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A Day Trip to an Alien World, Zion National Park
A week before travelling to one my favorite destinations, New York City (primarily a business trip, taking an extra day or two to play tourist is almost always a given) a quick visit to spend time with family surfaced, yet instead of the mundane sitting around the house, watching golf or lazing poolside a recent conversation about travel lead to an idea, flicking the switch in my head to explore someplace new, someplace away from urban life. Afterall I live in an urban setting and was about to travel to the densest urban space in North America. After making mention to my Dad, we fast decided to make a day trip to Zion National Park in southern Utah. Dad lives in the Las Vegas area. A quick flight (from my home base in Los Angeles) to Sin City, we made an early start, driving a slightly longer route out of town.
His neighborhood is adjacent to the Lake Mead national recreation area. We drove along the road, periodically catching peek a boo views of the lake. We made the detour to drive through Valley of Fire state park. It did not disappoint. The vibrant hues, oranges, yellows and reds in the rock formations are well worth an easy detour when visiting Las Vegas. If you are deciding between Hoover Dam or Mount Charleston, consider Valley of Fire.
