Graduation Getaway!

Disclaimer: I am not a photographer :) If you want to see really good pictures of this trip go to www.zenfolio.com/terrif and check out my moms pictures. But for now, here's a little taste of my Graduation Get-a-way!

My parents decided that we had 4 days that we could get away and head to Southern Utah to play right before I graduate from college. I was excited to go and even more excited to get there and see how beautiful it was! We had a blast and although I'm tired and sore I would love to go again!

Day 1:
We set out at a lovely 6:30 am to get the even more lovely 8 hour car ride behind us!

We got in to Zion National Park in the afternoon and set out hiking. I loved seeing the red/orange/white rock and the awesome waterfalls all over the park.

My favorite hike at Zion was to the Emerald Pools. About a mile up you got to hike on a path behind some waterfalls!

There's a small river walk/hike that we took that night. We got to the end and all around were piles of rocks. We guessed maybe a school had come and piled them up, but who really knows. They were so fun! I was tempted to get down there and make my own pile!
Day 2: Today was gorgeous! We spent the morning hiking, and after my fear of heights got the better of me we rented bikes for the afternoon. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. We road all the way up the canyon and back, a 16 mile round trip that was the prettiest bike ride I've ever been on!In the busy season at the Park you can't drive cars but there are shuttles that drop you off at different points. It was a fun way to get around, and we had a great conversation with the bus drivers!

We had fun this night meeting up with my cousins the Blacks. They are the best! We went on a little hike, where once again the heights got to me, and then went out to eat. We had a blast!

Day 3: We woke up and walked around town. The little shops in Springdale were super fun. We decided we had some extra time and we headed to St. George. We toured Brigham Young's (my 6th great grandpa) summer home and stopped at the temple. It was the whitest temple I've ever seen!

We then headed out for Bryce Canyon. The drive over seemed like it wasn't going to be anything too excited, and once we were even in the park I wasn't sure what I was going to see and then you come up to the canyon and it's full of all these Hoodoos: giant rock sculptures :) I absolutely loved it. We had an awesome hike down in to the canyon a ways and spent the rest of the afternoon just sight seeing!

Day 4: We woke up to a lovely blizzard...goodbye 85 degree weather! And after another long 8 hour car ride I'm home! Thanks Mom and Dad for such a wonderful vacation! I love you!