So we wrapped up in Wyoming and headed into Utah, where our pit stop was Salt Lake City. And now our first blogging failure...we were so awestruck while driving into SLC that we forgot to take pictures! It was so beautiful - rolling hills and buttes turned into a dramatic snow capped mountain range, with little towns nestled into the canyons. The houses were chalet style and they were so perfectly matched with the scenery and landscape that it almost seemed like they naturally grew there! We passed the site of the '02 olympic downhill skiing and ski jumping ramps. Then, all of a sudden we were free from the mountains and dropped right into the city.
I liked Salt Lake so much more than I thought I would. It was so well groomed, but not sterile, so full of life and appreciation for the outdoors. We first stopped in Liberty Park. A sprawling park grounds which hold Tracey Aviary (a bird zoo, pretty much), a folk art museum, playgrounds galore and many other things to delight kiddos and parents!
Gabe and Miya having a race in the park...Miya won!
Then we went off to the Gateway, which we think was built especially for the Olympics. Its a HUGE outdoor mall with Imax theater, planetarium, children's museum...Of course, we only stayed for lunch and we sadly had to move on...
Then through the salt flats of the western panhandle of Utah...
And finally into Nevada, where we were greeted immediately with all sorts of gaudy casinos and truck stops. And here we are in Elko, which seems a giant pit stop - all hotels, a couple of casinos and restaurants and grocery. I made Gabe agree to a little bit of a splurge on hotel - in case I was to be spending yet another night praying to the porcelain goddess, and didn't want to do it at another $50 motel...YUCK. So we're at the Hilton, which to me is only cleaner than the other places, but not any more grand. Oh well.
Next stop: Truckee, CA (top of Lake Tahoe)!!!! SO CLOSE!
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