For the first time since Landon was a baby, we were able to go on a family vacation. We left Tuesday and returned Saturday so we could fit it into Scott's spring break from school. We wanted to go to some kind of all-inclusive resort that was not TOO far away so we could drive but not spend an entire day doing it. So, we found this place online that's outside of Zion's National Park in southern Utah called Zion Ponderosa Ranch & Resort.
They had several lodging options from enormous 30-sleeper log homes to tent camp sites. We stayed in a "cabin suite" which has a main room, bedroom, and bathroom (water, electricity, kitchenette, toiletries, maid service, and all that). On the Resort there was a main lodge with a gift shop, office, and dining room where three AMAZING meals were served each day (enormous portions of homemade delicious food). There was an activities barn with access to ping pong, billiards, frisbee golf, paintball, a zip line, a trampoline bungee, and five climbing walls. Plus there were ATVs and a full corral of horses that could be ridden. There was also sand volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, plus a gravity edge pool and two hot tubs. Unfortunately, the pool and trampoline bungee weren't open yet since the season is just barely starting- darn spring break schedule! That's okay, though because we definitely want to come back again sometime, plus we weren't dealing with crowds of people the entire time which was nice. Also, every night they built a warm fire in the large outdoor fire pit and provided long skewers and marshmallows for roasting. We spent several nights looking at the AMAZING view of the stars (who knew there were so many!!) and talking with fellow "campers" around the fire.
They had several lodging options from enormous 30-sleeper log homes to tent camp sites. We stayed in a "cabin suite" which has a main room, bedroom, and bathroom (water, electricity, kitchenette, toiletries, maid service, and all that). On the Resort there was a main lodge with a gift shop, office, and dining room where three AMAZING meals were served each day (enormous portions of homemade delicious food). There was an activities barn with access to ping pong, billiards, frisbee golf, paintball, a zip line, a trampoline bungee, and five climbing walls. Plus there were ATVs and a full corral of horses that could be ridden. There was also sand volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, plus a gravity edge pool and two hot tubs. Unfortunately, the pool and trampoline bungee weren't open yet since the season is just barely starting- darn spring break schedule! That's okay, though because we definitely want to come back again sometime, plus we weren't dealing with crowds of people the entire time which was nice. Also, every night they built a warm fire in the large outdoor fire pit and provided long skewers and marshmallows for roasting. We spent several nights looking at the AMAZING view of the stars (who knew there were so many!!) and talking with fellow "campers" around the fire.
In addition to all of the activities at the resort, we were only 6 miles from the entrance to Zion's Park so we spent several hours each day there too. The recreation director at the resort was really knowledgeable about the park and gave us great advice about and directions to hikes that we could do with the kids.
We had a blast on our vacation and were very sad it had to end! Since we took so many pictures, I'm going to blog only 1-2 days per post. The following pictures are from the first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday). Even though we didn't take pictures of it, every day began and ended with a DELICIOUS homemade meal with a yummy lunch in between. Just to give you an idea, breakfast consisted of plate-sized pancakes, french toast, cheese scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, sausage AND southern-style hash browns. Plus there was always a cold cereal bar. Dinner one night was roasted turkey legs, thick steak topped with mushroom Bearnaise sauce, AND grilled salmon topped with tomato sauce, PLUS yummy sides like creamy garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Also there was always a salad bar.
TUESDAY
On the road (it was a 4 1/2 hour drive to get there):
Scott, Hadleigh, & me checking out the Resort after we arrived:
Our "cabin suite":
Our first Zion Ponderosa sunset:
WEDNESDAY
The Zip Line: 
Hadleigh 
Landon
Scott 
Me
Hiking in Zion's Park:
The Petroglyphs 
Depending on who you ask they either don't have any petroglyphs in Zions or they do but their locations are "classified". Obviously, someone told us where to find some but we can't say who or where or all the die-hards that may read this will probably hunt them down and swear them to secrecy. They are really cool to see though since they are thousands of years old and they are visible/tangible (although you can't touch them or you'll be fined HEAVILY) proof of past civilizations. I guess there have been problems with people defacing and tracing them which is why they are protected and hidden the way they are.
Canyon Overlook Trail 
about half-way to the top...
A cave we passed on the way up
A dried up waterfall we walked under 
stopping for water near the top
we finally made it! (notice Hadleigh collapsed on the rock in the back)
view from the top 
this picture shows the names and locations of all the peaks you can see from the top of Canyon Overlook (i.e. in the previous picture)
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