Polar Express Nevada Northern December 14, 2012

                                   Quintin looking like a Gingerbread Man

Location and General Information: The Nevada Northern is a tourist railroad in Ely, Nevada. Ely is located 115 miles to the south of West Wendover, Nevada. Historically, the railroad transported copper ore and settlers from mines in and around Ely to Cobre, Nevada. For more historical information on the Nevada Northern please consult my December 17, 2010 post. Today the railroad survives as a living replica of a bygone era. Most of the excursions cost from 25-35 dollars depending on length and whether dinner is served. This particular trip is more for kids because of the trip to the "North Pole" to see Santa so it was fun to get Quintin involved in the experience.

                   Me feeding Quintin; now with his Santa suit on

                                 Quintin with Santa

                         The train in front of the Nevada Northern station

                           Decorations in the railroad car

                                         Tara feeding Quintin on the train

                                                "North Pole" Looks better with snow

                                          Another pic of the North Pole in Ely

                                           Decorations in the train car

Christmas Lights of Downtown Salt Lake and Temple Square December 8, 2012

                                      Lights in the front with an illuminated Temple

Every year Salt Lake City has incredible light displays downtown during the holiday season. The main draw is Temple Square where the lights are phenomenol and attract visitors from across the United States.  There are also lights at the Energy Solutions Arena and the new City Center. Temple Square is also where I proposed to Tara two years ago. Here are some of my favorite photos from the visit.

                                  Pretty blue lights in Temple Square

                             One of my favorite photos from Temple Square

                                             Lights near Energy Solutions Arena

                                            Lights at Temple Square

                                                   Lights at Temple Square

                     Tara and I  with the snow and lights around us

                             Lights at City Center

 

                                                Another one of my favorites of the Temple

Christmas Tree Hunting Dolly Varden Mountains December 2, 2012

                             Tara and Denin family in Dolly Varden Mountains

In early December Tara and I went Christmas tree hunting in the Dolly Varden Mountains of Nevada with the Denin family. The Dolly Varden Mountains are an isolated mountain range in eastern Nevada off of US 93 Alt. This range has many perspective Christmas trees large and small. It was also Quintin's first Christmas tree hunt.

Location: Drive south of West Wendover, Nevada, on US 93 Alt approximately 25 miles until a dirt road exits to the north with a small sign with Dolly Varden on it. Continue on this dirt road in the valley until another dirt road branches off to the south directly into the mountain range. There are many dirt roads in this area so a map or GPS is advised.

                              Scenery in Dolly Vardens

                 High desert scenery looking south towards Goshutes
            

                       Pretty pic of Denin's and mountain scenery

                              Quintin, Tara and I with our small apartment Christmas tree