Cruising Past Seventy: The Inner Journeys: Road Trip to a Reunion at Park City, Utah

Friday, July 19, 2019

Road Trip to a Reunion at Park City, Utah


Summer is when the heat kind of smothers you in the Phoenix desert area. It was a smoldering 105 degrees Fahrenheit when we left. We had planned a five-week road trip through Utah, Idaho, Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California to escape the heat, visit with family and friends, and see places we had not seen before. 

The Road Trip to Park City, Utah

It took us eleven hours to drive to Park City, Utah from Mesa, Arizona. After driving for seven hours, we stopped for a night in Panguitch, Utah, a town of 1,520 people. What I will not forget about this town is Yvonne at the Panguitch Drug Store. I had left the charger for my Fitbit Charge 3. She took my Fitbit to her home after work hours and called Bill to pick it up when it was fully charged.

Glen Canyon Dam

Before we reached Panguitch, we passed through the beautiful city of Page, Arizona famous for its unique slot canyons and Horseshoe Bend. Right after Page, we found Glen Canyon Dam. Even if it is only a third the size of Hoover Dam (8 generating units compared to 17), it is still the second tallest dam in the US and the one that actually feeds our Arizona home with electricity. And Lake Powell, the manmade recreation lake it created, is larger than Lake Mead created by Hoover Dam. No wonder Page has become a big city. It has a lot going for it.

Glen Canyon Dam National Recreation Area

The Reunion at Park City, Utah

On the second day, our drive was just four hours. We designed it this way so we could arrive in Park City early. We even had time for some fun at the Park Silly Market, held every Sunday from June to September at the downtown area. Then we went to the grocery to shop for some dinner ingredients before checking in.  

Park Silly Market
yellow bike areas in downtown Park City

This stay was a family reunion with two of Bill’s three children and three of his five grandchildren. The two families arrived at almost the same time and the dinner I prepared, Filipino chicken afritada and Vietnamese lettuce wraps, was ready just in time. The 3br suite at Wyndham Park City was spacious enough for all. The best part was the free drumstick or ice cream sandwiches at the lobby!

Day One: Downtown and the Olympic Village

The morning of Day One was a stroll up and down the hill of Main Street in Downtown Park City. Everyone found something to take home from the unique shops. We ended up having lunch at 501 on Main. After lunch, we found ourselves at Java Coffee where we had either ice cream or coffee. I had both with a scoop of Java Coffee ice cream. Yum.

Jump Skis at the Olympic Park in Park City

Then we headed to the Olympic Village. Park City was the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics. We marveled at athletes training to dive at the Olympic swimming pool and took shots of the ski jumps. Wandering around the Ski Museum was also fun with the gift shop, the exhibits of bobsleds, and a huge artistic rendition of a bison head.

marmots are everywhere in Park CCity
On the way back to the resort, the children (and I) had so much fun spotting marmots on the roads. At Wyndham Park City, we again enjoyed the free drumstick and ice-cream sandwiches. Then the kids frolicked at the heated pool and hot tub before our chicken kabobs dinner. A game of Taboo saw the adults competing against the children, ending 1-1.


Day Two: Bloods Lake Trail

We searched the Net for hiking trails and selected one listed in the Park Magazine’s article, “Four Family-Friendly Easy Hikes in Park City.” It was a great find! The Bloods Lake is nestled at an elevation of 9,300 feet. We had to negotiate Guardsman’s Pass and parked the car at the clearing about two hundred feet higher.

the kids were brave enough to take a polar plunge at the cold lake

It may have been rated easy but for me it was hard. There was a section with a steep incline. Going down was hard; going back up was even harder. But the views were beautiful, especially since some wildflowers were still blooming. The children took a plunge at the cold lake. They got out as soon as they discovered a leech swimming. Are they perhaps the reason it’s called Bloods Lake? 

the view on the way back to the parking area/trailhead

Back at the resort, it was another round at the heated pool and hot tub for the kids; also the drumsticks and ice-cream sandwiches. Then, it was a left-overs night supplemented by one large and one medium. pizza Then the kids decidedly beat the adults at the games of Taboo and Catch-Phrase. We vowed to prepare for next year’s reunion.

Check-out Time was 10 am so we had plenty of time to pack and have left-overs for breakfast. But it was the goodbyes that took forever long. Bill was so happy his family finally had a reunion. He was sad to see them go but hopes that it will be an annual thing from now on. Next stops: Helena, Montana then Calgary, Alberta.

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59 comments:

  1. Really great visit😊. Have to do it again!

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  2. Greetings from Carolina! I'm bored to death at work
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    I'm not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, very good site!

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  3. The Olympic Village sounds like fun. Would love to see its Ski Museum.
    So nice that you spent such a nice time with family. The scenery along this road trip of yours really looks breath taking, stunning nature sites.

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    Replies
    1. We loved the places we have visited... especially with family!

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  4. A fantastic place to hang out with the family but not sure if I want to check out the ski museum. I wish I could dip in the small lake right now as its very hot where I am. Also I never seen a wild Marmot before so would love to check those out. I think they are cute. :)

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    Replies
    1. It was such a fun yrip. Always is with family, like with your daughter!

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  5. We lived in Phoenix for six years. Summer is definitely a good time to escape and heading north sounds fun. You're like a reverse snow bird!

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  6. Marmots are adorable!!!! I've never seen one of them. It looks like you had a really fun time with family and enjoying nature!

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    Replies
    1. There was even a Marmots Clothing Store in downtown Park City!!!

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  7. Looks like a really fun place to visit! Enjoying the fresh air and nature is always a good idea :)

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  8. This sounds like such a fun road trip. I see you passed by my favorite antelope canyons! I saw them for the first time a couple years ago and was in awe. The resort sounds great and how fun that you got to see marmots on the roads. I've never seen one of those.

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  9. Park City seems to be a great place for family reunion. I would love to spend a weekend there to explore the Olympics village and hike through the Bloods Lake Trail. The places seem to be really exciting. Thanks for the share.

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  10. We are heading to Utah in September. We definitely want to spent some time in Page and see the slot canyons and Horseshoe Bend. We will have to check out Park City. And have Java Coffee ice cream. I am not sure though if I will be swimming in Bloods Lake at 9300 feet elevation in the fall. Even if I had a hot tub to go back to!

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  11. Great post. Ive never heard of a marmot or seen one before. Learn something new everyday 😀
    Id probably have a mini heartattack if i saw a leech on me

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  12. How wonderful to spend time with family in Park City. We stopped in Page and Lake Powell on our way from Monument Valley to Kanab - such a lovely part of the world. I like the idea of free ice-cream sandwiches each day!

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    Replies
    1. We were surprised they were free. The kids especially lived them!

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  13. We love Park City, we live very close and it is so fun to see it during each season, it offers a variety of activities perfect for the whole family! xo - Kam

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  14. Sounds like a fun family reunion. Our kids love seeing marmots too, OK I also get pretty excited about seeing the cute little guys. I think the resort sounds wonderful with the heated pool and hot tub!

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    second time.

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  16. Your road trips are always so interesting and packed with fun ! The dam is magnificent ! Hot tub and reunion, sound like you had some really good bonding session ! =)

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    Replies
    1. Road trips are always interesting because you can stop anytime you find something interesting. We didn't plan on the dam nor Bloods :ale! The bonding, yes1

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  17. This road trip looks like so much fun. Sounds like you had some good quality time with the family. Beautiful photos, as always.

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  18. I enjoyed attending your family reunion is Park City with you! You sure do know how to find the fun.

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    Replies
    1. Saw some great sights, too...the road from Arizona to Utah always has lots of them!

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  19. Park City looks like a great place for a family reunion, lots of things to see and do! I would love the lake swimming and hiking in the mountains!

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  20. Really hats off to the lady who brought your fitbit charger home and charged it. Great that you spent good time with your family. The Olympic Village sounds like fun. Would love to see the Ski Museum. Landscapes around looks amazing

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  21. I love road trips and therefore Road Trip to the Park City is appealing me a lot. I would also love to shop at Park Silly Market and I am wondering why it is named as Silly. And I too would love to take ice-cream sandwiches in the resort where you stayed.

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    Replies
    1. It's silly with all sorts of non-essential but cute stuff!

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  22. Never been to this part of the country. You make it look so inviting but I'm not going into that freezing water;)

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  23. Marmots look adorable. Are they considered a pest?

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  24. What a great start to the road trip! I’ve also visiting Park city in Summer - it’s a lovely place in the Summer and Winter!

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  25. Park City in the summer is a new concept to me -- no skiing! I'd like to know more about the Park Silly market. That sounds like fun!

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    Replies
    1. There are so many silly things on sale and the food options are great!

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  26. Such a nice holiday you had, I'd never been there. I'd like to visit the Canyon Dam. And the lake, but I won't dare to swim when it's cold.

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    Replies
    1. Neither would I. Not even when it's warmer...the leeches!

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  27. I love what you prepared for them! It seems you all enjoy the reunion and it's always great to see family again. Pictures are wonderful!

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  28. I would like to know more about the Park Silly Market. You can blame the name of the place and the fact that you said you had fun there.

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    Replies
    1. It was a fun market, new things, lots of fun alcoholic drinks and great food and entertainment.

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  29. Good day! I simply would like to give you a huge thumbs up for the excellent information you've got right here on this post.

    I will be returning to your blog for more soon.

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  30. Cool photos!!! Thanks for sharing this road trip

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