I promised a review of our summer vacation, so here it goes - presenting the...
Rice Family Rock Tour
Our trip gained it's nickname from the dominant landscape that we encountered as we traveled through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. We usually take a portion of our vacation in the Rockies of Colorado, so these landscapes were an interesting change. I am not the best photographer, and some of these were taken from a moving vehicle, but maybe these will inspire your next road trip!
Stunning views from our hotel in Trinidad, CO. We have made a point to stop in this town for several years - we love the architecture in the downtown area.
Along Highway 12, west of Trinidad. For some reason when I see these rocks, I always think of the Rink-Rinker-Finks in the Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think. And do you see the face?
A gorgeous valley view.
Twins :)
Hard to capture in a picture, but this area really felt like a moonscape. I was sure glad to see other cars on the road, because there was nothing else there!
Almost at Monument Valley.
Chevron rock colorations :)
And the classic Monument Valley picture. We stayed the next few days in Flagstaff, AZ, which gave us easy access to our goal - the Grand Canyon...
Pictures can not adequately capture the enormity of this place - it literally took my breath away! Lots of places you cannot see the bottom from the trails along the edge, and it just goes on for as far as you can see.
The next day we took a little trip to Sedona, AZ...
The best views are from the airport - this is a panoramic shot from there (I wish I would have remembered this feature on my camera when we were at the Grand Canyon!).
Then we took a side trip down the Turquoise Trail from Albuquerque, NM to Santa Fe, NM. I highly recommend this route over taking the interstate highway! And if you are looking for turquoise jewelry, you must stop at the Gypsy Gem in Madrid. She mines some of the turquoise herself, and teaches the skills to kids who live in the area; she knows her stuff! I found some great pieces there. Another must-see (which I did not get a picture of) is Weasel & Fitz: Purveyors of Curious Thangs. Our youngest is very proud of the recycled inner tube wallet that he found there, and I almost came home with a license plate lampshade - very cool stuff!
And then we got to Santa Fe. LOVE this city! The architecture, the atmosphere, the history, all definitely worth the trip. We will be back!
This is a view from a drive up to a ski area. I love the layers of mountains you can see from up there!
These buddies came along for the ride...
And this guy, too - trip-planner and driver extraordinaire :)
Proof that I was there...
And, of course, the boys. They are pretty good travelers (3000 miles and no DVDs needed!), but this was a pretty sweet sight at the end of the day :)
It was a pretty amazing trip - 3000 miles and 5 states in 11 days. And I love that the boys are old enough to enjoy and remember these adventures. Sometimes it feels like a bit of a circus, especially because we bring the dogs, but it is so worth it :)
And the icing on the cake, for me in particular, was our little stop in Abilene on the way home. Camille and I met online awhile back, and quickly discovered we had a lot in common (including both having professor husbands!). She and her family graciously made time for us to come by for a visit in-real-life. Such a sweet time; she is as gracious and welcoming as you would imagine from her blog. If you happen to need a place to stay in Abilene, you must see if their little B&B is available. And if you need a little (or a lot!) of decorating advice, she is your girl - truly lovely style executed in a very down-to-earth, liveable way. Thank-you, Camille!
So, now we are home and I am getting back to slipcovers and getting all my boys ready to go back to school. And dreaming of our next little family adventure...
Sherri
