Tillamook, OR for Spring Break!

We rented the most picturesque AirBnB we have ever reserved with Duane and Beth for a cold, but beautiful five days on the coast!

The view south from our AirBnB!

We started out with an uneventful (thankfully) flight with the kids. After landing in Portland, getting our rental cars, and driving two hours west through snowy forests, we were amazed with our beautiful AirBnB. Not only was the view unreal, but the house itself, was modern and comfortable for everyone.

We spent the first day driving south to Newport to visit the aquarium. On our way, we stopped at Otter Rock to see the Devil’s Punchbowl landmark. Although the waves crashing into the circular rock formation was cool, it was underwhelming for sure. Unfortunately, the aquarium was too. BUT, because we don’t have exposure to much marine life, it was still worth visiting for both the adults and the kids. On the way home, we stopped in Pacific City where Pelican Brewing Company sits with views of gorgeous rocks out in the ocean.

The next day we drove inland to see Munson Creek Falls. It was a short half mile hike to get to the impressive falls. After braving the wet and cold, what better thing to do than go eat ice cream! We took a tour of the Tillamook Creamery and then enjoyed some deliciously rich treats.

After heading south the previous day, we drove north towards the famous Cannon Beach. Our first stop was Cape Meares Light House. This gave us another view of the coast that was just as impressive as all the others. Continuing north, we stopped just south of Cannon Beach (which we never made it to) to hike Sand Beach Trail. We walked through a dense forest only to come out the other side at a beautiful cove. The locals were surfing in the area and families were picnicking. Ella loved the waves and sand; she could have spent the entire day there!

Our final day was spent at the local Blue Heron French Cheese Company and the exploring Oceanside Beach, just below our AirBnB. The coolest thing about this beach is that you can walk through a 100ft tunnel through the rock cliffs to guess what? Yet another spectacular view!

Unfortunately, while we there low tide was between 6-8am and 6-8pm, which didn’t fit well with little kids’ schedules so we never got to explore any tide pools. I guess we just have to go back.

When we woke up the first morning and it was snowing (yes, it was snowing on the coast), I wasn’t sure how the week would go. But, without a doubt, the northern Oregon coast exceeded our expectations. We ate and drank in a gorgeous home with even more impressive views. And while the kids were not engaged with the scenery as much as the adults, there were just enough toys to keep the kids entertained. In Ella’s words, in April, “Oregon was great, but cold.”

Bryce Canyon, Utah with the Ekbergs

The Ekbergs and the Lautzenheisers met in Tropic, UT for a long overdue weekend! It had been almost an entire year since we had last met in Marysvale, UT. For the Martin Luther King weekend, we rented a 5-bedroom AirBnB that was so fun for the kids to explore and play hide-and-seek in!

The crew at the start of the Navajo Loop to Queens Garden Trail!

Sunday afternoon was spent exploring some of Bryce Canyon. We did a 3-mile loop (the same one we did last January) and it was just as spectacular this year! The snow contrasted with the red rock is hard not to stare at. The only distraction is the icy trail that you have to keep your eyes on.

Before we parted ways (us heading South back to Vegas and the Ekbergs heading North back to Salt Lake) we did the short Mossy Cave Trail. This trail is more fun for the kids because there are two bridges, mud puddles to stomp in, and a frozen waterfall!

On our way home, we had two wonderful stops. 1. Two bald eagles and their juveniles were hanging out on the side of the road. Scott was able to get some pictures. 2. We were able to drive up the canyon in Zion. It’s pretty amazing that as a short detour, we were able to see this magnificent geology again.

Although we live six hours apart, we are grateful that there is so much beauty (literal and figurative) between us. I sure hope we’re able to do another Ekberg-Lautzenheiser weekend this summer!

Christmastime in Kanab, UT

We celebrated Christmas with the family in Kanab, UT at a Route 66 themed, little (and I do mean literal “little”) house with snow all around us. Families drove from Utah, Nevada and Arizona to enjoy each other’s company for five days!

Family photo stop along Barricks Trail.

Unfortunately, Duane arrived sick. He was quite the trooper hanging out as much as he could, but he struggled through the days. The first day he finally felt well was the day we were all leaving and Scott, Evan and I started feeling sick (more on that later).

Our first full day in Kanab was spent driving north through the beautiful Johnson Canyon Road. The snow covered mountains were impossible not to stare at. While Ella played in the snow (and Miles avoided it) we all enjoyed the picturesque scenery.

The next day we took a quick 1 mile hike to the Toadstools. If it wasn’t so windy and family wasn’t waiting for our return from the hike, we would have explored this super unique hoodoo area more. We then took the HouseRockValley Road South towards Arizona where we made it to the state line! On this day and all the others, we would return home in the late afternoon with two sleeping kids and ready to play some Nintendo! Yes, Nintendo! Beth brought an upgraded Nintendo with all 600 original Nintendo games! I know you’re jealous!

On Friday, which was New Years Eve, Scott and I woke up with sore throats (we would later learn this was the omicron variant of the coronavirus). We spent the day exploring north of Kanab by river crossing (23 times total) along the Barricks Trail. It was a super cool trail. Unfortunately, because of the freezing temperatures, we didn’t do too much exploring outside of the vehicles.

New Years Day was spent driving home to Las Vegas, hoping we would feel better. Fortunately, Scott felt better by Sunday and I felt better by Wednesday. I was able to get a PCR-lab COVID test on Jan. 3rd and late on Jan. 4th, we learned I was positive. Because I thought Duane had the flu (he had tested negative for COVID upon his arrival), I was pretty surprised with the positive result. We’re both slightly happy that we got it and are able to put it behind us now. For nearly two years we were able to stay safe, but alas it was no more.

Thanksgiving in Mesa, AZ

Last Thanksgiving, amid the coronavirus pandemic, we had to cancel our flights to see my parents in Las Cruces. This year, however, we decided to meet halfway in Mesa, AZ! The five days we spent together did not disappoint: we hiked, we played games and we watched games, we ate, and we were more than merry!

At the start of the Treasure Loop Trail! Proud of this whole crew!

With Wednesday off of work, we set out an uneventful drive until about five minutes before arriving at the AirBnB. Ella woke up from her nap crying and wouldn’t say anything. Apparently, vomit was brewing, as she puked up her In-and-Out cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake all over herself. Nothing says, “Hi Grandma and Grandpa, we’ve missed you!” like fresh vomit! After a bath, which Miles pooped in, she was all clean (which we clearly cleaned out the tub and bathed them again). Thankfully, this was the most exciting as it got over the next five days.

Because Grandma K. slaved over the stove for the two days prior, we were able to spend Thanksgiving Day at the Phoenix Zoo! It was the perfect size for us to see a variety of animals while not feeling overwhelmed with too much. We ended the afternoon with a Raiders win and a delicious Thanksgiving dinner

We did a short hike in Usery Mtn Regional Park Friday morning where Topo and I got pricked with plenty of cacti so we switched hikes, but made the morning trip worth our while by logging a couple miles. While we were hiking, Grandma L. was on her way from Show Low! We caught up, played, and now that it was OFFICIALLY CHRISTMASTIME, went to a local Farm to see their Christmas lights!

I’ve learned that some of my favorite moments with my family (whether that is my parents or Scott and the kids is while we’re hiking). This day was no different. We drove to Lost Dutchman State Park and set out on a hike that I don’t think any of us thought was going to be as strenuous as it was: Treasure Loop Trail. Not only did we make it, but we had great conversations in between our heavy breathing! After the hike, we took a short drive up the 88 and got a glimpse of Canyon Lake. Most of this incredibly scenic highway was not passable at this time due to construction so we will save it for next Thanksgiving. :)

Camping in Gold Butte, NV & Cane Beds, AZ

We spent a couple nights of the Veterans Day weekend taking the pop-up trailer out! Our first stop was in Gold Butte National Monument. We did some rock scrambling behind our campsite and had fun simply hanging out. The next day we did a short hike to some petroglyphs, packed up, and drove northeast to Cane Beds, AZ to hang out with Duane and meet his girlfriend Beth!

We had a great time talking with Beth and again, simply hanging out. The kids were able to go on Duane’s new Side-by-side for a ride to some dinosaur tracks! It was an easy, fun weekend with family!

Fish Lake, UT

My Michigan heart will always crave Fall colors. Fish Lake, UT did not disappoint! For most of the weekend, I felt as if I was in a postcard; the colors in early Fall at 9,000ft elevation were so vibrant and bright!

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We left after work on Friday to set out on the 4.5 hour drive. Arriving well after sunset, we were welcomed by a huge, full moon rising just over Fish Lake. Although we didn’t capture the moment on camera, it was a thing of beauty!

Saturday morning we rented on Pontoon boat and took the kids fishing for their very first time! (Outside of one seasick experience on the Pacific Ocean) it was also my first time casting a reel! The water was so clear in some parts that we could see the Perch nipping at our lures. Scott and I were both able to catch a fish to reel in! Although Miles and Ella were just as whiny and disagreeable as usual, we had a beautiful backdrop to their cries. There were a few occasions where I caught myself enamored with the scenery and not paying attention to them.

In about the last five years, salmon have been added to Fish Lake. Interestingly, these salmon swim up a very small stream, call Twin Creeks, to spawn every Fall. Watching the many bright pink/grey fish use all their energy to flop up the stream was pretty cool. And even though Scott did not catch any, it just gives us reason to return next Fall. We ended our day with some rock skipping along the shore and a bike ride around the perimeter of the lake. I am certain that we will return to this area in the years to come!

Lompoc, CA

Over Labor Day weekend, we had our first of many Lautzenheiser-Maino Family vacations and it was awesome! We spent three nights at an adorable Farmhouse AirBnB in the misty valley of Lompoc, CA! While at the Farm, the kids had the opportunity to feed cows, watch chickens cluck around, listen to roosters crow each morning, and even watch a cow get milked. The wild turkeys and cows were regular visitors to our little abode!

The Lautzenheiser-Maino Crew at Surf Beach!

The Lautzenheiser-Maino Crew at Surf Beach!

We spent our first day exploring Santa Barbara. This included a morning bike ride and visit to the animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. We then enjoyed lunch at a delicious local brewery.

We spent the second day visiting the very touristy and popular Danish town of Solvang. After a afternoon nap, we ended the day at Surf Beach. Although the skies were cool and grey, we had a great time in the waves. Pat and I (the native Michiganders) even went for a swim in the 60 degree Pacific!

While Ella and Olivia were adorably fast asleep in bed together, the adults finally had time to hang out without kids! We drank, laughed and drank some more. Throughout the entire weekend, all the kids were troopers as we went about our days trying to squeeze in all the fun we could. We are definitely already looking forward to our next adventure together!

Marysvale, UT

Over the last several years, Scott, Duane, and Evan have been getting together to do jeep trips. They started out exploring Moab, UT, then moved on to the ever impressive Silverton and Ouray, CO areas and we recently spent a few nights in Marysvale, UT to drive its surrounding trails.

The Family at Fish Lake

The Family at Fish Lake

Desperate to get out of the Vegas heat, we left a day early with hopes of staying in Brian Head, UT (on Duane’s property) en route to Marysvale. With two kids, a dog, and trailer behind me, I drove the truck and Scott drove the jeep. I was a little nervous considering I had only driven the truck towing the trailer one other time. Fortunately, other than a tire blowout on the trailer while doing 75mph on the freeway, the drive with the kids was uneventful.

Our first day, with the family surprisingly comfortably crammed in the jeep, we drove up to Monroe Peak at over 11,000 feet. The views of the surrounding areas was amazing! Although it was a lot of hours in the jeep, Ella loved using the CB radio to talk to Tyler, Miles happily looked out the window for cows and I was content snuggling with Topo in the front seat. Our second day, although there weren’t any off road trails tackled, we explored the beautiful Fish Lake area. There were wildflowers everywhere!

We spent each evening hanging out at the campground trying to stay dry as it rained throughout the night. There were no complaints, however, as we all loved falling asleep to the patter of the rain and Ella and Miles were happy to play with Tyler in the fresh mud in the mornings.

Macomb, MI & Grand Haven, MI

Family time! We spent four days in Macomb with my brother and his family and a week in Grand Haven with my parents! Fortunately, the flights to and from the Great Lake State were relatively uneventful. Although it’s not easy to travel with Miles, he did well enough for being cooped up for four hrs.

My Dad at Lake Michigan

My Dad at Lake Michigan

The last time I saw my nieces, Zaina (12) and Vivi (almost 8) was two years ago when we flew to MI for a week. It was so good to see them and they were so awesome the entire visit. We celebrated Father’s Day with all the dads I love: my Scott, my brother Scott, and my Dad! We spent the time playing, eating, climbing around at an indoor playground, and strawberry picking. A family picture with a professional photographer was even on the schedule! On our way back to the west side of the state, we went to the Detroit Zoo.

While in Grand Haven for the week, it rained every day, but not the whole day, so we were able to get outside and do things! And as a matter of fact, we loved the weather: cloudy skies, naps listening to the rainfall, and sleeping with windows open!

Without question, our visit had to consist of as many brewery stops as we could fit in. Although a lot of the breweries we wanted to try were not open when we were out in the early afternoon, we were still able to go to: Odd Sides (amazing!), Founders (always good!), Unruly (way too watery!), Pigeon Hill (okay), and New Holland (delicious!).

Despite the weather, we were able to walk the Grand Haven Pier, attend the Grand Haven and Muskegon Art Festivals, tour a bit of downtown Grand Rapids, visit Windmill Island, play at North Shore Beach a few times, ride a horse and feed some goats, and visit with Aunt Lily, Nick, and Rebecca! And of course, lots of Grandma and Grandpa time!

Next summer, we might have to return to continue trying more breweries and let Ella play in the waves under warmer, sunnier conditions!

Lone Pine, CA

Oh my goodness!!! The Eastern Side of the Sierra Nevada Mtn Range is a must, must see! Lone Pine, CA sits on the 395 Hwy at the base of the tallest mountain in the continental US, Mt. Whitney. As you drive north along the 395 to Bishop and then continue on the Mammoth, the mountains remain just as impressive! We will definitely be coming back to this area to explore some more!

Marsh Lake, northwest of Bishop, CA

Marsh Lake, northwest of Bishop, CA

Home base for the three nights was Lone Pine Campground. We had site #2, which had an amazing view of Mt. Whitney. Our trip actually started a day early (to break up the long drive) when we decided to pick the kids up from Janet’s and stay the night in Beatty, NV. Any stop in Beatty must consist of a stop at the Happy Burro, which did then and on the way home.

Our first day there we drove up to Whitney Portal campground, which is the trailhead for those climbing Mt. Whitney. At almost 9,000 ft, hikers still had another 5,000 feet to climb to summit the 14,505 foot peak. In my most sarcastic tone, we’ll save that hike for another day!

Alabama Hills is a super unique area of granite rock that has been carved out into unusual shapes and arches. We did a short hike to Mobius Arch. Ella wanted to climb on the rocks, but the sharp granite layer didn’t make that possible. While the kids napped, we drove Horseshoe Meadow road to above 10,000 ft. The view of the valley below was impressive. This is also a great starting off spot to hike to various alpine lakes, which we did not do on this trip. We ended the day with a driving tour of Manzanar, one of the many Japanese internment camps during WWII.

Our last day, was THE BEST! We drove to Bishop, got some advice from a recreational store employee who told us about Toms Place just north of Bishop. There are a string of alpine likes that are relatively easily accessed. About one mile in, we hit our first gorgeous lake, Marsh Lake. Topo loved cooling off in the snowmelt water! We hiked the next lake and then decided to turn back. Three miles on a relatively flat trail, carrying two 25lb children is about all our backs can handle these days.

Our return home included a stop at the Dunes in Death Valley National Park and another stop at the Happy Burro in Beatty.

Our usual summer escape destinations include the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Ruby Mtns in Northern Nevada, but we will certainly be added the Eastern Sierras to our list.




Lake Las Vegas

Three years! Three years! That’s how long it had been that we had a night without kids! (And giving birth to Miles in the hospital while Ella stayed with my parents does not count)! Thanks to our amazing daycare provider, Ms. Janet, we had two nights of stay-cationing at Lake Las Vegas! When we initially asked her about watching the kids overnight, she said, “Bring $5 and cute pajamas.” She’s more than amazing!

Our first day was spent hiking Gold Strike Trail to the hot springs and Colorado River. We had done this hike five years ago, but didn’t make it to the river because we had Patches with us. Patches was a trooper going up and down all the ropes, but we weren’t aware there is so much rock scrambling. This time around, it was just the two of us and it felt a lot harder. Apparently two kids and a pandemic later has an effect on your physique. While in the area, we also stopped along the new 11 Freeway Bridge that crosses over the river and gives an amazing view of the Hoover Dam. This side stop was something that I was thrilled we did. The engineering is crazy impressive!

Waking up on my own accord, not as the result of a buzzing alarm or a demanding child, was glorious! We drove to Boulder City for breakfast and stopped at Hemingway Park to check out the grazing Bighorn Sheep. The remainder of the day was spent kayaking, paddle boarding, eating, and drinking around Lake Las Vegas. Amazingly, we got to have conversations without interruptions, quality time without distraction, and fun without crying!

Cane Beds, AZ

The Lautzenheiser side of the family met for a long weekend at Duane’s new property in Cane Beds, AZ. Just West of Kanab, this location is an amazing area to play and explore for adults and kids! So yes, Duane has a place for us to camp in the winter (Can Beds) and the summer (Brian Head)!

After a fun evening catching up, we woke the next morning and took a very, very long drive to the Toroweap Overlook of the Grand Canyon. Sixty miles on dirt roads, with lots stops along the way made for a long day, but the view was both spectacular and scary! Fortunately, the kids are used to long rides and did fantastic!

After plenty of play time and campfire time, the weekend was complete with a side by side ride on the sand dunes! Duane took all the kids for a ride and then Scott and I went for a spin with the kids. And of course, to no surprise, Ella fell asleep on the ride!

We look forward to making more memories with the Lautzenheiser family on this awesome piece of land! Until next time!

Kanab, UT

Kanab’s Annual Balloons and Tunes was a hit! The red cliffs were a beautiful backdrop to the colorful, floating, nylon envelopes. And the best part: my parents made the 10.5 hour drive from Las Cruces to meet us there!

Fortunately, because we have two early risers, named Ella and Miles, with us everywhere we go, we were able to see the launch on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Although the wind wasn’t ideal either day, many of the balloons were able to take off high into the sky. The adults were just as enthralled as the kids were!

Between launches, we wanted to show my parents Peekaboo Canyon, where we had ventured off to just before Christmas a couple months prior. After our first trip, we had learned that we had only explored one of the two slot canyons so we were excited to return. We all piled in Scott’s truck: parents in the front, me sandwiched between car seats in the back and the drive in and out to the canyon was some of the best time we had that weekend!

Marysvale, UT

We spent Valentine’s Day weekend with our favorite Utahans, the Ekbergs! The three day President’s Day weekend was the perfect opportunity to find a halfway spot to meet; the location was a very snowy Marysvale, UT.

We were hoping to explore some of the backcountry, but with a winter storm blowing over most of the country, we stayed off of the forest roads. Fortunately, it still turned out to be a fantastic weekend!

Our AirBnB was located on a ranch property. From our family room window we were able to see deer and cow meandering about in the intense snowstorm on the day we arrived. Fortunately, the next day brought quieter winds and a brighter sky. We were able to sled in the side yard and to explore two unique nearby areas: Butch Cassidy’s childhood home and Caboose Village. Caboose Village, although closed for the season, is home to about 15 old train cars that have been converted into quaint overnight motel rooms.

The kids (and adults) all played wonderfully together! The adults ended the weekend with an intense game of Exploding Kittens, which after plenty of whiskey, Scott faintly remembers winning. We look forward to biannual trips with the Ekbergs and a perfect excuse to discover more of central Utah!

Cannonville, UT

I have always wanted to see Bryce Canyon in the winter. We took advantage of a three day weekend to do just that; clearly it did not disappoint.

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Cannonville, UT is a prime location, central to so many beautiful areas in Southern Utah. And it has the most charming AirBnB that we were fortunate enough to call home for three nights. In addition to its unique character, this four bedroom home had stain glass windows, a clawfoot bathtub, and an original Nintendo. (Scott and I may or may not have stayed up way too late playing Contra).

We were a little nervous that the possibility of strong winds might put a damper on the weekend, but we had two gorgeous days in the low 40s, with little wind and tons of sun! Our first full day was spent exploring Bryce Canyon National Park. We drove through the entire park, stopping at overlooks and the visitor center (where I was so happy that we bought crampons for the icy trails) to give the sun a chance to warm the air. By 10am, we were ready to hike! With the kids happily plopped in their packs, we set out to do Navajo Loop Trail to Queens Fairy. After a half an hour into the hike, both kids were asleep and we were loving the scenery. The three mile trail into and back out of the canyon was perfect; breathtaking views around every turn and enough to wear us out. On our way back to the cutest AirBnB ever, we made a quick stop and hike up to Mossy Cave. Eight months out of the year, this cave has massive icicles hanging from every corner. Ella had a chance to play in the snow just as the sun was setting behind the mountains; it was a pretty magical day!

We started out day two hiking through Kodachrome Basin State Park. Unlike the sandstone hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, these rocks are much harder and not weathering away as quickly as the hoodoos. After a solid three mile hike through various formations, we left the state park to drive to Grosvenor Arch. Unaware of what this arch looked like, all we knew was that it was point of interest well off the beaten path. This double arch was ridiculously impressive! We rounded out the day with a disappointing hike to Willis Creek Slot Canyon. We had seen beautiful pictures of this sandstone canyon, but as we hiked to the entrance, we were met with an icy river. Although it would have been a great end to a great weekend, missing out on Willis Creek gives us a great excuse to come back!

Williams, AZ

What better way to ring in 2021 (and ring out 2020) that a negative Covid test visit with family!?! Over the summer, we booked a cabin in Williams, AZ hoping that the coronavirus wouldn’t be as widespread as it was. After testing negative for the virus, we felt we could safely travel to visit everyone! And what a joy it was!

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We spent time catching up, hugging, celebrating a belated Christmas, eating, and hugging some more. The only disappointment of the trip was that Miles had a pretty nasty cold the entire three days, but fortunately, he did not pass his illness on to anyone else. Outside of our time in the cabin, we went to Bearizona and a local Deer Farm. Bearizona, a drive-through zoo, certainly exceeded my expectations. We were able to see bears, wolves, deer and bison the ‘wild.’ In addition to the drive through area, there is also a more traditional zoo part, where we were able to see bear cubs, red foxes, racoons, and more! Similarly, the Deer Farm also exceeded my expectations. Although Ella missed out on this for a much needed nap, Miles was able to feed deer and see reindeer up close!

Kanab, UT

With 17 days off (which we are completely grateful for) and only a short three day family gathering planned around New Years, we were anxious to do something…anything! Cue in Kanab, UT! We reserved an AirBnB in Fredonia, AZ (just nine miles south of Kanab) for two nights, packed up our things (kids and dog included) and drove East!

We knew the temperature was going to drop, but I don’t think we were quite prepared for the wind that came along with it. Scott and I both say that 40 and sunny is great hiking weather; 40 and windy is not. Trying to stay positive, we started the day with a drive through Johnson Canyon. The steep cliffs were beautiful to look at, but not pleasant to be in. Trying to give the sun a chance to warm up the Earth, we stopped for breakfast at a diner in Mt. Carmel. By 10:30am, we were ready to face the chilly air.

Our first stop was Peekaboo (Red) Canyon. This is a beautiful slot canyon that takes some off roading skill to get to. As we were starting to drive through deeper and softer sand, we stopped to air out the tires to allow us to ‘float’ along the trail. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous that we’d get stuck and it didn’t seem that there were many people out on this particular trail. Fortunately, we made it to and from the slot canyon without incident. To no surprise, on our way out, Scott pulled a stuck car out of the sand using his tow straps. They were extremely grateful.

Our next stop was a trail that lead to dinosaur prints. We had read that the trail was short and steep…it was. I specifically remember saying to Scott, while crawling up a steep part on my hand and knees with Miles strapped to my back, “I am not having fun.” Although I wasn’t thrilled about carrying the kids on such a steep trail, I was happy to see those giant ancient footprints in the sandstone!

We were hoping to do some more exploring the following day, including a stop at Coral Pink Sand Dunes, but the freezing temperatures were not very inviting. The decision was made that we would just head home, but not without a stop at one of the navigational arrows used in the Southwest for aviation in the 1920s and 1930s.

Death Valley, CA

Every year Nevadan’s celebrate our state’s admission into the Union with Nevada Day, as the last Friday in October. This year the holiday fell on Halloween weekend; what a great excuse to get away!

The family at Badwater Basin, 282 ft. below sea level.

The family at Badwater Basin, 282 ft. below sea level.

As Miles was just getting over a cold, we decided that it was best to not camp and decided to spend a night at the beautiful Ranch in Death Valley National Park. On our way, we stopped at the Happy Burro in Beatty, NV to meet up with Shelley, who works there now! How cool is that?! And naturally, we had to take the scenic route on the way. The long way through the granite cliffs of Titus Canyon did not disappoint!

After spending the morning visiting the unique landscape Death Valley offers, we drove back towards Beatty, NV where we participated in their local Trunk-or-Treating event. To give Ella a long enough nap in the truck, we stopped in Rhyolite, NV to explore the old mining town. We then got the lion and monkey ready at the Happy Burro for their Halloween evening!

Brian Head, UT

My Michigan heart always craves the Fall colors this time of year. The nearby Mt. Charleston area offers golden aspens, but that doesn’t seem to be enough for me. Fortunately, Duane (along with his business partner, John) bought a piece of property in Brian Head, UT just in time for a visit to see all the color changes. We set out to camp for a night on his new piece of land. What made the weekend even better was that the Mainos decided to join us!

After arriving Saturday afternoon, we went on a beautiful hike called Twisted Forest. We weren’t exactly sure what the hike entailed, but we all realized we were embarrassingly out of shape. The views of the canyon and Cedar Breaks National Monument were spectacular.

After an evening of hamburgers and s’mores and a night of amazing sleep by our children (that is not sarcastic at all, honest to God), we drove to Yankee Meadow to enjoy a morning by the water. Although the water level of the lake was really low, we were thrilled to be outside in the cool air, bright sun, and surrounded by yellow aspens. The kids enjoyed running around in the grass and the Mainos got a ride in Duane’s new side by side! We look forward to spending many weekends camping on Duane’s little piece of paradise.

San Diego, CA

For those of you living under a rock and weren’t aware, Las Vegas is ridiculously hot in July and August. Like “uncomfortable to be outside for more than 1.5 seconds” hot. Like “the lows at 4am, are 80 degrees” hot. Needless to say, we were ready to escape the heat to the cool California coast: San Diego. Last summer, we stayed at a campground called “Campland” right on Mission Bay; we were fortunate enough to get reservations in time to stay at the same place for four nights.

To break up the 5.5hr road trip, we stopped in Apple Valley and hung out with the Uncles and Aunt Lori at their Silversmith Shop. I feel very grateful that Miles got to meet them and Ella was able to see them for a second time.

Thankfully, after an uneventful drive, we set up camp, had a relaxing evening bike ride around the ridiculously large campground, grilled some hamburgers, and settled in for a fantastic night’s sleep with the ocean just 20 yards away. Unlike the three nights to come, Miles slept great this first night.

We started out our first full day, thanks to Rob Teasdale, with a pontoon boat ride around Mission Bay! It was a beautiful morning and a great way to see the area. After getting back to land, we hit up the beach at the campground. Ella loves the sand and water and easily could’ve spent the entire day there. Miles, on the other hand, was not a fan of the sand on his legs. Either way, kids need to nap, so fortunately both kids napped amazingly in their pack ‘n plays each day. During this time, Scott and I would be our drinking. We’d watch the campers paddle board, swim, boat, bike while we did nothing. We sipped (or gulped) on delicious IPAs and sat; sat without tending to children, and it was amazing!

You’ll notice that the picture below, of fishermen on Imperial Beach Pier, looks like it was taken quite early in the morning. This is because our dear BroBro would not sleep past 4:30am. In order to attempt to adhere to the quiet time hours (which lasted until 8am) we left the campground at 6am. Our sweet boy, who normally sleeps through the night, maybe waking one time for a quick bottle, was unable to soothe himself without crying. And mind you, we are in a tent trailer with tent trailers next to us. I was so desperate to calm him down, I nursed him, which I hadn’t done for two weeks. This is pretty much how the next two nights went as well.

Even though we were sleep deprived, the show much go on. We had purchased tickets to the San Diego Zoo and today was the day we had planned on going. It was an awesome day, where are the CDC recommendations for safety were in full effect, and we were not elbow to elbow with other visitors! The kids loved seeing the animals and although we were only able to see half of the zoo, I would love to go back again next summer to see the other half!

We had to move campsites for our last night, so we spent the next morning hanging around the campground, waiting for the site we were going to move in to open up. Post nap, we went to Shell Beach and La Jolla Cove. The rocky coastline was absolutely beautiful and a hopeful spot to see some sea creatures in the tide pools. Due to the all important nap time, however, we missed low tide and had to settle for gathering a few small shells and watching sea lions play on the beach. Not too bad at all.

I’ll end with this: Campland is awesome for families with older kids. It’s a little like Las Vegas; when the sun sets, the party starts. Quiet hours are from 11pm - 8am, if that tells you anything. When the kids go to bed around 7-8 and we go to bed a 9pm, it’s just not a good fit. We may pass on Campland for a couple years and return when the kids are older. What we won’t pass on is visiting the California coast in the summer…we need the reprieve of the cooler air. And by next summer, unless he gets the opportunity to go sooner, Scott will be desperate to throw his fishing line off a boat in the Pacific again.