I don’t know which was worse– our hotel room in Bryce Canyon or the debate. There were two floors to the Best Western cabins, and none of us slept due to someone having too much fun with their partner above one room and a herd of buffalo above us. Tonight, we are settled into a wonderful hotel, resting after our weary selves, researching our next stops, and doing the never-ending laundry.

Our travels took us on the Red Canyon Highway, which is part of the Dixie Forest and a hiker’s paradise. First, we stopped to see a large herd of buffalo behind fencing and were able to see them up close, which was exciting. We passed through tunnels, and sweet-scented cedar/sagebrush groves, where we hiked a short distance through the red dirt. It was another blue sky day with no humidity and warm temps, so we pulled over for a tailgate lunch before entering Zion National Park.

I have run out of superlatives. All our friends who have been out this way told us Zion would blow us away and it did! The tan, red, and pink sandstone hills and mountains, with their scooped-out basins, deep canyon walls, and jutting rock cliffs were spectacular. We entered on the east side and passed through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, which had carved windows to view outside the tunnel as we passed. At the end of the tunnel was the Checkerboard Mesa, with striations in the rock-forming a grid resembling a checkerboard.

We are settled into a beautiful hotel in St. George, Utah, with the Grand Canyon awaiting our oohs and aahs tomorrow. We all agreed, this was the best sequence to view these parks. First, Bryce, then Zion and las,t the Grand Canyon, for despite their grandeur, it seems to get better with each park!