We officially started the much awaited road trip around 11:00AM. The air was filled with excitement with the prospect of getting away from the crowded cities and venturing out into the vast outdoors of the beautiful national parks!
A stop in St George was necessary for the seniors to empty their overfilled bladders which also gave us a chance to eat the prepared sandwiches by my wife. About ten miles to the entrance of Zion a sudden downpour started which made visibility a few hundred feet only. Fortunately, this didn’t last very long! But I welcomed the rain as the west is experiencing the worst drought ever in decades!
We reached the park nearing 4:00PM and we decided to just drive the scenic route including the impressively long tunnel. As usual, vacations are not complete without group photos and selfies!
We checked in to our hotel in La Verkin about 20 miles outside the park. Here we are in our room with everyone eagerly chatting catching up and updating each one with the current gossips.
We will be checking out before 6:00AM tomorrow so we can stand in line for the shuttle inside the park in the Visitors’ Center. The shuttle will take us to the different park highlights not accessible to private vehicles. I suggested to the group that we can do the easy Riverside Walk located in the Temple of Sinawava. This is a 1.5 hour/2.2 mile walk with only a few feet of elevation. However, some in our group are not exactly fit to do any kind of walking.
Until tomorrow again for my updates and more photos…..
ZION TRIVIA: Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River. The river flows to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. Also along the river, partly through deep chasms, is Zion Narrows wading hike. (from Google)
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