National Parks vacation 2000 The Finale

Today is the grand finale of our National Parks vacation from 2000. Today we visit the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and we finally end in the wildest national park of them all, Las Vegas. What? Vegas isn't a national park? Oh well.

Sunday, August 27, 2000:
Once more we visit the Grand Canyon. This time the northern rim. Mike likes this part of the canyon best. After visiting the canyon, We'll head back up towards St George, Utah and visit Zion National Park, one of the most beautiful places in the world. After that is all set and done, we begin the long drive to Las Vegas, where we can reward ourselves with some all you can eat buffets.

Today's map - Kanab, UT to Las Vegas, NV

Today's Photos:

The Brandon Motel (the sign looks better than the rooms). This is the motel we stayed in while in Kanab, Ut. We had to stay there because of the name since Mike & I both have Brandon's. Here is Brandon (mine) and Brandan (Mike's) standing in front of the sign.

Mike & the boys hated this motel. They thought it was disgusting. It was run down, but clean. I've stayed in way worse motels in my lifetime. Some of our best "family" stories are from trashy motels we stayed in growing up. Remember the motel in Reno where when you turned on the bathroom light the floor was black with roaches that went scurrying? Or the motel in Flagstaff that we thought was a whore house? Not that we were always staying in trashy motels growing up, we just didn't stay in motels period, but the few times when we had too it seemed that trashy was all that was available (not to mention affordable) at the last minute. So compared to ones I had experienced in the past, this was a fabulous motel.

North rim of the Grand Canyon
The elevation at the north rim of the Grand Canyon is a lot higher than the south rim. So temps are much cooler here. Usually about 30 degrees cooler.
Mike's Brandan being a dare devil again. I about had a heart attack when I saw him.

Here we all with the canyon in the background.

Brandan really liked those ledges.

This was a little to close to the edge for me.

Mike, Kim, Brandon & Brandan. One last shot of us at the north rim.

Zion National Park, Utah
Next we are off to Zion National Park. I've been to Zion almost as much as I've been to the Grand Canyon. We've had a couple of family reunions right outside of the park. It used to be that you could drive up through the canyon in your own vehicle. You can no longer do that. You must take a shuttle to go up into the canyon. Since we had been here before & pressed for time, we did not go up the canyon. We just went through the back side of Zion & drove through the tunnel through the mountain.

These next few photos are of the back side of Zion National Park. I think they call this the badlands area.
Still a beautiful area.


There is a tunnel that goes through the mountain. The first time I went to Zion they allowed 2 way traffic through the tunnel. This time they only allowed 1 direction at a time through. So you may have to wait awhile for them to let your side through. Luckily we didn't have to wait too long.

Through out the tunnel they have blasted these windows so you have a brief opportunity to look out while in the tunnel.

It is very dark in the tunnel until you come upon one of these windows. I didn't get any photos looking out from the inside as the windows go by so fast. But in these last 2 photos you can see them from the outside of the cliff.

We arrive early evening in Las Vegas. This will be our final destination before heading home.

Monday, August 28, 2000:
A trip is not complete without stopping in Vegas for a day or two. That is exactly what we're doing today. This is our full day in Vegas. We are staying in the Excalibur (the castle hotel). Probably check out some sites, eat, gamble, and have fun. Oh, and see some exotic dancers.. haha just kidding about that.

A day in Las Vegas

Today's Photos:

This is where we stayed. It is a fun place to stay if you have kids as there is an arcade & midway. Also the Tournament of Kings dinner show is a fun show to take the family too. We sat in the Black Knights section & had front row seats.

Mike & I got locked up for being to unruly. Just kidding.

Everyone in Vegas wants to see the volcano at the Mirage hotel.

Kim & Brandan in front of the Mirage volcano.


Back in 2000 when we went Sigfried & Roy still had their magic show. A couple of their white tigers were always on display for the public for free. We all know what has happened since then. You now have to pay money to see the white tigers in the Secret Garden and there is now a fancy schmancy hamburger joint where the tigers used to be inside the hotel.

My favorite hotel is the Paris hotel. I've only stayed there once back in 2005. In 2000 when we went on this vacation we paid money to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Here is the view of Vegas from the top of the Eiffel tower. In 2003 I was lucky enough to actually go up the real Eiffel Tower in Paris France. Since I'm posting about past vacations all month long, I'm sure I'll post about our Europe trip in a week or so.

Looking down over the Bellagio fountains. The fountains are the best "freeby" thing to see in Vegas. Just beautiful. But if you view them from the Eiffel tower they are no longer free.


The front of the Paris hotel at night.

The ceiling in the Paris hotel walkway over to Bally's hotel.

Mike, Kim, Brandon & Brandan inside the Paris hotel & casino.

Brandan flirting with a statue in the Paris hotel. The statues there look so real.

Did you notice a theme to all my boyfriends? They don't talk back.

The Paris hotel Eiffel Tower in the daylight.

The front of the New York New York hotel & casino.

New York New York hotel in the daylight.

We stayed 2 nights in Las Vegas before heading home. It was a very fun vacation. We saw lots of beautiful National Parks. If you have never visited these National Parks, you must do so. Put them on your bucket list.

Tomorrow I will start sharing our vacation from 2001 where we went to Texas to visit another of Mike's nieces. I had never been to Texas, so it was quite a fun trip. Stay tuned.

And if you missed the first 6 days of this vacation, and want to see more beautiful national parks you can scroll down to see my previous 3 posts. Or you can click here to see days 1 & 2 (Walnut Canyon, Grand Canyon south rim & Four Corners), here for days 3 & 4 (Mesa Verde & Arches), or here for days 5 & 6 (SLC & Bryce Canyon).

I'm also linking this up to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. Be sure to visit her blog for this weeks players.

National Parks Vacation 2000: Days 5 & 6

Welcome to days 5 & 6 of our family vacation from 2000. Today we visit temple square in Salt Lake City, have a visit with my brother Todd's family and take a peek at my Grandparents old house. Then we continue on our road trip with a short stop to see Cove Fort & then on to Bryce Canyon. If you want to see where we have already been you can find days 1 & 2 by clicking here. Days 3 & 4 by clicking here.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you in yesterdays post that the other family that went with us (Mike niece Jamee's family) left to go home after we went to Arches National Park. So for the rest of our vacation it was just my family (minus Jesse). Jesse wasn't with us on this vacation as he was living with his mom at the time & couldn't go.

Friday, August 25, 2000:
Brandon is spending the day with his dad. The rest of us will be visiting Temple square and other places in SLC. This is our full day in northern Utah. Same hotel, same place. Not much driving today :)

a day in salt lake city

Temple Square: This beautifully landscaped 10-acre plot of ground in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City is one of Utah's most visited attractions. Centerpiece of the Square is the 6-spired granite Salt Lake Temple, and adjacent to this imposing edifice is the domed Tabernacle , home of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the great Tabernacle organ.

Two visitors' centers with interactive videos, films, Old and New Testament paintings, and an 11-foot replica of Thorvaldsen's Christus are additional attractions.

Enjoy a free concert in the Assembly, a charming Gothic-style building on the southwest corner of Temple Square. International and local artists perform every weekend and some weekdays.

View the Mormon Handcart statue, the Seagull Monument, and other statuary and fountains throughout the lush flower-filled grounds.

Today's Photos:

Salt Lake City

Brandan (Mike's son) & Kim in front of the new Conference Center in SLC. Across from temple square.

Across the street from Temple Square is the Museum of Church History and Art that we visited. They had a display of quilts. This was my favorite one.

Salt Lake Temple

Kim & Brandan standing in front of the Seagull Monument & the Assembly Hall in Temple Square

11 foot marble statue of Christ at the north visitors center at Temple Square

The organ pipes in the tabernacle

Saturday, August 26, 2000:
We head south. Today our point of interest is Bryce Canyon. None of us have been to this national park, so we are all in for something new. Bryce Canyon can basically be summarized as a "Utah version of the Grand Canyon". Tonight we are staying in a motel called the Brandon Motel, which is located in Kanab, Utah (right near the Arizona border).

Today's map - Salt Lake City, UT to Kanab, UT

Today's Photos:

Grandma Manning's old house

We had to drive by Grandma & Grandpa Manning's old house. It doesn't look much like it did when they lived there. It looks so run down. And I don't like the fence.

What happened to all the fruit trees on the side. Grandma would roll over in her grave if she saw how her house looks now.

Todd and Cathy's family:

Todd & his youngest daughter Erin Grace

Todd's kids: Tyler, Colin, Mari, Julianna, Erin Grace & Daniella

Cove Fort, Utah

Cove Fort is located immediately northeast of the junction of I-15 and I-70, in the southeast corner of Millard County, twenty miles south of Kanosh and twenty-four miles north of Beaver.

The fort was built to offer protection and refreshment to the traveler. Beginning in 1847, pioneers began settling the high mountain valleys stretching from Idaho to California. They came here to worship in peace and to build homes and communities. The fort is made of lava rock, which workers hauled from west of the property. The fort is 100 square feet, 18.5 feet tall, 4 feet thick at the footings and 2.5 feet thick at the top.

In 1867, the prophet Brigham Young called Ira Hinckley and his family to come and direct the building and operations of the fort.

Cove Fort has been restored to bring the past a little bit more to life. This is the only fort built by the Latter-day Saints in the 1800's that still stands.

Front of the fort.

We had a thunderstorm while visiting.

Inside one of the rooms.

The blacksmith shop out back.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Kim, Brandon & Brandan at Bryce Canyon

Hoodoos.

Kim & Mike in jail. Please come bail us out!

Ride 'em cowboy!

Which way did he go?

Did you know that I lived for 8 years in Utah back in the late early 80's? But this was the first time I had ever been to Cove Fort or Bryce Canyon in Utah. We really enjoyed both.

Tomorrow we end our National Park vacation by visiting the Grand Canyon again. This time it's the north rim. Did you know that there are 2 different rims to visit? We will also go to Zion National Park. And then we will end up in Las Vegas. So be sure to check back tomorrow.

Kim

National Parks Vacation 2000: Days 3 & 4

I will be continuing with our National Parks vacation that we took back in 2000. On Friday I posted days 1 & 2. If you missed it, click here & you will get to read about our visit to Walnut Canyon National Monument in Arizona, the Grand Canyon in Arizona & Four Corners (Arizona, Utah, New Mexico & Colorado). As a reminder my family (minus stepson Jesse) went on this vacation with Mike's nieces family (minus her daughter).

Today's post will be days 3 & 4. The National Parks visited on these days will be Mesa Verde in Colorado & Arches National Park in Utah.


Wednesday, August 23, 2000:
Today we are going to visit Mesa Verde. It is located in Colorado. This national park is known for its beauty, scenery, and history. Old native American Indian ruins can be found at this national park. After our visit, we will be heading to Moab, Utah just in time so we can watch the 2 hour Survivor finale on CBS.

Today's map - Cortez, CO to Moab, UT

Today's Photos:

Mike Y, Mikey, Brandan & Mike at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado

Looking down into what is left of an old Indian dwelling at Mesa Verde.

Indian cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde.

You can get up close & personal with these cliff dwellings.

Here we are down inside an Indian dwelling. Back row: Mike, me, Mike Y & Jamee. Front row: Brandan, Mikey & Brandon.

Brandan & Mikey

The area around Mesa Verde had a huge wild fire a few months prior to our visiting. Luckily the Indian ruins were spared.

If you visit Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde you have to climb a ladder up the side of the cliff. Needless to say, I did not go on this part of the tour. Only Mike, Mike Y, Mikey & Brandan went. Too scary for the rest of us.

Thursday, August 24, 2000:
This morning we are going to visit Arches National Park. These arches are awesome rock formations which have an arch-like appearance. Southeast Utah is home to many wonderful types of spectacular occurrences of erosion, such as Arches, Canyonlands, and Monument Valley. We may visit Canyonlands, but at the time of making this site, we are undecided. After our morning visits to these parks, we will be heading up to northern Utah. Brandon will be spending the next 2 nights at his dads house. Mike, Kim, and Brandan are going to stay in a motel in Sandy, a wealthy suburb of Salt Lake City.

Today's map - Moab, UT to Salt Lake City, UT

Today's Photos:

Driving into Arches National Park just outside of Moab, Utah.

Southern Utah has the most beautiful red rocks & dirt.

Lots of cool rock formations in Arches National Park.

Mike's Brandan is the dare devil in our family. He likes to scare us.

Brandan sitting under an arch.

My family sitting under an arch at Arches National Park. Brandon, Me, Mike & Brandan.

Delicate arch is the most famous arch at Arches National Park. We didn't get up close & personal with it as it was quite a hike to get to it & the temps were in the 100's when we visited. We aren't hikers (well at least I'm not).


The boys hanging out under one of the arches.

The whole gang. Brandan, Mike, Me, Brandon, Jamee, Mike Y & Mikey (sitting down)

And one final photo of all of us at Arches National Park.



I hope that you enjoyed today's photos. You have to remember while viewing the photos that this was about the time that digital cameras first came out. Mike had one of the first digital cameras. Some of the photos were taken with that & some of the photos were taken with a regular film camera. I wish we would have had camera with a good zoom when we took the photo of Delicate Arch, it was really far away from where we took the photo. I would love to go back to visit these National Parks with a digital SLR camera. Can you imagine the photos then?

If you have never been to any of these National Parks you need to go. They are all just breath taking. This was my 3rd time to Mesa Verde, Brandon's 2nd & everyone else's 1st time. Brandon & I had also been to Arches National Park previously as well. The southwest sure has some beautiful scenery & worth seeing at least one time if not more.

Also we mentioned watching the finale of Survivor. This was the first year that Survivor was on TV. We rushed back to our hotel so we wouldn't miss it. We were so surprised when Richard Hatch won. Remember that? We thought for sure no one would pick him to win. Boy were we wrong. We have watched every season of Survivor since then. It's one of our favorite shows. How about you?

Tomorrow I will share days 5 & 6. Where we visit Salt Lake City, family & Bryce Canyon National Park. Be sure & comment if you have visited any of these places & tell me about your memories.

Kim