Day 3 - Bryce Canyon

Thanks to our great cooks, we start the day with a delightful breakfast:  Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon and Hash Browns, followed by Samantha and Sydney's birthday!

The kids enjoy breakfast at Dave & Kathy's Diner.

Trey was in charge of the birthday cake decoration.

Andrew was in charge of the cupcake decoration, while the girls each decorated their own cupcakes.

Sydney did a great job with her cupcake.

Samantha with her cupcake.  Happy Birthday Girls!

Mossy Cave is the trail you want to go to if you have a very short time and want to do a little hike. Or, if you have kids that do not like to break a sweat on a hike, this is a perfect little stroll where you can get a canyon experience without the hike down.

As you come down off the low ridge, you see the first of a couple bridges that will take you across the creek.

As you step across the second bridge, look to your right and you will see the waterfall. A few steps off the bridge and you will see the trail junction to either go left up to Mossy Cave or go right to the waterfall.

We noticed that snow was still noticeable in the Cave area.

Here you get a great view of the hoodoos above and across from Mossy Cave.

  

Chris and the kids pose for a photo along the trail.

Look up to see some windows in the sandstone formations above. If you feel up to it, you can climb up to these and look through the windows at where you are now.

Beautiful views in all directions as you can look through the window down on the trail you came up on and down toward the waterfall and beyond.

After we safely walk back down the slope, we decide its time explore some more of the canyon.  

Chris has a moment for a photo.

The kids were very active and crossed the creek many times.

We arrive at the corral for our 2-hour horseback ride in Bryce Canyon.  

Samantha on Crazy Alice.

Andrew on Dynamite.  It was Dynamite's first trip down into the canyon with a rider on board.  That is why you will see a lead rope from Matt to Dynamite.  It was a wild ride to be sure for Andrew.  Dynamite didn't like to stay right on the trail - just like Andrew when he is hiking.

Sydney on Croppy.

Trey on Raspberry, Chris on Pango.

Kathy in the rear of this photo on Tuffie.

Here we are exiting the corral and heading to the trailhead.

You head down the trail into the canyon.

Taking photos while riding is not an easy task but I managed to get a nice shot of one of the Hoodoos along the trail.

Here's Matt, our Wrangler, talking about the canyon.

We are almost done and Matt asks if we had a great time during our ride.

We all take our time getting off the horses.  No injuries, that's great!

Dave riding Kimber.  

Matt with Samantha and Sydney. 

Matt with Trey and Andrew.  It was amazing that the kids were never scared.  This ride definitely convinced me that I would never ride a mule down into Grand Canyon.  I do not care how old I am, I am walking!

Day 2 - Bryce Canyon National Park

The kids arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park.  

Sunset Point offers vistas of some of the most famous and breathtaking of Bryce Canyon's hoodoos.

Directly below the point and to the south, the Silent City rises from the canyon floor, a maze of hoodoos and fins packed in tight formation.

Here are Chris and the kids at the Navajo Loop Trail head.

 You start by hiking down Wall street a narrow canyon with high rock walls on either side.

During our hike down the trail we caught a glimpse of the horseback riders.  We are scheduled to do the same ride tomorrow.

Andrew climbing on another rock!

On the way down there are several switchbacks to help you on your decent.  

 The kids and Chris find an alcove for another photo op!

This is called the two bridge area as you can see the horizontal bridges across the formations. 

The upper center is Bryce Point, one of the most scenic vistas of the full amphitheater and all its wonders amaze the visitor. Bryce Point is famous for its extraordinary sunrises.

The kids gather around "Hike the Hoodoos Benchmark".  Its a kids challenge - a way to stay healthy and have fun in your National Park.  From here we decided to hike "Queens Garden Trail"

As we were walking, we came upon an area that was filled with what is called an Inukshuk.  The inukshuk is a stone landmark or cairn built by humans, used by the Inuit, Inupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America. It may have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for travel routes.

Here the group travels through a small slot canyon.

Hoodoos go through several stages:

First they start as plateaus and water erodes away the sides until they become fins. Once the things become fairly skinny, holes will erode in the middle of them, creating a window. Finally, after more erosion, the top of the windows will break away leaving a hoodoo in its place.

Chris carries Samantha while Andrew climbs the wall.

As we head back up the canyon we navigate several switchbacks nearing the top.

The kids decide it break time before finishing our hike.

We started our hike from the left of the trees in the middle of this picture.  The total hike was about 3-miles. 

Since the kids were scheduled to attend an astrology program in the evening we decided it was time for a campfire and smores.  

Trey seems to be liking the smores.  Smores are Graham Crackers, melted Hershey Chocolate and roasted Marsh Mellows all combined into one delicious sandwich.  

Samantha or Sydney, I can't seem to tell them apart, decides to have a juice with her smores.  To the right arm rest of her chair,  you can see her metal stick used for roasting the marsh mellows. 

Andrew starts roasting his marsh mellow while holding his juice drink.

Chris decides to relax and enjoy the experience.  Due to overcast clouds, the evening Astrology viewing was cancelled.

Day 1 - Zion National Park

We are at the Canyon Overlook Trail with Dr. Chris and the kids.  This short trail starts at a small parking lot near the east entrance of the Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel and leads to a fabulous view of the Lower canyon. 

   

The trail is 1-mile round trip and is mostly level and was carved out of the slickrock above Pine Creek. Andrew, our scout, finds something interesting on the trail.

Here is a photo of Chris and the kids.  From left to right, Andrew, Chris, Samantha, Trey and Sydney. 

Of course, keep an eye on your children as with most hikes in Zion, there are always exposed areas where one could fall if not careful.

Once at the viewpoint, an old metal plaque points out many prominent landmarks. Some interesting things to look for: the Route 9 switchbacks below, Bridge Mountain (the highest peak on the left side of the canyon), the East Temple (the impressive rock formation above the viewpoint to the right), and the Pine Creek stream far below. Also look closely at the canyon walls to find several of the Zion-Mount-Carmel Tunnel "windows". Relax for as long as you like then return the way you came.

After viewing the canyon overlook everyone decides to take a well deserved break for a snack and drink.  

 Halfway on the trail is a wonderful little shaded alcove with a seep and lush ferns growing out of the sandstone walls; this area provides great respite during the hotter summer months.  Chris and the kids decide its photo time.

This hike is short and sweet with a great viewpoint and everyone gives it a thumbs up!

Located at the Weeping Rock Trailhead, this is a very, very short walk up to the popular seeping wall of the park.

The weeping walls form a beautifully lush hanging garden with a little flowing stream below. This photo was taken from a platform area under the beautiful alcove with the wonderful water sprinkling from above; this is a perfect little spot for both young and old.

Speaking of young and old, its hard to tell the kids don't climb on the tree limb when Mom is leading the group.  Now which one is the kids and which one is the Mom?

One by one they all made it!  We need to talk with Mom about setting a good example for others to follow.  

The Riverside Walk heads a mile and a half up the canyon where you get wonderful views of the Virgin River as well as up-and-personal views of the lush vegetation (ferns, trees, moss) watered by the weeping walls.

Trey decides its time to look for gold.  No, that not Chris's feet in the water, its another park visitor.

Trey hangs on for the shuttle bus ride back to the parking lot.

Kathy and the girls relaxing.  We had a great first day at the park!