Day 8 – Viva Las Vegas in an RV
After a quick game of morning Frisbee, we reluctantly left the Zion River RV resort. Today was a short drive – about 4 1/2 hours. We took the scenic road to Hoover Dam.
The scenery as we left Zion quickly changed from towering multi-colored cliffs to low meandering hills up close, with less colorful cliffs in the distance.
We left Utah and drove about 40 miles through Arizona before reaching Nevada. Unlike the pine-covered approach to the Grand Canyon North Rim, this land looked exactly like the stereotype of Arizona.
Whereas at other locations, the land at least looked deceptively green, here the land was obviously rocky. The sandy soil was punctuated with short bushes and big rocks.
At Hoover Dam, Ross and Ethan enjoyed walking out on the Pat Tillman bridge. I enjoyed sitting in the RV. (You do remember that story about heights at Mesa Verde, right?) The Dam was impressive. It’s hard to believe they accomplished such an engineering feat in the early 1930’s.
Less impressive was the heat. It was warm that day. As we left and drove toward Las Vegas, the landscape became more rocky and barren. It’s a good thing they made Vegas exciting, …
Day 7 – On the 7th Day, We Rested
The past two days of driving were like being at the bottom of a huge bowl that’s rimmed in different colored sides. The view was ever-changing. Some of the cliff tops were flat mesas. Others were jagged ridges. Some of the sides sloped gently like soft mountains, while others provided a sheer drop like angry cliffs.
It seemed we were constantly going up and down. And, I mean serious elevation changes (not some wimpy little hills). Some days we’d go up to 8800 feet and then back down to 4000.
We were tired of going up and down and around. We needed a break!
We stopped at the Zion River RV Resort. The campground was ringed by multi-colored cliffs. The hues ranged from gray to tan to beige to red. Some were dotted with green trees and shrubs. Others were bleak and barren.
There was a big creek (or small river – depending on your perspective) running behind the camp. Ethan told me I’d give the poor river an inferiority complex, if I didn’t stop calling it a creek. So, I’ll refer to it as a river from now on.
The RIVER looked like the scene out of a Western …
Day 6 – Zion Park & Tunnels with Windows
Instead of the light at the end of the tunnel, I saw the light in the SIDE of the tunnel. That was certainly a first for me. I had never seen “windows” in a tunnel before.
At Zion National Park, the 1.1 mile tunnel, which was built in 1930, ran through the side of a cliff. At every curve in the tunnel, there was a huge arch that opened in the side of the tunnel – measuring about 20 feet across and 14 feet high. This provided daylight that shined on the curve to help motorists see.
When we arrived on the other side of the tunnel and looked up the side of a sheer cliff, we could see one of the open archways.
By the way, this tunnel charges a $15 fee for RVs. Also, if the RV is more than 11 feet tall, you must drive through the middle of the tunnel – which turns the tunnel into a one-way route. This means that vehicles must stop at the tunnel opening and wait for traffic coming the other way.
Keep this in mind, as I tell the rest of this story.
We had already selected the trail we …
Day 5 – Woohoo It’s a Hoodoo at Bryce Canyon
Woohoo it’s a hoodoo! The rock formations in Bryce Canyon are called “hoodoos.” These are tall spires that protrude from the bottom of the canyon and have varying thicknesses, creating interesting shapes.
Bryce and Grand might both be called canyons, but that’s where the similarities end. Whereas the Grand Canyon is so huge that it’s hard to comprehend, Bryce Canyon is more “manageable.”
We decided to hike to the canyon floor. The red rock formations were fascinating, and their appearance changed, depending on our perspective.
We began by looking down on the hoodoos from the top of the ridge. Then, as we descended, we walked beside them. Finally, we arrived at the bottom of the canyon and were looking up at the formations.
The intriguing formations fueled our imagination. We could see everything from a castle to Thor’s hammer. At one point, Ross claimed he saw a bowling pin, while Ethan and Autumn argued it looked more like a fried chicken leg. I think they were getting hungry. Or, maybe they just like to argue. (Probably both!)
The kids also had fun playing and posing for pictures in the the arched “doorways” and rocky crevices.
The steep hike back up …
Day 4 – A “Grand” Father’s Day at the Grand Canyon
Day 4
A “Grand” Father’s Day at the Grand Canyon
Not many dads can say they celebrated Father’s Day in as grand a way as Ross did today. We took him to the Grand Canyon. I hope he appreciated the view, because that was also his gift – considering we forgot his present amidst all the chaos of leaving for the trip.
We chose to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, instead of the traditional South Rim. It’s harder to get there, which means fewer crowds.
As we drove the last 45 miles, it was hard to believe you were in Arizona. The North Rim Plateau is covered in green meadows and pine trees.
Our first stop was the Lodge. Upon entering the sunroom, we were facing a wall of windows, two-stories tall. They provided us with our first stunning view. It was like watching a movie of the Grand Canyon at the IMAX – only this was real.
When we walked out the sunroom doors and onto one of the viewing platforms, Ethan commented, “I imagined it being big, but I had no idea it would be this big.”
We selected one of the hiking trails and …
Day 3 (Continued) – Adventure with the RV
When traveling in an RV, sometimes you have unscheduled (and unwanted) adventures. We had left Bryce National Park and had just passed Four Corners. (This is the spot where 4 state borders meet – Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado).
I was ready to take a turn driving the RV for the first time, but Ross said it wasn’t a good idea. The wind gusts were terrible. Soon after, we heard a loud noise coming from the roof.
At first, we thought we’d left a vent open. No, it was closed. But there was a dark shadow flapping loudly over the vent cover. For a split second, I thought a giant bird had gotten trapped on the roof. (Guess I’ve been watching too many Science Fiction movies.)
Then, we realized it was the awning.
Ross pulled over. He had to climb atop the RV and fight with the awning. This wasn’t an easy job. Remember those wind gusts I mentioned? Not the best time to be climbing around the roof of an RV and fighting with a large piece of wayward canvas.
Ross was finally able to fix it with a hammer and some zip ties. (All we need is …
The Lure of the Locks
Originally published in Today’s Family Everyday
In the 1970’s, my grandmother worked at the McAlpine Locks and Dam. Specifically, she handled purchasing for the Corps of Engineers. That was quite an unusual job for a woman in those days. But, as a young child, I was only interested in the cool aspects of her job. For example, when a barge carrying hazardous chemicals got stuck for weeks near the locks, Grandma had to carry a gas mask to work. The best part? I got to try it on!
Every time we’d drive along I-64, my mom would point to the drawbridge that connected Louisville to the end of Shippingport Island where the offices were and say, “That’s where Grandma works.” You can’t see much from the expressway. So, the locks were always a mystery to me.
When I found out that the Spirit of Jefferson offered a cruise through the locks … I jumped aboard the chance to see the elusive locks up close. It was a beautiful afternoon, and my whole family went.
My children weren’t sure what to expect. My daughter, Autumn (age 11), was surprised she could walk around on the boat. I think she was expecting …
Mythic Creatures at Frazier History Museum
Did you know that the Cyclops was really an elephant, or that mermaids were possibly manatees? These and other enlightening theories are part of the temporary Mythic Creatures Exhibit at the Frazier History Museum.
When ancient folks on the island of Sicily found the skulls of elephants, there was a large hole in the middle of the skull – where the trunk would have been attached. However, never having seen an elephant before, the inhabitants assumed the single hole must have been an eye socket.
When I saw the skull on display…
…this explanation made sense to me. Sure enough, there was a big hole right in the center. It was easy to see how the people could’ve leapt to imagining a gigantic one-eyed creature.
By the way, does that mean Homer’s Odysseus really outsmarted an elephant, instead of a Cyclops? I hope not. Elephants have long memories.
Now, mermaid sightings are harder to explain. They were possibly fish or seaweed, or maybe even manatees. At the exhibit, there was an activity that allowed us to peer through a scope at a manatee that was suspended from the ceiling. As we looked through the scope, it overlaid images to show …
Wisconsin Dells – Part Two: Winding Down
When we visited Wisconsin Dells, it was time for me to relax and wind down. Hoping to be a “mother of the year” nominee (smile!), I also managed to provide my children with the action-packed trip they desired. (See previous post: Winding Up in Wisconsin Dells)
The Spa Kalahari (http://www.kalahariresorts.com/wi/amenities/spa/) was happy to oblige my need to relax. I signed up for the Signature Massage. It’s 80 minutes of sheer bliss, accentuated with soothing music, a few hot stones, and a lot of tension relief. Although I’m a long-time devotee of massage, I’d never tried the hot stones before. They were great. As someone who’s always cold (my toes start freezing in November and don’t thaw until April), it was nice to feel something warm against my skin.
There is a reason the word “spa” rhymes with “ahhh.” During a trip to Boston, I also discovered that the word “spa” rhymes with “car.” In the Midwest, we pronounce the “r” in car. But, those folks in Boston say it differently. Anyway, I was at the spa in Wisconsin Dells, so I focused on the “ahhh.”
After the massage, I managed to maneuver my noodle legs and limp doll body down …
Winding Up & Winding Down in Wisconsin Dells Part One: Winding Up
I wanted to relax and wind down. My children wanted to wind up with an activity-filled trip. So, like Super Moms everywhere, I accomplished the impossible and made everyone happy … with a little help from Wisconsin Dells. I’ve divided my column into two articles: “Winding Up” and “Winding Down” in Wisconsin Dells.
The Dells is like one big amusement park. My kids (Ethan – 13 and Autumn – 10) were determined to see and do as much as possible. We visited Ripley’s Believe It or Not®, where Autumn pushed on a chandelier – making it swing to scare the people below us. Ethan, being a 13-year old boy, loved every eerie, weird, and gross thing in the museum. I was most awed by the car parked on the side of the building about 20 feet in the air. I was especially impressed because it was a Corvette.
We enjoyed a little family competition on the Go-Kart track before stopping in at the Dells 4D Theater for some experiential movie watching. We were misted, poked, and shook. Ethan said the most fun was hearing the startled cries and comments from people who entered the theater after us. I agreed.
My …
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Day 15 – Still Wandering Nevada (and the Pioneer Center)
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Day 14 – Wandering Nevada (Virginia City mining)
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Day 13 – Yosemite (More Hiking)
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Day 12 – Yosemite (Unscheduled River Escapade)
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Day 11 – Yosemite (Phenomenal Views; Stupid Tourists)
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Day 10 – No RVs Allowed
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Day 9 – On the Road Again toward Sequoia
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Day 8 – Viva Las Vegas in an RV
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Day 7 – On the 7th Day, We Rested
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Day 6 – Zion Park & Tunnels with Windows