Becky and The Parents Day Three: Bryce Canyon National Park

We spent the night in Kanab, then got up early the next day and drove up to Bryce Canyon National Park. Again, the drive was just as beautiful as on the previous days. The photo above is one view along the way of a river in southern Utah, in Long Valley.  

 

To get to Bryce Canyon from Kanab, you take Hwy 89 north until you get to Hwy 12, then turn right. You go through an area of red rock formations in the Dixie National Forest that is spectacular all by itself. If you didn't get to Bryce, you would still be in awe just from the drive on Hwy 12. 

 

 

 

Once you get into Bryce Canyon National Park, there are several different areas and viewpoints. We went to the Bryce Ampitheater, which included Sunrise Point, and to Fairyland Point.  FabGrandpa and I went to Bryce last year, but we were there in mid-afternoon and the sun was too bright--all my photos looked washed out and did not truly show the gorgeous colors. This time, we got there early in the morning. The light was better and I got some fantastic pictures.  

The pictures below were taken at Sunrise Point:

 

 

 

 

Becky and FabGrandpa at Sunrise Point

 

  

 

And the pictures below were taken at Fairyland Point:

 

  

  

  

So, so far, we have been to Antelope Canyon, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park. Three canyons, all different, and all very beautiful and awesome in their own ways.  Then we went home to the North Rim and took Becky on a tour of the Grand Canyon.

Becky and the Parents, Day Two continued: Zion National Park

On Saturday, after our tour of Antelope Canyon, we drove from Page, Arizona, to Kanab, Utah where we ate lunch at Houston's Trail's End Restaurant.  After lunch, we went to Zion National Park. I'm telling you, if you are easily overwhelmed by spectacular views, don't come to this area! We found ourselves wondering how "they" decided one place should be a national park and another place was just ordinary. I don't know how "they" decide this, but I wouldn't want that job. If I were the one having to make that decision, I think half of northern Arizona and southern Utah would be one huge, continuous national park. 

 

The photo above is of the scenery just opposite the entrance station to Zion National Park. I could look at that every day, yes I could. 

 

 

FabGrandpa and Becky at Checkerboard Mesa in Zion National Park. 

Out the window of the car as we drove through Zion.

 

It was such a fabulous day here, the sky really was that blue.

 

As usual, these photos don't show how really grand this landscape is. 

 

Gorgeous!

 

We drove all the way through Zion, starting on the east side, then out the west gate into the town of Springdale. At the far end of Sprindale is Springdale Fruit Company. They have the best smoothies, made with apple juice from their apple orchard. MMMMMM.  We also got some of that delicious Old Navuoo jam they sell there.  Then back in the car, to drive back through Zion, west to east. 

 

 

This is in Springdale, headed back into Zion National Park. 

 

This place is so amazing! 

 

We stopped to watch and photograph a herd of Mountain Rams. These two just posed and posed for us. I got a video of them, too. 

 

This is the Utah countryside on the way back to Kanab, where we spent the night that night. We went to dinner at Nedra's, Too, a great Mexican restaurant in Kanab. We stayed at the Best Western in Kanab, on the top floor I might add. We got some good sleep that night, but the wi-fi didn't work. Oh, well, I guess you can't have everything.

A Preview of Becky and The Parents, Day Three: Bryce Canyon

Scenic Sunday

This photo was taken out the window of my truck last year in July, when we were driving up Hwy 89 on our way to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.

For more Scenic Sunday photos, click here.

Gluten Free In Kanab, Utah

I have written about Kanab, Utah before. It is only seven miles north of the Arizona-Utah border, out in the middle of nowhere. The town was settled in the 1860's, first as a fort for defense against the Paiute Indians, then as a Mormon settlement. It is now a tiny town of about 5,400 population.


It serves as a hub for agriculture, recreation, and tourism in this area, being located in the center of the triangle formed when you draw lines between Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.


You can see why the town thrived, even though it was in a remote area. The Kanab Creek provides water, and makes the town look like an oasis in the middle of desert country.

We like doing business in Kanab, because the people here are so friendly. We can get just about anything we need here, from a good lunch at the Mexican restaurant, to new shoes, to tires and repairs to our diesel truck.

I love it that I can get lots of my favorite gluten free products at Honey's Jubilee, a local independently owned grocery store. Last year, when I shopped there and found Bob's Red Mill, Mi-Del, and Glutino products on the shelves, I was so happy I cried. When I checked out that first time in the store, I thanked the cashier for having such a good selection of gluten free products. She told me that the owner was celiac.

(Terrell, the owner of Honey's Jubilee)

Not that I'm glad that Terrell is a celiac, but if he has to be, then I am glad he owns a grocery store. Because he has to eat a gluten free diet, he stocks things in his store that he can eat. It makes life easier on all of us in town (and out of town as well) who must eat the same gluten free way.

(look at the gluten free section in Honey's!)

When we went to Page, a much bigger town, that even has a super Wal-Mart, AND two chain grocery stores, there was NOT ONE gluten free item to be found. No pasta, no bread mix, no buckwheat cereal, NOT even the gluten free Rice Chex. I was so disappointed with that. At one of the grocery stores, I even asked at the service desk and the girl said, "No we don't have anything gluten free here. One of my co-workers found out last week that she is gluten intolerant and she can't find anything here." Isn't that sad that a whole town has nothing to offer a person who is gluten free?


I was delighted to see that they had the new Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes on the shelf at Honey's. I didn't need any of them this time, or believe me, I would have gotten one of each! I did get Bob's Red Mill Bread Mix and some Creamy Buckwheat Cereal; Mi-Del Ginger Snaps; Glutino Frozen Bagels; Van's Apple Cinnamon Waffles; and some Shar Table Crackers. I was in gluten free heaven!


So there you go! If you are a gluten free girl or guy, and you are planning to go on a trip to see Zion, Bryce, and North Rim Grand Canyon National Parks, go knowing you will find a gluten friendly place in Kanab. Honey's Jubliee Grocery Store at 260 East 300 South - Kanab, Utah. And if you do go there, go to the service desk and ask for Terrell, and tell him FabGrandma sent you!

Scenic Sunday

A little oasis in the desert just north of Kanab, Utah on highway 89.

To see more Scenic Sunday photos, click here.