Since July of 1994, I've driven I-15 at
least once a year between Las Vegas and Provo or more recently Pleasant Grove. Until the last few years, I didn't really notice the brown road signs. You know, the ones that tell you about the cool stuff to see.
One of those brown signs was Cove Fort. We saw it a few times, before we finally stopped. On the drive back from Vegas, I couldn't get over how much I enjoyed stopping there. I thought it would be fun to have a list of places we could check out and take a break at, as we venture down I-15 to Vegas. I jotted down a
few names on the brown signs
(you know, driving being my top priority and all), as well as places I remember going to when I was growing up.
South Ridge Farms aka The Big Red Barn (Santaquin, UT) - when ever we drive by I wanna stop by to get some apples or cherries. Annually, they hold a
Cherry Pit Spit.
Great Basin National Park (Baker, NV) - not some place we'd stop by along the way, but it's nice to know that it's out there. I think we'll to hit all the spots here in Utah first befoe considering that trip.
Young Living Farms (Mona, UT) - The lavender fields are so beautiful! I love the smell of lavendar.
Territorial Statehouse State Park (Fillmore, UT)
Capitol Reef National Park (near Torrey, UT)
Arches (Moab, UT)
Canyonlands National Park (Moab, UT)
Bryce Canyon National Park (Bryce Canyon, UT)
Shakespearean Festival (Cedar City, UT) - One summer, the youth in our ward went to the Festival. We saw The Tempest. It was awesome. I loved the atmosphere, and the whimsy of it all.
Zions National Park (Rockville, UT)
Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum - Before Kai was born, browsed through during some down time while attending a Mental Health Conference. In fact I got Kai's very first book there:
James Balog's Animals A to Z.
Lost City (Overton, NV) - I remember going here when I was a kid. I thought was so cool! In the middle of the courtyard, there was a hole with a ladder to climb down into a dwelling. I hope I'm not thinking of some other place
(My memories are getting hazier every year)Valley of Fire (Overton, NV) - I thought
Petroglyph Canyon was amazing!
Hoover Dam (Boulder City, NV) - Another cool place to visit. It's neat to see the lake on one side, then this huge dam on the other. It was fun to ride the elevator all the way down and see the power plant generators. I need to take my kids to see this.
Do you notice a trend? I don't have anything to say about the National Parks. I'm not outdoorsy. I dislike dirt, or more specifically having dirty hands. I've been very adamant with Jake about not wanting to go camping.
But the stop at Cove Fort inspired me to seek out the wonderful experiences that can be had in the great outdoors. I feel like I can set aside my dislike and enjoy the other things that came from camping. I've even gone so far as to invite myself on the boys camping trip.
Next Weekend the fort is having a two day celebration: Cove Fort Days!
In 1867, the prophet Brigham Young called Ira Hinckley and his family to come and direct the building and operations of the fort. 
