Bryce is only two hours from Zion, and a nice two hours it is … More interesting country. Saw some buffalo roaming, but no deer or antelope playing. Seems to be a tradition in the southwest that the first letter of a town's name is etched or written on a nearby mountain. Kind of neat, and nicer than a billboard. The highway again ran alongside a beautiful winding river — I believe the Sevier. Utah is just beautiful in this area — I wish we had had time to go further north to see the other great parks. Ah well, someday …

Approaching Bryce, we entered a different canyon area unexpectedly. At first we wondered if it was part of the main park, because it was very Bryce-like. But it had its own identity — Red Canyon — and was just a delight, and a great appetizer for its big brother. It had hoodoos (def: a pillar of rock, usually of fantastic shape, left by erosion), and beautiful red rock outcroppings, but on a smaller scale than Bryce. And they were all very approachable and touchable, right off of the road. The excitement was rising.

Then into Bryce Canyon itself. We stopped at the visitor center, of course, and loaded up on guides, maps, postcards, books, etc. — you can never have enough information is my motto. The main road of the park runs for 18 miles along the plateau rim above the canyon. At several points on this route are overlooks into the canyon. Our first approach to the canyon was at Sunset Point (8000 ft.). Oh my. Oh, Wow.

It's hard to describe something so surreal. The pictures will do a better job than words, I think. Some areas have names like Fairyland Canyon, the Queen's Garden, Thor's Hammer, Wall Street, the Silent City. It's the most bizarre, spectacular, colorful place. Actually like entering a fairy tale, or some kingdom at Disney World — but so much better because it's real, a natural wonder.

We wanted at it right away. It's so entrancing, enticing. We followed the Navaho Loop trail, which is a steep decline in a short distance, to the base of the canyon. One minute you're at eye level with the hoodoos, the next you're at their feet, dwarfed by them. The sun was so bright, and the shadows so dramatic. This was another of those moments to relish. Especially because we were virtually alone in this amazing place. How lucky can you get?

After a steep ascent up and out again, we began the drive along the rim. The elevation rises as you head south, getting up to 9015 feet at the end, Yovimpa Point. Each stop along the way provides a different look and feel of the canyon. The day was so clear and perfect we could see for miles and miles beyond the canyon to the east. Click here and here for more views.

We were staying right in the park at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, one of the great lodges of the National Parks system. Grand and rustic at once. The guest rooms are actually in separate buildings and cabins surrounding the main lodge. A very comfortable, companionable atmosphere, where you feel removed from civilization. (Yikes - no TV?)

The following morning (a cold one) we got up early to see the sunrise at Bryce Point. About 20 others were there also, poised with cameras, awaiting the magic. It was unfortunately very short-lived as the sun had barely gotten above the horizon when it went behind a cloud bank. So the dramatic shadows didn't develop. Oh well, still nice enough. We spent a little more time enjoying and appreciating where we were, and then were off to the next place. Somewhere I was a bit excited about: the Grand Canyon.