THE AMAZING GRAND CIRCLE OF UTAH


THIS GRAND CIRCLE IS AN AMAZING TRIP WITH UNBELIEVABLE SCENERY. THE ADDED PLUS IS THAT THERE IS A SHORT DRIVE BETWEEN THE PARKS AND THE DRIVE ON THE WAY IS REWARDING. WE WARN YOU THOUGH, THIS IS NO SECRET. EVEN IN MID TO LATE MAY, EVERYPLACE IS CROWDED AND RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST WHETHER YOU STAY IN LODGES, MOTELS OR CAMP. THE PICTURES BELOW ARE A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER, BUT YOU WILL GET THE IDEA!

THE BUS OF TOURISTS STOPS AT A PETROGLYPH LOOKOUT!

BELOW IS A SOLUMN REMINDER THAT HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS CAN BE DEADLY. THIS ONE ADDED TO THE GRIM STATISTICS OF MEMORIAL WEEKEND DEATHS

BRYCE CANYON IS STUNNING, BUT ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF THE WILDWEST. HERE AT RUBY’S INN WE ENJOYED A COWBOY DINNER AND SHOW. TOURISTO FOR SURE, BUT EVERY ENJOYABLE.

ALONG THE WAY ALAN STOPPED TO PHOTOGRAPH WILDFLOWERS.

PROBABLY ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PICTURES. WE HAD LUNCH ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION IN MONUMENT VALLEY. NO, ITS NOT A PICTURE ON THE WALL, BUT THE VIEW OF THIS MAGNIFICENT PLACE.

BASED IN MOAB AT ARCHVIEW RV RESORT, VISITS TO CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES ARE A SHORT DISTANCE. WHETHER YOU WANT LONG HIKES, DRIVES ON QUESTIONABLE ROADS, OR STUNNING VIEWS, THERE IS MUCH TO SEE. ALSO, EACH PARK HAS A VISITOR CENTER WITH INFORMATIONAL SHOWS AND GIFT SHOPS! IF YOU ARE A SENIOR, BE SURE TO GET YOUR SENIOR PASS AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TRIP. IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY. ALSO, ENTER THE PARKS EARLY. THERE CAN BE DELAYS LATER IN THE DAY BECAUSE OF TOO MANY VISITORS.

WE LOVE CAMPING, AND EATING INSIDE OR OUT. ALONG ON THIS TRIP WAS MY SISTER CASEY AND HER HUSBAND GEORGE. THEY RENTED A 20 FOOT TRAILER AND WE CARAVANED. WORKED OUT PERFECTLY!

 

AND YES, IN UTAH YOU CAN GET ALCOHOL. LODGES HAVE NICE RESTAURANTS. BELOW IS LUNCH AND A BLOODY MARY.

AT ZION TRAMS RUN EVERY 15 MINUTES AND THOUGH THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS, YOU CANNOT DRIVE INTO THE UPPER PART OF THE PARK. LEAVE YOUR CAR AT THE VISITOR CENTER AND CATCH A TRAM. YOU CAN GET OFF AND ON AS DESIRED. WE WENT TO THE END AND HIKED TO THE NARROWS. IT RAINED THE WHOLE TIME – TO OUR DISMAY BUT TO THE DELIGHT OF THE FLOWERS.

SHOOTING STARS AND COLUMBINE

THERE ARE NO TWO TOWERS ALIKE.

DINNER (above) AT THE SUNSET GRILL IN MOAB IS A MUST. NO REERVATIONS, BUT SITTING IN THE GARDEN AND ENJOYING THE VIEW IS WORTH A WAIT. DON’T TRY TO GET A DRINK OUT THERE – AFTER ALL, THIS IS UTAH. BE SURE TO ARRIVE AROUND SUNSET AND ASK TO BE SEATED IN THE PATIO. THEY DO SERVE ALCOHOL THERE. THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO ONCE LIVED IN THE TOWN IS FASCINATING AND YOU CAN READ ABOUT HIM ON THE BACK OF THE MENU.

THIS MAKES IT OBVIOUS THAT THE ANASAZI WERE VISITED BY EXTRA TERRESTRIALS!

PEOPLE AROUND MOAB ALL LOOK LIKE THEY JUST GOT OUTFITTED AT REI. THEY ARE BIKERS, CYCLISTS, RIVER RAFTERS, RUNNERS, HIKERS, CLIMBERS AND ADVENTURERS. THE TOWN HAS A VIBRANT AIRE ABOUT IT AND PEOPLE SEEM BUSY. WE SIGNED UP FOR A COWBOY DINNER AND A CRUISE ON THE COLORADO AT NIGHT. IT WAS EDUCATIONAL AS THE OLD GUY LECTURED ON THE HISTORY OF THE AREA. THEN THE MUSIC BEGAN AND A LAZER SHOW ON THE ROCKS ROUNDED OUT THE EVENING. TOURISTO, YES. FUN, YES.

LAZER SHOW ABOVE.

A STOP IN BLANDING BROUGHT US TO A WONDERFUL MUSEUM. OUT BACK IS A KIVA AND A KOKOPELLI


TURNED OFF ON THE BUMPY ROAD TO SEE NEWSPAPER ROCK. IT WAS WORTH THE JAUNT. PROBABLY SOME OF THE BEST PETROGLYPHS WE SAW ON OUR TRIP

NEAR FLAGSTAFF ON ROUTE 66 IS TWO GUNS. THE STORY OF THIS AREA IS FASCINATING. FROM THE APACHE DEATH CAVE TO THE ROADSIDE ATTRACTION WITH VARIOUS ANIMALS INCLUDING MOUNTAIN LION. WE KICKED AROUND THE AREA, EXPLORED THE RUINS AND SAW THE OPENING TO THE CAVE WHERE SO MANY APACHES DIED.

LOTS TO SEE IN FLAGSTAFF! WE HAD DINNER AT BLACK BARTS WHERE THE WAIT STAFF ENTERTAINS BY SINGING OPERA. ALWAYS A FAVORITE FOR US.

AND OF COURSE WE HAD TO STOP AT METEOR CRATER. ALAN LIKES IT THERE BECAUSE HE THINKS HE WILL SEE STAR MAN.

OUR DRIVE TO AND FROM THE UTAH/ARIZONA LAND OF ROCKS AND NATIVE AMERICANS, WE ENJOYED ROUTE 66 AND OTHER FAVORITE SITES. SELIGMAN, WILLIAMS, HACKBERRY – OPEN AIR OUTSIDE MUSEUM TOWNS PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MOTHER ROAD.

A STOP AT ROUTE 66’S HACKBERRY

AND A STOP IN KINGMAN FOR LUNCH AT MR. D’S WITH AUTHOR AND ROUTE 66 CHAMPION JIM HINCKLEY.