Day 1, Jan-17, California to Las Vegas
We rented a van from Yale, our usual rental company in West Covina. The original contract was for a Toyota Sienna Van, but upon arrival at the rental care office we were informed that the Toyota van got into an accident. Yale offered us a larger 12 seater Ford Transit or a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV. After a discussion with 712 and my concerns of not being able to drive a big Ford Transit atnight, we decided to go for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is also a 5-seater like the BMW X5 but with a slightly smaller trunk space. As we were travelling we realized that it would have been better if we accepted the offer for a 12-seater Ford Transit hehe…, well, maybe next time.
We excitedly departed Arcadia for Las Vegas around 8:30 pm, with Wishing driving, 503 in the fron passenger and, 113, Matt-Matt and John-John at the back. Marvin, Wilma, Lauren and Ashlyn departed from Carlsbad and picked Wyhnna up in Temecula as they heade to Las Vegas in the 7-seater Land Rover.
We made a quick stop at Wishing and Matthew’s favorite In-N-Out along Santa Anita for to go meals, and fries for TT and then we rolled onto I-210 at a little past 9 pm.
After around 2 hours on the road, . we made a quick “P-Stopover” and loaded gas at the Barstow Factory Outlets Center. We finally arrived in Las Vegas at 12:30 am. There was a little bit of traffic along the I-15 and I-215 intersection but overall, the trip went smoothly. We had 2 nice rooms at the Red Roof Inn, numbers 615 and 621. Marvin’s group arrived at around 2 am.
Day-2 Jan-18. Las Vegas, Arizona and Utah
Considering that we arrived past midnight, we still managed to start quite early for a Saturday. Although the Red Roof Inn Las Vegas rooms may not be big, they were more than enough to accommodate 10 family members. Best of all, we have FREE continental breakfast – no meat, but there is hot coffee, hot chocolates, toasted bread, cream cheese over bagels, muffins, cookies, and biscuits. Good enough to start our day of travel to Springdale, Utah We finally departed Las Vegas at 9:00 am for Zion National Park.
Taking the same I-15, we drove northeast towards Zion National Park. Matthew was the front seat navigator – the driver EYE assistant – this time. We drove for more than 100 miles cruising through 3 Sates: Las Vegas, Arizona and Utah. We crossed the Nevada-Arizona border through the City of Mesquite, NV, the City at the border of the 2 States. We went through the Virgin River Gorge after passing the town of Littlefield, an unincorporated town of the County of Mojave. The gorge showcased an awesome scenery that only nature can provide. A few more miles further northeast, around 30 minutes of drive, had us crossing the Arizona-Utah State line into the City of , St. George, UT.
It was good that Wishing announced to have a “quick” lunch at St.George. We arrived at Wendy’s (one of Wilma’s favorite places to stop during long drives) in St George, however, the “quick” lunch turned out to be longer than planned. I believe most of us over-ate (or is it just me?) Thanks to (Wilma) Wendy’s lunch!
After the break, we proceeded to the Zion National Park for lots and lots of picture. First stop was at the Visitor Center. We then proceeded to the Temple of Sinawava where we started our “Riverside Walk”, a 2-mile round trip easy walk of mostly flat terrain, that took us to the mouth of The Narrows.
Next stop was the Grotto Trail, a 1/2 mile walk. Realizing that it was getting dark, I had to beg off and turned back. Matthew and John followed, I guess it was more “tamad” thing than getting dark thing ?
We drove to Springdale, UT, called the gateway to Zion, after visiting Zion. For our MLK weekend rental, we stayed at one of the villas, the Pinyon, of the Watchman Villas in Springdale, UT. It was one of the best stay I’ve ever had! Everybody had a very good night’s rest and I think many of us overslept!
Day 3, Jan-19, Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park
We had an early full breakfast, thanks to Wishing for the healthiest bacon, crispiest cubed Spam and sardinas, Wyhnna for mixed of sunny side and scrambled eggs, and Wilma for the SpamShi (sushi spam roll). Sayang not enough SpamShi… Maybe next time.
From our Springdale Pinyon vacation home, taking Highway 89 for more than an hour, we were due for a P stop. Reaching the Highway 12, right turn took us directly to Bryce Ruby’s Inn. This is a very good stopover point that comes with a Best Western Inn, gift ship and grocery store. We spent about 1 hour on this stop. I found a beautifully crafted American Made 8” USA (Deer) figurine.
SpamShi (Spam-Sushi) 
Pan-de-Sal Embutido 
Yummy Scrambled Egg
Bryce Ruby Inn 
$100 8″ Dear ( look at the smaller one) 
This kept us really warm! 
Ruby Inn Store before entering Bryce
It took us another 25 minutes to reach the entrance of Bryce National Park visitor center. With the 32 Degrees throughout the day, it is a real relief to have Wishing lending us (Matt John and 503) his stocks of thermal wear. Now I am a true believer of this warm underwear!Â
Our first stop was at the Sunset to Sunrise Point, a short 1.1 mile walk that took more than 1-½ hour to walk. With the slippery, icy, and wet oath, we had to walk really slow. Amazing view of the Canyon from both ends of the walk shows God’s incredible creation.
The snow was like 12 inches deep, and without the proper shoe gears, it gets really slippery in the melting ice on the concrete pathway. Matthew and John John had their shoes, socks, pants soaked in icy water, I stopped them from joining the next walk.
We must have spent more than 2-½ hours around this area before proceeding to our next spot, the faiview Point with an elevation of 8000 ft that features the “Natural Bridge”
By 5:30pm, it was all dark, heading home, we made another P Stop at the Ruby’s Inn, this stop took another 45 minutes. The drive from Bryce Canyon to Springdale took a stretch of about 2 hours (87 miles). The highway was in its darkest dark. At the back row of the Grand Cherokee, I felt a bit of pinch-and-worry, yet still have faith in our most-abled brother Wishing! All the way, John-John sat in the front navigator seat and entertained him, non-stop talking, keeps messing around, eating and stretching. While the original navigator slept the whole 2 hours!
Arriving back in Springdale at 8:30pm, Wilma and Rene started works in the kitchen. On the menu are Adobo, Bokchoy and Pinakbet!
By 10pm, the snoring orchestra begun.
Day 4, Springdale to Las Vegas to Los Angeles and San Diego
Breakfast of spam, sunny side up and scrambled eggs had the group going by 9 am. Marvin led the way for a quick stopover at the Zion Entrance for photo shoots.
We then proceeded to our picture point, the “foot” of the Court of the Patriarchs Trail. A manificent peak of 3 brothers named Abraham Peak, Isaac Peak and Jacob Peak. What an incredible piece showcasing some of God’s wonderful works.
By around 11 am, we are on our way to Las Vegas. We made another quick photo stop somewhere around Virgin River upon entering Nevada, something like a cartoon-garden.
Wishing repeated several times, we will just have a quick bite in Las Vegas. When we made a P-stop at the Virgin River Casino, 113 said “Why not make a quick buffet in Las Vegas”, 712 said “Sige, mas madali ang buffet than waiting for table order.” So there we go, Las Vegas buffet… Not knowing, when we arriving the strip, what 113 meant was Wynn’s 🙂 I started to protest, but then, remembered, ham-ham-na-lang…
By 1:15 pm, we were at the Wynn’s buffet line, it took another 45 minutes to get in for lunch. The lunch buffet on an MLK holiday is seem cheap, $30, but well, you get what you paid for, half of what was offered at the buffet line are better served from breakfast, NOT lunch. Still, I am thankful. We spend an hour for the lunch buffet and off we go.
Along the I-15, we have multiple stops, but the most time spent were at the crawling traffic around Jean, around Baker, Barstow, Hesperia, and worst part was miles before I-210.
We finally reach Palm at the Waze-promised time of 8:05 pm. Wishing said “Ok talaga itong Waze.”
Everybody rushed to take things off the Cherokee. I have to drop off the Cherokee Rental to Yale, while my brother still have another 2 hours to go down south to San Diego.
At exactly 8:41 pm, I dropped off the Grand Cherokee with 113, all in the exact condition and same exact parking spot it was when I picked up the the car on Jan-17.
3 Quarters Gas! 
Key Dropped 
Dark Gray 7YFS149 
Thank you Grand Cherokee SUV for a thousand and 50 miles!
Thanks God, by 9:57 pm, my phone BEEP with “Home now” from my brother Wishing. Thanks kaayo Shing, we really really have a wonderful MLK weekend!
Over the next few day while compiling the vacation pictures and writing this dairy, my mind wandered about how and when and who. How can such sculpted rock even be formed? I read somewhere that they are 60 millions years old, and who created this? What is the reason for these creation? Only God knows. We, yes, we just have to have faith that God loves us. I am so thankful that God gave us good health and long life to enjoy the wonders of His creations. I am thankful for my dear family for spending time together in this 4 day – 4 states vacation. Of course, we also need to thank our old pal Martin Luther King for the long weekend! 🙂
