Zion National Park

I'm clearly in need of a vacation. I've got one coming up at the end of July but I find myself going through pictures of past trips almost daily at this point. When I start doing that, it usually means that I'm burned out on the desert and need to get away.

One of my favorite getaway spots is Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. If I was asked to describe what I think heaven will look like, I'm hoping that it will be Zion. Zion is one of those places that can be described in words a million times but unless you've actually been there and walked among it's sandstone cliffs, you just don't understand. I lived in Vegas for years before I ever made the trip. I'd hear people talk about it all the time. When I finally made my first trip there, I was overcome with awe. It's that incredible!

Since the first trip, we've become regulars. The great thing is that it's only about 3 hours from Vegas. Sometimes we camp, sometimes we stay in the lodge's cabins, sometimes we stay in Springdale at a fantastic little inn. The only thing that happens everytime is that the time we stay is not nearly enough. Honestly, I think you could spend years here and still not see all there is to see.

Zion is, at it's heart, peaceful. The name Zion is defined as Utopia: an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal. It truly lives up to it's name. It's red sand stone cliffs have been carved out for millions of years by the Virgin River. The colors here are more vibrant and alive than anywhere I've ever seen. (I've been to the Grand Canyon, that place's got nothing on Zion.)

The National Park is amazing. It has tons of trails throughout the park (100 miles of wilderness trails and 10 miles of paved trails to be exact) ranging from beginner (the kind we took Michael on when he was 3) to advanced (Angel's Landing) to backcountry overnight trails. The amazing thing about the hiking here is that most of the trails were built in the 1930's. What does that mean you ask? Well, in the 1930's, there were not nearly the amount of lawsuits happening as there are today. The trails they built in this park, according to one park ranger, would never be passed in today's law suit crazed society. These are trails with switchbacks up the sides of mountains and chains to grab on to as you climb around the edge of a cliff. There are always the mandatory "danger" signs but that's basically it. You know your abilities and you go for it. My favorites? Angel's Landing! It's a tough (really tough) hike, but making it to the end is SO worth it! Weeping Rock. Quick hike but it's steep and slippery when wet. (I speak from experience here.) Canyon Overlook. You have to go through the tunnel to get to this trail. It's entrance is right past the exit to the tunnel on the left. This one goes through the forest, past caves, over a bridge (I'm not sure if it should be called a bridge, but it's a bridge like contraption connected to the side of a cliff) and up the mountain to an overlook that is unbelievable. Hidden Canyon. This one has no end. Honestly, we've never found the end. It's more like an obstacle course in which you have to figure out ways to get around, over and under things to continue on the trail. You just have to remember on this one that as far as you go in, you have to come back out. Don't make the mistake we made and go a bit too far in only to have to return after dark. This seems to be a common problem for my husband and I.

The campsites are awesome, all within walking distance to the river. We've had days where we were completely content to stay near our campsite and just hang out by the river.

Springdale, the tiny town right before you enter Zion, is this really cute artsy town with boutiques, Bed & Breakfasts, restaurants, art studios and little bars. Seriously, I could live there. With all 100 of the towns full time residents! ;o) We always stop in at the Zion Pizza and Noodle for pizza and beer. I recommend the Polygamy Porter, it's brewed locally and it's really tasty! The Spotted Dog Cafe is incredible as well.

As for lodging, we almost always camp. But when we don't, the Lodge has individual cabins you can rent out with wood burning fireplaces. They don't have much else, no television, no phone, but really... who's coming to Zion for those types of conveniences? We've also stayed at Flanigan's Inn in Springdale. We stayed in their cottage with a wood burning fireplace last winter. It was perfect. Romantic, quiet, and a great value in the off season.

I've spent all together too much time trying to figure out how to move to Zion and make a living. Some people tell me that if I lived there, it would lose it's magic.

Somehow, I think that's impossible.