Utah trip part 2, National Parks

As I was saying.
We left Circleville and drove to Panguitch, Utah, where we had lunch and explored Main Street.

Fantastic!
Cowboy's Smokehouse Cafe, right there on the corner. That's where we had lunch. Very good.

Then we drove to Bryce Canyon and Ruby's inn.

Everybody loves Bryce. Lots of people. Lots of people visiting from Europe.
We didn't stay long.
We wanted to drive down Highway 12.

It's a beautiful ride. I highly recommend it.
Shortly before you get to Boulder, Utah, You have the opportunity to hike to Calf Creek Falls.
It's a great experience. It's three miles to the falls, and three miles back to the parking lot, so be ready!

Utah trip, part one. Highway 12.

I see that it's been a long time since I posted here.
Well, here's a good one.
Over the last two weeks, my wife and I have explored Southern Utah. We started by having dinner at Mom's Cafe in Salina, Utah.

Then we spent the night at the Days Inn, Richfield Utah,

Very nice.

In the morning, we drove to The Big Rock Candy Mountain. 

That was lots of fun. Brings back fond memories of stopping there with my grandparents when I was a kid. Julie and I talked about camping here in one of their cabins, and seeing if our family would join us.

Then we headed to Circleville, Utah, to see the home of Butch Cassidy. 

This is actually the home that Max Parker built. He was Robert Leroy Parker's father. When this house was built, Robert had already left Circleville to become Butch Cassidy, the outlaw.

Here's the homestead where Butch was raised. It's about two miles south of town.

Dinner at Marcello's in Bountiful Utah

Where to even begin?
First of all, the setting is fantastic!
Right off the corner of 4th north and main, near Bountiful Park, and at the head of beautiful main street in Bountiful.
Marcello's is a cozy little restaurant with lots of atmosphere.
It's family owned, so don't expect the fanfare the huge chains offer.
Yes, we waited a little bit for our food.
But HOE.LEE.COW!
It was wonderful.
We had tried their home made sausage at the farmer's market, so my wife ordered spaghetti and sausage.
I had the portabello ravioli.
half and half.
Alfredo and marinara.
WOW!
It was so wonderful!
We're going back soon to try all the other amazing dishes!

How to make a flying paper crane

I'm learning to oil paint!

This has been the most fun, the most exciting hobby I've ever tried.
I'm keeping a blog about my progress.
Please visit and comment and see how I'm doing.
If you're a painter, I'd love to have some comments and suggestions and hints.
Please visit here:
http:\\milepainter.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Here's a sample of my work:

Ski Utah! and stay at Country Inn and Suites.

If you're planning a ski trip to Utah,
Country Inn and Suites is the perfect location.
Located in Bountiful, Utah, Country Inn and Suites is half way between the Salt Lake resorts, and the Odgen resorts.
The Bountiful location is more tranquil, and yet close to shopping, great restaurants, and entertainment.
Country Inn and Suites offers ski packages and special deals.
It's got fast, easy freeway access and is minutes from ALL Utah resorts.

The hotel is beautiful and has many great amenites.
The rooms are clean and comfortable and the staff is great.
Our family has loved this hotel for a long time.

It's the perfect hotel for a ski trip.

Country Inn and Suites.
Bountiful, Utah
801-292-8100

Ensign Peak

If you’re in Salt Lake and you’d like to go for a quick hike, but you don’t have a lot of gear or time, Ensign Peak is perfect.

The trail head is just five minutes’ drive directly north of downtown Salt Lake City, behind the Capital Building and up the hill.

The hike is less than one mile round trip, and anyone can do it.

The view here is spectacular.

Ensign Peak is a prominent hill on the northern edge of the Salt Lake Valley. On July 26, 1847, two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and seven other pioneer leaders climbed the hill to survey the valley. From its summit they laid out in their minds the city they intended to build.

The men fastened a yellow bandanna to a cane and waved it from the mountain peak. Brigham Young named the spot Ensign Peak. The pioneers had carried two American flags with them across the plains. Within a short time a flagpole was erected and one of those flags was flown from the peak.

Utah's state capitol building stands on a shelf part way up the hill. Efforts to preserve the summit as a park began in 1908. In 1934 a monument was built, honoring the men who climbed the hill in 1847.

The view from Ensign Peak is amazing.

Brigham Young hiked this peak when the pioneers first arrived to get a view of the layout of the valley.  There’s a small monument at the top commemorating this event.