Zion National Park

Richard in Zion

This morning Richard and I left the hotel about 7:30 and began our trek north up Interstate 15 toward Utah and Zion National Park. Zion is about 165 miles from Las Vegas so it was a long trek for a one-day excursion, but, oh, how it was worth it.  Zion is a huge, wide canyon, carved into sandstone creating sculpted peaks, breath-taking cliffs and amazing rock carvings. We began our drive without breakfast and then had a real frustrating time trying to find a coffee and bagel shop. Finally, on the border of Nevada and Arizona, we found a 'mom and pop' coffee shop and enjoyed a bagel-to-go.

I had read about  Zion prior to our visit. ZNP has a bus shuttle system and there was no need to bring your car into the park. The shuttles show up at each of the nine stops in the park every 6 or 7 minutes. We began our shuttle ride in Springdale, a little town just outside the park. From there we used the Zion free shuttle . This system works extremely well. It is a controlled method of visiting the park as well as serving to ease the number of vehicles driving through the canyon.. I have nothing but praise for this system. It is, without a doubt, an exceptional way to visit the park. My compliments to the person or committee who put it together...and to whoever is overseeing it.

Richard took this video while we were driving through, I believe, northern Arizona. I was losing track of what state we were in. :)

I was in awe at the sandstone 'sculptures". So inspiring.  You would think that after I photographed the first few, I wouldn't need to photograph anymore, but not so. Each time the bus turned a corner, a new, natural carving appeared. We had not planned to visit Zion initially, the 165 mile trip up north seemed too much for a day trip. However I heard so much about Zion, I felt that being in the neighborhood, we should go. Richard, too, was awestruck at the natural beauty, of the canyon.

We got back about 6:30 and both of us were quite tired, so we relaxed a bit before deciding to get dinner. Tomorrow we check out of the Excalibur and begin our trek east toward Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. There are a couple of stops we will be making on the way; Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon Caverns to be exact so not really sure what time we will get to Flagstaff. No problem, this is our vacation and we aren't 'on the clock'; we'll get there when we get there!