We left the city of stars and started our time in breezy San Diego with a beautiful evening on the water. The next day was full of sand and waves, as we all learned how to surf. Jack L. crushed the lesson and even moved up to a more advanced surfboard. While some of us were surfing, others were making sand creations and playing some football on the beach. Afterwards, the entire group got heated while playing an amazing game of Laser Tag.

California treated us well, but we were now off to Vegas, baby! This unique city provided us with a taste of the world, as we saw replicas of landmarks such as: the Eiffel Tower, the Trevi Fountain, The Statue of Liberty, and Venetian canals. Riding the New York, New York roller coaster allowed the trip members to take in thrilling views. We ended our day with a small treat at Krispy Kreme.

The following day, you could say we were on top of the world, as trip members took on the Stratosphere Tower where there were rollercoasters at the top of the very tall building.  Some choose to conquer “The Claw,” while others happily explored the bustling building.  Then we were suddenly flown back in time, as we ate lunch in The Forum. We concluded our stay in Vegas with a walk of the entire strip, taking in the lights of the city and the all it has to offer.

We checked Nevada off our list, and headed back to Utah. Some of the trip members rocked matching hiking hats during our first hike in Zion National Park. Later, the group had a blast when we broke into teams for some friendly competition. First on the list of challenges was line dancing, where the teams got creative with their dance moves and costumes, including our bus driver, Pam.  

In the morning the group went on a breathtaking hike at Bryce Canyon, as we were all taken aback by the astonishing views. The afternoon was spent continuing fun activities, such as writing original songs about our amazing summer using ukuleles and beatboxing. Next, the teams had an intense water balloon fight and a very competitive rock, paper, scissors tournament. The fun did not end there, as the students also completed a competitive photo scavenger hunt. Winding down our time in Bryce Canyon, we took in one last view with the Pink Coral Sand Dunes, where Bob went down the tallest hill he could find.

Then our trip was off to our final destination, Arizona! Our group had a great time hiking the Grand Canyon and taking in the beautiful and remarkable views of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Next, we had an amazing time on a Pink Jeep Tour in Sedona and enjoyed listening to music as we explored the desert.

Our last day was one of our favorites, as we had time to relax at the pool and reminisce on the times we’ve had together. Later at the banquet, Ben P. gave a wonderful speech and shared, “This trip was incredible because of the people on it.” Then everyone said their final goodbyes, before dancing the night away!  

We had an incredible, once in a lifetime experience, and will always remember the special moments we’ve shared together.

The Westcoast Blogger

Do you want to have the best summer of your life? If so, read more about our 28-day Californian Extravaganza!