Family Vacations
click on the links for pictures

• Summer 2003
  Outline of trip:  We traveled across west Texas to New Mexico stopping at Carlsbad Caverns.  From there, we drove north through Roswell, and yes, we stopped at the International UFO Museum & Research Center.  :)  We had a nice stay at Santa Fe where we enjoyed some hiking in the mountains.  On our way to Boulder, Colorado we stopped in Colorado Springs to visit the Garden of the Gods.  We attended Mathfest in Boulder to finish up our one and a half year Project NExT participation.

• Summer 2004
  Outline of trip:  We were off to Maui for this trip.  This time it was an extended family vacation including members of both of our families.  We did the standard things that one does while there:  attended a luau, had lots of beach time, tried surfing, went parasailing, snorkeled a few times, drove around to see the beautiful scenery on the island, and by far the most enjoyable thing we did was hike up to a 400 foot waterfall on the east side of Maui located in the national park.  And, yes, we did survive the road to Hana located in east Maui even though it took us a long time to get there (4 hours).  It was another hour drive to the national park where we took our hike!

• Summer 2005
  Outline of trip:  We were up at the break of dawn (actually before that!) to head out to Red River, New Mexico with the Mitchells'.  We had five days of great hiking and adventures around the enchanted circle.  Highlights include renting an '85 Bronco to drive up some very rough roads to nice hiking, seeing a black bear and lots of other wildlife, panning for gold near Caribel mine, and twisting my ankle on suicide trial up to Wheeler Peak (the highest point in New Mexico).  We had a great time and can't wait to go back to the area!

• Summer 2006
  Trip 1:  We traveled to Colorado in a two car caravan with a motorcycle trailer holding four in tow to Colorado Springs, Colorado and Estes Park, Colorado for a week vacation.  Members of this excursion include Casey and Jennifer Mann, Justin and Angelica (Jennifer's sister) Wells, Audie and Beverly (Jennifer's mom) Swinney, and Michael Swinney (Jennifer's step-brother).  We dressed up in our leathers to brave the cold going up to Pikes Peak as well as taking a beautiful drive around Estes Park.  Another highlight included a rafting adventure that left us all soaked and shivering.  The ultimate was a strenuous (at least at the pace that we took it) hike up to a lake on a mountain top.  Most of the crew only hiked a mile to a nice stream but Casey, Jennifer, and Michael had the complete adventure of running out of water (a couple of fellow hikers replenished our supply thankfully) and jogging down the mountain.
  
  Trip 2:  The Manns traveled to Fort Walton Beach in Florida for a few days of relaxing on the white sand beaches.  It was a few wonderful days of relaxation!!