Visiting Canyonlands
We journeyed north to near Moab to make the rounds of the national parks in central Utah. First up was Canyonlands. It wasn’t busy, and despite a very windy day we were able to check out the amazing vistas of canyons made by the Colorado and Green rivers. It is not as spectacular as the Grand Canyon, but it is definitely worth a visit, considering it is less than a half hour away from Arches National Monument, which is a must see.
Things that make you go ‘Hmmmm’
Here is a collection of things that I’ve seen recently that made me laugh;
-mannequin police officer “on patrol” in Kanab
-‘photoshop’ has changed meanings over the years
- curvy and bumpy road on the way to Zion National Park
-Casket Company and restaurant—food to die for in Orderville
-Interesting scripture quotation in downtown Kanab
-At least they don’t pretend to be good—quick stop on the way to Utah
-Alaska brag at Texas’ expense at exhibit at Moqui Cave
Climbing to the Caves
A bit of a treacherous climb up the hill paid off as we visited the sandstone caves above the Moqui Cave just five miles north of Kanab. Getting up the surface of the edifice was challenging for us, but the view of area from the complex of caves at the top was stunning. The Moqui Cave museum back at ground level is also worth a visit. Lots of interesting history about the cave.
Zion National Park
We biked and hiked on multiple visits to Zion National Park. It seems the best driving in the park is as you enter from the east side and includes passing through a mile-long tunnel on your way to the visitor center that is all the way on the west side of the park. If you come in the west side and just go hiking from there, you will miss some great scenery, so be sure and drive all the way through the park. Enjoy!
Slot Canyons in the Grand Staircase-Escalante
A jeep rental was required to head out along the unimproved roads to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to see some of the slot canyons, but it was worth it. The roads were ridiculously rough, but the scenery, especially, was awe-inspiring, especially in the Cottonwood Narrows slot canyons. Depending on your vehicles ground clearance, and how much you value its' suspension, it is a worthwhile trip...(we advise renting a vehicle)...
Bryce Canyon Adventure
There was plenty to see at Bryce Canyon on a near perfect weather day in the iconic canyon. From the Sunset Point to the Mossy Cave, where ice was seeping out of the soil and slowly melting, there were plenty of visual ‘treats’ for even the most casual hiker. Plus the drive through the nearby Dixie National Forest was an added bonus.
Belly of the Dragon
Visited a fun, unique site today on our way from Zion National Park. It is known as the Belly of the Dragon, and it was worth the effort to find it on Highway 89. Close to 20 miles from Kanab on the way to Zion, the sandstone tunnel passes under the highway, and is an easy hike and great for all ages. There is so much to see in this part of Utah. You will be glad you added this one to your list.
Horseshoe Bend
A mistake in direction led us to the happy accident of being routed back into Arizona to the town of Page to see the legendary Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River winds around the rocks 1100 feet below an observation area. A short, easy hike leads to the edge of the cliff, where, depending on your courage (or stupidity), you can stand right up on the edge to see this amazing canyon. It is well worth the effort to see this beautiful sight.
Hoover Dam
We also visited the Hoover Dam on the border of Nevada and Arizona yesterday. It was quite an impressive structure, especially considering it was built in the 1930s. The art deco designs on the buildings and monuments at the structure were also interesting--reminded me a bit of Fair Park back in Dallas. On to Utah!
The Valley of Fire
On the recommendation of several friends, we visited the Valley of Fire State Park north of Las Vegas. This is a must see! The multi-colored rock formations were breathtaking. Even on a cloudy afternoon the colors were outstanding, and the winding road through the landscape only adds to the thrill of the experience. Thanks to Gene Boyars and Linda Hitchcock for the telling us about this amazing place.
Vegas-style entertainment
The Las Vegas Strip is not exactly in our comfort zone, but since we are in the area for a few days, we decided to check it out. It was quite colorful and visual. From the dancing waters show in front of the Bellagio, to the zip line travelers under the video boards at the Fremont Street Experience, there was a lot to see--so now we can say we have been there...we will visit the Hoover Dam tomorrow since the weather here is outstanding...
A last glimpse of Arizona
We spent our last day in Arizona visiting one of our favorite towns, Jerome, AZ, with our friends Stephen Crossley and Darnell Renee. The weather was perfect and walking around the quirky, charming terraced town was the perfect ending to our month-long stay in this state. Now, on to Nevada and Utah!
A grand time at the canyon
We spent a great day along the hiking trails on the Grand Canyon's southern rim. The large number of people that were there was surprising--but even with the crowd and reduced shuttle capacity, we were able to see most of what we wanted, even with the trail being packed in some spots. It seems to me the camera is an inadequate tool to capture the majesty of this amazing place. It is beyond description, and a must see.
Good company, good times in Prescott
A highlight of our trip through Arizona so far has been getting to spend some time in Prescott (pronounced ‘Preskitt’ by the locals) with our friends Stephen Crossley and Darnell Renee. We frequented several excellent eating establishments on Whiskey Row in downtown and hiked at nearby Watson Lake to see the amazing rock formations there. There’s nothing like enjoying a good town and good scenery with good friends.
Sedona Part Two
Our second trip to Sedona was spent making the rounds around town, seeing what it looks like to be a resident here and see this amazing scenery every day while going about your typical activities. Most of the photos were taken from inside neighborhoods, or close to civilization. Traffic was a little iffy, especially in the roundabouts in town, but It must be really nice to get up every day and look outside and see this type of scenery…
Cactus League Action
It was the perfect day for a ballgame in the Phoenix area, and thanks to our friend Ron Vesely, we were able to go to the Kansas City Royals/Chicago White Sox spring training game in Glendale. We enjoyed the 9-7 Chicago win as fans, but i did snap a few frames from our seats, and as we walked around the beautiful ballpark at Camelback Ranch. All in all a lovely afternoon...
Phoenix at Sunset
The view from Dobbins Lookout in South Mountain Park was spectacular, and only minutes from where we are staying in Tempe, AZ. The large municipal park in Phoenix provides a beautiful vista of the city, and seemed to be quite popular with locals who arrived en masse just in time to see the color-filled sunset.
Strange things are afoot at the Circle K…
While in Phoenix, had to visit this historic Arizona landmark...the Circle K in Tempe where the legendary scenes from the 1989 movie 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' were filmed. "Bill, strange things are afoot at the Circle K." --Ted "Theodore" Logan
Verde Valley Views
Since we are staying in Camp Verde north of Phoenix, we took some time today to explore this area. We visited Montezuma’s Castle and Well, just 15 minutes away from our campground. Montezuma’s Castle is a 20-room “high-rise apartment” dwelling constructed in a limestone cliff by the Sinagua people. Tourists are no longer allowed in the dwelling itself, but it is still an amazing sight to see from a distance. We also went to the nearby Montezuma’s Well, which is a natural limestone sinkhole that is feed by an underground spring. The vista views of the Verde Valley, seen from a walkway on the rim of the well, were spectacular in all directions.
Tuzigoot
Yesterday we also visited an ancient pueblo at Tuzigoot National Monument near Clarkdale, Arizona. Built by the Sinagua people, the village consisted of 110 rooms, including second and third story structures. The first buildings were built around A.D. 1000. Position high atop a ridge, you have an excellent view in all directions of the Verde Valley…quite an experience.
