Vegas & Beyond

Bryce Canyon National Park is beyond amazing, over the top WOW!, and just an unforgettable event – it’s much more than just a visit to the park.

It was amazing how the sun just lit the canyon like it was a masterpiece……and it is!  I believe this was an early morning, just after sun rise, shot.

When we were here in 2010 it was so cold and rainy and I almost froze.  Most everything was covered in fog and clouds.  I could tell that there was something beautiful under the cover but I really had no idea.

I’m so glad we returned 2 years later and with both of our girls.

As we drove from Zion (about 1 hour 30 minutes), where parts of the park exceeded 100 degrees, we watched the elevation signs climb and the outside temperature drop.  By the time we reached the 8000 foot mark at Bryce, the temp topped out at 80 degrees.  Add in the blue sunny skies and low humidity –  NICE!

We hiked around a little with the girls and drove to all the marked sightseeing spots along the map.

All were spectacular.

We hiked through one section where all the trees had been destroyed by fire a few years before.  In some of the areas, new vegetation was starting to grow but other areas were just burned and charred with no signs of life.

Once again all the original images are lost in space hopefully to return one day and all I have are these small, low quality pictures.  No pictures of the destroyed areas to post.

I love the arches and someday hope to visit Arches National Park, also in Utah.

Good thing she got a hiking stick from Zion.  She needed it on some of these steep climbs.  The stick was too big to pack in our checked luggage but it was no problem carrying it on.  It was hung in the closet with the coats.

We spent the night in a lodge somewhere just outside of the park.  I’m pretty sure it was a Best Western lodge.  Nothing too exciting but our room was clean.  It had a restaurant and a large gift shop.  Very convenient to the park.

The next morning, my husband and I got up early, before sunrise, to drive back to the canyon and do some hiking.  The girls were tired so we left them to catch up on their sleep.

We took a moderate trail and hiked to the bottom and of course back up again – a different way of hiking than we’re used to.

What a great way to see the rocks and the formations.  Would definitely do it again.

Some the areas and formations have names.  I wish I could remember them, but too much time has gone by and my brain has gotten old.  Maybe one day I’ll look them up and try to match them to my photos.

My family

I’m just in awe looking at all these wonderful creations and wondering how all this was formed and how long it will last.

This crazy bird wasn’t afraid of anything.  I think too many people must have feed him.

When we were here in 2010, we were in and out of the van several times trying to get a glimpse of something, anything.  We were wet and cold and then had about a 5 hour ride back to Vegas.  We stopped at a roadside truck stop/gift shop and when I returned to the van, my husband asked ‘what did you buy?’  Socks, extra thick, warm socks I told him.  My shoes and socks were drenched and my feet were almost frozen solid.  My shoes had about 5 hours to dry and my feet finally warmed up after a couple of hours.  I think the socks were $12 – money well spent.

I’m so glad we got to return during better weather.  It was so worth the long drive.  Of course it’s much shorter in a car (or mini van) than taking a tour bus.

I love these!

See Bryce Canyon!  It’s my favorite National Park ever.

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