Notes About Mrs Kocurek's Vacation

Preparing for vacation: Jonah and I left St. Louis on July 2nd. We traveled with my sister and her 3 children Dominic, Jacob and Maria! My sister, Tonette, and I wanted to give the kids a chance to explore some great areas of the country.

Day One: The kids and I stopped in one of the most beautiful places I've visited - Estes Park, CO. While we were there we wanted to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. WOW! It was beautiful. We hiked some trails and saw some great scenery. Look to the right and find the picture of Jonah and I! If you wanted to learn more about this national park, visit http://www.nps.gov/romo.

Day Two - Eight: Today we drove to Park City, Utah! We spent a week visiting with my entire family. My husband Joe flew out to the mountains to be with all of us. It was a great visit! Park City, UT was where the Winter Olympics were held in 2002. This might be a topic you want to explore!

Day Nine: Today we left Park City and found our way to Price, UT. Here we were able to learn about the dinosaur graveyards that they have found. We went to an actual dinosaur dig! I wonder why they have found so many dinosaur bones in one area?

Later that day, we drove to Cedar City, UT. We stayed the night there and found out we were really close to another popular national park. We didn't have time to explore that park. You can check it out on the map and tell me what I missed! Hint: use the zoom to see that park that I'm talking about!

Day Ten: Today we found our way to the Grand Canyon! I've always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon. We stayed overnight on the North Rim! Jonah and the kids learned about the California Condor. Do you know what that is? Do you wonder how the canyon was formed?

Day Eleven: Today we drove to Cortez, CO. The drive was pretty long and we kept passing signs that said that the dry, vacant land we were passing was land designated for Native Americans. We saw very few houses and the ones we did were in very poor condition.

When we arrived, I was fortunate to be able to talk to a lady named Frieda Lansing. She is a Navajo Indian. She told me about the poor living conditions on the Indian Reservations. She explained that there are no paved roads, no electricity, no phones, and no running water on the reservation that she grew up on. Her parents still live there and they do not have the ability to go to the doctor or grocery store.

I can't believe that they live in these conditions! I am going to do some research and find out how I can help them! Can you think of anything? I wonder what would happen if we wrote a lot of letters to members of Congress or the President?

Day Twelve: Today we found another national park named Mesa Verde. In this park they found many ancient Indian dwellings. We were able to hike and see the places that many Native Americans lived. If you want to learn more, go to this website: http://www.nps.gov/meve/.

Day Thirteen: We stayed the night in Dodge City, Kansas. We didn't get there until late. I wonder what we missed?

large view I'm on my way up the mountain!	large view My Family	large view My husband Joe in Downtown Park City, UT
large view The kids we able to explore The College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum	large view The kids at the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry	large view The kids standing near the Grand Canyon!
large view Frieda Lansing and her son Elijah	large view Cliff Dwellings