Celebrating 22 Years, Our Anniversary Tour-2nd stop

Natural Bridge - You can see this about
20 steps from parking your car!

Our 2nd Stop: Bryce Canyon Area

Several years ago when we bought our first camping trailer, Bryce Canyon National Park was the destination of our first get-a-way. We stayed in the campground at Ruby's Inn.  Since then we have made numerous trips back to the area, some with and some without our trailer. About 10 years back we planned a family reunion in the Bryce Valley area using the KOA campground in Cannonville as our hub. This worked well for the young and the not so young. Everyone was able to find plenty of activities to do both inside and outside the National Park - hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, exploring slot canyons,etc.  We even had one couple take a helicopter tour of the area. This is still one of the most talked about family reunions we've had.  

This recent trip, however, was to be full of FIRSTS for my wife and I,  Our FIRST time staying in a B&B in the Bryce Canyon area.  We chose Stone Canyon Inn B and B.  They're on the south end of Tropic, Utah - set on the east side of Bryce Canyon National Park.  From the front of the Inn, you have views of the Park that can only be seen from here.  On the the east side of Stone Canyon Inn, there is a large deck.  From here one can watch the sunrise and enjoy the beautiful, rich colors on the 

plateau across the valley, as the sun highlights each and every hue.  Then, as night falls the deck becomes the perfect place to relax and reminisce while watching the stunning, innumerable evening stars appear!

Mike and Dixie Burbidge are the Innkeepers at Stone Canyon. Whether you want to go hiking in Bryce, horseback riding in Red Canyon, ATV riding around Tropic Reservoir, or work yourself through a narrow slot canyon, they can help you make all of the necessary arrangements. Maybe you're not sure what you want to do; let Dixie put together a unique day trip designed just for you. In addition to being an expert on things to do in the area, Dixie's breakfasts are a sight to behold, they look as good as they taste. Her meals are comparable to what you would find in an upscale restaurant in L.A. or New York, yet you get to wear your shorts and T-shirt to the table.

Phil & Ronelle - last (and highest) view point in
Bryce Canyon N.P.

Fosters Restaurant

Another FIRST for us was biking through Bryce Canyon National Park. We started at the intersection of hwys. 12 and 63.  We rode out to, or stopped, at more than a dozen lookout points. This was the highlight of our trip.  We had never been all the way out to Rainbow Point before.  Each overlook along the way provided amazing vistas as well a nice break from the climb on our bikes. Yes this is a ride with altitude! We started at about 7600 ft. and  ended at 9115 ft above sea level, with many rolling hills along the way ( I'm not sure of the total amount of climbing).  This is a great way to see Bryce Canyon National Park.  Our round trip ride was 50+ miles of some of the most beautiful country on earth. 

One more notable FIRST for us in Bryce Valley was the prime rib dinner at Foster's Motel & Restaurant.   I'm not sure how we made so many trips to the area and never stopped in to dine.  They're right on Hwy. 12 about one mile west of hwy 63.  The service was great.  The prime rib was perfect - the horseradish had just the right amount of

kick to add to the flavor of the meat.  After a long hot bike ride, Foster's was just what we needed - good food, nice air conditioning and someone to wait on us.  We will be stopping in again on our next visit to Bryce Canyon.

Our 3rd and last stop:  Escalante.

Celebrating 22 Years, Our Anniversary Tour

First Stop:  Renting a side by side ATV and getting checked into our miners' cabin at 
Lizzie and Charlie's RV Park in Marysvale.

This is the 3rd year in a row we have made the trip.  They're about 25 miles south of the city of Richfield on Hwy. 89 in Utah.  Their campground is the gateway to the Paiute Trail. This trail system forms a literal spider web of ATV trails covering most of Paiute County. Some publications call it the 'best family oriented trail system in the U.S.' The diverse terrain provides its riders numerous photo opportunities of dense forests, stunning vistas, wildlife (very large elk and herds of deer) as well as a great open air museum at the Marysvale Miners Park in Bullion Canyon.

Miners Park - Bullion Canyon

There is no beginning or end to The Paiute Trail system.  Riders can get on and off the trail at any point. However the #1 trail is a 278 mile loop that makes its way across deserts, through rugged canyons and over high mountain ranges (some are above the timber line). With hundreds of offshoots, you can explore whether you are a UTV or an ATV. Most of the towns along the trail allow ATV's on the streets so riders can go directly from the trail to restaurants, convenience stores or to your lodging to get a hot shower. 

Lizzie & Charlie's RV Park is your family's one stop shop for an outdoor adventure creating memories that will last a life time! 

We like the rustic feel of their miners' cabins.  It's a step up from tent camping, yet it gives you a small taste of how the miners lived who settled this area years ago. This is a great you can get close enough to see them, campground full of large shade trees throughout, whether you are in your tent or RV. Their staff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful; they know the trail system very well and will help you map out a course that will fit all your needs (time and age appropriate). This last trip they mapped out a route for us to see two beaver dams. The ATV's scare the beavers away long before but it was very interesting to see their dam up close and examine the size of trees they are able to chop down. 

One of our favorite things about staying here is eating at "The Garage".  It's a New York style pizza/deli right at the RV Park. The dough is hand-tossed (fun to watch).  My family agrees its the best pizza we have ever eaten. This year one of the RV Park employees told us we had to try one of their sandwiches. My wife jumped on that idea and had a panini. As for me, I had been waiting 9 months to enjoy one of his pizzas-  BBQ Chicken was my choice.  This place is worth driving a little out of your way if you are a pizza or sub lover. "The Garage" was the perfect way to cap off an awesome day in our ATV before heading to the Bryce Canyon Area.

Steampunk twist to an old classic!

            For Our Family, summer officially begins with Memorial Day's concert at the SCERA Shell.  This year was no exception as we enjoyed the Acappella Supershow featuring the top three recent winners from the hit TV show "The Sing-Off".  If you missed it, you missed out!

            This is just the beginning of many more trips to the shell during the summer, including concerts, plays and outdoor movies on the big screen.  Starting June 8, you can see a new twist on an old classic:

SCERA’s “Wizard of Oz” presented in 

Back to the Future Steampunk Style 

Although not a word has been changed for the first musical of the summer season at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, their upcoming production of the family classic “The Wizard of Oz” is being given a unique twist.

            Director Jeremy Showgren is borrowing heavily from steampunk, a recent fashion and entertainment movement that takes futuristic elements and places them in the past. He takes Dorothy’s dream, where the magic of Oz unfolds, and provides glimpses of the future.

            “At the time of the story, the industrial movement was under way, so I’m adding a lot of metal work, gears, clocks and trains,” Showgren explains. “Think of Sherlock Holmes and his guns and the television series, “Wild, Wild West” with its gadgets. It’s like placing the future in the past.”

The inspiration for the set comes from an early 20^th century train station and much of it resembles steel that has been oxidized into the kind of green seen on the Statue of Liberty. And the witch’s castle, for example, resembles the old factories from that period.

“As Dorothy’s dream begins, we are in Kansas, but during the musical, elements of Kansas are removed so by the end of the show there are very few traces of home—and Dorothy realizes how much she misses it,” Showgren adds.

            “The Wizard of Oz” will open June 8 and run through June 23, with performances at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children 3 to 11, seniors 65 and older and students with identification. Patrons should bring a blanket or rent a chair for $1.00.  Reserved sections range from $12 to $14 for adults and $10 and $12 for children, seniors and students.

            In a magic land that imbues a scarecrow, tin man and cowardly lion with human characteristics and where evil is personified in a nasty green witch, Dorothy comes to learn that there is no place like home.

            “This show has been an amazingly gratifying collaboration, and I credit the production staff with creating an innovative look and feel,” Showgren says. The director, who is also serving as musical director, is supported by choreographer Kellie Messerly, lighting designer James Larsen, set designer Casey Price, props designer Sheri Stakebake and costume designer Kelsey Seaver.

            The costumes bring out the steampunk style as well, with the Tin Man’s costume full of gears, nuts and bolts; and the witch’s dress designed with fabric cut-out gears and lots of metal.  Dorothy’s traditional blue gingham dress is enhanced with an old-fashioned corset and red bedazzled boots. 

            Performing major roles are Jessica Sundwall as Dorothy; Shoni Winkel as the wicked witch; Lauren Anderson as Glinda, the good witch; and Mark Gordon, Travis Hancock and Philip Varney as the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. The legendary Wizard of Oz will be played by Marc Haddock and a dog named Abby is Toto. Other players will take multiple roles to portray munchkins, dancing trees, flying monkeys, poppies, crows and other characters.

            “Those who come will see an awesome spin on a classic story, where kids will be swept away to a world of imagination somewhere over the rainbow and adults can see the show done in new, more modern way.” Showgren says.