10/14 Canyonlands National Park

Today we accomplished a goal!  We have always wanted to visit the Utah National Parks, and Canyonlands is on today's itinerary!  No wait at the entrance, and blue sky and a clear road make it perfect!  Mesa Arch is maybe the most visited and photographed attraction in this park, so we did take the short hike to see it.  And we understand why it attracts attention!  But, there are many other totally worthy stops along the road and we tried to see them all!  Buck Canyon Overlook and Grand View Point Overlook were 2 of the stops we made, just taking some time to relax and enjoy these amazing places.  We've waited a long time to get here, so we are seeing all that we can.  Having pictures to remember our trip is wonderful, but nothing like being there in person.  I wish these photos would convey the feeling of being there yourself, but not even Apple has come up with a way to do that yet!

Bob took a short hike on his own to Murphy Point, and we stopped at the visitor center before leaving the park.  I collect the Passport Stamps from the parks we visit, so that draws us into the visitor center.  If you're not familiar with the Passports, it's a program from the National Parks (as well as other Public Lands) that offers a hand-stamped dated insignia to anyone interested.  In addition, I like to purchase a small sticker or magnet or postcard from each park to add to our traveling scrapbook.  No big souvenirs allowed due to space considerations, and truly, I prefer fiber souvenirs now!

We got back to Moab in time for an early supper and beer sample at Moab Brewery.  A lot of the activity around Moab involves bicycling and off-road vehicles, and the brewery does a good job of promoting that in their decor and cuisine.  Stop in for a taste when you get to Moab, it's easy to find!