les vacances de famille.....Griswald style

We just returned from a fun vacation.   We traveled to Utah to visit family and friends.  Utah is a beautiful state. If you haven't had the chance to visit, I highly recommend a visit.  However, if you plan to drive from CA, it is a bit of a longggggg drive.  

After you get a a bit out of the Sierra Mountains, this is mostly what you see until you reach the Salt Lake.

The almost exact halfway point is "Winnemucca".  If you are doing the drive in two legs, this is a yummy place to have breakfast:

There is a strange tradition that begins somewhere in the middle of Nevada and continues on for several mountainous states.  Putting the town or city initials on the nearest hill or mountain.

 

We especially enjoyed "Battle Mountain".  Hmmmm, maybe the initials aren't working for you here, too much double innuendo.....

We had a fun family get together with cousins, one sister, and our newest member of the family, which makes me a Great Aunt, (gasp), and my mom a Great Grandma!  (bigger gasp).

       Some people HATE having their picture taken.....

There are so many things to do in Utah, the food is great, fast food or fine dining.....(we chose the fast kind, it was gooooood)

 

Outdoor fun

Indoor Fun

 Did you know you can still dig for fossils?  However, you must be under the age of 10. 

 

Breathtaking scenery

And best of all, some (not) all of the people I love the most :

 

PS we didn't strap Aunt Edna to roof of our car, but there were times we wished we could have strapped a certain Red Head up there.  

For AMAZING family car trip tips, 

(that I really wish I had seen before I left...go to

Viv's guest poster, "Becca from R We There Yet Mom?"

au revoir - GTC

and the rest of the Griswalds