Random Photos Through the Ages #4

I have this basket of photos - the basket is about 20 pounds and carries probably over 3000 photos - pictures before I became digital... My goal one day is to have them scanned into photo folders but to find the time to do this would be a major undertaking... For fun - I decided to close my eyes - stick my hand in and pull out 30 random photos and blog about each one.... So here I go....

This picture is from our family trip to Yellowstone National Park. I did not know until my visit there that there are many geysers and springs next to Old Faithful... There is a large wooden walkway around all the different geysers and springs... the smell of sulfur is so strong that it made my eyes water.... This particular picture is the "Ear Spring"... Can you figure out why????

Random Photos Through the Ages #2

I have this basket of photos - the basket is about 20 pounds and carries probably over 3000 photos - pictures before I became digital... My goal one day is to have them scanned into photo folders but to find the time to do this would be a major undertaking... For fun - I decided to close my eyes - stick my hand in and pull out 30 random photos and blog about each one.... So here I go.... Photo #2


This is was great trip about 21 years ago - My husband's parents treated the family (before kids) to a trip to Cabo San Lucas for fishing and fun... We caught a bunch of Dorado Fish and a huge Blue Marlin - we had the fish frozen to take home... Yummy... At night we went partying.. This is my mother in law enjoying a little Sangria at Squid Ro... Fun was had by all...

Kelly's Favorite Vacation Spot #3

One of the most beautiful states in America is Utah... The incredible red rock formations are breathtaking.. When looking at the sandstone, you can see years and years of time and pressure.. layers and layers of different colors... I have had the opportunity to visit Utah a few times and one of my favorite places I have discovered is Zion...
My family and I spent three days there and we should have allotted more time. In the town of Springdale, you can jump on the free shuttle and it will take you to all the shops, museums, and places of interest on the main street through town... The shuttle also drops you off at the main entrance into Zion National Park. For a small entrance fee, you can jump on the free shuttle (no cars are allowed) once again and take the scenic drive through Zion. There are many stops along the way.
Our first stop was at the very top of the scenic drive - called the Riverwalk... There is a mile long hiking path along the Virgin River.. where the trail ends is where you can begin your adventure walking in the famous Narrows.. The Narrows can be a very dangerous place to be at the wrong time. You would never go in there during a rainstorm or times of flash flooding... The Narrows is when the Virgin River runs along Zion Canyon and the canyon walls get closer and closer...and closer.. The Narrows is a must do when visiting Zion - it's the "wet" hike in the park.. Prepare to be wet from the thighs down.... be sure to wear good shoes...
The next stop was something else... we had just got on the shuttle for the next stop and a cloud burst wide open... being from California, I had never seen anything like it... it was amazing.. The rain was warm so I did not mind walking in it... As the rain started to slow down, we headed for the Weeping Rock... The Weeping Rock is a sandstone that water had been dripping through for over a thousand years.. we all got splashed with thousand year old water.. as we were starting our short but very steep hike we heard this incredibly loud boom.... all of a sudden about one hundred yards in front of us on top of the canyon came a newly formed waterfall from all the rain. I started to grab my kids arm and run for our lives but was told the water was going down to a stream below us and not to worry..... after the "surprise fear" it was a sight to behold...
There are many other things to see.. The Emerald Pools, Hanging gardens, The Court of the Patriarchs, and so much more.
My husband and the kids went on a real horseback riding adventure through the back country and came across perfectly persevered bones of a bobcat... they all thought that was cool..
I look forward to going back soon and spending much more time there

Kelly's Favorite Vacation Spot #1

The most incredible place I have ever been is the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.. This place is a tropical paradise... We stayed there for a week and still wasn't able to do all the things we wanted... I live in California and there are some pretty amazing aquariums here but nothing like what they have at Atlantis... they beat Sea World hands down... The world's largest manta ray in captivity is in one of the aquariums at Atlantis.. along with hundreds of sharks and lobsters chasing each other along the sand... reminded me of a Red Lobster "lobster fest" commercial.. wanted to jump into the tank and grab some dinner..
In the middle of the resort is the King of water parks.... a seven story slide in the middle of an Aztec pyramid... Check out the picture of Nikki - the kid is fearless... there were grown men who turned around at the top of the slide.....There were some great inter tube slides as well... and as you are floating through caves and tunnels you come out into a Plexiglas tube and there are sharks swimming all around you...under you... above you.... it's breathtaking... My favorite water activity was the lazy river... I plopped on an inter tube got a diet coke..and just floated around the property...I lost count on how many pools they also had..
Atlantis is located on its own island called Paradise Island.... The beaches are spectacular.. the water is a blue like nothing I had ever seen before.... so warm...and clear.. We were riding on a boat to a private island and I could see all the way to the bottom.... We had fun snorkeling in the small bay inside the resort and collecting baby jellyfish...too small to really hurt...but fascinating to watch.
Everywhere you go in Atlantis there is something new to see.. small little ponds with sting rays.. touch tanks... caves.... lush tropical plants... beautiful tropical birds..
The night life is nice too. The grounds are lit up beautifully and for the gambler there is a HUGE casino... I was lucky last trip... I received $20 in free play and turned it into $500 without touching my own money.. not even once.. so that was pretty cool.. For the parents with small children.... they have a "kids only" care center that my kids loved for a couple of hours... face painting.. games.. snacks.. It was great so that Dusty and I had one nice dinner out.. just him and me..
The only negative thing I can say is that the food is very expensive... so what we did.. don't laugh... we brought a suitcase filled with breakfast and lunch supplies.. I made breakfast every morning in our room and made lunch to take with us on our daily adventures.. We found a family style restaurant within walking distance from the resort and had dinner there.. the prices were much more reasonable than in the resort....Atlantis is a place that has to be seen...here's a link to their web page Atlantis Resort.
I can't wait to go back....soon..