"I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere..."
Feeling like Johnny Cash singing "I've Been Everywhere", I ticked off the names of several small towns as we drove across parts of Wyoming, Idaho and Utah on our way to Salt Lake City. We stopped in Afton, WY, Bear Valley, ID, and Logan, UT, just long enough to eat and take bathroom breaks. Come to think about it, that means we ate our way across three states!
Afton, Wyoming
Our first stop in Afton added at least a couple of pounds to our waistlines when we visited the Star Valley Chocolate Factory. Met at the door by the owner with a plate of mouth watering chocolate samples, we instantly turned into chocolate zombies and loaded up. Then, with our faces stuffed with truffles, we wandered out onto the streets of Afton to check it out before moving on.
Afton, a charming western town, sports an elk antler arch across main street.
Passing Through Paris. Paris, Idaho, That is.
Paris Tabernacle, built in 1889. We could only take pictures of Paris through the bus
windows. It looked like a quiet, family kind of town and probably would be a nice
place to sit a spell.
Scenes of Bear Valley and Bear Lake. Idaho and Utah each share a portion of the Lake.
Bear Valley and the lake beyond. Notice the mist rising from the lake.
A wonderful moment in nature, thanks to Larry Miner's photographic skills
Logan, Utah
Downtown Logan, Utah
We stopped in Logan for lunch and just like a homing pigeon, I headed straight for the downtown park and the Saturday crafts fair. Brimming with handmade items, I scored a beautiful natural stone pendant and a chicken and mushroom crepe that I will dream about for a long time!
Next Stop, Salt Lake City, Utah
All too soon, we climbed back on board the bus and headed for Salt Lake City. We settled down in our cushy seats while Timothy, our tour director, announced a surprise. Since we would be in Salt Lake City on a Sunday, he had arranged for us to attend a dress rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! He then played one of the Choir's albums while most of us quietly listened. But not our zany friend, Karol! Moved to conduct the choir and chair dance all at the same time, she entertained us once again by just being her delightful self!
Karol, conducting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!
Salt Lake City Tabernacle
Mormon Tabernacle Grounds and Choir. The music is as beautiful as I've ever
heard. Like so many things, the voices and orchestra have to be experienced
in person to fully appreciate their talent and professionalism. What a treat!
After leaving our baggage at the hotel, we visited the iconic Mormon Tabernacle grounds.We actually ate at Brigham Young's home (bottom left) cafeteria style. Although we had to wait in a long line to get our food, it was worth it. The entries are delicious and the pies are out of this world! No kidding. I'll remember that coconut cream forever!
Downtown Salt Lake City
The next morning after enjoying the Choir, we drove through the streets and neighborhoods of downtown Salt Lake City. Appropriately, the weather was "divine" and I noticed that the town's air smelled fresh and clean and scented with flowers. I mean, what city smells good? I'm very impressed by how clean, quiet and orderly it is. It's a beautiful city!
We said goodbye to Salt Lake City and hello to the Canyon Lands, home of the "hoodoos" and deep canyons colored in the hues of a desert sunset. I could feel the excitement of everyone as we looked forward to the best part of the trip, the magnificent natural wonders of our continent.
****A special thanks to Larry Miner who supplied all the photos in this blog. Thank you, Larry!
Next time: Canyon Lands: Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon. Don't miss it!
Remember to double click on any picture to get a full screen view.
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