March 2023 road trip..Zion, Grand Canyon and Phoenix
Monday the 13th
A big drive day. Tough white out rain leaving Portland but burns out after Hood River. Many miles and watching the landscape change. Lunch in some Country Cafe in Idaho just off the highway. Made it to Ogden. A Comfort Inn with a lovely indoor saltwater pool. Awesome to get in some water play before settling down.
Tuesday the 14th
Drive to Zion. Utah is a huge state. By three we arrive at Zion Bed and Breakfast and after unloading the car, we head straight out to the trails. Riverside walk and The Grotto trails. It's rainy and the river is high. Waterfalls cascade off the cliffs in many places. I love the rain and I would have uncomfortable in the heat. Maybe September is a better time?
We arrive at the Spotted Dog cafe cold, dripping wet but they don't blink. They merely sit us on the hardwood instead of the carpet. I had duck. G had trout. Both were first class meals!
https://zionnationalpark.com/directory/dining-services/cafes/spotted-dog-cafe/
https://www.zioncanyonbnb.com/accommodations
Wednesday the 15th
The bed and breakfast serves a sit down full affair. Yum. We hit the Parus trail, try Emerald pools and do Weeping Rock. There's been so much rain that Emerald had a huge waterfall right on the trail. G was brave and I was not. Later, he admits it was like a Class three rapid falling on his head. We check out view points and enjoy the day.
We clean up, walk the town and galleries and have an early dinner at Whiptail Grill.
https://whiptailgrillzion.com/
Thursday the 16th
Pack the car after a great breakfast. Do the Canyon Overlook trail on the other side of the tunnel at Zion. Stop at Thunderbird cafe for lunch, souveniers and a beautiful pendant made of the local rock by the former mayor. Cool! And we get deep fried scones for the road.
https://www.zionnational-park.com/bw3.htm
By the time we get to Grand canyon, check on some overlooks and find the big hotel it is getting late. We eat dinner from our cooler stash and read until sleepy.
Friday the 17th
Like Zion, Grand Canyon is a bit disneyfied with bus shuttles to go everywhere. We spend much of the day alternating shuttle rides and Rim Trail walking. We take in the geology museum. There's still too much snow and ice to hike much more than that. We had breakfast at Bright Angel, lunch at Hermit's rest and watched the golden sun from the Arizona Steakhouse. We watch the sunset at Hopi point. We are both sore from walking. Trying to squeeze it all in.
Saturday the 18th
We take in the vistor center and then hit the road. In Flagstaff, we walk a bit in the historic area and get Cornish pasties! So amazing. There's also the Lowell observatory here. I definitely want to come back.
https://downtownflagstaff.org/go/cornish-pasty-company
Arrive at Phoenix. Unpack. Have dinner at Blue Adobe grill with Suse, who was the excuse for the road trip.
https://originalblueadobe.com/
Sunday the 19th
Arizona Renn Fair.
https://arizona.renfestinfo.com/
A very large fair! Enjoyed most of what we saw.
Monday the 20th
Desert Botanical Garden. What can I say? Wow! I did not anticipate spending all morning and part of the afternoon here but it was well worth the time and we had lovely spring weather. Had an afternoon soak in the hotel hot tub and met Suse for some music at the Rodeo grill. Said our goodbyes.
Tuesday the 21st
Drive to Palm Springs. There's some flooding and oogle doesn't cope well. We get a thin pizza. Walk the town. The hotel is a sweet little boutique and spa that I will want to come back to. They give a complimentaty glass of champagne. We have a great dinner at Fuzion Five. Followed by a lovely soak in a private intimate coutyard hot tub. No one else to brave the rain.
http://andreashotel.com/
Wedesday and Thursday 22 and 23rd
Due to snow in the passes and a possible winter storm heading our way, it seemed safest to plough up I-5 through Cali. I've never seen this before and once you get past outer LA, the land becomes very agricultaural for hours and hours of trees and fields. We stop in Redding Wednesday night and this is the transition point between the valley and the mountains to come. Our highlight Thursday is stopping at the original Black Bear cafe. Alas, Shasta is socked in and we cannot see her!
Home again. Life is good. Cats do not seem worse for having had a cat sitter and all is quiet and clean in my little urban oasis.
A big drive day. Tough white out rain leaving Portland but burns out after Hood River. Many miles and watching the landscape change. Lunch in some Country Cafe in Idaho just off the highway. Made it to Ogden. A Comfort Inn with a lovely indoor saltwater pool. Awesome to get in some water play before settling down.
Tuesday the 14th
Drive to Zion. Utah is a huge state. By three we arrive at Zion Bed and Breakfast and after unloading the car, we head straight out to the trails. Riverside walk and The Grotto trails. It's rainy and the river is high. Waterfalls cascade off the cliffs in many places. I love the rain and I would have uncomfortable in the heat. Maybe September is a better time?
We arrive at the Spotted Dog cafe cold, dripping wet but they don't blink. They merely sit us on the hardwood instead of the carpet. I had duck. G had trout. Both were first class meals!
https://zionnationalpark.com/directory/dining-services/cafes/spotted-dog-cafe/
https://www.zioncanyonbnb.com/accommodations
Wednesday the 15th
The bed and breakfast serves a sit down full affair. Yum. We hit the Parus trail, try Emerald pools and do Weeping Rock. There's been so much rain that Emerald had a huge waterfall right on the trail. G was brave and I was not. Later, he admits it was like a Class three rapid falling on his head. We check out view points and enjoy the day.
We clean up, walk the town and galleries and have an early dinner at Whiptail Grill.
https://whiptailgrillzion.com/
Thursday the 16th
Pack the car after a great breakfast. Do the Canyon Overlook trail on the other side of the tunnel at Zion. Stop at Thunderbird cafe for lunch, souveniers and a beautiful pendant made of the local rock by the former mayor. Cool! And we get deep fried scones for the road.
https://www.zionnational-park.com/bw3.htm
By the time we get to Grand canyon, check on some overlooks and find the big hotel it is getting late. We eat dinner from our cooler stash and read until sleepy.
Friday the 17th
Like Zion, Grand Canyon is a bit disneyfied with bus shuttles to go everywhere. We spend much of the day alternating shuttle rides and Rim Trail walking. We take in the geology museum. There's still too much snow and ice to hike much more than that. We had breakfast at Bright Angel, lunch at Hermit's rest and watched the golden sun from the Arizona Steakhouse. We watch the sunset at Hopi point. We are both sore from walking. Trying to squeeze it all in.
Saturday the 18th
We take in the vistor center and then hit the road. In Flagstaff, we walk a bit in the historic area and get Cornish pasties! So amazing. There's also the Lowell observatory here. I definitely want to come back.
https://downtownflagstaff.org/go/cornish-pasty-company
Arrive at Phoenix. Unpack. Have dinner at Blue Adobe grill with Suse, who was the excuse for the road trip.
https://originalblueadobe.com/
Sunday the 19th
Arizona Renn Fair.
https://arizona.renfestinfo.com/
A very large fair! Enjoyed most of what we saw.
Monday the 20th
Desert Botanical Garden. What can I say? Wow! I did not anticipate spending all morning and part of the afternoon here but it was well worth the time and we had lovely spring weather. Had an afternoon soak in the hotel hot tub and met Suse for some music at the Rodeo grill. Said our goodbyes.
Tuesday the 21st
Drive to Palm Springs. There's some flooding and oogle doesn't cope well. We get a thin pizza. Walk the town. The hotel is a sweet little boutique and spa that I will want to come back to. They give a complimentaty glass of champagne. We have a great dinner at Fuzion Five. Followed by a lovely soak in a private intimate coutyard hot tub. No one else to brave the rain.
http://andreashotel.com/
Wedesday and Thursday 22 and 23rd
Due to snow in the passes and a possible winter storm heading our way, it seemed safest to plough up I-5 through Cali. I've never seen this before and once you get past outer LA, the land becomes very agricultaural for hours and hours of trees and fields. We stop in Redding Wednesday night and this is the transition point between the valley and the mountains to come. Our highlight Thursday is stopping at the original Black Bear cafe. Alas, Shasta is socked in and we cannot see her!
Home again. Life is good. Cats do not seem worse for having had a cat sitter and all is quiet and clean in my little urban oasis.