Summer Travels 2019: Cedar City Part 2

Thursday morning, Grandma, Cheryl-Lynn and Me went to the temple to do initiatories. It was nice to go with them and nice that there was no wait to do the work. After lunch, we headed up to Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Megan, Liz, Matthew and Ben taking the Junior Ranger oath.

There were some telescopes set up for us to look at the sun and the moon.

Beautiful Cedar Breaks! It reminds me of Bryce Canyon.

Me, Matthew and Megan looking down towards Cedar City.

A ranger told us we should build a snowman so Cheryl-Lynn did.

Close up of the snowman.

Some playing in the snow and throwing of snowball ensued. This was the highlight of the trip to Cedar Breaks.

Liz, Matthew and Ben

Matthew and Liz

Megan throwing snowballs.

Grandma and Cheryl-Lynn at one of the overlooks.

Looking back towards the Visitors Center.

Me and Cedar Breaks.

Such helpful warnings!

A couple more shots from the overlooks.

Brian Head

We stopped at the Parowan cemetery on the way home and saw many pioneer headstones.

This fellow had an interesting middle name....

We went to the Shakespeare Festival Greenshow. The night's presentation was on Scotland and there were lots of fun songs and dances from Scotland including one really funny song about the advantages of wearing kilts.

Grandpa, Liz, Matthew, Ben and Megan

The Loch Ness monster paid a visit.

Matthew and Grandpa went on a run.

Run Matthew, run!

We went to local lake for some kayaking and playing on the beach. It was windy at times which made the kayaking a bit challenging but everyone enjoyed the activity.

Matthew, Ben and Grandpa on the kayak.

Megan, Me and Grandpa on the kayak while Matthew walks back to the beach.

Ben, Grandma and Cheryl-Lynn on the kayak.

The kids really enjoyed playing on the beach. Here we have Megan, Matthew and Ben.

Liz

Megan, Matthew and Grandpa back out on the water.

Grandpa, Liz and Ben. Grandpa got quite the workout!

Megan and Matthew playing in the sand.

Lots of fun shapes inside this castle!

Grandpa took the kids 4 wheeling. They were all super excited by their excursion!

Ben, Matthew and Liz.

Megan and Grandpa. Megan was excited that, as the oldest and biggest kid, she got to sit in the front of the car.

Cheryl-Lynn and Grandma.

Grandma, Cheryl-Lynn, Ben and Me went to the Greenshow: England night. My favorite parts were when 2 knights rallied people to support them and the egg dance.

Grandma and Matthew playing Rush Hour.

Liz and Megan enjoyed some time at the park.

Grandpa got his birthday gift early. He was really excited!

Summer Travels 2019: Cedar City Part 1

The end of June, Megan, Matthew and Me headed to Las Vegas for a night at the Adams's home. We enjoyed a walk and playing at the park. The next morning, we went to the Children's Museum.

Megan playing with the kinetic sand.

Liz and Matthew playing with falling balls.

All the kids enjoyed playing in the water area for a bit.

Matthew putting balls in the vortex.

Happy Megan

Ben decided to forgo the water jacket.

After a few hours at the museum, we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's home in Cedar City. We arrived in time for the family swim. The next day, we watched Toy Story 4 and then went for a hike in the evening.

Megan, Matthew, Benjamin and Liz at the movie.

Grandpa led us on a hike up a side path.

Megan, Grandpa and Grandma

The group minus Grandpa: Me, Megan, Grandma, Liz, Cheryl-Lynn, Ben, Matthew

Ben and Cheryl-Lynn touch the rock at the end of our hike.

The kids enjoyed finding beautiful rocks. Megan wanted to bring this one home but settled for a picture instead.

The next day, we headed to the Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park. It's really close to Cedar and is a whole lot less crowded. We enjoyed the Timber Creek Overlook Trail and then hiked the south fork of Taylor Creek.

Enjoying lunch on the Timber Creek trail.

Explorers Ben and Matthew

Megan and Liz hanging together

Grandpa and Grandma with beautiful scenery!

Grandpa and Grandma with the grandkids.

Cheryl-Lynn, Grandma, Grandpa and Me

Matthew still enjoys using the filters on the camera. So many cool shots!

Panoramic of the area.

The south fork of Taylor Creek.

We initially didn't find the trail and headed up a steep wash with lot of scrambling up rocks. Even though it ultimately didn't take us where we wanted to go, everyone enjoyed the side trail.

Megan, Ben, Matthew, Liz and Grandpa hiking on the side trail.

Me hiking back down.

Matthew with walking stick on the main trail. (It was overgrown at the beginning due to all the recent precipitation which is why we missed it.)

The trail had a steep section with little shade on it. Not knowing how much farther the trail went, Grandpa and Me went ahead while the other rested under the shade of a lonely tree.

Grandpa on the top of a ridge.

Me

It's really beautiful with the red cliff faces towering over you.

Grandpa and Me discovered that the trail flattened out and continued going on awhile. It was decided that the Grandparents would take the kids back to the car while Cheryl-Lynn and Me continued to the end of the trail. It was a beautiful hike! And really did go faster with only adult legs than if we'd had all the kids as well.

Me

Me and Cheryl-Lynn selfie.

Cheryl-Lynn as the canyon gets narrower.

Cheryl-Lynn selfie.

The end of the trail. Unless you climb which we did although we weren't able to go too far before it required ropes to continue.

Me climbing down.

Cute alcove we thought the kids would love.

Beautiful!