Antelope Island: Syracuse, UT

Madeline was so excited when we arrived on Antelope Island. She stepped out of the car, gingerly, with an excited smile on her face. "I can't believe I'm taking my first step on an island! I've always wanted to got to an island!"

It's not exactly Hawai, but Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. It was used by the pioneers for ranching, and there is still a herd of over 500 Bison, Pronghorn Antelope and other wildlife here.

Utah State Parks have a great Junior Rangers program that mirrors the National Park program. You can earn a badge at many different Utah State Parks by completing a booklet or attending a ranger-led program. We started off at the Visitor's Center where the kids filled out most of their booklets. The displays about the geology and history of the island were really interesting and engaging.

We drove out to the Fielding-Garr Ranch to see the historic home and buildings. We also saw the Bison herd along the water's edge.

Maddie and Max's Grandma, Uncle Brent, Aunt Rebecca, and cousins Ethan and Ellen were great sports to come out here with us.

I've never driven right on to an island before!

Know Before You Go: You can swim at the beaches here. Many people like to float in the super salty water. It is really hot and dry so, as always, bring water.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument: American Fork, UT

We hiked up to Timpanogos Cave today. My niece Paige came with us. I think that helped the kids to hike up that steep mountain without complaining. 

Max wanted to be in front the whole time.  He said he was the "trailblazer."

We made it up the mountain so quickly tht we were able to join an earlier cave tour.

Backpacks go on the front in the cave so that they don't touch the sides on accident.  

This cave has been the prettiest one we have toured on this trip.  My pictures don't do it justice, but may give you an idea of what you'll see.  

The kids were proud of themselves for finishing the big hike.  We made it down just in time for the Junior ranger activities.  In the spider class, Max was the spider food.  The ranger told him he was "so delicious" that he just had to be the volunteer.  We also watched a presentation from an animal rescuer who brought a ton of snakes, tarantulas and a coyote pup for us to see.

We stopped off at one of the picnic areas to rest a bit.  The rushing river was so pretty.  The kids looked like little antelope running around after each other.

Know Before You Go:  Try to buy tour tickets ahead of time.  They often sell out in the summer, especially on weekends.  We went a early as we could and were able to get tickets.  It is nicer to hike up in the cooler morning weather anyway.  Take a picnic.  It is a beautiful area with plenty of places to stop.  

A Wyoming Rainbow

With the exception of Devils Tower, this was the only interesting thing we saw on our whole drive through Wyoming.

It was a huge, bright rainbow.  The full arc.  It was so impressive that we pulled over to stare at it for a while.  I was sort of wondering why the other cars on the road weren't stopping too.

This reminds me of the great luck we have had on our road trip.  We've had perfect weather all the way through.  It has only rained twice, and both times it's been on our long driving days so it hasn't interfere with anything.

Devils Tower National Monument: Devils Tower, WY

I have always wanted to visit Devil's Tower.  I remember seeing pictures of it in a National Geographic when I was a child.  My dad told me he wouldn't take me there because it was in the middle of nowhere.

President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.  It's also known as Bear Lodge and is a sacred site for many Native Americans.  Here is one legend that the kids enjoyed hearing: 

Crow Legend
Once when some Crows were camped at Bears House, two little girls were playing around some big rocks there. There were lots of bears living around that big rock and one big bear seeing the girls alone was going to eat them. The big bear was just about to catch the girls when they saw him. The girls were scared and the only place they could get was on top of one of the rocks around which they had been playing.

The girls climbed the rock but still the bear could catch them. The Great Spirit, seeing the bear was about to catch the girls, caused the rock to grow up out of the ground. The bear kept trying to jump to the top of the rock, but he just scratched the rock and fell down on the ground. The claw marks are on the rock now. The rock kept growing until it was so high that the bear could not get the girls. The two girls are still on top of the rock.

We enjoyed our hike around the tower.  It sure was hot though.  The ponderosa pines made the air smell sweet.  Max thought it smelled like Tootsie Rolls.  The kids found scratch marks on all the trees from the porcupines.  

The kids were sketching wild flowers in their Junior Ranger books.

Becoming Junior Rangers.  

See their backpacks?  They are filling up with badges!

Geographic Center of the Nation: Belle Fourche, SD

We stopped at the Tri-State Museum in Belle Fourche, SD today.  

Why?  

Because it is the Geographic Center of our Nation.  

Standing on that granite and bronze marker in the middle of the United States makes you feel alive.  Alive and on an awesome road trip.

Know Before You Go:  Belle Fuorche is pronounced Bell Foosh.  Just thought you'd like to know.  

Circle B Chuck Wagon Supper: Rapid City, SD

We went to a Chuck Wagon Supper and Cowboy Music Show at the Circle B Ranch for our last dinner in South Dakota.  The kids had a blast running around the wild west play area.  After some roping and gold panning, we went over to see about our dinner.

Sheriff Dale gathered all the kids around and told them that something terrible had happened.  We couldn't start supper because someone had stolen the biscuits!

He asked for volunteers to form a posse that would go after Juan the Biscuit Bandit.

Madeline was so excited to be a part of it all.  I love that smile.

Max was all business.  He was serious about finding Juan.

After a lot of running and some gun-fire, Juan was caught.  He returned the biscuits and everyone got to sit down for some supper.

Madeline loved the potato guy. He whacked the baked potato down on her tin plate so that it made a loud noise. She jumped and laughed.

The musicians were really good.  We enjoyed the show.

Once these guys came out and started playing music and singing, he got really excited.  He ran over to Todd and threw his arms around his neck.  

"This is the best day ever on the whole road trip, Daddy!"

A few minutes later he added, "...except for Great Wolf Lodge."

Max danced and did crazy hat tricks and hand motions through every song.  He just had the best time.