You get out of this car and come look at nature!

Today we left Zion National Park and headed to another of the BIG 5 in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park. To get the Bryce, you have to drive all the way through Zion National Park. We probably irritated everyone behind us because we were in no hurry and drove like old people on Sunday, just out for a drive.

Yesterday, during the horseback ride our guide pointed out “holes” in the mountain connected to the tunnel built in 1930. Today, we saw it all up close and personal. An interesting note when the built the tunnel, they started at opposite sides of the mountain and worked toward the middle. When the met, they were only 6 inches off a perfect meeting. That’s pretty impressive for 1930’s technology. This is one of the viewing “holes” in the tunnel for outside.This is the view from inside the tunnel.

After a mile in the tunnel, I was happy to see the light 😎

The change in topography was crazy the further you got away from Zion.

And then a rock tunnel as well

We made to Bryce Canyon! It’s a beautiful day and perfect for hiking at 75°. Supposed to be some thunderstorms later today so we have to see as much as we can before that. Their Visitors Center had a few exhibits explaining the wildlife and Bryce’s famous hoodoos. Hoodoos are former when a large piece of rock erodes at different levels, then ice goes into crevices, expands, melts, erosion, ice, expand, melt, on and one for hundreds of years.I also found these wild animals in the wildlife of a Bryce exhibit 🤪Sandwiches, and picnic packed, water filled – lets go see Bryce! We decided to hike the Navajo Loop which took us waaaayyy into the Canyon. Like 1,000 feet into the Canyon. I tried to mark some of the Trail in blueIt is really hard to describe but it was just gorgeous! The giant hoodoos, the trees that seem to just sprout of from any crevice with moisture, and views!These two again had the best time and scared their daddy and I to death! There isn’t a railing on the hike and my stomach was just in knots until we made it to the bottomWe found the perfect picnic rock and enjoyed some rest before starting that crazy climb UP! We has to take several rest breaks as we climbed up. At one break, the boys built mini-hoodoosThe climb continued…And finally we made it back to the top. Whew!!! Those were hard fought miles!

The shuttle system at Bryce is no where near as good as Zion, but the park isn’t as large or as busy. Our big hike completed, we drove up to the main sights of Bryce, stopping at overhangs along the way. The Natural Bridge was amazing!

We beaded ALL the way to the top of Bryce, Rainbow Point, elevation 9,115 😳

and temperature 53° 🥶As we stopped at different overlooks, the boys began to get tired of my plaque reading and desire to stop at every single stop… to which I responded in a very Mother-of-the-Year moment: “you get your butt out of this car, and come look at nature!” Which resulted in absolute belly-shaking giggles from all my boys, and then from me 🤣😂🤣

Whatever, it was worth it…

Back in the car, and we said goodbye to Bryce Canyon. It was really nice but we all agreed Zion was our favorite.

The landscape continued to change to some hills but a good amount of flat pastures and housing spread miles apart.

We are taking a break from hotels and spending the next two nights at a tiny house in Escalante, Utah. This place is too cute! We are all ready to move into a tiny house… or at least maybe travel in one.

We headed into town for groceries, and a little exploring. Steaks on the tiny house grill for dinner and apple/blueberry dump cake for dessert 😊

Even had my own kitchen crew do the dishes for me🥰We watched a gorgeous sunset from the back porch, and thanked God for all our blessings.We finished the night watching the Astronaut Farmer and enjoying being able to spread out a little instead of a hotel. The boys have their own bunk beds, so pray no one falls off 🤪