My Dad, who is joining me at
YearlyKos, doesn't really post here anymore. He put up
one diary during our November 2004 post-election funk and got discouraged.
I think he should be posting regularly on the Middle East and Islam, climate change, science and travel. To encourage Aegistes, I'm going to post something he sent me which I hope will help you Kossacks trying to find yet another reason to come to YearlyKos: side trips to Utah's National Parks from Vegas MADE EASY!
Dad/Aegistes provides 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries, places to stay, restaurants, prices and telephone numbers for bookings. What more do you want?
Southern Utah is my favorite part of the whole planet, and my partner, Telegeek, has never seen any of the more scenic parts of America, so I've already made our reservations for the three days we have before we fly back from Vegas.
I'm going to try to get Aegistes (pictured here on our last trip to Utah) to post a comment below so that we can all give him some Mojo for this excellent contribution to YearlyKos! As he turns 75 this week, wish him a Happy Birthday with me too!
I realize that an advice-giver is without honor is his own family, but here goes anyway. You mentioned in your last telephone conversation that you were unsure as to how much free time for sightseeing you might end up having prior to the convention in Las Vegas in June. Here are some recommendations based upon varying amounts of free time. They are based on fifty years of travel in the area, and some small knowledge of the travel industry.
DAY TRIPS ONLY
ZION NATIONAL PARK - Three to four hours drive each way (170 miles), plus time in the Park. Seven-day pass is $20 per vehicle, or $10 per individual on foot. Annual NPS pass is $40. Except for guests staying at the Lodge and vehicles transiting the Park on UT-9, all vehicles must park and visitors must use the free shuttle buses. Parking in the Park is limited and fills up early. Parking in Springdale is available, with a separate shuttle bus taking visitors to and from the Park entrance. You walk through the entrance, and catch the Park shuttle on the inside. With limited time, your best trails are Angel's Landing (5 miles roundtrip, allow three to four hours) and the popular Riverside Trail through the Narrows (1.5 miles RT and 1.5 hours).
SPRING MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA - A pleasant day's outing. The mountains rise to just under 12,000 feet in elevation, and will still have snow in June. Take US-95 northwest some thirty miles to the junction with Lee Canyon road (don't take the Kyle Canyon road--you'll be coming back that way). Take the Lee Canyon road some twenty miles up the mountain to the Las Vegas Ski Resort. When that palls, return five miles to the junction with the Deer Creek road. Take the Deer Creek road some ten miles over to the Kyle Canyon road. Turn left and go to the end of the road at Mt. Charleston. To return to Las Vegas, take the Kyle Canyon road some twenty-odd miles back to US-95. Total distance driven is about a hundred miles. Take a jacket; it'll be cool up there.
ONE NIGHT TRIP
ZION NATIONAL PARK - See above.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK - Take I-15 some 180 miles to Cedar City, then turn onto UT-14 for the forty-mile trip up and over the Markagunt Plateau to US-89 at Long Valley Junction. If you have the time, take the one-hour side trip to Cedar Breaks National Monument. The Visitor's Center is at 10,500 feet in elevation. From LVJ, take US-89 some twenty miles north up the Sevier Valley to the junction with UT-12. Take this fifteen miles to Ruby's Inn, then continue on the Park road some five miles to the Park Entrance. It's about twenty miles from the entrance to the end of the Park road at Rainbow Point. Total distance from Vegas is about 300 miles.
TWO NIGHT TRIP
BRYCE CANYON AND ZION NATIONAL PARKS - Combine the two by heading for Bryce first, then taking UT-9 off of US-89 into Zion.
THREE NIGHT TRIP
BRYCE CANYON AND ZION NATIONAL PARKS PLUS SLICKROCK COUNTRY - Spend the first night at Bryce Canyon. The next day, take UT-12 up to Boulder. Stay there overnight. On the way, stop at Calf Creek campground, and take the hike up the canyon to Lower Calf Creek Falls. From Boulder return back the way you came to US-89, and take UT-9 into Zion for the third night.
ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS
ZION NATIONAL PARK - Zion Lodge (central reservations (888) 297-2757, restaurant (435) 834-5361) in Zion Canyon. Std units $141, 1-br suite $151. You're paying for character and location here, not luxury. Food quality, mostly pre-packaged microwavable, ranges from miserable to barely adequate. Guests may drive to lodge and park there with proof of registration. Advance reservations mandatory.
ZION NATIONAL PARK - Flanagan's Inn (435-772-3244) just outside Park entrance in Springdale. Std units $124. Six 1-br suites and 2 separate villas, query for price. Has best restaurant in Zion area, Spotted Dog Café.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK - Bryce Canyon Lodge (central reservations (888) 297-2757, restaurant (435) 772-7700) Std units $140. Closed November through March. Again, you're getting atmosphere and location, not luxury. Food much like all NPS concession areas, poor to adequate.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK - Ruby's Inn (435-834-5341 or 1-877-854-5808 in US), three miles north of Park entrance. Std units $120. A Best Western franchise and a full-service resort. Food average to good.
BOULDER - Boulder Mountain Lodge (435-335-7460) at junction of UT-12 and Burr Trail. Has 20 std units, 18 1-br units, and 2 2-br units. Prices $89 to $160. Rates three diamonds from AAA.
BOULDER - Hell's Backbone Grill (435-335-7464). Rugged frontier atmosphere. Features locally-produced meats and vegetables. Gets three-diamond AAA rating. Reservations suggested.
BOULDER - Boulder Mesa Restaurant (435-335-7447). Hand-pressed hamburgers and extensive vegetarian menu. Gets two-diamond AAA rating.