We woke up to clear skies and sunshine in Bryce Canyon Utah. We packed up for the day and treated ourselves to good breakfast at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. Built in the 1920's as a stop on the Southern Pacific Railways, the Lodge is a cozy and inviting place.
The drive through the Park was stunningly beautiful as we 
meandered through pine forests at 7000+ ft elevation with hoodoos, cliff, caves and natural bridges off to each side. It was barely 50 degrees and there was a fierce wind, so our stops were brief. After a few overlooks, Lily decided she wasn't getting out of car until it was over 60. She is calling herself a desert rat! I did carry her out to see the natural bridge.
We headed from Bryce to Zion. This made for a short car ride-about 1.5 hrs- compared to the previous day. I am realizing I have really packed a lot in and perhaps we'd have more fun if we had extra days to 
spend everywhere. Zion offered more of the amazing scenery we've been soaking up since the Grand canyon. Every turn in the road offered a new vista, often in a bright color. I read the history on the National Parks site of the different straitions of color and the timing so many thousands of years ago when this land was formed. We've seen blue, and pink, orange and white, cream and red!
After checking into the Zion Lodge and unpacking into our cabin with no TV (Bub tells Lily the cool gas fireplace is the TV), we head off on the shuttle bus to the top of the Canyon where the mile long riverwalk takes us to the Narrows!
This is an 18 mile shallow river with 1000 ft cliffs on either side. The water was 65 degrees but that didn't 
deter my desert rat from happily wading upstream with us and joyfully playing in the mud! Along the path in we saw a tiny bird chirping happily on a branch 10 feet away and lots of friendly squirrels. Hawks flew overhead. On the way out, there was a baby squirrel about six inches long next to the path and it nibbled on leaves Lily offered, until Grandbub tickled her and scared it!
After a nice hot bath and a little time in front of our flaming TV, we went to town to meet Realtors, Greg and Annette Basso at Oscars Cafe! I got to have what Annette referred to as the best hamburger in the World and that it was! If you ever get to Springdale and Zion, you must come here. Annette and I have connected over the years in some of my programs, but had never gotten to meet. We had an interesting discussion about the real estate market in St. George, Utah. She tells me a first time homebuyer, buying new construction can qualify for $24,000 in tax credits right now! And she also told me how their inventory has reduced sugnificantly and about multiple offers. Sounds like the economy is okay here! Greg and I talked about using you IRA for real estate investment and how few agents tell their clients about this. I was impressed and now it is perfectly clear why they are so successful!
Upon returning to our cabin, we passed three wild turkey in the road and two small deer greeted us. What a wonderful day!
Your blog and pictures made me wish I was in Utah. Driven through Utah once while we lived in Colorado and it was absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Joeann,
Sounds like a great vacation, so far...!!! Thanks, Fran
Irene It is beautiful!
Fran Hi! Thanks for coming by... we are having fun
It was great meeting you in person and getting a chance to meet your sweet husband and your beautiful granddaughter, Lily. Greg and I really enjoyed our time together and we hope to get together with you again soon. You are always welcome to stay with us and we will give you a private tour of some secret places that we have found in our exploration tours. Yes, Southern Utah is a beautiful and spiritual place and we are so blessed to live here. Have a wonderful trip and "hi" to Bub and Lily.