Escape to Buffalo Island

One of my goals for this year was to enjoy more of our surroundings. I travel a lot for work and when I meet other people who find out I live in Utah they always comment on how beautiful this state is. That, and how weird our liquor laws are. But, back to the beautiful state: I usually agree with them and then think to myself, 'I really ought to see how beautiful our state is for myself one of these days.' So, Z & I have been trying to check out more local attractions (you may remember how well one of our last outings went). A couple weeks ago we set off on a Sunday adventure, heading North! To Buffalo Island! as Little A calls The Great Salt Lake's Antelope Island. And I have to say, he has a good point there. We saw dozens of buffalo but only one antelope.

Holy cow, er, buffalo. That place is gorgeous.

And offers lots of fun photo opps. Luckily, we got this elusive albino buffalo to stand still.

Because of the rolling hills, big sky, lots of water making up this one-of-a-kind landscape, it apparently used to be quite the filming location back in the day (like, wayyyyyyyy back), as this sign commemorating a 1923 film shoot shows.

We drove around the island, admiring the views and all of the incredible buffalo that are just feet. from. your. car. and then stopped at a ranch on which the state's oldest house still standing on its original foundation sits.
 

There is an amazing picnic area with giant old Cottonwood trees, lots of grass and tables. Since we're from the inner city, we preferred to eat OP style (original picnic) and use a blanket.

We stopped to take a few timed photos.

Before the camera tipped sideways.

We spotted a herd of deer in the distance.

And more beautiful scenery. Did I mention it's beautiful here?

We loved walking around around the ranch. 

And then headed up to a look-out point. Little A was elated when he saw his favorite thing: a dumpster. The child is OBSESSED with anything to do with garbage. Trucks, cans, dumpsters, you name it, if it has to do with waste, he loves it.

We got to the viewing area just before the sun started to set.  The view was on par with the most stunning I have seen anywhere in the world.

I am so glad we took this little day trip. We had a great time together as a family and now when people tell me our state is so beautiful, I'll be able to say with confidence,

it sure is.

But liquor laws, you're on your own.



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Antelope Island, Salt Lake City attractions, Salt Lake kids activities

New Chapter

 

Since the last time I updated this a lot has changed.

We made the hard, but for-the-best, decision to close the restaurant. Just about four hours after we officially decided to close, I got the call that the job I wanted ( I'd been interviewing for it for weeks and weeks) was mine. I had described it to family and friends as the job of my dreams and now that I'm about eight months into it I still agree with that. It's been incredible.

Z is excelling in his new role as a full-time stay-at-home dad. This has been such a benefit to us as I am getting settled into my new position. Previously he and I were taking turns during the weekdays to be home with Little A and then he headed to the pizza shop every night and all weekend. Every weekend. Looking back at it now it really was just too much for us in every way.

And, so far, we're welcoming such exciting plot twists as--for the first time in our lives together--weekends at home (all of us! under the same roof! all weekend!), evening dinner together (all of us! at the same table! every night!) and the ability to make plans for previously unthinkable things like vacations.

There are still some unknowns as we figure out what's in store for us but we're looking forward to the next part of our story.



The lovely photo above is "Vintage Books," a print available for purchase, from butterflyfood on etsy. 
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