Seven National Parks in Seven States in Fourteen Days; Yosemite

 We left Kings Canyon late and headed to our hotel outside Oakhurst, California.  We crammed 9 people in a tiny hotel room to save us some cash since we were only staying a few hours to sleep and some of our stops.  Oakhurst was our first hotel night.  We had to figure out a bathroom schedule in order to give 9 people enough time in the bathroom.  

We spent the entire day in Yosemite. 

Our first stop was near the entrance.  We planned to hike to another Sequoia grove to see the famous tree tunnel.  We quickly found out it was a 6 mile hike and the kids vetoed the idea about a mile in to the hike.  So we drove up to Glacier Point.  Wow.  I have no other words.  It was remarkable.  

We climbed as close as we possibly could to a waterfall in the park.  The kids loved that hike more than any other because it was adventurous and intense all at the same time.  As we were leaving the park, we got caught in a bit of a traffic jam because of road construction.  We had a long drive to San Francisco, California, which was our next stop.

Seven National Park in Seven States in Fourteen Days; Las Vegas, Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon

 Viva Las Vegas!

I think we were a little crazy taking seven kids down the strip in Las Vegas, but you know what? They will always remember it!  We woke up Tuesday morning, packed up the condo, then headed down to Las Vegas.  We stopped at a little cupcake shop in side St. George called "Sweet Tooth Fairy".  I have wanted to stop at this place for years but never had the chance.  The kids loved it.  

We made our way to Las Vegas and drove to our Master Sweet at the JW Marriott.  Oh wow! It was incredible.  It was a two room suite with a large living and dining room with an attached kitchen and balcony.  My sister in law Michelle got us the room for free!  WHAT!  It was so beautiful.  

 

After we got settled in our hotel, we headed to Meow Wolf.  

I will just let the photos do the talking.  It was quite the experience.

 

Meow wolf was really cool and we hated to leave, but had made dinner plans so we drove over to the strip.  We had prepped the kids by saying that there would would semi naked women on the strip so to avert their eyes.  AND YES, we saw them.  Pasty's and all.  

We parked our giant party bus at the the top of the Bellagio parking garage, then made our way to M&M World to create our own M&M's.  Then we went to the Cosmopolitan for my favorite pizza in the world "Secret Pizza"!

 After Pizza, we walked down the the Bellagio fountains and watched them go off before we headed back to the van.  Once we got to the JW Marriott, I put the boys right in the giant tub and promptly went to sleep!

 

After a cozy night's sleep we hit the road nice and early for our next stop, Sequoia National Park.  This was on the top of my list for parks to visit.  I can't remember visiting this park as a kid but it was gorgeous!  The trees were breath taking.  We hiked to General Sherman, the biggest tree in the world and Nolen proclaimed, "That's it."  He was so underwhelmed.  HA!  The entire crowd around the tree laughed and laughed.  

California gas prices are no joke!

 

 

After we hiked to see General Sherman, we drove up to Kings Canyon National Park.  It was nearly sunset when we got there so we drove to the top of a ridge, hiked to the top, and looked out.  WOW!  It was stunning! Just beautiful.