Eerie, grotesque, and often whimsical, the stalagmite-like hoodoos, formed by water and ice, were believed by the Paiute Indians to be early residents turned to stone forever by a vengeful god for their evil deeds. Hiking and biking are the best ways around this spectacular place. It’s truly amazing, and we had plenty of time for the hoodoos to cast their spells.
Day Seven, after driving through several charming Mormon towns, we approached our third national park, Zion. Early Mormon settlers took one look at its 3,000-foot canyon walls, sculptured rocks, and monoliths, and declared it “the promised land” containing “the natural temples of God.”
Here, we looked up from the bottom of the canyon. Again, there was plenty of time to board free park shuttle buses to various points of interest for photography or hiking.
Wildflowers abound, as do game (including wild turkeys that seem to dare bus drivers to run them over), and, as we arrived during a rainstorm, waterfalls cascaded around us from sandstone cliffs.
Soaring tower, Zion National Park for Seniors
Zion’s nickname, “The Land of Rainbow Canyons,” refers to a desert varnish – mineral residues leaving a wash of pinks, reds, purples, yellows, and oranges painting this park as colorful as the other two national parks.
A 45-minute ranger-led presentation and a comfortable, warm room at Zion Park Lodge was a perfect end to our invigorating last full day.
The following morning we drove to Las Vegas where most of us boarded planes to be home by supper; back to plan the other four places we need to see before we die.
IT’S TIME WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HOSTS
Our eight-day tour of the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Bryce, and Zion was the third Carolyn and I have taken with Caravan Tours. (Costa Rica and Nova Scotia the others.) At about $1,000 for each fully escorted eight to 11-day tour, this remarkable third-generation family-owned company out of Chicago truly gives better value per dollar than any tour company we know of.
Take accommodations. Each of our Caravan tours has pleasantly surprised us with the quality of the rooms and food. On this tour, for example, from the sumptuous DoubleTree Suites in Phoenix, the Radisson Resort in Sedona, to the Thunderbird right on Grand Canyon’s edge, there are no better accommodations to be had.
Caravan Tours is equally famous for its helpful, friendly and knowledgeable guides. They are the best informed we have encountered anywhere. They love their jobs, love Caravan (I’ve not met a guide yet who said they’d even consider working for someone else), and I guarantee yours will truly be a good friend by tour’s end.
Our Caravan group
Yes, each tour has about 40 fellow travelers. It sounds like a lot, but it works. It helps keep the price low. And it provides a base large enough for everyone to find like-minded friends.
You can learn more about Caravan’s fully escorted tours in the US, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica at www.caravan.com, or call 1-800.CARAVAN (800.227.2826).
