Our Mystery Island Vacation

We just got back from my family’s annual “Mystery Trip.” My parents started this tradition when we were young. They used to plan them all, but now we are grown we all take a turn. Each year a different couple plans a vacation and tells us only how many miles we are going to drive and what to bring. We don’t find out the destination until we get there. We all drive together and communicate by walkie-talkies. We have had so much fun in the past going to Arches, Goblin Valley, Bear Lake, 4-Wheeling, and tons of other places. This year it was Josh and my turn to plan the trip. This was our first time planning a family vacation, it was totally stressful for me. I’ve decided I really don’t like to be in charge.
We told everyone we would travel about 200 miles and to bring swim suits, towels, and camping gear. Right before we left we had everyone write down where they guessed we would end up. My mom actually hit it right on the head- Antelope Island. It’s the largest island on the Great Salt Lake.

I think everyone had a good time. We saw a lot of rabbits, buffalo, antelope, seagulls, spiders-yuck, bugs, and sage brush. The sunsets were breathtaking.

We went swimming in the GSL (Great Salt Lake) and it really is true- you just float. Once you get out far enough out that the water is shoulder deep, you just lean back a little and your feet start to float to the surface and you can just recline as if you are in a lazy boy. The water is so salty. Lydia really loves swimming but we couldn’t figure out why she was freaking out. It took a few minutes for us to realize that the salt water probably really irritated her poor little diaper rash covered bum. We got her out of the water and into a bath as soon as we could. I think the salt water helped to heal the diaper rash, although I wouldn’t recommend it.

We were all exhausted when it was over. I felt just like Lydia looks in this picture.