Scenes from Utah

As I’ve mentioned a couple of times, my kids and I traveled to Utah early in September, and we had a fabulous time. The trip reminded me for the second time this year (the first was our visit to Joshua Tree National Park this past spring) how much I love the western United States and how much I love the desert especially. Next time I travel west, I hope to visit some or all of the five National Parks in Utah. I’ve been to Arches, but it bears a return trip, especially now that I’ve read Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey.

But even staying in and near Salt Lake City, we had a blast. Some photos from our adventures, curated to remove anything unpleasant—like my son’s epic nosebleed and almost-very-bad head wound—because that’s what blogs are for:

Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City:

Feeding sun conures.

Pretending I’m a tree for a toucan (thanks to my friend Elise for this photo).

Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Championship, Midway, Utah:

Sheepdog Tess showing us how it’s done.

Splash Dogs!

Petting a Eurasian eagle owl and dreaming of being a falconer.

Salt Lake City Public Library:

The view from the library roof.

Stairs that freak out my daughter.

The view from inside the library.

Praying mantis in the parking garage.

Quote in the bathroom.

Around Salt Lake City:

Transit tokens we saved for six years.

Animatronic red-kneed tarantula at Hogle Zoo.

Bacio gelato at Dolcetti Gelato.

Under the tabletop at Dolcetti Gelato.