The 27th day was the day that things started to go off the rails. With the exception of me, everybody was tired and cranky. I really don't blame them. We had been on the road for a long time and for normal people, that wears on them. Me on the other hand? I could be on the road forever. Luckily, we only really had one more day on the vacation as a family. So we left Kanab, Utah early and drove the 90 or so minutes up to Bryce Canyon National Park. To get to Bryce Canyon National Park, you need to drive through this awesome tunnel carved into some of the red rock out there. This is a picture of that tunnel coming back from the park.
When we arrived at Bryce Canyon, we immediately got our picture taken with the entry sign, and headed to the visitor center.
I knew our time was going to be limited here, so I asked a ranger for some recommendations. We decided, based on a discussion with him, to go to Sunset Point and then all the way out to the end of the road to the Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point.
We started at Sunset Point first and walked around. The sights were amazing there. Norah wanted to walk down to the bottom, but I was uncomfortable as it was pretty steep, there was no railings, and I was worried she would get down to the bottom and be too hot to climb back up.
After visiting Sunset Point, we went to the end of the road in Bryce to the Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point and did a one and a half mile hike out there. The sights were amazing. Here's the view from Yovimpa Point, including some of the forest where there was a burn in the not too distant past.
After Yovimpa Point, we hiked over to Rainbow Point. I think my family was expecting something super colorful, but it wasn't that much different than other parts of the park. I guess it is probably real colorful when the sunsets or rises here. Still it was beautiful.
On the way back we made a few stops along the road to see some of the sites. The first stop was Black Birch Canyon.
Next up was Ponderosa Canyon.
Then it was to the Natural Bridge. It was so beautiful!
The final stop was Bryce Point. Another stunning view from here that pictures just do not do it justice.
Bryce Canyon National Park is just stunning and even during a "busy time", we never felt crowded there and had plenty of room to enjoy the park. I just wish next time we go, the girls are not as worn down and we can enjoy some of the amazing hikes there.
Leaving Bryce and driving north, I needed to stop for some gas and get some food, so we decided to stop in Beaver, Utah.
Beaver, Utah is a pretty neat town. The highlight there was a place called The Creamery which had amazing ratings online. We went there and grabbed some mac and cheese and pizza for lunch. Both were outstanding. The girls got some ice cream before we got on the road again.
The plan was to spend the night in Provo, Utah after visiting Bryce Canyon and then get up early the next morning to drive to Salt Lake City for the girl's flight back to Maryland. However, we were way ahead of schedule and could make it to Salt Lake City by 5:00 p.m. So we changed our hotel plans and found a place to stay right near the airport in Salt Lake City. That way the girls could sleep in the next morning before their flight back to Maryland.
We didn't do a lot we got Salt Lake City. We grab dinner at a local Mexican restaurant called Cafe Silvestre which is pretty good. We then went back to the hotel where the girls did some swimming before bed. Everybody went to bed early as the girls had to leave early the next morning for their flight back home.
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