We are back and we had the BEST time. We took HUNDREDS of photos and made even more memories. Trying to filter through the photos has been so fun to relive the memories. Three things we did on this trip that we loved: 1. We loaded the app Autio and Get Your Guide that used our GPS to tell us history of the place where we were. For example that led us to Ludlow. pop.10 or told us about the story of the park as you drove through it. 2. Something else we did was giving the kids coupons to use, like booting me out of the front seat, and getting to stop where ever they wanted to. 3. We also stole the idea from out brother Andrew that we would ask people along our trip their favorite song to make a playlist that was linked with people that we had met on our trip. That was so fun and the playlist was so eclectic and fun! Also we stopped at every state line. The only one we missed was Nevada.
Our first stop was Sedona and Flagstaff.
This was our fist car camping experience together as a family of four!
The game of Monopoly Go and Uno were the games of choice for the trip.
Two peas in a pod...
The next day we headed to the Slide Rock state park:
We saw the Grand Canyon. It's one of Kit's favorite places and the three of us had never been!
We arrived in Moab at the Dead Horse Campground really late, but we were so glad that we made it!
The next day we covered ground from Moab to the Grand Tetons!
Stopping in TINY towns like green River for breakfast...
Afton, Wyoming has the largest antler arch from the 1950's for elk conservation. Grandpa pierce would be so proud!
We stayed at a campsite in Signal Hill campground.
Kit saw is first Wyoming elk and was SO happy!
Rainy but still so beautiful!
We all agreed that camp dinners just taste better1
Games in the tent were such a highlight!
The next day we headed to Jenny Lake.
We took the ferry across...
Then we hiked on Cascade Trail to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, then took the Horse trail back to the ferry! On our way we saw TWO bull moose!
That night we went to Jackson lake for swimming and fishing. Then we had a car picnic of burritos and drove to see wild life. That night we saw beaver, elk, prong horn, bison, bald eagle, marmot, and coyote. The bison is just the coolest ever!
Then it was time for S'mores...
The next day we headed to Jackson hole for a white water rafting adventure. But first, the kids were sworn in as junior rangers for the Grand Teton National Park.
White water rafting on the Snake River was a huge highlight. The kids are hoping when we go again that we get bigger rapids!
We made it to Yellowstone!
On our way in we saw lots of geysers and hot spots. Yellowstone is unlike any place we have ever been!
We made it to our campsite and enjoyed the set up that we had!
The next day we covered ground starting with the Norris Basin, then up to Mammoth Hot Springs and then up to Montana because we were so close and wanted to see it! We also saw our first black bear and her cub!
we also got the famous huckleberry ice cream and it was SO good!
That night we drove through Lamar Valley to see animals...
The next day started with Eden making breakfast with Kit and Ryder chopping firewood.
We then explored the Upper and Lower Rims, also known as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone:
While heading to our next destination, we kept seeing the most beautiful herds of Bison!
We also so a wolf and our first grizzly with her cubs!
About 15 minutes in to being here, a full thunderstorm and hail found us!
We headed to our next spot but the storm followed us...
The final stop of the day was Old Faithful. The storm continued but we persevered!
We ate lunch at the Old Faithful Lodge, which consisted of pulled pork sandwiches and bison sausage.
Ryder watched in the rain and hail. It was like the eruption was synched with the thunder and lightning and that made it even more magical!
The kids also got the junior park ranger badges for Yellowstone. They worked together and it was so sweet to see!
We decided last minute to break up the next days of 9 hour driving, and miss camping in a thunderstorm, but driving to Salt Lake City that night then getting to Las Vegas the next day to enjoy a sweet close to our roadtrip!
We stayed at the Cromwell. We were able to use the pool at Caesar's palace, then ate our weight in Chicago deep-dish pizza. Then we wandered around the Bellagio to watch the water show, explore their conservatory, and see the Murano glass (Especially fun after being in Murano, Venice last year and watching blown glass being made!)
On ur final leg of the journey home, we stopped for Alien jerky per Ryder's request...
And Eden finished off the trip with using her coupon to sit in front...
We absolutely had the best trip and I am so grateful for the time that we had together. We shared so many memories together and we grew even closer as a family. I am so thankful that Kit was able to have this time on sabbatical to create this experience for each of us... What a gift. We will cherish these moments and memories for the rest of our lives...
