There was only one thing wrong with our 2006 visit to these two beautiful national parks — we didn't get to stay long enough. We hope we get to go back.
We visited both parks at least twice during our time in the area. Does everyone know about the National Park's lifetime Golden Age Pass? It's absolutely the best travel buy going for anyone over 62 (I think it was 55 when we got ours.) We've had ours for years (well, duh) but I just checked and the current price is only $10.00. You get in to any National Park and most other National Recreation areas without further cost. I can't even begin to add up how many times over we've gotten our monies worth. Get one if you're eligible!
The vistas at Canyonlands and Arches are awe-inspiring. And the walking is great – once you recover. The Visitor Centers at both parks were helpful in providing an overview of the history and geology of the areas.
We stayed in the nearby town of Moab — touristy, but still charming.
Geoff drove over from neighboring Colorado to join us for a couple days of our stay, so we were able to explore some back roads with his Jeep. (Part of trail pictured below). It's a rite of passage toward acceptance of middle- (or greater) age when you can trust your life to someone whom you taught to drive! But once you get over this angst, it's a great feeling. We loved the ride.
At one stop on the trail, we met some people from the Netherlands. It was their first visit to this country and first time to drive a Jeep (they had a rental). They'd been watching and following us (at a good distance). We were happy that we — and they — hadn't had any trouble
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Bill had to walk in front a few times to a guide Geoff, because he couldn't always see the travel line through the rocks we encountered.
The huge balanced rock was beside a road out of Moab. It looks like Bill is trying to find the best way to move it.
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Just before we got to Moab, we stayed for a few nights at Bloomfield, Utah, only about 200 miles away. It was from there that we visited Chaco Canyon. http://travelingrainvilles.typepad.com/traveling_home/2008/02/chaco-canyon-ju.html
We really hope to go back to this area. We'd like to revisit all three of these beautiful parks and see the rest of the Four Corners area.
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