Summer 2009 in Review: Grand Circle

Lyssa and Christian at Sunset Point

A few weeks later we went with Lyssa's mom to Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Both were magnificent.

Bryce Canyon

Lyssa and I had gone to Bryce Canyon when we were first dating, so it was a bit nostalgic to go back. We first took in the views from Sunset Point, but Christian didn't seem all that impressed.

We think he looks like a Sallay in this one

We did get some cute pictures of him though! Lyssa's mom watched him for about an hour while Lyssa and I went on the same hike we did when we were dating (and I felt the same frustration when we finished going up some rough switchbacks and still had a ways to go). Still, when we were down in the slot canyons and enjoying the forest and hoodoos below, we couldn't complain.

In a slot canyon on the Navajo Loop trail

Out of breath, but loving the view

We had a little picnic and went over to Inspiration Point to take in the canyons from a different viewpoint. We got to Bryce Point right before the sun went down. We tried to get some good family pictures, but Christian just wanted to play.

Getting the movie star treatment

After Bryce we drove down to Kanab, which claims to be Utah's "Little Hollywood" since so many Westerns and other films were shot there. We stayed at Parry Lodge, where all the actors stay. Many of the rooms will have nameplates of the stars who have stayed in the room. We saw the rooms John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, and Ronald Reagan stayed in. No one famous stayed in our room. Well, until Christian strikes it big.

Grand Canyon

View from the North Rim

The Grand Canyon was also nice, since I hadn't gone since I was a child. I had always heard the North Rim wasn't as pretty as the South, but there are still some spectacular views.

Christian strapped in for a hike

Waving

Getting ready to head back

St. George

Christian loves a good swim

We stayed the last night in St. George on the way back. We relaxed a night at the hotel and went for a swim. The next morning Lyssa and I went to the temple do a session. My parents got engaged in the Celestial Room there, so it was neat to go there with Lyssa. We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting church historical sites in the area. When I was a teenager, I remember going to Brigham Young's Winter Home with some friends, so it was interesting to go back and see how much my tiny teenage memory remembered.

Brigham Young's Winter Home

St George Tabernacle, site of the famous "Windows of Heaven" talk

So for those of you keeping score, we figure at this point Christian has been to 3 different countries or territorial units (Qatar, Hong Kong SAR, and the USA), and 6 different US states (Texas, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona). All before turning one year old. The real kick in the pants, of course, is that he's not going to remember any of it.