This is Zion National Park

To see Zion's wilderness in all its rugged glory we followed a red road down to the canyon floor. Here we gazed up in awe at magnificent vibrantly coloured cliffs of sandstone.  The Virgin River which is responsible for much of the canyon's topography winds its way through the length of the park and provided us with a much needed cool respite from the summer heat. 

Zion National Park truly is an oasis in the desert.  

Unfortunately we were only able to experience this natural wonder for a day.  

It was an unexpected gift. 

Water drips endlessly from the sandstone cliff walls. 

The Weeping Wall

The Three Patriarchs

Looking back towards Zion

10 Words to Describe the Grand Canyon....

Majestic

Fierce

Beautiful but potentially deadly electrical storms rip through the canyon during summer.
This set of cells caused the closure of some sections of the canyon to tourists for a few hours. 

Peaceful

After the storms peace resumes in the canyon.  Sunset is particularly profound. 

Humbling

In the midst of this rugged landscape flowers thrive, growing up through small cracks in the rock eager for any moisture they can find.  

Extraordinary

A visitor to our campsite - we found him nibbling on the lovely grasses and trees in the campground.

Precious

Its not just the canyon that is precious - it's everything that resides or grows within it too.  

 Astounding

Sunrise

Visitors (the really fit, prepared and keen ones) can hike from rim to rim along a narrow winding track.
The hike takes 3 days and is something we'd love to do one day!!! 

 Extensive

Fluid

The Canyon is forever changing due to the forces of wind and rain.

Really big (make that 11 words!!)

It seems to go on forever.....

We got our kicks on Route 66

Route 66, also known as the Mother Road, was completed in 1938 and ran from Los Angeles to Chicago.  Many parts of the highway were decommissioned in the 1960's when more modern and direct routes were built.  Fortunately for travellers today preservation groups and businesses are working hard to restore points of interest along the way.  

We had a blast exploring the Kingman to Seligman section of the highway.  In Seligman we browsed a few of the many souvenir stores and then indulged in some old fashioned treats at the Snow Cap eatery.  

Near the town of Kingman we stopped off at a roadside business called Hackberry's.  This place was well worth the stop.  The owner told us that the store existed to basically house all of his father's memorabilia.  It's like stepping back in time. The owner of the store also drives an original 1967 Corvette to work each day which he parks at the front entrance to Hackberry's. 

Malted Milk, Chocolate Fudge Sundae and Snow Cones - YUM!

Route 66 has the movie Cars to thank for a lot of its resurgence in popularity.

Inside Hackberry's

It's just like a museum

The sign says it all!!!

                 

Things to know before you go to Joshua Tree National Park in the Summertime...

Do’s and Don’ts 

Do start driving as early as possible in the day.  

By the time the sun creeps above the horizon it’s already starting to heat up.

Do make sure the air conditioning in the car is cranked up as high as it can go.  (Our AC lasted just long enough to make it through the hottest parts of our trip – it died when we got to San Francisco which was ok because we didn’t need it from then on).

Don’t wind the car windows down for fresh air – there isn’t any!!  The ambient temperature feels like you’re sticking your head in an oven.

  

Don’t take your children on a 1km hike through the desert without expecting a lot of comments such as, “Do we have too?”, “How long do we have to walk for?”, “Oh it’s so hot”,  “I don’t want to walk anymore”, “Are we there yet?”, “How much further?”, “Water. I need water,”

In saying that do take them on the walk anyway – it’s well worth it – even if it’s just to be able to legitimately pour cold water over them!!! 

Do call into the Visitor’s Centers along the way.  They have a wealth of information at their disposal and give free information about the best things to see and do.  We avoided a 300km drive through desert country after being told about a short cut through Joshua Tree National Park.  (300km with a TT in tow equates to about 4 ½ hours of driving time).

Do avoid being hot and sweaty (a difficult thing to do in 40+ degree heat) when you stop off at the restroom in Joshua Tree National Park.  There are bees here that swarm anything that has moisture on it.  They (and their swarm of buddies) can become aggressive if you start swatting at them.   We spotted them buzzing around taps and toilets at a few of the restrooms along the way.

Do give yourself plenty of time to travel and stop along the way.  The desert landscape has Joshua Trees in large numbers and is vast and eerie and quite unlike anything else we have seen.  It really is a photographer’s paradise.

 Don’t forget to travel even a small portion of Route 66.  Hotels and businesses still exist here even though the main highway is a ways away.  Hackeberry’s was a highlight for us.  But more on that in our next blog….

 

Did I mention it was hot?  Yep sure was.  But we’d do the trip again anyway – even in the middle of summer. But preferably in the spring or fall.  On our next visit we’d take a little more time to explore this region, which is full of history and natural fascination.