Some natural wonders and one not so natural wonder

Utah really does have some spectacular natural wonders and what's also spectacular is that you can really get up close and personal with it all.  There are so many opportunities to walk around / in / on these sites which makes for a wonderful experience.

We arrived at Bryce Canyon just as a rain storm started approaching, good and bad......

Good, because our timing was great and we weren't going to get wet.

Bad, because we didn't want to get wet, we were only there for a very short time.

Fact file.....

• This landscape has been formed over millions of years.  

• The irregular spires and rock formations, known as Hoodoos, are as a result of frost-wedging and rainfall.  

• Technically it's not a canyon but a series of amphitheaters.

With our short window of time we took the opportunity to follow one of the paths and immersed ourselves in the red clay surroundings.

On surveying the paths from on top they looked pretty easy, the incline wasn't steep, and I thought the walk would be a pretty smooth sailing.  Well the walk was easy but let's face it, going down is always easier than going up, no matter what the incline!

Another great place we visited was Zion National Park.  A few years back, about 10 years I think, Ewan had the opportunity to drive through Zion and he was excited to show us the sites he had enjoyed.

Initially we enjoyed a drive through the park, from the North entrance to the East entrance.

Waiting our turn to go through the one way tunnel.

Majestic landscapes

Once back at the Visitors Centre, we caught one of the many buses that takes you to the other sites with in the park.  It's a free service (well after you've paid for your park entrance) and you just hop on and off at the different locations.  So this means you can see as many of the sites you choose and take as much, or as little, time as you want at each location.

In Zion we walked.

We walked to the lower waterfall and we walked the narrows.  We walked on paths, some paved and others just dirt, but the most fun walk was the walk through the river that runs through the narrows.

Ailish and I left the boys behind and started walking up stream.  The cool water was a welcome relief from the heat, and we were not the only ones with the idea, the river was a very busy place.

Wet and happy

Swimming downstream

Keeping my camera gear safe was my main priority.  This was challenging at times.  Trying to find my footing on the smooth river bed rocks was tricky and them having to "wade" through one part of the river that came to just below my armpits with my bag on my shoulders sure tested my balance and co-ordination skills!

Well we walked for about 1/2 hour and then decided to turn around as it was getting late and we still had to catch the bus back to the car then travel another hour or so back to St George, where we were staying for a few days.

Along with these natural wonders we also "popped" into Las Vegas for a few hours. 

 Enjoying frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity

Kids fulfilled there mission of visiting M&M world.....basically merchandising for 3 floors!

And I got to tick it off my....Places we've been....list.