WELCOME TO ST. GEORGE, UTAH
A cute, family-friendly little town surrounded by red rock and gobs of parks, drive-in diners and artwork around every corner. We packed it in: Ancestor Square, Pioneer Park, Zion National Park, Sandy Hollow State Park, Snow Canyon, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon all in 3 days.
HISTORY MOMENT
This area is known as “Utah’s Dixie.” Dixieland without the sweet tea or the sweet Southern drawl. License plates, rocks, memorabilia, and Dixie State University. Why Dixie? Well, back in 1860, they selected 300 families to move to this area of the country and grow cotton and other crops that were too expensive to export from the south, pre-railroad. Some dude from the South gave it this nickname Dixie and it stuck.
DAY 2
Remember that time we got up at 4 a.m., fumbled into our hiking shoes and headed for Zion National Park on Memorial Day to “beat the crowds?” So proudly chanting “first ones here, first ones here!” Then turning the corner to see a line of over 100 people who actually were the “first ones here.” While we waited for the shuttle, we made a plan of attack that did NOT involve Angel’s Landing. But then…Emerald Pools was beautiful and happened to drop us at the entrance to Angel’s Landing. Where EVERYONE was going. Deep sigh from Jen, puppy dog eyes from Karl. Here we go.
The switchbacks up were paved and wide. But the higher we went the more narrow they became. Passing someone coming down was torture because it forced you to ride the edge of a sheer drop. Then there were the runners. And Karl, glued to his phone as he walks along the edge, hundreds of feet in the air. I couldn’t take it.
We arrive at the base of Angel’s landing and take pause. It’s steep. And narrow. And jagged. And I bail. So many people clinging to the side of a mountain with nothing but a thick chain and their finger strength to keep them from plummeting off the cliff like Wile E. Coyote.
Then I overhear a woman working hard to convince her 7-year-old son to do it with her because “it’s not as bad as it looks. You’ll regret it if you don’t.” Ok, ok let’s do it. Only a few minutes in and I’m feeling ok, until the people start coming back down. This is NOT a two-lane road. I bail. Again. But then the people pass and it’s back on. I got this. We make it through the first portion. Nothing to sneeze at. Then head left to a flat area where people are having lunch and enjoying the view. Man we’re high up. But I felt good. Karl felt good. And that’s when we decided to skip the next phase up mountain number two (which did NOT feel good) and head back down with pride.
It’s amazing how well you cooperate with your fellow man when you’re all clinging to the same measly chain on the side of a mountain. So if someone asks if we did Angel’s Landing we’ll say yes. Will you go back and try it again? Nope. We’re good.
DAY 3
Man was this fun. ATV Jeep tour at Sandy Hollow State Park. Dunes, views, rocks. Our little buggy could climb anything. Once I let loose on the throttle, it was giggles and whoops the whole way.
Next up, Snow Canyon park where they have lava tubes, caving and lots of that “dry heat” everyone loves to talk about. Those colors, though. The landscape was different. Felt like we were really far away from civilization. Karl has found his happy place and skips ahead to the caves. Which he shimmies down into with my 12-year-old niece while I stand safely at the entrance with my parents.
We end the evening with Pioneer Park for sunset shots and town vistas. This is THE place to be. So many people, all ages climb up for a view. We even saw a 6-year-old bouldering up the tallest rock.
DAY 4
Today is North Rim of the Grand Canyon day. A beautiful drive full of lush pine tree forests—a much different vibe than the rocky red desert we had been hiking. The canyon does not disappoint. We start with Bright Angel Point—which was amazing. It’s a lot to wrap your head around—we took it all in—took our photos and headed back to St. George to pack up. Next stop, Vegas.
FUN FACT
There are no buffalo in North America. Only bison. The settlers started it. Once they realized the difference, it was too late. And no one really cared. Except maybe the bison.The more you know.
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