2,000+miles+baby. Day 15. UT-CA.

That a wrap!

After over two weeks on the road, we headed back home.

This little baby is a born traveler.  We are so lucky!!  She is a doll.

2,000+miles+baby. Day 14. Zion National Park.

Here we are in Zion, our baby's first National Park.

We have been watching the weather closely since just a week ago there was a high chance of rain and snow, but lucky us, it ended up being a clear day.

I wanted to drive through the park and take our chances with parking but driving wasn't an option due to limited parking and a road collapsing because of the recent heavy rains.  The shuttles were running but we were a little apprehensive with a baby so we walked over a mile from the main visitors center to the museum, but we were left wanting to see more. 

Since this is Eric's first time in the park too, we decided to take our chances and get on the shuttle.  We took it to the end of the line, Riverside Walk, where the popular Narrows hike begins.  

This is one of two wheelchair accessible hikes, so we knew we were golden with the stroller.  

After 45 minutes on the shuttle, with a lot of well behaved baby compliments, we were at the trailhead.

Riverside Walk is just two miles round trip.

All this rain made the weeping rocks bawl, meanwhile little Miss A wasn't making a peep.

Love love love this baby.

Zion is so beautiful, even though we just barely scratched the surface.

There is always next time!

2,000+miles+baby. Day 13. ID-UT.

As we were packing up to head to Zion National Park the birds were singing to us.  Although we saw evidence of birds (look at the window, not out but at), the birds have not been as vocal as they were this morning.  

Zion is just an hour side trip from our typical route down the 15, and pretty much exactly at the half way point where we would be staying anyway, so why not make it our daughter's first National Park? 

She is a fiend for adventure.

2,000+miles+baby. Day 12. Idaho Falls.

It was a mad dash trying to get to all the places we wanted to visit before Sunday, since almost everything will be closed.

We started in the morning at Geraldine's Bakery in Ammon (pronounced ahh-mon).

Then we went to the Museum of Idaho that currently has an exhibit on Archimedes, which is very kid friendly and hands on.  Kid friendly, not baby friendly.

Idaho Falls has changed a lot over the past hundred years.

The network of trains provided exposure to this area, now its the network of social media.

The world's first projector.

Last on our list was Caramel Tree. 

This is our first time here, but we will definitely be back.

They have a lot of options but you can't go wrong with the caramel apple. 

2,000+miles+baby. Day 11. Reed's Dairy, Idaho Falls

Back in Idaho, we are getting some more snow!

You know you are in Idaho when your chocolate milk lists potato flakes as an ingredient. 

Reed's is old school, they still offer home milk delivery services.

My question is if they offer ice cream delivery!

She wishes!

I am not sharing. 

I mean, I wish I could, but I can't.

$1.95 for cheese straight from the source, you just cannot beat a deal like that.

The source.

2,000+miles+baby. Day 10. MT-ID.

Today is the day we head back to Idaho, and say goodbye to West Yellowstone (for now), our apartment with a view, loads of snow, and enormous icicles.  It has been fun for all of us!  

Our baby is such a great little traveler.  

Snowmobiles are good for baby tracking skills.

Goodbye West Yellowstone, population of less than 2,000.

2,000+miles+baby. Day 9. West Yellowstone.

At 3:00am I noticed that a sly little fox had checked out our Subaru!

Raya either drives the retro snow coach above or the modern ones below.

Either way, the people headed into the park are in for a treat.

Yellowstone in the snow is epic.  

Although technically we could have done a tour with a baby, it didn't seem worth the risk (a crying baby on an expensive tour would not be a very polite thing to do).

Instead, we spent the morning waking up at Three Bear Lodge before heading back to the Grizzly and Wolf Discover Center.

Our little cub is ready!

Roofs need to be strong in West Yellowstone.

Not like our daughter cares, all that is important to her is that her daddy is strong.

One reason to come back to the Discovery Center for multiple visits is because they let different bears out at different times throughout the day, on a prearranged schedule (if they choose to come out, they are not forced).  Usually grizzlies are solitary animals and so are not released at the same time within the enclosure, but in the case of these three bears, they were all adopted at the same time (two are brothers) and enjoy each other's company.  

They are grown but they still like to play together.

Not only do the wolves communicate with each other but with wild wolves outside the park too.

So cool!

We are big fans of the Grizzly and Wolf Dicovery Center.

We cannot wait to take our little one back when she can remember it.  They have a program where kids can go out into the bear enclosure to hide food.  

Only once were the bears accidentally released while kids where in the enclosure.  And if I know anything about history, it doesn't repeat itself.