Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon NPs: NOT So Dark Desert Highways

Southwest Trip Slideshow MP4

This year spring break... with some frequent flyer miles left over from 3 years of trans-Pacific flying in hand... we decided to see a bit of America for a change and head toward the great Southwest.     We flew first to Las Vegas where even on an overnight the gang was (thankfully) underwhelmed by a stroll through a casino to get to our room.  "This place smells like smoke"  "I am definitely NOT a Las Vegas person!" were the refrains.

So next day we quickly hopped in the car and got out of dodge and headed to our first stop Zion Mountain Ranch, a collection of comfy cabins between Zion and Bryce National Parks in southern Utah.  To get to the cabins you have to drive through Zion Canyon and we hit it just right with the late afternoon sun lighting up the multi-colored canyon walls

After a good night's sleep we visited Bryce Canyon National Park...a small canyon of weather worn rocks called hoodoos.    We hiked through the canyon covering about only 3.5 miles, but at 7700 ft of altitude and with some pretty vertical portions it was a good test for us all!

After that hike we scooted down the road to the giant sand dunes of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.  This was the highlight of the trip for the kids who climbed and tumbled in the surprisingly cool sands as Dad and Mom cranked out pictures and relaxed.

What start to our tour!!  The next morning we got up early drove back through Zion to the town of Springdale where we kitted up for some river tracing up the Virgin River, and in particular the narrow canyon called the "the Narrows."  The whole process was a bit of a drag as it took 30 minutes to get everyone equipped, another twenty to shuttle into the park, and another 40 to shuttle to the start of the hike.    In April you need waterproof gear as the water is only 43 degrees, but I was surprised by how many brave souls ventured up stream in wet sneakers and shorts!!!  The canyon was spectacular...similar in many ways to Taroko Gorge in Taiwan. (See our Hualien adventure.)  The water was shallow but fast flowing and the rocks were bigger than I imagined.  We struggled with the current and rocks for about 90 minutes upstream and about 45 down...We were pretty whipped after it all.

We could easily have spent many more days in this lovely area,, but we had a 1030 AM appointment the next morning in Page Arizona for a trip to Antelope Canyon, which is located on the Navajo Indian Reservation and can only be visited with a guide.  This spectacular slot canyon was creates by flash floods and is often only a body wide.   Streams of light shine in from above creating amazing effects.  It was real tough  to get the spectacular pictures we sought , but Hsiu's Iphone 6 plus and the expert wisdom of our Navajo guide Nelson delivered the goods. 

   After this wonderful side trip we continued on our way to the Grand Canyon  and a solar powered cabin we rented about 20 minutes from the South Rim Entrance.  Located on a ranch we really got the off the grid feeling we were seeking with Pronghorn and a few cows roaming the area.    During this part of the trip we visited  the Grand Canyon and the cliff dwellings of Walnut Canyon National Monument near Flagstaff.  We stopped in Williams for some Historic Route 66 nostalgia and even went horseback riding in the Kaibab National Forest

After three days we got back in the car...sadly... and headed back to Vegas .  During the 4 hour drive we saw some amazing desert scenery and the Hoover Dam

All in all another amazing trip.  Take a look at our slide show for really amazing shots !!!