As we transition from the Queen’s Garden to the Navajo Trail we encounter a garden of rock carins spread everywhere across the ground and even up into the trees.

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When we reach the floor of the canyon we find a nicely shaded seating area where Jeanine and I are moved to share a kiss. One child captures the moment, another looks on with curiosity and the last flashes a look of disgust. Presumably these same children understand that if not for such activities they would not even be here.

The one constant here is change, if observable on a large time scale only. Old hoodoos gradually disintegrate as new ones are formed.

 
To walk among these amazing geologic structures is very exciting. They range in size from a couple of feet tall up to several hundred feet tall. Some are short and squat, other are skinny and tall seemingly poised to topple at any moment. During a ranger presentation I learned that no one has ever been killed by falling rock on this trail although massive boulders have fallen right on the path from time to time.

Next we take the Queen’s Garden Trail and descend among the hoodoos.

We are the first visitors to arrive at Inspiration Point, and our reward is golden light and total solitude. This remains one of the most beautiful vistas I have ever seen, and it was a joy to share it with the family for the first time.

On the 30-minute drive to Bryce early this morning we encountered a family of mule deer, including this baby boy.

As we are departing Zion, Jeanine spots some long-horn sheep, and I was fortunate to get close enough for a decent shot. We will spend the night in Hatch, UT at an RV park and continue early tomorrow morning to Bryce.

 
After a quick lunch at the Zion Lodge we board the shuttle bus and finish with a visit to the Sinawava Temple where I coax Kyle into posing for me in front of the Altar and Pulpit with the Virgin River in the foreground.

 
Although we did not reach the top of Angel’s Landing it was a rewarding climb and a great way to start our National Park adventure. If you enlarge the photo you will see Nicolai on the right hand side as he flies down the trail.

Jeanine is pleased when I return with all three children, and we rest for a while before beginning the long descent.

After reaching the next lookout, we pause for a photo and I begin to rethink the wisdom of finishing the trail which continues along the spine of the rock fin pictured behind us. At one point the trail narrows to three feet wide with an 800 foot sheer drop off on one side and a 1200 foot drop off on the other. This is the exact scenario which triggers my worst vertigo and I have learned on this climb that the intense fear is also triggered when I see one of my children in a precarious position. Despite the fact that Nicolai has been on hands and knee since the chains began he stands ready to complete the trail as does Maya who is entirely fearless and part Billy goat. Although Kyle inherited my fear of heights he also wants to reach the top. Ultimately, I enforce a decision to stop here. Thousands of people complete this trail each month but I know I will be paralyzed by my vertigo and I cannot allow the kids to continue without me. I hate having this limitation but must accept it and be thankful for the many other gifts I have.

The entire trail from the base of the monolith is extremely steep and then it becomes ridiculous. Once you reach Scout Lookout it becomes necessary to use the provided chains to ensure you do not fall off the side of the monolith. Jeanine wisely decides to wait for us at the lookout while I muster every ounce of courage I possess to overcome my fear of heights and proceed with the children. The chains eventually take you along the side of a sheer cliff with a 1000 foot drop off. That section would have made for a very dramatic photo but would have required me to take one hand off the chain to press the shutter button and that was not going to happen. The first section of chains, pictured here, were a piece of cake making this photo possible.

 
Kyle and I carry 3L of water each and serve as the hydration stations for the family. Jeanine nursed all three children when they were babies. Now in a reversal of roles her oldest reciprocates. It is essential to carry sufficient water when hiking in the southwest during the summer and we did a very good job of gauging exactly how much to bring with us each day.

 
A cave with a view is discovered by Kyle and Maya along the trail offering a nice respite from the considerable heat and sunshine.

Last night we arrived at the Watchman Campground in Zion National Park and this morning we set out for our first hike. Our destination, pictured here, is Angel’s Landing. The 5 mile, 5 hour round trip requires an ascent of 1500 feet. If you click on the photo you will notice Jeanine and the kids in the lower left corner as they approach the base of the towering monolith.

Before heading out to pick up the RV we spent a few minutes inside the Bellagio enjoying their bird sanctuary and water gardens.

As someone who does not drink or gamble, I find little to appreciate inside the casinos, but I must admit that I really enjoy the choreography of the dancing waters at the Bellagio.

After lunch, we hopped a tram and then continued by foot down the Vegas Strip, enjoying the sights along the way. Our destination was the Bellagio, where our arrival coincided perfectly with the beginning of one of their water fountain shows.

The waves, while not huge, were sufficient to body surf, and all members of the family demonstrated proficiency in the art.

In even less time, the kids are in the water, throwing caution and younger siblings to the wind.

Jeanine wastes little time finding her way poolside and flashes me a smile, suggesting that other pleasures are soon to follow.

The day begins by introducing the kids to the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. At $17 a head, I can tell you that this is a money-losing proposition for the Mandalay Bay when entertaining the Calabria family. Kyle and Nico alone ate enough to cover the total bill. Unlike many Las Vegas buffets, this one featured really fine food and tremendous variety.

By the time we settle into our hotel rooms the water park is ready to close so we settle for a photo of the action from our room and the kids look forward to the next morning with great anticipation. Every 90 seconds, a large waves emerges from the flat section at the back of the beach shaped pool. A portion of the lazy river is seen in the upper right area of the photograph. A stong current carries swimmers around the circuit is about two minutes.

The Mandalay Bay is close to the airport and their water park features a beach with waves and a lazy river, both intense magnets for the kids.

Our itinerary includes: Zion NP, Bryce NP, Escalante Petrified Forest SP, Grand Staircase Escalante NM (Zebra slot canyon and Devil’s Garden), Capitol Reef NP, Goblin Valley SP, Dead Horse Point SP, Canyonlands NP (Islands in the Sky), Arches NP, Mesa Verde NP, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon NRA (Lake Powell), Grand Canyon NP (north rim), and Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP.

Our vacation begins in Las Vegas with a night at the Mandalay Bay and then takes us on an 1800 mile trek through the national parks and several state parks of southern Utah, northern Arizona, western Colorado and Nevada. We will return to Las Vegas and stay at the Luxor before returning home.

Today begins our two week family RV adventure. We start by flying from Boston to Las Vegas where we will pick up our 25 foot rental RV (sleeping room for 5). Between connecting flights we relaxed in the United Airline Red Carpet Club where perfect window light and time to burn created the perfect opportunity for individual portraits of the kids.

Jeanine captured some very nice photographs, and I hope to post more of them when we return in 2 weeks along with the ones from our family vacation.

After work I picked up Kyle and Jeanine from the airport as they returned from their Transylvania adventure. In less than 12 hours we will be back at the airport as we depart for our family vacation to the southwest. Despite being rather fatigued from their travel we gathered around the computer to see their photos and hear about their exploits. I am going to ask Kyle to explain the story behind this gynormous hat when he recovers from the journey.

I spotted this beauty on the way into work this morning and managed to sneak up rather close for the photo.