Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park is one of those places about which folks could not believe the stories. Vividly colored cliffs rising 2,000 and 3,000 feet almost straight up, huge multi-colored monoliths, an extremely rugged countryside filled with very narrow canyons and sculptured landforms... Zion is different from almost anything you'll see anywhere else.

This is truly ancient landscape. Zion Canyon was carved almost "singlehandedly" by the Virgin River, starting about 13 million years ago. The Kolob Canyons that cut into Kolob Terrace were carved by snowmelt running in the Left and Right Forks of North Creek for almost as long. And the colors of the rock run the gamut from light pastels to deep reds and almost burgundies.

There are deep canyons here so narrow that two people cannot pass each other in the walkway. There are waterfalls and lush hanging gardens, hoodoos and immense sandstone arches, paved accessible trails and ridgetop trails where you'll be hanging onto the provided chains... This is a place you don't want to miss, but you don't want to be in a rush either.