Ladies Roadtrip 2012 from CA to KS

I can't think of a better Mother's Day than to be flanked by my Mom and daughter as we began a road trip from California to Kansas.

Our first day was filled with Central Cali desserts and heat, but once we emerged from the Mojave dessert, we saw the Vegas lights and stayed at Nellis AFB.

eating dinner after our first day on the road

telling Grandma a story

After Nellis, we were off to explore some National Parks!
Zion

stretch break at Zion

Bryce Canyon

Inspiration Point lookout

Piper is so excited to walk that she doesn't notice the view!

Piper loves being with her Grandma

an Arch in Bryce

My favorite spot in Bryce Canyon

Lastly, we stayed in Moab to visit the Arches National Park the next day. The Arches were beautiful and both my Mom and I were amazed at the red terrain.  May was a perfect time to be here - any later and we would have been roasting hot.

dramatic landscape

 FISH FACE! :)

the most famous arch in the arches park

Next up, we continued our adventures traveling East into Colorado.  Due to our time at the parks in Utah, we stayed on the western side of CO in Glenwood Springs.  After we stayed a night, we ate a wonderful breakfast in a small café and then soaked in the hot springs.  Piper was a little weary at first and refused to let go of me in the warm water, but after about an hour, she finally went to her floaty toy.  It was the most relaxing morning!

not only relaxing, but surrounded by beautiful views

Once we got on the road, we started approaching the CO KS border.  You'd think this is what the whole point was in driving...however, My mom and I refused to believe that our trip was approaching the final destination so quickly.  So, once we hit Denver, we traveled north to Boulder.  We shopped, ate, drank and were quite merry in this college town flanked by the Rockies.

Yayyyy - sleeping baby

CO snow!

"Drink up, Piper..." Walnut Brewery in Boulder :)

Once we left Boulder the next day, we knew there weren't any parks or sites in western KS that we wanted to see, so we huffed on back to KC.


What a marvelous trip across the western U.S.A.  Our country is so beautiful - I hope everyone has the chance to see this beauty!

goofball played with my phone and unintentionally took a pic of herself