Zion National Park, Utah

Looking out the window of the car you can see the clouds covering the top of the mountains, as we begin our tour of Zion National Park. Zion was Utah's first park. Cold misty snow covers the trees, the peaks, and the roadways. You might want to keep this picture handy when you're complaining about being hot in the middle of August. I think seeing it will help to cool you down. lol. Seriously folks can you feel the cold from you sit?

Put on coat, hiking boats, hat, and mittens and come along with hubby and I for a winter hike. Regardless of the season you must come prepared at Zion. Elevations vary from 3,666 to 8,726 feet. With that much elevation change you can have a 30 degree temperature swing in any one day.
Keep your eyes peeled though, it's getting late and some of the animals are out looking for food. Even when they're on the path give them the right away. Don't run! Be still, or move slowly to get out of their way. Running is never good. Firstly, they move a whole faster then we do. Running get's their attention and they to give chase; plus you risk falling...particularly when it's slippery.
We scrambled as best we could off the trail up the hill a bit. I was holding onto a tree, pulling my sister-in-law up after me. Her hubby, my brother and my hubby we're fast behind us. We had a hard time holding on while we waited for it to leave. I tried to use my zoom with one cold hand to get the picture. Which is why it's not very good. It was a good size bull and it stared at us for what seemed like a long time. Then he started towards us. We remained quiet and motionless; finally he lost interest and went the other direction. We made out way quickly back to the visitors center; as we were almost done with our hike when this occurred. It was getting late, and we were all cold.
I suggest you eat light if you want to squeeze through. Some of these crevasses are pretty tight. Sandcastles in desert canyons in every direction will keep you snapping pictures constantly. So much to see. Zion rests on the border of the Mojave Desert and is part of the Colorado Plateau. Many different weather zones produce a big variety in animal, and plant life. The area was once home to Ancestral Puebloans, The Anasazi.

Even with snow you can see how red and pretty the cliffs are at Zion National Park. No wonder visitors has grown from 3,692 in 1920 to 2.5 million by 1996.


Just as we headed back to our cars the sun began to set, look at the beautiful color even in the dead of winter. This is January in Zion National Park. Perhaps someday we'll return for a tour during warmer months. You can rest assured though if you tour, as we did during the winter months, you see different sites than the average visitor; and it's not crowded!

The park is open all year, except Christmas Day. Some area's maybe restricted if unsafe due to weather in the winter months. Hours vary too by the seasons, open from 8 A.M. to 5 in Spring and Winter, 6 in Fall, and 8 P.M. in Summer.

Jr. Ranger Programs exist, so please get the kids signed up if you have young ones in your group. Bikes and pets are permitted on certain trails. Truly something for everyone, almost everyday of the year.

Traveling Interstate 70, Illinois

World's largest cross measures 198 feet by 113 feet. This large cross is at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interset 57 in Effingham, Illinois. At night it is lit and visible for quite a distance. A beacon.
Visible for a good distance during the day also. It was built by The Effingham Cross Foundation using 180 tons of steel. Please take time to hop off the freeway, follow the small signs to see this up close and personal. There are 10 stations each with a button for audio homilies, a visitors center (with bathroom), and a video you can enjoy. There are several large crosses across the country. Groom Texas boast the 2nd largest cross in the Western Hemisphere. You can see how little hubby is by comparison...the speck of red, that's hubby. Click on the picture to enlarge it for a better view. I've lighten the photo for better visibility, as it was dark and gloomy...misting while we were there.
This picture of me and my bison was taken out front of The Indian Arts and Crafts Shop in St. Elmo, Illinois; also right along I-70. I have a thing about bison and so we stopped for a photo opt. However besides stopping to see the Bison I encourage you to stop and do a little shopping while you take a potty break. The selection of Native American crafts, and art is fabulous. Prices are quite good.

Too often in our travels people blow past items of interest, thinking only of the final destination. I really believe it's the journey, and not the final destination that can produce wonderful memories, opportunities to learn and add to the enjoyment of the trip. So, please do yourself a favor, stop, look and learn. Why not add these interesting stops instead of speeding in and out of a rest stop next time you travel?

Interstate 70 is most generally the fastest way from point A to point B, running from near Cove Fort in Utah to near Baltimore Maryland, and the first Interstate Highway Project here in The US; but there are sites along the way..............slow down and enjoy them.

Travel safe my friends and let me know what you see along the way.

Keep Pedaling, Hilton Head South Carolina

Get your bike and join me. Mine's the pretty bright lime green bike. Bike rentals are everywhere on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Hotels have rentals as do private vendors to make it convenient. Prices are quite affordable. Some private vendors will even delivery your bike to the hotel or resort, while other resorts have the rental right there at your finger tips. I was given a sturdy lock and basket along with my rental; and a map of the trails. Paths go everywhere on the Island. In fact there are 10 scenic miles of bike paths and don't forget you can also ride on the beach.

On a hot summer's day you could enjoy some shade from the tree lined pathways. I get lost easily so pleased to see lots of signs to help you find your way.

You can enjoy trees, birds, beach scenes as well as caulking at the beautiful private homes. There's even a couple of guided tours you can take on your bike. One such popular tour is to Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. It was too cold for me to what to venture to another island; but hope to take that in on a return trip to the area.

You can ride just to ride, you can ride to shop or eat, you can ride and see historic sites, and you can ride to enjoy wildlife. I highly recommend renting a bike for a few days when you visit Hilton Head. The one partially warm day I rode all day while hubby was golfing. I had a ball and saw many things you might miss while riding by in a car at a higher speed.

Pack Kitchen Essentials in your Travels

When you travel one way to save money is to do some cooking yourself. We typically have a kitchen or kitchenette and therefore don't have the need to eat every meal out. We pack small containers of spices that we use in most of favorite dishes. We've even found small containers of salad dressing. You don't want to spend all your time at the grocery store; nor do you want to throw away half used items that are left at the end of your weeks vacation. That's wasteful and costly. Plan ahead. This small container holds tea bags, a coffee bag or two, spices, powdered creamer and sugar, salt and pepper. You might notice a hotel package there on the right side in the picture. I rarely use all that is supplied in a hotel room, so do keep the extra packages. They're light weight and easy to pack that way.

We almost always grill out a night or two, most of the resorts we've stayed in have a grill area. That's a great way to stretch your budget, eat well, and not be restricted if you don't have a full kitchen. So the spices we pack always come in handy for that. Mrs. Dash can be used for so many things it's a good multi-purpose spice that always travels with us.

Breakfast is generally not more then coffee, a breakfast roll, fruit or bowl of cereal. My small packages of creamer are used for breakfast.

Lunch is lite consisting of apples, crackers, cheese and maybe some lunch meat. Small amounts of each we've found are easily obtainable, take little room even if in a small kitchenette, filling and well used up when the week is over.

If you have a full kitchen you may purchase more and have more left at the end of your week. Before you pitch it ask the desk if they keep items on hand. We've found many Marriott facilities keep a food bank box in or near the lobby where unopened items can be put and donated.

This small box of goodies and are packable plastic stemware have served us well in our travels. We take them even when flying.

7 days left in the contest, you still have time to enter.