Meteor Crater, AZ -- Worlds Best Preserved Meteorite Crater

Savannah had a dream about a Meteorite Crater, which started me searching for any nearby.  One really stood out: Meteor Crater, AZ.

About 30 min East of Flagstaff, AZ, near Historic Route 66, is Meteor Crater.  It is the first confirmed meteorite crater in the world and is claimed to be the worlds best preserved meteorite crater.  The lack of rain, and weather in general, has kept it in good shape.

It is about 3/4 of a mile wide and 550' deep.  It is believed that it was about 700' deep when it was formed, but erosion has slowly been filling it in.

When the 150' meteorite struck the ground, it had an explosion equivalent to 2.5 million tons of TNT.

They had excellent exhibits, a short video explaining the history and research that has been done, and a great tour.





This is a large piece of the original meteorite that was found.





This exhibit Savannah is using shows the blast radius and allows you to move it over other areas.  It was as large as Phoenix.












You can see some of the edge that was lifted up by the explosion.  The ground is flat all around this.

Marble Canyon, AZ

If you following the Colorado River east from the Grand Canyon, you get to Marble Canyon, AZ.

While not quite a deep, it is still an amazing sight.

Pipe Springs National Monument, AZ

Built as a fort by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the 1860's to defend themselves from the US government / military (it was in Mexican territory at the time) and the Navajo, Pipe Springs still stands today.

We were fortunate to take a tour and learn more of the history of the fort and the Native American groups that had inhabited the area.

It also become the first telegraph station in the what is now Arizona and one of the few telegraph stations operated by females at the time.

White Christmas in Cedar City

It's been a long time since we've had a white Christmas -- so we were excited for the snow this year.  It came right on schedule.

Tucker Wins!

Tucker entered a coloring contest at a local pediatricians office -- Color Country Pediatrics.  A couple of days before Christmas, we got a call that he had won second place -- a $50 prize!

Congratulations Tucker!

Knight Coca-Cola

Aunt Diane sent some fun gifts, including this:

Family Pictures at Mooney Grove

We were sitting in front of the old Boy Scout Cabin at Mooney Grove in Visalia, Ca. 

Morris Family Ranch

We stopped at the Morris Family Ranch and the family was able to reminisce while touring the beautifully renovated home.



The family brands.







The original home.

Family Christmas Party, Livermore, CA

The family Christmas party was at a restaurant in Livermore, CA.  It have been several years since we've seen everyone, so it was nice to catch up.

Christmas Dinner with Scott and Lori

As a Christmas gift, Scott and Lori took us out to a delicious Chinese food restaurant then ice cream at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop near their house.

The kids had so much fun with their cousins.  Afterwards, our kids told us that it was the perfect Christmas gift.

The Long Walk Parade in Barstow, CA

We've recently visited some of the towns on Historic Route 66, starting with Barstow, CA.  We arrived just in time for the Long Walk Parade.  The Army marches several miles to a Veterans home, where the soldiers and veterans have lunch together, talk, and play games for the afternoon.  It was an inspirational sight!

Sasquatch Sighting in Las Vegas

We stopped at Terrible's Casino gas station just outside of Las Vegas.  This place is incredible!  Complete with a larger-than-life Sasquatch, Christmas tree display, racing car display, candy, and other treats.