Capitol Reef

The last couple of years it has become a family tradition to take the Family to Capitol Reef in the Spring.  It's a great time to go, because it's not too hot and by March, we are pretty much tired of being cooped up by ice and snow and we're ready for an adventure. 


This trip, we stayed at The Red Sands Hotel. It's a delightful hotel just East of Torrey, Utah. The room was great and because March is the off-season, we had the pool pretty much to ourselves.






I did some research and I realized that a bunch of us stayed at the same hotel when I was at Snow College back in '00. Being a 40 year old dad is different than being a 20 year old college student; but not as much different as I thought it would be. 


It was March, so there was always a little threat of rain. But that mostly just made the hiking fun. You are not broiling in the sun and you always have the excitement of wondering if you'll make it back to the car before you get soaked.




We hiked to Hickman Bridge. It was an awesome hike for little kids. Cloud cover the whole way kept it cool and the trail is not very steep. At the end, you get the payoff of stopping for snacks under the natural sandstone bridge.


The only real problem with going to Capitol Reef in the off-season is that the Gifford House is closed. Gifford House is a museum and store in the middle of Capitol Reef. In the summertime they are open and serve fresh pie. This time they were closed, but we  were able to shelter from the rain in the lean-to on the side of the historic cabin to eat our lunch. Still a great time.
Like always, when we go to Capitol Reef we ate at Slackers in Torrey. They always have delicious burgers and the services is great.

Because the weather was rainy on Saturday, we decided to catch a matinee movie at the Bicknell Theater. I love Central Utah small towns; it feels like coming home.

This summer I am focusing on getting my kids outside. I think they learn things out in the dirt that I can't teach them anywhere else. I want them to make messes, get into mischief, explore, see things they didn't expect, get a little bit scared, and find out what courage is.



I want them to wonder what's at the end of the winding road.... and go find out.

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