The Grotto

It was another hiking day.  Eugene and Sharae went to Las Vegas today and I agreed to have Makenna, Luke, and Collin come hang out with us, but we definitely needed something to do.  Hiking was the perfect answer, and I invited Mikayla, Brick, and Cora, as well as Grandma Sue, to join us on what was touted as a "toddler friendly" hike.  I can say that hiking to the Grotto in Payson Canyon was, indeed, a toddler friendly hike.  With all those kids, I was worried we would have a hard time getting up the trail, but it wasn't too steep, it wasn't too long, and it wasn't too hot.  It was just right.  The grotto itself is shaded, cool, and beautiful with the water rushing over the rock into an almost cave.  Moss grows on the walls and the rocks beneath have been polished and smoothed.  The kids all played in the water.  So did the adults.  We had a snack, splashed and did photos, then hiked down the stream and back to the car.  Mikayla took video to make a compilation, and we stopped at the Dairy Keen in Payson for lunch before heading home.  All in all, a very satisfactory hike!

Happy hikers

More happy hikers

The boys