Zion National Park



"I see my path, but I don't know where it leads.  Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it."
Rosalia De Castro
"We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey."
John Hope Franklin

Entrance to Zion NP

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is located in the aouthwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the 229-square-mile park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep, cut through the sandstone by the north fork of the Virgin River. Zion National Park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Some services and facilities may close or reduce hours during the winter months.

My first thought, when we visited Zion, is that it reminded me of Yosemite. It has the tall mountains, the waterfalls and the valley. But while it is similiar, it has its own beauty and is different in many ways. We enjoyed exploring this park.



Riverside Walk in Zion NP

To reduce traffice and to improve the park experience, there is a shuttle bus that will take you to most of the main areas of the park. The shuttle runs from March through October. One loop includes stops in Zion Canyon and a second loop includes stops in the town of Springdale. Parking is available throughout Springdale and inside the south park entrance. The shuttle is included in the park entrance fee. It operates daily beginning at 6:30 a.m. and runs every 6 to 8 minutes during the busiest parts of the day. The last bus will leave the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at 9:30 p.m.. The complete round-trip takes a minimum of 90 minutes.

The east side of the park is still accessible by private vehicle. You may pass through the park on highway 9 by private vehicle, but you are unable to drive up the main canyon to major points of interest during the shuttle season.

The Main Canyon is the most popular section of the park. The visitor center and the town of Springdale are surrounded by this part of the park. Popular trail-heads for hiking are Weeping Rock, Emerald Pools, Angels Landing and The Narrows, all of which are found on the eight-mile scenic drive that is accessible by the shuttle.

The Narrows in Zion NP

Perhaps the most famous and one of the most challenging areas of the park is an area referred to as The Narrows. The Virgin River carves deep gorges in the sandstone and hikers may follow the river's path, but plan on walking through water most of the day. The full length of the Narrows canyon is 12.5 miles.

The park is open all year and each season is distinctively different. Spring brings the waterfalls cascading into the Virgin River. Summer is the favorite season, and the most crowded. The canyon is lush and green in the summer months. Fall has brilliant red and gold foliage which accent the stone cliffs. Winter offers moderate temperatures with crisp mornings and warm afternoons. The east entrance to the park may have heavy snowfalls during the winter months.

There are no hotels or lodges within the national park. There are many choices nearby in Springdale, Utah. The national park has three campgrounds. They are South Campground, Watchman Campground and Lava Point Campground. The first 2 are in Zion Canyon and Lava Point is on the Kolob Terrace Road. Comfort stations provide flush toilets, cold running drinkable water, and trash containers, but no showers or electrical outlets. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit with attached grill. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. Hiking in the park with pets is allowed only on the roads and Pa'rus Trail. There are also several campgrounds nearby in the Springdale area.

There are lots of activities to do in the park. There are 4 by 4 Jeep tours available. Horse-back riding, river tubing and lots of hiking trails to explore. You can bicycle the Pa'rus Trail or Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, or kayak the Virgin River. Each day park rangers present a series of special talks, guided walks and evening programs at the Visitors Center and the South Campground Ampitheater. For more information about the park and things to do, go to: http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Zion National Park is close to Bryce Canyon National Park as well as Lake Powell, and The Grand Canyon.  If you plan a long enough vacation you could take in all of these areas in one trip.

Bryce Canyon National Park





"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."

John Lubbock

Entrance to the park

I love visiting our national parks.  I have never been to a national park that I didn't find something I loved about the park and that area of our country.  I visited Bryce National Park quite a few years ago, in conjunction with a visit to the Grand Canyon.  They are actually not that far apart.  When we did our trip we spent a week and were able to take in the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell and Zion National Park along with Bryce.  This was a good way to see several national parks at one time. Most people never go to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, but it would be easy to add it to a trip that took in these other parks, because it is very near to them.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah. Bryce Canyon in not really a canyon, but a collection of giant natural ampitheaters along the eastern side of Paunsaugunt Plateau. Its distinctive geological structures called hodoos are formed by frost weathering and stream erosion of the river and lake bed. The red, orange and white colors of the rocks provide spectacular views for park visitors. Bryce sits at a much higher elevation than nearby Zion National Park. The rim at Bryce varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet. Bryce was designated a national monument in 1923 and became a national park in 1928. The park covers 35,835 acres and receives relatively few visitors compared to Zion and the Grand Canyon, largely due to its remote location.



Bryce Canyon National Park

The park is open 24 hours per day throughout the year. There may be temporary road closures during and shortly after winter snow storms until plowing is completed and conditions are safe for visitor traffic. Road maintenance may require brief closures of individual areas at other times.  The best time to go to the park is in the spring, summer or fall, as winter can be harsh and there will be less facilities available during the winter months.

There are many things you can do while in the park.  There are ranger programs, such as their daily Geology Talks, and guided rim walks.  Ever wonder why the rocks are red? Where we got the name hoodoo? What's a deer's favorite food? The magic of Bryce Canyon sparks the imagination and wonder in park rangers as well as visitors. Ranger programs are a great way to expand your exploration of Bryce Canyon. They're free too!

Full moon over Bryce NP

There are also evening programs which offer an in-depth look at some of the compelling stories and interesting resources that Bryce Canyon protects.  They even have a Full Moon Hike where you can join the "Dark Rangers" for a nocturnal adventure. These highly popular hikes are only offered during the full moon. Flashlights are prohibited and "lug traction" footwear is required. Tickets can only be obtained at the visitor center the morning of the hike on a first come, first served basis.  There are also Astronomers Tours available.  During the winter months they also do ranger led Snowshoe Hikes.   Check at visitor center for topics, start times, and locations.

You can drive along the rim area of the park which is about 18 miles long.  The last lookout point is Rainbow Point.  There are 13 lookout points along this road, where you can pull over and look out over Bryce Canyon.  You can also hike into the canyon on various hiking trails.  Pets are not allowed on any unpaved trails in the park, so if you have a pet with you then you will be staying above the canyon area.

Natural arch in Bryce Canyon NP

There are 2 campgrounds inside Bryce Canyon National Park, they are North and Sunset Campgrounds. Both have restrooms with flush toilets, and drinking water. During the summer months coin-operated laundry and shower facilities are available at the general store nearby. There are no hook-ups in the campgrounds, but a fee-for-use dump station is available for RV users at the south end of North Campground.  North Campground has 13 RV sites available by reservation and 86 RV and Tent Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sunset Campground has 20 Tent Sites and a Group site available by reservation and 80 RV and Tent Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.  So if you don't have a reservation, then get there early, because they do fill up.



Bryce Canyon Lodge

There is one lodge within the national park.  The Bryce Canyon Lodge which also includes cabins.  The lodge, cabins and motel are all part of the Bryce Canyon Lodge and has 114 rooms available.  The lodge is open only between March and November - the actual dates vary from year to year.  There is a dining room at the lodge which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  There is also a gift shop available at the lodge.  Reservations are recommended.

The most popular place to stay in the area is just outside the park entrance and is very convenient for those visiting the park.  It is the Best Western Ruby's Inn and Campground.  The place is a very popular stop for visitors to the park, and they also have a nice restarurant. http://www.rubysinn.com/.  We did not stay there, we actually stayed in one of the cabins that we got through Bryce Canyon Lodge.  Our cabin was right on the rim, and in the morning I could walk out the door of my cabin and be overlooking the rim.  We had our dog with us, and she was allowed to stay in our cabin.  We did visit Ruby's though, and had dinner there our first night.

For more information about Bryce Canyon, their fees, and things to do while in the park, go to: http://www.brycecanyoncountry.com/


My next posting will be about nearby Zion National Park.  They are close enough to each other that they are a natural to combine.




My Favorite Places

"Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself.  Be bold.  When you embark for strange places, don't leave any of yourself safely on shore.  Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory." 

Alan Alda

Probably everyone has heard of the book 1000 Places To See Before You Die.  Most of us will only see a few of those places in our lifetime.  There isn't enough time or money to visit them all.  I keep a list of only 10 places I want to see, but as I see them I cross them off and add new ones, because there are certainly more than 10 places in the world I want to see.

Quite often people ask me what is the place you have enjoyed the most.  For me that is always very difficult to answer.  I have enjoyed every place that I have been - really.  Whenever I go someplace new, I enjoy exploring that place and I find things I like about it.  But obviously some places I have liked better than other places.  I do have some favorites, but I can't really say that one place is my very favorite.  I can tell you my top 8 and why.

In no particular order, my top 8 are:
Venice, Italy
Crete, Greece
Moorea, French Polynesia
Paris, France
Great Britain
Beijing, China
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Philippines

Venice

Venice, Italy - The first trip to Europe that my husband and I took together was to Italy.  It was the one place I had always said that I just had to go to.  When we were finally able to go I was so excited.  It was our 25th anniversary trip.  I was almost afraid that it wouldn't live up to my excitement about going, but it did.  Everything about that trip was very special.  I loved Rome, and all the ruins.  The Forum and The Colisseum.  And then we went to Venice, and I really fell in love with that city.  I loved all the peeling paint on the buildings sitting in water.  I loved the boats and all the little alleyways between the buildings, and the bridges over the canals.  We also went down and spent a week in Sorrento, and visited Pompei and Capri, and enjoyed the beautiful town of Sorrento.  It was beautiful.  I loved every minute of that trip.

Crete, Greece - I actually loved all of Greece, and should maybe just put the whole country of Greece on the list.  But if I think about my favorite part of our trip to Greece, then Crete stands out. Maybe because we spent a week on the island and had more time to really explore it.  We did spend several days in Athens, and though it is a big city, I absolutely loved it.  I love the Plaka district, which is the old city, and I loved the Parthenon up on the hill.  And the people in Athens were all so nice.  And we took a tour over to Delphi and Meteora, both of which were wonderful, and not to be missed if you go to Greece.  I also loved the island of Santorini, where we spent 2 nights.  It is really lovely. 



Rethymno Harbor

But our week on Crete was fascinating.  We stayed in a condo near Rethymno, and our friends from Scotland joined us for that week.  I loved wandering around Rethymno's streets, looking in the shops and especially loved having lunch down by their harbor.  We drove all over the island, even went over and hiked the Samaria Gorge.  I did have blisters after doing that!  And we visited Knossos, which is a Bronze Age archaeological site.  We also had probably the best meal I have ever had in my life, at a farm in the hills above Rethymno.  They grow everything they serve on the farm, and we had a 10 course meal, on a hill overlooking the town, at sunset.  Even the feta cheese they served and the olive oil was made on the farm.  We swam in the sea and we explored the island, and it has to rank as one of the best weeks of vacation I have had.

Moorea, French Polynesia - We have a timeshare, and had to use the week we had deposited, or we would lose it.  I started looking online at places that were available.  A week in Moorea came up.  I had always wanted to visit Tahiti, so this seemed ideal.  I decided to go for it.  Since I worked at AAA at the time, I actually had some benefits that I could use towards the trip.  Air Tahiti Nui offers half price air to Tahiti for travel agents and I was able to take advantage of that.  And because I had sold a lot of Pleasant Packages, I had points with them that I could use for free inter-island flights and a free night on the island of Tahiti and 2 nights in an over-water bungalow on Bora Bora.  So we booked it and off we went. 

Cook's Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia

We spent our first night on Tahiti then flew to Moorea where we spent our week in our timeshare.  We had a condo with a balcony overlooking Cook's Bay.  We spent the week swimming, snorkeling and exploring the isalnd.  It was a relaxing fun-filled week on the beach.  The waters are sparkling clear, with lots of beautiful fish.  We took a catamarran trip to a motu - which is a small island, where we had a picnic lunch and did more snorkeling.  I thought Moorea was beautiful.  I had been told by others that while Moorea was beautiful, everyone usually liked Bora Bora the best, so we did 2 nights there at the end of our trip.  But for me Moorea was prettier, and there is more to do there.  I liked Bora Bora, but I loved Moorea.


Paris, France - Paris - the city of lights, the city of love.  Who could not love it.  My daughter and I breifly visited Paris back in 1989.  My husband and I went back in 2003.  I have not seen much else of France, but I do love Paris.  The city is beautiful, and vibrant.  Regardless of what people may tell you, I think the people are mostly charming.  There is so much to see and do.  I think I could live in Paris for a year or two and be quite happy.  As my husband says, "we'll always have Paris." 





Great Britain - England is the first country in Europe that I visited.  My daughter spent one semester of her sophomore year in London, and at the end of her semester I flew over and visited her, and we traveled around England, Scotland and Ireland, and even took a quick excursion over to Paris.  I have very fond memories of that trip.  And because it was my first European country to visit, it holds a special place in my heart.  I have visited Great Britain since that first trip.  I can't really name one place in Great Britain that I love more than others, although certain places stand out more than others.  


Crail Harbor, Scotland

I loved Cambridge, I found it to be charming.  And Penzance was a fun place to visit. And who could not love London, there is so much to see and do there.  I particularly loved Scotland, and we went back to Scotland this year.  We saw some new places, and re-visited a few places I had been.  I love the Highland cows, and all of the castles.  The harbour towns are very picturesque.  And the Scottish people are some of our favorites - we do have good friends there, so that helps.

The Great Wall
Just outside of Beijing, China

Beijing, China - I had been to Hong Kong years ago when we lived in the Philippines, it was a short hop away and a good place to get away for a weekend, but it was under British rule when we were there.  So a few years ago I suggested to a girl friend that a trip to China would be fun.  We went for a 12 day tour.  It was an adventure.  I knew I wanted to walk on the Great Wall, and we did that.  But I found all of China to be wonderful.  It certainly was one of the best trips I have ever taken.  We had a wonderful tour guide in Beijing.  His name was Tony, and we got to know him fairly well in the few days we were with him.  He took great pride in showing us around Beijing, and he was proud of the history of his country, and the sights he showed us.  He acknowledged that his country had problems, and he envied us our freedoms, but he was still quite proud to be Chinese.  I particularly enjoyed getting to know him.  And I loved all of China.  We went to Xian and Shanghai, and a cruise on the Yangtze, and re-visited Hong Kong.  But my favorite place was Beijing, and getting to know Tony, and learning about China through his eyes.  And of course walking on the Great Wall.

Tenerife, Canary Islands

Tenerife, Canary Islands - In 2003 our friends from Scotland invited us to join them in the Canary Islands for 10 days.  There are several islands that make up the Canaries, Tenerife is the largest, and that is the island that we went to.  They had a timeshare which was a 3 bedroom condo, so we had basically a full-size house, with a lovely patio, that we lived in for those 10 days.  We rented a car and we explored the island.  That was the first trip that we took with those friends, we have traveled with them since, but there was something special about our new friendship and the fun we had together on that trip.  I had never even thought about going to the Canary Islands, and I don't know if they ever would have showed up on a list of places to go to, but they invited us, and we went.  I absolutely loved everything about the place.  It is part of Spain, but actually closer to Africa, so it had a different feel about it then when we were in Spain.  We were close to a small village, and stumbled across one of their local celebrations, which we joined in on.  We swam in the ocean and enjoyed the beaches, and we explored the towns.  We had some wonderful meals also.



Banca boat on Capone Islands,
Philippines

Philippines - My husband spent 26 years in the Navy, so we moved around quite a bit.  Most of the times we were in the states, and quite a few of those times my husband was gone, to places where we could not go as a family.  We were only stationed overseas together as a family once.  That was the 2 years we spent in the Philippines - from Dec. 1978 to Dec. 1980.  We lived on a small base about an hour from Subic Bay. The base was called San Miguel.  One of the gates from the base led straight out onto the beach, where we could go and enjoy the warm waters of the South China Sea.  There were small boats - called bancas that we could get into and be taken out to the Capone Islands, where we could snorkel, or we could just stay at the beach and swim from there. 


In the two years we lived in the PI, we explored as much of the country as we could, taking trips to different areas, and seeing the sights.  The people near where we lived were all very nice.  We got to know some of them, and spent time in their villages, and their homes.  We were invited to celebrations as their guest of honor.  It was a wonderful two years, where we learned a lot about the country and the people.  Those 2 years hold wonderful memories for myself and my family.  I am so glad we were given that experience.

But even though these places stand out most in my mind when I think of the places I have traveled, I really have enjoyed every trip I have taken, and I have fond memories of them all.  And I know that with my future travels, some of those places will probably bump some of these places off my favorites list.  We are planning a trip to Africa for this coming year, and who knows, that trip may move onto my favorites list in the future.

A Beach Get-Away

“I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.”

Anonymous

 

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

Jacques Cousteau

Sunset at the beach

When I was a little girl I lived in Washington state.  We lived toward the middle of the state on the Columbia River, so water has always been nearby for me.  We had the river, one of the prettiest and bigger rivers in the country.  We also had a cabin on a smaller river about an hour away.  My dad had a boat and we water-skiied, and spent days out on the river, just having fun - or fishing, which was a different kind of fun.  But almost every summer, from my earliest memories, we also would spend a few days at the beach.  It was an all day drive to get there, but there is something about the beach that a river just can't take the place of.

Usually we would go to one of the Oregon beaches, somewhere near Rockaway or Newport.  There used to be a beach called Agate Beach, which is no longer named that.  I was told that the name was changed because there are no longer agates on the beach.  I have to say that is partly my fault.  When we would go there as kids, my mom, sisters and myself, would walk the beach with a sand bucket and pick up agates and take them home.  I'm still one to pick up any kind of interesting rock, no matter where I am, and bring it home.  My backyard, and jars all over my house, hold rocks that I have picked up from all over the world.  Those are some of my favorite souvenirs.  But not just rocks, when at the beach, I'm also looking for interesting shells, or sea glass.

Sadie and Baxter at the Beach

Even today, the beach is probably my second favorite place to be.  My cabin in Washington will always be first, but any beach will be a close second.  Living in Southern California, the beach is never far away.  We quite often spend the day at the beach.  To spend the day in the waves with my boogie board is ideal.  Especially when the water has had a chance to warm up a bit.  And there are some nice dog beaches near us, and I also love to spend the day with the dogs on the beach.  I can only wade while with them, because if I tried to swim, they'd try to be with me, and they are not big enough, or strong enough for the waves and tides.  But they don't mind getting in the shallow waves and even having the waves go over them  And they love running up and down the beach with the other dogs.



Pacific Beach in San Diego at sunset

I think any vacation that includes a beach, is a perfect vacation.  If you just want to get away and relax, where else could be more perfect.  You could rent a cottage, or a hotel room with a balcony, and sit and watch the ocean.  You can stroll along the beach, and reflex on life.  You can spend your days wading or swimming in the salt water, or just lying on a chaise lounge under an umbrella, reading your book.  And watching the sun set over the ocean at night will quite often give you some of the best sunsets of your life.

A beach in Northern California

There has been a lot of talk the past few years about "staycations".  Because of the cost of gas, people can't afford to travel as far.  If you are on a limited income, or just can't get away for whatever reason, and you live anywhere near a beach, then consider a weekend in a cottage by the seashore.  Everyone needs a break from the routine, and this would be a fairly inexpensive way to take that break without breaking the bank.  Don't go to one of the big resort area beaches, but to one of the little seaside towns.  They have more of a seaside atmosphere anyway, and are usually less expensive.  And if you go off season, it's even less expensive.  And the beach is a nice place to be even when it is not hot and sunny.  Sometimes it is more interesting when it is stormy.  And walking the beach after a storm could net you some interesting finds, such as glass floats.



The cottage we rented at the beach
 in Washington last summer

 

I know that along the Pacific coast there are quite a few lesser known beaches that have reasonably priced cottages to rent.  We usually spend a week on the Washington coast every summer after we leave our cabin on the river.  Even in the summer months it is possible to get a place for less than $80 a night, as long as we stay away from the more popular beaches.  And during the winter months they are even less expensive.  That doesn't mean it is right on the beach, those that are a block or two away are usually less expensive, but you are still at the beach.  Here in California they are slightly higher, but the weather is usually nice here year around, so that drives the prices up.

So if you need to getaway from it all, but can't afford to fly to some exotic place, and the ocean is anywhere within driving distance for you, consider getting in your car and just spending a few days at the beach.  It could do wonders for you.  Give you a sense of peace.  And if you have a family, what kid doesn't love to build sand castles and wade in the waves?  It is a great getaway, and it won't break the bank.

Sunset at the beach

Movies & Tv Shows That Ignite our Travel Bug

“I love waking up in the morning not knowing what’s gonna happen or who I’m gonna meet, where I’m gonna wind up.”
Jack in “Titanic"

We have all seen a movie, at some time in our lives, that inspires us in some way.  Probably some movies have made you think "I'd like to go there, that looks like an interesting place to visit."  I can think of quite a few movies and even TV shows that have done that for me.

The Fountain reffered to in the movie
Three Coins in a Fountain

An early movie that got my travel bug started was "Three Coins in a Fountain".  It takes place in Rome and is about 3 American women who are working in Rome and who are looking for love.  The scenery made me want to hop on a plane and head for Italy.  Of course I was only 7 years old when the movie came out, so it wasn't an option.  But it got me started on my need to see other places, and for many, many years, Italy was the one place I had to see.

Another movie that I saw when I was quite young was "The Sound of Music".  The movie took place in Salzburg, Austria.  The scenery of the Alps was quite beautiful, and again stirred my wanderlust.

More recent movies that have called my attention to travel would be "Midnight in Paris" and "Hugo" both took place in Paris, and after seeing those movies, if you aren't in the mood to take off for Paris, I would say there is something wrong with you.  Paris was lovely in both movies.

"How Stella Got Her Groove Back" was a fun movie that would certainly make one think of taking a Caribbean vacation.  Yes, it was steamy and sexy, but it also had some wonderful views of that Caribbean ocean in the background.

"Under the Tuscan Sun" took me back to Italy and made me want to go back again.  And a few years ago we were watching a James Bond Movie "Casino Royale", and I kept trying to figure out where they were.  The scenery was gorgeous, but I didn't recognize it, and I don't think they ever mentioned where it was, if they had then I missed it.  When I got home I googled it and found out it was set in Montenegro.  Immediatly Montenegro went on my list of places to see.  We made it to Montenegro in 2010 and it didn't disappoint.  It is as stunning as the movie made it look.

The Great Wall of China, near Beijing

I had the Great Wall on my list of places to go for many years, so I didn't need a movie to get me interested in going there, but I did enjoy the "Karate Kid" movie a few years ago, which took place in Beijing and part of it was filmed on the Great Wall.

"Out of Africa" with Merle Streep and Robert Redford has stunning views of Africa, beside being a wonderful movie.  We are headed for Africa this year, and I think I need to watch it again, not that I need to get in the mood to go, but it is always nice to see a place, and then know you are heading there soon.

Another place I have wanted to visit for quite awhile is New Zealand.  My husband has been there, and he loved it.  He was in the Navy at the time, and we were not able to accompany him.  It is on our list of places we plan to visit in the near future.  Anyone who has seen any of the "Lord of the Rings" movies, or the new "The Hobbit" movie will certainly know that those were all filmed in New Zealand, and again the scenery is fantastic. 

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Took Place in India

I have never put India on my list of places that I wanted to see.  I know there is so much poverty there, and it did not interest me as much as other places.  Last year I saw two movies that took place in India.  The first was "The Exotic Marigold Hotel", which is a really fun movie about old people who retire to India, because it is less expensive.  It has a great cast, including Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, and it had some great scenes of India.  It almost made me want to go.  Then I saw "The Life of Pi" which partly takes place in India.  A huge part of the movie takes place on the ocean, but there are some wonderful scenes of India, and they are more rural.  They did make me want to go there.

Some recent television shows have also been of interest to me.  I love the Amazing Race, where contestants race around the world for a million dollars.  If I was a little younger and in better shape, I would try out for it.  But at 65 I doubt if I could keep up with everyone.

Another favorite television show is Downton Abbey which is filmed at Highclere Castle in Berkshire, England.  The castle is the real star of the show, although the cast is wonderful and I love all the drama of the show.  But that castle and the grounds are so stunning and you really feel like you are part of that era when you watch the show.  You can actually visit the castle this spring or summer when it is open to visitors and enjoy a cup of tea at the café, stroll the garden, and tour some of the rooms that were used during filming.

Some other movies that have stirred up my travel bug over the years:

Katherine Hepburn
in Summertime

"Summertime" is an old movie which starred Katherine Hepburn as a woman visiting Venice, who falls in love with a local man.
 
"The Tourist" with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.  There is some wonderful scenery of Venice in this film

"A Little Romance" is from 1979 and was filmed in Paris, Verona and Venice. 

"Roman Holiday" With Audrey Hepburn was filmed in Rome in 1953.

Audrey Hepburn
as Holly Golightly

Some movies that might make you travel here in the states include:

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" with Audrey Hepburn and takes place in New York.

"When Harry Met Sally" has some great New York scenery and I have ate at the deli where the famous scene took place - everyone who has seen the movie knows which scene I am talking about.

"Sleepless in Seattle" has great scenes of Seattle and the area, but also has the ending in New York at the top of the Empire State Building.
 
I know there are hundreds of great movies out there that have inspired people to travel.  So what movies have inspired you?  I would love to get some comments from people telling me their favorites.

Glacier National Park

"The Blackfeet Indians called this land "the Backbone of the World" -- and there is no question that, for the two million people who visit this park each year, Glacier connects us to the very core of our nature. It's a place where stunning summits overlook a million acres of wilderness; where the most rugged rock formations rub against meadows of beargrass blossoms; where grizzly bear,
 and elk, and bighorn sheep roam free."

Vice President Al Gore

 

Driving the Going to the Sun Road

Glacier National Park boasts some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. The park preserves more than a million acres of forests, alpine meadows, lakes, rugged peaks and glacial-carved valleys in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Glacier Park’s diverse habitats are home to over 70 species of mammals including the grizzly bear, wolverine, gray wolf and lynx. Over 260 species of birds visit or reside in the park, including such varied species as harlequin ducks, dippers and golden eagles.

There are bears in Glacier NP

My husband and I visited the park in 2010.  We were on a 6 week trip which took us to Washington to our annual visit to our cabin and family and friends.  From there we drove into Canada to visit Lake Louise and the Banff area.  On our way home we decided to drive through Glacier National Park on our way south.  We had our dogs with us, as we always do on our annual trips, so with them we are limited on what we can do when we visit a national park.  They are allowed into all the national parks, but they have limited access, usually having to stay off of all hiking trails.  So we knew that when we visited Glacier that we would probably be driving the “Going to the Sun” Highway with stops at lookout points to see the views.  Since it was at the end of the trip and we were getting anxious to get home, we made do with that.  If you are going to Glacier National Park you may want to spend more time in the park and actually do some hiking and spend a few days exploring.  The park has some beautiful scenery and lots of things you can do.

 

When we were driving on the Going to the Sun Highway we did see a bear cub.  We were at a fairly high elevation.  There was road work being done that day and we were stopped waiting for the cars to come through from the other direction, as the road was only one lane through that area.  As we were waiting, a young bear cub came up the incline below us and passed across the road and headed on up the hill.  When it crossed the road it crossed right in front of a couple that were sitting on a motorcylce.  They almost could have reached out and petted it, but I think they were a little startled.  They may also have been wondering where the mother bear was, and if she was coming across next, but we never saw her. 

 

River just as we entered the park

Glacier National Park is on the border of Montana and Alberta, Canada.  The park borders Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and the two parks are known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.  They were designated as the world’s first International Peace Park and in 1995 they became World Heritage sites.  If you are thinking of visiting Glacier National Park you may want to also visit Waterton Lakes, but remember it is in Canada and you will need a passport to cross the border.   For this posting I am only going to talk about Glacier, as we did not visit Waterton.

 

Glacier National Park is visited by approximately two million visitors each year.  There are many different facilities and attractions in the park, so there is something to interest everyone. The average visitor spends three to four days in the area, although you easily could fill a week with activities in the park. Listed below are some suggestions based on length of stay. Whatever you chose to do, remember to take some time to relax and enjoy your time in the park.

 

Logan Pass is on the Going to the Sun Road
There is a visitor center at the top of the pass

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is probably the most popular area of the park, and the most visited.  The road was completed in 1932 and is a spectacular 50 mile, paved two-lane highway that bisects the park east and west. It spans the width of Glacier National Park, crossing the Continental Divide at 6,646-foot-high Logan Pass. It passes through almost every type of terrain in the park, from large glacial lakes and cedar forests in the lower valleys to windswept alpine tundra atop the pass. Scenic viewpoints and pullouts line the road, so motorists can stop for extended views and photo opportunities. The road is well worth traveling in either direction, as the view from one side of the road is much different than from the other. In 1983 Going-To-The-Sun Road was included in the National Register of Historic Places and in 1985 was made a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.


If you have only one day, then it is recommended that you do the following things:

View from the Going to the Sun Rd

•Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
•Participate in a ranger-led talk or walk.
•Investigate the Discovery Cabin in Apgar Village, where you can learn about plants and animals and how the park manages these resources.

If you have multiple days to spend in the park then you can do any of the following things, depending on what appeals to you:

 •Take a backpacking trip deep within Glacier's wild interior.
•Hike through forests and up mountains on over 700 miles of hiking trails.
•Camp at any one of the 13 front-country campgrounds.
•Take a boat cruise to learn about geology, park history, and much more.
•Take a guided horseback trip inside the park where you can explore historic and contemporary routes.
 •Tour the Going-to-the-Sun Road in a Red Bus or learn all about the Blackfeet Indian culture in comfortable motor coaches.
 •Attend ranger-led walks, talks, hikes, and amphitheater programs throughout your stay. Programs run from early June to early September.



Birdwoman Falls on the
Going to the Sun Rd.

The weather will certainly be a factor to when you go.  Remember that winter is very harsh in northern Montana.  Although technically the park is open all year, it is limited as to what roads will be open due to weather conditions.  The popular “Going to the Sun” Road is only open from mid-June to mid-September.  Also, most of the park facilities are not open during fall and winter.  There are some winter activities available during the winter months, but the majority of visitors visit during the summer months.

 

The lodges and inns located throughout Glacier National Park provide a range of accommodations. Visitors may chose from rooms in historic grand hotels dating back to the early 1900's, modern motel type accommodations, rustic cabins, or historic backcountry chalets. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Rooms book up fast, especially for the peak months of July and August.

 

Picture of Lake McDonald Lodge and
the famous Red Bus cars you can tour in.

There are 3 lodges inside the park.  Lake McDonald Lodge is situated on the shores of Lake McDonald, this lodge offers a peaceful setting, beautiful views, and comfortable accomodations.  Many Glacier Resort is located on Swiftcurrent Lake and offers breathtaking views and unique Swiss themed accomodations.  The Village Inn at Apgar also sits on Lake McDonald. The inn is popular with families because of it's kitchenetts and two-room units.

 

There are 13 different campgrounds and approximately 1,009 sites to choose from, if camping is your thing.  You can enjoy the crackling of a campfire and sleep under the stars in Glacier National Park.   Most of the campgrounds are on a first come basis, with the exception being Fish Creek, St. Mary and half of the group sites in Apgar. These camp sites can be reserved in advance.  The cost for camping ranges from $10 to $23 per night.

 

For more informations go to the Glacier National Park page at http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm



Lake McDonald in Glacier Natrional Park