COVID-cation Day 7

On the drive from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas we stopped at a dinosaur trail museum. It was small and we were the only people there, besides the person operating it. Kinda cool to see Dino tracks and Dino poop.

COVID-cation Day 6

Our last day in Yellowstone. We headed to see Old Faithful again and then we made our way out of the west gate to drive through Idaho to get to Salt Lake City, so we say another different but magnificent landscape. In SLC we were all exhausted and the temple is undergoing renovation. So it was pizza and a movie. 

But I also made then stop and take pictures at the Continental Divide. 

One of the better decisions I made was to bring my old camera and hand it to the kids. They took turns carrying it and taking pictures during the trip. Interesting to see their view of things. 

Covid-cation - Day 5

Our second full day in Yellowstone we headed up to Mammoth Hot Springs. It is a strange geological phenomenon. I wouldn’t call it the prettiest of all the things we saw, and it was pretty dry so there wasn’t much running water. But it was interesting. 

Lots of elk, just hanging out. Also saw a bear crossing the road.

We also drove up to the north entrance to the park to see the original gateway (the Roosevelt Arch). Which means we crossed into Montana and picked up our sixth state of the trip. We also crossed the 45th parallel (halfway between the equator and the North Pole, which also happens to be the state line between Wyoming and Montana). 

Then we headed to a river and all waded in the water a little bit which was relaxing. The water was the perfect temp because it was where hot spring water mixed with snow runoff. 

Then we headed back to the Yellowstone Grand Canyon to watch the sunset over the falls which was my highlight of the trip. Absolutely stunning. Calvin missed the sunset because he was busy building a bear warning device for his fort (I think we spent over an hour here and he was in that fort the majority of the time). 

Covid-cation Day 4

Geysers

Old faithful is interesting, but there are way more awesome geysers like the Grotto geyser or the Riverside geyser...those were our favorites. The whole geyser basin was pretty cool. Although there wasn’t much shade and it was hot. 

Then we walked / hiked to see the Grand Prismatic Spring from an overlook (it Looks photoshopped in real life) and Fairy Falls. We weren’t expecting to hike 5 miles (well, maybe Nick was and didn’t tell the rest of us) but the waterfall at the end was pleasant. Cal made friends with a chipmunk and Ellie waded in water. And ended the day eating bison burgers in front of our cabin. 

Unfortunately my phone storage filled up and I had battery issues...so I didn’t get all the best photos on my phone. 

Covid-cation Day 3

We had no internet and very minimal cell service while up in Yellowstone. So we are catching up now. 

We arrived in Yellowstone on our third day after driving through and being in awe of the Grand Tetons. We stopped for lunch along a river and the kids got their feet wet and watch some white water rafters. After checking into our hotel we found our quaint cabin. We headed out to see what we could see before the sun set. We saw some mud geysers and bison and waterfalls.

Covid-cation Day 2

Vegas to Park City

Stopped in Zion

Did moderate hike to see the canyon

Saw a deer and her fawn

Drove through a really long tunnel

Saw a big wildfire just as we crossed from Nevada into Arizona

Got three states again today - Utah, Nevada, Arizona

Hotel in park city is a suite with a Murphy bed

Lots of picnicing and eating in the car

Got 8 more states plus Washington DC, Alberta, Ontario, and Sonora

Covid-cation Day 1

Los Angeles to Vegas

115 degrees

Three states - AZ, CA, NV

Tried to see Hoover Dam...but it was closed and no viewing except from Lake Mead.

Saw Lake Mead

Calvin, “I don’t think Las Vegas is interesting”

Ellie was concerned about some of the outfits seen on the strip.

Saw the Belagio fountain show

Saw the Vegas sign

License plate count: 32 states highlights include, Maine, Alaska, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana. We have all the states west of the dakotas except Hawaii.