In October 2020 we traveled to the South West and visited St. George UT, along with Zion and Bryce  Canyon. We have visited these canyons previously but never spent any time in St. George. Sherrie plays pickle ball and there had been a tournament scheduled, but due to Covid it was cancelled. We had rooms booked and travel plans laid and decided to go on a South West adventure. It was a great trip and of course we were socially distant and choose to wear face masks etc., better to be safe than sorry.

St. George, Utah

I have passed through St. George on a number of occasions, over the years,  and thought that it was a pleasant looking city with conveniences for the locals and vacationers, but we were exceptionally pleased on the three night stay we had there. Our stay was at the Inn on the Cliff, that sits atop a cliff overlooking the city. This is a quality motel, with much being by the owners when refurbishing it,  reservations should be made early, as in six months, over night is between $160 and $200, mid-week/weekend. As we traveled about the city we saw no other motels that compared with such a view. There is a restaurant with excellent food and fair prices, we ate outside overlooking the city. They have a pool, hot tub, both kept clean, and a breakfast tray that comes to your room. One morning we were out early and they bagged it for us to go. There is a similar view from the restaurant as from our room, we had a wonderful dinner on their outside patio with their pleasant and engaging staff.

Inn on the Cliff, the view from our room, and a Breakfast Box.

 

Downtown St. George and a great view of the city at Pioneer Park on the Red Hills Parkway, enjoying sundown.

Bryce Canyon

 

Bryce Canyon National Park, a sprawling reserve in southern Utah, is known for crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations. The park’s main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheater, a hoodoo-filled depression lying below the Rim Trail hiking path. It has overlooks at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Prime viewing times are around sunup and sundown. ― Google

Bryce Canyon is beyond belief, the scale is amazing, and the Rim Trail along the top of the canyon is accessible. we have been there before and I enjoyed the accessible trail and Sherrie set off down between the spires to enjoy new adventures. Even though it was in October it was still relatively busy with parking spaces hard to come by, we did get lucky though and parked next to the lodge or gift shop. Paria View is located next to Bryce Canyon and we were there about 9 in the morning with few people enjoying the view, at 8100 feet it was chilly.

 

Zion Canyon

Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River. The river flows to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. Also along the river, partly through deep chasms, is Zion Narrows a wading hike. ― Google

Zion is a wooded canyon with steep canyon walls. when we visited it was relatively busy and the roadway inside park was closed to personal vehicles. We did stay, as a treat at the Zion Park Lodge, great location but it is an older building with not so up to date rooms and the restaurants were closed. As said, the inside roadway was closed but if you were staying at the lodge you were allowed to drive in, additionally, if you have a disabled pass for your vehicle you are allowed to drive the roadways, an interesting bonus. A fortune of being able to drive our own vehicle, other than the shuttles, was to be there at sunset as seen in the following photo. We have visited here twenty-five years ago in the spring time and the Cottonwood trees were dropping their blossoms, it was like gentle snow storm, never to be forgotten.

For more information about Zion click:  8 Surprising Things about Zion National Park.