Touring Majestic America: Part II- Bryce Canyon, Utah

As I mentioned in Part I of our 2014 Summer Vacation post, we were stuck in a BAD traffic jam next to a truck transporting cows.  I remembered I took these photos:



Would you rather smell shit or sit in an enclosed card in 100 degree temperature? The smell of shit became endurable.



We sat here for an hour before we made a u-turn.

 
 
Bryce Canyon

 

We stayed in the very quaint small town of Tropic, which is a few miles outside of Bryce Canyon.  We rented a little cabin that gave us the feel of being in the rugged and rural country. 

our log cabin #6

 

 

Our first day at Bryce was perfection.  I had arranged a horseback ride to the canyon rim.  It was a brief 1.5 hour horseback ride.  They had long all-day rides, but I was reluctant to book those because I was uncertain if Brandon and Mia would enjoy it since they have never been on a horse.  It was also a challenge to find a place that would accept Lance’s weight.  Most horseback riding adventures had a maximum weight capacity of 200 lbs. 

 

What was our reaction to this horseback riding adventure?  We LOVED it.  We loved it so much that we all wished we did the half-day or full-day excursion.  Mia and Brandon had the oldest horses (25 years of age) named Misty and Pat.  My horse was Copenhagen.  Dylan had Hook and Lance rode Sgt.  We all did a mighty fine job of handling the horse.  There were many times that our horses would stop to eat, but we learned to how to pull the reins to control the horse. 

 

 

Copenhagen

Views during our horseback ride

After our amazing morning horseback ride, we ventured into Bryce Canyon and did a moderate hike from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point. We also took the shuttle up to Bryce Point.  The hike was challenging.  It was easy to traverse downhill, but when we had to hike back up, we made frequent stops to just catch our breath.  It was physically demanding, and the elevation didn’t make it any easier.  I am proud of how well the kids did.  There were some mild complaints, but overall, we were a strong group.  I cannot even begin to express how BEAUTIFUL it was….wow!  I could just sit there and stare endlessly at the view.  The rock formations, the colors, the trees…..We were very exhausted by late afternoon and headed back to our cabin for an hour of relaxation before we headed out to Ruby’s Inn for a buffet dinner and a rodeo.

 

The rodeo was not part of our itinerary.  I had never been to a rodeo nor had the kids so I thought it would be a wonderful event to experience together.  We saw all of the typical rodeo events.  They even had an event where kids between the ages of 5-15 try to chase a calf and get a red ribbon off its tail.  With alot of pressure from us, we finally pushed Dylan to do it.  The two younger kids were eager to volunteer.  Dylan was very, very close to catching the red ribbon.  After watching the rodeo and taking a morning horseback ride, the kids developed an interest in horses.  All of them wanted to take more horseback riding lessons.  Dylan took lessons when he was young, and I know of a place in south county that offers lessons, but I also know it could be very costly.  Mia fell in love with horses.  She even wanted a cowboy hat. 

Kids are ready to catch the red ribbon on the calf.

cute photo of the kids sitting on Lance before the rodeo began

 

We left Bryce early the next morning for Zion after one more hike.  There was a hike to Mossy Cave and a waterfall that was in between Bryce Canyon and  the city of Tropic.  I enjoyed this hike even more than the one in Bryce.  It was shorter and not as strenuous. There was only one other group on the trail.  While in Bryce Canyon, the trails were filled with tourists.  Having all those people there just somehow seemed to take away a little from our visit.  I know I cannot expect to be alone, but sometimes those summer crowds can be a little overwhelming.

Photos from our Hike Near Tropic, Utah:

 

 

Mossy Cave

 

 

Both Lance and I agree that we prefer Bryce Canyon over Zion.  It just seems more remote and rugged, and we like that aspect of it.  Don’t get me wrong. Both places are intoxicatingly beautiful, but Bryce seduced us more with its rugged charm.  Perhaps the horseback ride and the rodeo added to that charm?

 

Next Stop:  Zion National Park