Trip to Utah
Celebrating our 45th anniversary (it was on March 17), a few months late making sure we would not be too cold since we were “glamping” (glamour camping) for most of the trip.
We loved traveling to the West when we lived in Austin, TX and wanted to go to these sites in a long time…
We flew to Las Vegas for 1 night where we rented a car and drove to Zion National Park. We stayed at the Under Canvas Camp for 1 night: a very comfortable tent with great bedding, hot water shower, toilets and a wood stove.
The first morning, opening our tent to the desert is already amazing. We met our guide in the village of Springdale, UT to go on our hike to the 3 Emerald Pools. A pretty easy hike but the altitude and the air dryness ended up being a little challenging for me… but beautiful.
The nature was especially luxuriant this spring with lots of water, greeneries and flowers. There had been a lot of snow, now melting and bringing much needed water.
In Zion petrified wood is everywhere and right here on our campsite.
This year the valleys are very lush. The melt of the snow has created also some inondations…
It is really interesting to see the difference between the landscape driving from Zion to Bryce. We leave this very rocky Zion, drive through crossover yards with buffaloes and then arrive in Bryce where we can see all these very unusual rock formations, called “hoodoos”.
Bryce Canyons!!! I am blown away by the beauty and grandiosity of this site… I have tears in my eyes as I discover the “amphitheater”. I can’t stop looking and taking pictures of these amazing formations called “hoodoos”. Then I just watch and take in all this majestic beauty.
We stayed 1 night at Under Canvas Bryce: an other great camp site. All these camps offer very decent meals for breakfast and dinner. After dinner, fire pits are ready outside for marshmallows and smores roasting as much as you want!
In Bryce, the temperature dropped in the low 40’s. Pierre was adding wood in the stove all night…
Next stop Canyon Point for 2 nights, the cherry on the cake: The Amangiri!
In one of the most secluded and magnificent settings of the world. Every corner, every material, everything is just the way you expect it to be in its natural beauty, gorgeous.
Lots of activities on the hotel 900 acres and plus.
Rock climbing to the via ferrata seemed the most appealing. Pierre went all the way, I quit at the first stop…
In the evening, a private horse ride on the property.
Riding to the petroglyphs: most were carved from about the 1300 through the late 1600. The arrival of the Spanish people in 1540 had a dramatic impact on the lifestyle of the pueblo people.
and to the sleeping camel…
A view of Lake Powell:
The VERY HAPPY campers!!!
At night we had a delicious “Bison Bourguignon“ for dinner and… For our anniversary, the staff had planned a very romantic night :). Back from dinner we found a cake, rose petals, flowers, candles, all over… It was fun! Pierre enjoys the bubble bath surrounded by petals and candles!
The following morning was our visit to the very anticipated Antelope Canyon AZ. It is made of compact sand dated 200 millions years. Sensational!!!
Sue Tsosie discovered Antelope Canyon in 1931, She discovered the slot canyon while herding sheep as a young Diné girl. Today, Sue Tsosie is still alive and live close by, her daughter Carolene operates tours.
The Lady in the blue dress and The Lion
Antelope has a lot of visitors but there are 3 other canyons that are as beautiful and private. We were lucky to be able to visit them as well.
Coyote Canyon:
Rattle Snake Canyon:
And Owl Canyon:
Time to move on… This was definitely the best spot ever!!!
Next onto Lake Powell: the water level had dropped dramatically but is now rising.
Water level is increasing about a foot or so a day, according to the National Park Service at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
It reminded us of Lake Travis near Austin TX (where we often went) plus the Canyons: Navajo and Antelope Canyons.
We stayed 2 nights at Under Canvas Lake Powell.
The water was very choppy but I had the best captain!
Grand Canyon is our next stop, we stayed in a confortable but nothing special hotel in Tusayan close to the park, next time we would stay in the Park Lodges.
It is grandiose!
We ended our adventure by a canyon vista mule (the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). ride: a little too “organized” but fun and beautiful.
We were traveling thru the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.
The name Escalante comes from Silvestre Velez de Escalante, a Franciscan Missionary and the first European visitor to the region in 1776.
Last stop Las Vegas to catch our flight back to Miami. We had not been to Vegas in about 15 years and after so much natural beauty… well you know…
We still had a very appreciated sushi dinner at Sushi Roku: very yummy!
Ready for many more years…
