Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon

We awoke with the sun today. We got up at 6 a.m. in hopes of catching the much publicized sunrise at Bryce Point. However, Mother Nature let us down—the sun rose behind the clouds and stayed there.

he stone sculptures were breathtaking. Gazing down into the “amphitheater” there were hoodoos (stone columns) covering acres of land.

After breakfast at the hotel lodge, we packed up and headed out to explore the park. It was a chilly 40 degrees with light snow on the ground. Bryce can easily be seen in a day. We opted for the 18-mile loop with scenic overlooks and stopped at the rim trail for a short hike. The stone sculptures were breathtaking. Gazing down into the “amphitheater” there were hoodoos (stone columns) covering acres of land.

With a good grasp on the landscape and scenery of Bryce, we moved on the Zion National Park, about a 2-hour drive. We arrived at the Zion Mountain Ranch and checked into our log cabin.

While prepared for the cold (although hoping for warm weather), we didn’t realize how much the arid climate would affect us. Our lips are chapped, our noses so dry it hurts and our skin nearly flaking. A small price to pay for a peek at the natural wonders of the area.

An interesting note about vacationing in Utah—there are strict liquor laws. We enjoy indulging in an evening glass of wine while traveling, however, in Utah it’s not that easy. Most hotels/resorts do not have a bar. All alcohol must be ordered in the restaurant—with food. Or if you’re in a town, you can try to find a state run liquor store—that closes at 7 p.m. It’s been a challenge to keep up with our holiday drinking habits, but we’ve managed to pull it off.

As you may have notice, this blog has been posted late—and with no photos. We’re having technical difficulties with trying to remain high-tech in low-tech areas. The Zion Mountain Lodge has very spotty Internet connection, so I was not able to post my nightly blog. And, as for photos, my laptop is our of room to download images, so until I can find a hotel with a Mac computer, I’m out of luck on that front. I did manage to check my e-mail on my iPhone from the Bryce Canyon Visitor’s Center though.

Good night from chilly Utah!