Spring Break 2013, Part 1 — Leaving Las Vegas

Because we just couldn't wait to start our vacation, we booked a 6am flight out of Oakland into Las Vegas. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. But when the alarm went off at 3:30 am for the 4:00am taxi pickup, I must admit I had second thoughts!

A Frappuccino from the airport Starbucks...the breakfast of champions!

We landed in Vegas just after 7am. While Steve was getting the rental car, he told me to go put $20 in the Wheel of Fortune slot machine...our lucky game. On the fourth play, I landed on "Spin the Wheel" and proceeded to win $125!

I quickly cashed out and had to laugh when Olivia said "And you said vacations don't pay for themselves!" It was a great start of a trip that just continued to get better!

Steve's Uncle Dean and Aunt Lucille live about 5 minutes from the airport, and had invited us for breakfast when we told them we'd be flying through. Uncle Dean was a POW in WWII, shot down and captured by German soldiers. Uncle Dean made waffles and we spent a wonderful couple of hours visiting with them.

After we left them, we headed to St. George, UT. We visited Steve's cousin and aunt who live there, then proceeded to our first night's destination . . . the home of a good family friend of my dad's. They live in a modest home just outside of St. George. And by modest, I mean over 8,000 sf, with a SLIDE from the upstairs family room into the downstairs play room!

Even though we'd been up since 3:30am, the kids stayed up sliding, swimming, and playing until after 9:00, when we all hit the wall and couldn't keep our eyes open any longer!

We woke up the next morning, had breakfast, and hit the road. Our first stop was the ghost town of Grafton, UT.

About 10 minutes off the main highway, this little ghost town gained notoriety when it was featured in the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".

For us, the notoriety hits a little closer to home. Steve's great-great grandmother lived in this little town as a girl, and witnessed a massacre by Indians where several townspeople were murdered. Quite a story to tell . . .

From Grafton, we continued on to Zion National Park. It was the first time we'd been there, and we'd heard all sorts of recommendations for hikes and adventures. Our first thought was to hike a portion of the famous Narrows. But that plan was squelched when the park ranger told us we'd need dry suits, as the water was shoulder deep and 45 degrees. On to Plan B.

Since we were all still a little tired from the long day before, we opted for a more leisurely hike up the Emerald Pools Trail.

After a gorgeous hike, we loaded back in the car and drove a couple more hours to our hotel, just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park. We got checked into our room, and were all fast asleep by 8:00!