Memorial Weekend at Bear Lake

If you're planning a trip to Bear Lake, the first phone call ought to be to Bear Lake Lodging.  Whether you're a party of two or a group of 30+; they have the perfect accommodations.  They put us up in the Burgon Cabin with 6 bedrooms, 2 family rooms and 3 bathrooms on 3 levels with breathtaking view in all directions.  Our 6-year old grandson put it best when he excitedly said to his buddies out on a hike "guys, you gotta get used to this view - it's spe-tacular!"

Another great resource is Melinda at Bear Lake Valley CVB.  She is a great resource for pretty much everything Bear Lake has to offer, from special events, to lodging, to activities to places to eat, etc. etc.

The Yazzie Family-Burgon Cabin-upper balcony

Alyssa basking in the amazing view and sunshine!
It's easy to see why Bear Lake is commonly called "The Caribbean of the Rockies".

View from the front door.  This was a wonderful place to spend time discussing the latest adventures with a kitchen, dining area and family room big enough for all 29 of us.

 After spending time in an RZR last weekend in Moab, I was really looking forward to the contrast of the sand and slickrock to the forest of the mountains surrounding Bear Lake.

RZR 800 we rented from Bear Lake Fun.  They are a great place to rent all kinds of water toys as well as  all types of 4-wheelers - right in Garden City.  Bear Lake is 20 miles long and 8 miles wide with 48 miles of shoreline so they have 3 other locations around the lake.  Two other families in our group also rented from them and were impressed with their customer service.

Four very dusty, dirty but pleased friends after several hours of jeeping and 4 wheeling.
(There's that gorgeous lake again!)

In all of our trips to Bear Lake, we had never made time to visit the famous Minnetonka Cave. In fact, it was thanks to the suggestion of Melinda with Bear Lake Travel Council, that we visited there. The above picture is the walkway to the entrance of the cave; very cool, especially for the kids and much less work to get to than Timpanogos Cave.

The majority of us had never seen Minnetonka Cave before so we really had a great time.

Monday morning before we left, several of us biked the perimeter of the Bear Lake - 50 miles.  This gave us some different perspectives of the lake.  Can I just say WOW!!

Thanks to some of our wonderful friends for sharing a fun, exciting, memorable weekend with us at Bear Lake!!

Skinny Tire Events, High Point Hummer and Aarchway Inn combine for an adventure-filled Moab weekend.

Moonshadows Ride - Skinny Tire Events

Moonshadows bike ride - Open Air Cafe at Dead Horse Point State Park - May 18, 2013
We've become big fans of The Skinny Tire Events.  The two we have attended were very well orchestrated with incredibly friendly staff and indescribable views.

Anna & Roy at one of the overlooks from Dead Horse Point.  (Moonshadows Bike Ride) 

Sunset over Dead Horse Point State Park with Canyonlands National Park on the distant horizon.
(Moonshadows Bike Ride)

High Point Hummer

High Point Hummer proved to be the perfect place to rent our RZR 900 from.  They provided us with a detailed map allowing us to find all of these stunning vistas as well as many more - too many to post.  May 19, 2013

Roy and Anna at the far end of Tusher Tunnel - short hike just off the trail.  May 19, 2013

Delicate Arch - Arches National Park

Phil overlooking the famous Delicate Arch at sunset. - May 19, 2013

Turret Arch, Windows Section, Arches National Park.   Just after sundown May 19, 2013

Aarchway Inn.  Late night BBQ in the courtyard.  They were so friendly and accommodating; providing us with everything (except the food!) we needed to finally get a good meal after a very busy, exciting day.  They are a great place to stay, especially when you participate in a Skinny Tire Event.  Aarchway Inn is the hub of the ride's activities and events.

Back to High Point Hummer for Canyoneering

165 foot rappel - Kane Springs.  Check out Anna starting to descend from the top!

Above:  The position we amateurs take.
Below:  The position our High Point Hummer professional guides take.

Our canyoneering group - Phil, Ronelle, Anna, Nick (guide), Roy and Andy (guide).  Thanks to Skinny Tire Events, High Point Hummer and Aarchway Inn for an awe-inspiring weekend that pushed us to new limits -physically and mentally.

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.