The Grand Canyon is obvious. Rocky Mountain National Park is self-explanatory. But I didn’t know what to expect from a place called Zion.

Things got interesting right away, as we cruised through a one-mile long tunnel (wider vehicles pay a fee to have it all to themselves) into the heart of Zion National Park. The white rock of Checkerboard Mesa gives way to bright reds and oranges at ostentatiously-named places like Court of the Patriarchs and the Temple of Sinawava.

Itching for a strenuous hike, we chose the Angels Landing trail. But are we fit to fly with the angels?

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/Z4b046mNezc”]

In the neighboring town of Springdale, Karen returned to the Bit & Spur, a favorite restaurant from her days working at a Utah theater. The tamales were tasty, the pork ribs perfect, and the margaritas… mmmm.