deep in the canyon !

Finding higher ground in case of a flash flood ??

Workin' the river

In the pool.....not a river

Love this picture.....hiking among the massive rocks of Zion

The Grand Daddy of Them All

The Grand Canyon !  No trip would be complete without getting to Grand Canyon National Park. If you've ever been there, you know why it's called the "Grand" Canyon from the second you see  it. We've seen canyons and rock formations all across the country, but nothing compares to the size of this. When we got there it was dark already and a couple of elk were sitting right outside our room. In the morning we hiked the Bright Angel Trail into the canyon (not too far) and then took the shuttle buses to other points along the rim.

                                              Danger on the Bright Angel Trail......

On the edge....(And look at those shirts)

Jillian flying over the Canyon

There's the Colorado River.....the thing that dug that hole !

The sun setting on the canyon

My new friend showed up again......

           

Freemont Street Zipline

Before heading to the Grand Canyon we stopped at the old Downtown Vegas. Walked around for awhile and then Ziplined over Freemont Street. We all went and survived - Of course they missed me on the other end and I slid back and hung for a few minutes about 50 feet over Freemont while everyone below pointed and laughed at me until someone came and pulled me back. After headed to the Grand Canyon and took the Historic Route 66 for a good part of the trip.

                                                   I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

                                                                     Ready to Fly !!!

Our hottest temp. yet.....

Gettin' Our Kicks.....On Route 66

Fabulous Las Vegas

A quick one night stop in Las Vegas. Got an awesome room at the MGM Grand with a good view. Got a cab to Caesars Palace for dinner and then walked the strip back to MGM. Kids got a good feel for Vegas and know what "it's a dry heat" feels like. Temps were up to 102 here !!  On our way to the Grand Canyon this morning.

                                                    Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

Feels like home.......NY, NY

In Caesars Palace

See, I told her I'd take her to Paris someday....

California Screamin'

The last full day here we spent at Disney's second park on the same grounds called Disney's California Adventure. Really a great park - much more room to move around, plenty of Disney's characters, (hardly saw any in Disneyland) and better rides. Could use some more shade though.....Many of the rides are the same as Florida - Soarin', Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, Turtle Talk with Crush (Amazing), It's Tough to Be A Bug, Muppet's 3D - but it also has an awesome roller coaster called California Screamin'. We rode that about four times. This year they also opened the new Cars Land based on the movie. The big ride there is Radiator Springs Racers which is basically similar to Test Track in Epcot. Cars Land only opened a month ago so it's still really crowded - We had to wait a half hour just to get a fast pass at 7:45 in the morning. If you get to the park late you gotta wait up to 2.5 hours. Don't know how people do it.  We have this Disney thing figured out - get there early and then use those Fast Passes - we barely ever waited on any lines and got on everyhing multiple times.  Tomorrow we start our journey back east - stopping for one night in Fabulous Las Vegas.

                                                              That girl is lucky !!!

The Tower of Terror.....we're in the back row

                                                           To Infinity and Beyond !!

This is not an offiicial SYAG Braves hat Brendan.....

Frozone............

Gotta get the Mickey Ears Ice Cream.....

Surf City USA

Day 2 in Southern California was spent at Huntington City Beach. After coming all this way, we had to get ourselves in the Pacific Ocean. Nice beach with plenty of surfers in the morning, but no better than our beaches on LI. The waves were definitley rougher though. On the way home had lunch at In-N-Out Burger, the big place out here in California. After that we headed to Angels Stadium for the baseball game vs. the Texas Rangers. (Isn't that the team that has eliminated the Yankees the last couple of years ?) It's the 4th oldest stadium in the league now, but still in great shape. Good crowd, good game. Go Angels !! 

                                 Fran's feet in the Pacific Ocean.............

Ryan Road Trip 2012 !

Kayla enjoyed the water the most...

Next time we're flying to the Pacific Ocean !!

                                          In-N-Out Burger......not as good as Checkers !

                                                              Calling All Angels....

Hot in the So. Cal. sun - we moved to the shady side...

Kayla likes to pose for pictures.....