Hanging Gardens

 Ben and I knew that this summer was going to go by so quickly because of all the time we were going to be away during the end of June and much of July. So, in between my work, summer school, and all our projects we decided we would make some time to go swimming at the lake and hike near our home. Our first hike we were able to do was Hanging Gardens.

Hanging Gardens is literally a five minute drive from our house and this was the first time that I had done this hike! Ben, Jocelyn, and lots of family that has come to visit us have done this hike. For some reason I was never able to do it with anyone.

It was a perfect hike for the girls. Nice paths, one mile roundtrip, enjoyed on a nice relatively "cool" evening. The girls walked the entire way there.

Bridget scaled rocks.

And of course had to stop and squish her fingers through the sand.

The trail leads to a rare green oasis beneath the shoulder of a row of buttes. Most people are rather unimpressed by the hanging gardens; even Ben told me not to get my hopes up.

Maybe for this reason I actually was quite impressed and thought they were rather beautiful.

In addition to the hanging gardens is a beautiful view of Lake Powell.

There is a fork in the trail and we decided to take it to see where it leads on our way back since we still had more sunlight.

It took us up a rather steep hill to an overlook of Glen Canyon Dam and the bridge.

 We really do live in a beautiful place. It was nice to get out and enjoy where we live.

 On the way back Bridget wanted to be carried. Not sure if it was because she was tired or because she was scared of the bridge and dam. She continued to point the whole way back over toward the dam and then hide her head into my shoulder and tell me that it was scary.

It really was the perfect evening with this beautiful family of mine.