StuCrew Fun
  • Home
    • Popular Posts
    • Blog
  • Family
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
    • Life
  • Lifestyle
    • Holidays/Parties
    • Recipes
    • Fitness/Wellness
  • Travel
    • Disney
    • Nashville, TN
    • Florida Fun
    • American Exploration
    • International Adventures
  • About
    • Contact

Zion National Park

8/23/2017

0 Comments

 
Things to do at Zion National Park
After Bryce Canyon, we drove down to Zion. Bryce Canyon is around 8000 feet above sea level, and Zion Lodge is at about 4300 feet. 

The drive down was awesome. It takes about 45 minutes from the entrance gate to the Lodge. The entrance to the Park is sitting around 7000 feet. And the peaks in this Park jut up to 12000 feet. It is simply incredible. 

We drove through a tunnel, then back and forth, back and forth on switchbacks in order to drop our altitude to the canyon floor. The tunnel was built so long ago, prior to large cars and buses. They only allow one direction of traffic in at a time. If we had driven in the right lane, like normal, we would have ripped the entire top off the bus. Our bus drove down the middle of the road. 
It was a nice change - staying on the canyon floor as opposed to the rims. Up to this point in our trip, we had been standing at the edge of the canyons looking down. Now we had to look up. 
Picture
Seriously, how cute is this? We pull up to the Lodge and there is a deer just grazing.

Read More
0 Comments

Bryce Canyon

7/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
We drove straight from Denny's Wigwam to Bryce Canyon Lodge. It's at about 8,000 ft above sea level. The sun was shining. The wind was blowing. Humidity does not exist. It is stunningly beautiful. I was in absolute heaven. 
Ok, so our time lapse video doesn't get us all the way up to the canyon. But it's still pretty cool. 

The first order of business was to eat lunch. We ate in the Lodge - it is the only dining option at the Canyon. I ordered the fish tacos - made with fresh Alaskan cod. They were different, different flavors than the tropical ones I am used to in Florida. But they were quite good. My nephew said the fish and chips were amazing. 
Picture
Picture
Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Monument Valley

6/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
After lunch, we climbed into the jeep and headed into Monument Valley. The tour was about an hour and a half. There are several tour groups you could choose from, but ours was hosted by Goulding's and was chosen by Caravan. 

Our guide was fantastic. He told stories the entire time. He pointed out all of the mesas and buttes. He gave the names for each - most of which I have since forgotten. The pictures pretty much speak for themselves, so please enjoy them. 

We made two stops on the tour. One at the Mittens and one at John Ford's Lookout. 

It is very dusty. So wear glasses. Bring a hat. Perhaps a scarf for your face. And do not forget the sunscreen! 
Picture
The Mittens. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The Three Sisters 
Picture
John Ford's Lookout - This is where he would come, on his horse, and visualize his next film. 

Look closely. Do you see him? 
Picture
Picture
This is from the lookout. Incredible, right? The cars will help give some perspective on size.
We had to join in on the picture fun... 

The next two might be my favorite photos from the entire trip. 
Picture
Picture
If you're planning a visit - do not underestimate the sand. You will get covered. 
Picture
And yet it was free to take this photo! =)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Thanks for following along today. 

Now that we are back in the bus, we are going to relax and watch a John Wayne classic filmed in Monument Valley on our way to Lake Powell. 
Picture
Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory
0 Comments

Free Time at the Grand Caynon

6/21/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
After we left the Desert View Lodge, the bus dropped the other 6 Stus off at the main Visitor Center. Our kids really just wanted to hang in the hotel room. What is it with kids and hotel rooms? 

Anyway, we chilled in our room for about 30 minutes, then we got up in search of lunch. We walked to the bus stop and got on the blue line and rode it to the Maswik Lodge. 

The Maswik Lodge 

The Maswik Lodge has a cafeteria and pizza pub. I thought the kids would be cool with pizza, but they opted for other things. Riley wanted a hot dog and Reagan wanted a sub. The cafeteria was nice. I like having options and the ability to make the kids' individual wishes come true is nice. Especially when they have so little control on a trip like this one. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
I felt instantly at home here. It reminded me of Disney. =) 

We leisurely walked from the Maswik Lodge back to our room. We walked along the rim trail. 

Allow me a second to talk about the rim trail... It's a paved path that runs along, you guessed it, the rim of the Grand Canyon. If I spent much time thinking about it, it would probably freak me out. I am not such a fan of drastic heights. I nearly freaked out and cried trying to climb off the roof of my frame shop. But that's neither here nor there. 

Picture
Riley had no desire to walk near the edge. He kept me in between him and the edge. And that was fine by me. 
Picture
As we were walking back up the the Thunderbird, we came across a house built onto the side of the cliff. (You can see the roof of it on the right side of the photo of Stu & Reagan leaning on the fence.) 
It was just hanging there. A house. HANGING there, on the side of a CLIFF. Riley looked at me and said, "NO way are we going in there!" I said ok. Reagan, who was ahead of us, yelled back, "Hey! This house is a gift shop!" Riley looked at me and said, "Huh, a gift shop. We could go in and take a look." (insert parental eye roll)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
We meandered in and out like this for about an hour. We ran into the other Stus. They were going to continue on exploring and head out Hermits Rest (a great spot at the end of the red line bus route). Our kids were done. They just wanted to go back to the room. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Riley looks dead. He was a trooper. 

​And seriously, when did Reagan turn 15?!

The Hopi House, Verkamps & The El Tovar

Before dinner, we walked around to a few different spots. We went into the Hopi House first. It is a beautiful, visually interesting building next to the El Tovar. Like the Desert View Watchtower, this was also architected my Mary Colter. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
The kids got a kick out of the tiny door. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Verkamp's is just a bit further up the rim trail from the Hopi House. It has some cool historical artifacts in it, and (of course) more gift shop stuff. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
We had a bit of time left before our dinner reservation, we decided to spend it in the El Tovar. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This was our last night at the Grand Canyon. In the morning, we will be leaving and heading to Monument Valley, then onto Lake Powell... 
Picture
Wondering how we got here? Catch up with these:
-- The Itinerary
-- Flying to AZ
-- Montezuma Castle
-- Sedona
-- First View of the Grand Canyon
-- Desert View Watchtower
Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory
0 Comments

Our Morning at the Grand Canyon

6/19/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
As you know, we arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park just before dinner. The schedule of our Caravan trip allowed us two nights in the National Park. And with that, one (nearly) full day to explore it for ourselves. I say nearly because we had a quick morning bus ride to the Desert View Watchtower, then the rest of the day to do as we pleased. 

First, we feast!

We woke up freakishly early (again). This time change is killing us. 

Breakfast was complimentary (with Caravan) at the El Tovar Lodge. The El Tovar is just two buildings up from the Thunderbird. We went right at 6:30am, to be there when it opened. 

The El Tovar is incredible. It opened in 1905. It's very dark, everything creaks. I'd believe you if

Read More
0 Comments

The Grand Canyon

6/17/2017

0 Comments

 
The name definitely fits. It is simply incredible and grand. 
Picture
Our bus ride from Sedona to the Grand Canyon National Park was long. LONG. The kids were kind of losing their minds. Luckily we were in the back of the bus, and our tour group was not at capacity. The extra seats on the bus came in handy. We spaced out - each monster had his/her own row for a while. They listened to music and played on their iPods. 

Read More
0 Comments

Montezuma Castle

6/15/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The first stop on ourmassive family vacation was Montezuma Castle.

We left Phoenix after breakfast. Our bus ride took us through some of Phoenix's suburbs. It was cool, but long.  
Picture
Picture
I really had no idea what to expect from the Caravan trip. And since I didn't know, I couldn't fully prepare the kids. Reagan was ok. Actually, she was incredible. She and I studied parts of the southwest over the last few months, so she kind of nerded out on all the history and experience. It was  awesome to see.

​However, Riley was not so interested in the trip. He liked it. He loved it even. But he was not happy about all the time spent on the bus. And I can't blame him for that. We covered so many miles, we spent so much time on the bus. 

Read More
0 Comments
    Follow my blog with Bloglovin
    Follow

    USA

    We love to travel. Although our roaming souls often come back to the same places. 

    Archives

    January 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    March 2016

    Categories

    All
    Arizona
    Arkansas
    Bryce Canyon
    Caravan Tours
    Flying
    Georgia
    Go! With Kids
    Grand Canyon
    National Parks
    North Carolina
    Road Trip
    Summer
    The Southwest
    Tips And Tricks
    Utah
    Winter

    RSS Feed

Thanks for the love and support!


Check out our most popular posts by clicking on The Good Stuff. 
The Good Stuff
Want us to know something? Email anytime.
Disclaimer

Email

editor@melindastuder.com
  • Home
    • Popular Posts
    • Blog
  • Family
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
    • Life
  • Lifestyle
    • Holidays/Parties
    • Recipes
    • Fitness/Wellness
  • Travel
    • Disney
    • Nashville, TN
    • Florida Fun
    • American Exploration
    • International Adventures
  • About
    • Contact