Last year, while buddy reading Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench, my friend said, “You know, I’d really love to see an actual Shakespeare play in person someday.” That’s when the light bulb went off and I suggested the annual Utah Shakespeare Festival that’s held every year. This led to my first road trip. Well, the first one I was at the helm of, anyway.
The festival is held in Cedar City, Utah, which is a lovely place, but there aren’t a ton of things to do while you’re there. We did go walk through downtown, stopped in a bookstore (of course), and ate a lot more food than we probably should have. But we wanted something more. So, it was only inevitable that we’d find something else to squeeze in on the off day we had between plays.
Enter Bryce Canyon National Park. I’m ashamed to admit that, despite living in the southwest United States for 46 years, I’d never visited Bryce Canyon before. (Or the Grand Canyon or Zion or…) However, this trip rectified that big, glaring error in my life.
Bryce Canyon is only an hour and a half from Cedar City, making it a quick and easy day trip there and back again. I am so glad that we decided to make the trek, too. The drive up was easy going and the scenery was amazing. We even saw a deer running up the side of the mountain, a real special treat for someone like me. The wildlife I get to see most are lizards, jackrabbits, and the occasional quail. When that’s your experience, deer are exciting.
The views are spectacular, with the reds and oranges of the rock contrasting with all the green trees. Having spent nearly my entire life in the desert, things like this really impress me. I’d be willing to bet, however, that these views would likely impress anyone. The magnificence is boundless.
Something else that amazed me was the variation in the colors of the rock. Some areas were deep rust while others were more faded shades. Still beautiful no matter how vibrant or not. Nature sure is creative in how she decorates, that much is for certain. Do you see those tall, thin spires jutting up all over? They’re called hoodoos of all things and are created by erosion. They’re fascinating to see in person as they look as if they were hand carved, rather than carved out by wind, rain, and ice.
The only downside to the trip – and I honestly wouldn’t even call it a downside – was that the skies decided to open up on us while we were walking around. Didn’t deter us though, we stood in the downpour and took pictures and marveled. Kind of crazy how much more radiant and beautiful it all was in the rain. But maybe that was just me.
In the end, we hit the gift shop for a nice, warm sweatshirt to change into. That was something else that impressed me – the gift shop. Maybe it’s because it’s run by the National Park Service, but there wasn’t really anything gaudy or cheap in there. They offered a wide range of items, from puzzles and toys to books and clothes and hats. All of it seemingly good quality. Oh, and the reusable tote I bought to carry my swag in gets taken to the grocery store every weekend.
This trip really started something for me. Not only do I want to go back to the Utah Shakespeare Festival soon, but I also want to visit all the National Parks I can. This summer, my friend and I are embarking on yet another road trip. This time to the Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, and hopefully down to White Sands in New Mexico as well.
Have you ever been to any of the US National Parks? Or, if you’re living outside the US, is there anything similar in your country? There’s something so calming and peaceful about being surrounded by nature like this. Tell me where you think I should go next!
I moved from the Midwest to the desert southwest when I was four, meaning I know very little about weather that isn’t either hot and dry, or cold-ish and dry. Rainstorms are few and far between here, which makes them extra special when we do get them.
When I was a child, my grandparents lived in Phoenix, AZ. My grandfather had screened in his back porch so that he could sit outside, away from the bugs and the scorching sun, and read his paper. But I discovered that I loved sitting out there with a book during those afternoon monsoons. The sound of the drops hitting the aluminum cover, the cool breeze, and the peace it brought me was amazing. I miss being able to experience that. My back patio isn’t screened in, but it does have a cover. Hopefully, if we have a more normal monsoon season this year, I can try and recreate that experience as an adult. Thankfully, my Kobo is waterproof, just in case.
