Because of COVID, my day trips and travel for 2020 have slowed to a standstill, but recently we took a road trip, to discover the best places to visit from California to Utah! So after lots of research and creating a fantastic itinerary, my husband and I were eager to go. So, I charged up my camera, packed my lenses and batteries, and we hit the open road.
Las Vegas – Neon Museum
Since we were coming from Southern California, we drove until we hit Las Vegas, then spent the night there, off the Vegas strip. I always wanted to see the Neon Museum, a place for glittery signs that are no longer in use. This fascinating collection features a vast outdoor exhibit. It’s a beautiful way to pay tribute to old Las Vegas.
5StarTips🌟:
- Reserve tickets ahead of time.
- They do not allow backpacks, large bags, or professional cameras.
- Guests may use smartphones to take pictures.
- You can bring a water bottle.
- Know ahead of time that you cannot wander around on your own.
- I recommend that you get tickets to see the light and sound show. Brilliant! It’s a brief presentation that makes the old signs come alive, and it was fun to see the lights and listen to the music.
- Buy tickets:, https://www.neonmuseum.org/visit/buy-tickets, and learn more about the Neon Museum https://www.neonmuseum.org/about/f-a-q
- COVID restrictions are in place, and a temperature check and mask are a must.
Cameras are not allowed
Valley of Fire State Park
From Las Vegas, we drove out to the Valley of Fire State Park, which is about 56 miles away from Vegas, about an hour or so. This park is 40,000 acres of Aztec sandstone punctuated with gray and pale tan limestone. Occasionally you will see petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years!
The day we happened to visit this park, the temperature was over 110*, so our hiking was limited. I am not a fan of extreme heat, and walking even a few yards left me sweating. We drove around and hit some spots that featured interesting formations and beautiful scenery. White Dome and The Fire Wave Trail were two stops around our drive.
5StarTips🌟:
- Plan and check the weather reports. Dress accordingly. If you want to do some serious hiking, I recommend looking at REI sporting goods for comfortable and appropriate clothing. According to its website, cotton holds onto water and makes you feel hotter! Who knew?
- Don’t wear all black; darker colors attract and absorb the sun.
- Wear sunscreen.
- Bring water and snacks.
- Be sure to stop at the Visitors Center, a beautiful place to learn about the park, buy cold drinks, and use the restrooms.
- For more information, visit the website here, http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire.
- Day use entrance fee: $10.00 per vehicle
We spent a couple of hours driving around the Valley of Fire, which felt like we were walking on the face of the sun on a hot day! It’s such a stunning place, though if you stop in Las Vegas en route to Utah, worth your time to see.
St. George, Utah
From Valley of Fire, we drove on to St. George, Utah, a roughly two-hour drive. This town is full of hotels and restaurants. Because I am gluten-free, my dining choices are limited, but there were plenty of places to choose from.
We checked into our hotel, then headed out for dinner at Georges Corner, a fantastic local restaurant. I highly recommend it! If you go, check out their cocktails. Cheers!
Zion National Park
The next day, we drove to Zion National Park. The drive out is pretty and enjoyable. Very different from where we live in California!
Once at Zion, we bought a National Park pass, useful across the country’s national parks, and costs $80.
At Zion, you cannot hop in your car and drive around at your leisure. You buy a ticket to the shuttle ($1 per person) and leave your car at the Visitors Center.
During our time at Zion, several stops were out of service. We boarded the shuttle and set off on our adventure.
The heat was extreme, but we were determined to take in as much as we could! Despite temperatures close to 100*, we hiked from the lower Emerald Pools to the upper pools. It was hot but gorgeous with red rocks and green trees. The clear, vivid blue sky added to the immense beauty. I kept stopping to take pictures ( and catch my breath).
After our hike, we ended up at Zion Stop 6, The Grotto. Aboard the shuttle, we then drove out to Zion Stop 9, where we completed the Riverside Walk.
You can continue into The Narrows, which is supposed to be a stunning hike; however, I wasn’t wearing waterproof shoes and overheard someone talking about how slippery the rocks were on that path. The water had bacteria in it and looked like chocolate milk. It was not clear, clean water, but looked dirty and sludgy. As a result, I elected to not experience this and save it for another trip when the water would be better. When the conditions are good this hike is supposed to be spectacular.
The cool mist of the waterfall felt so good on a hot day!
Though we didn’t go further than the Riverside Walk, I was happy with what we experienced. We trekked nearly five miles in the heat, and by the end of the day, I was exhausted.
5StarTips🌟:
- If you will be hiking in the heat, purchase clothes that will keep you cool.
- Well-made shoes with support are a must. You will go over uneven terrain and narrow paths.
- Bring a backpack with plenty of water and snacks. I cut up watermelon and kept it in the cooler, perfect for the hot day.
- From Zion, we drove to Kanab, which was about an hour and a half away. I had read about Kanab, and it sounded like the perfect place to stay due to the small-town vibe and the proximity to Paria River Canyon and Wire Pass Trail, two places I wanted to see but ended up not visiting.
- Kanab was a pleasant town; however, there were no places to go for breakfast other than a Mexican restaurant, which we ate at night before. Be aware that restaurants in Kanab do not open before 11.
- I like to have eggs and coffee before I officially start my day. En route to Bryce Canyon, we found a place called Thunderbird Restaurant, which was perfect for a plate of eggs and some excellent coffee!
Bryce Canyon National Park
The elevation was higher than Zion and Valley of Fire, so we enjoyed cooler temperatures. Bryce Canyon is a national park where you can drive around yourself and stop at different points of interest. I was surprised at the number of trees; I expected the park to be only red rocks, but a lush forest surrounds the park.
You can see incredible formations of rocks that stretch out for what seems like miles at every stop. Photos do not do it justice! It’s something you need to experience for yourself.
We did a few short hikes such as the Bristlecone Loop trail and walked up to Inspiration Point.
“The viewpoint at Inspiration Point consists of three levels that provide varied spectacular perspectives of the main amphitheater. From here, visitors look toward the Silent City (near Sunset Point) with its many rows of seemingly frozen hoodoos set against the backdrop of Boat Mesa. All who look out from this point are bound to be inspired, considering the intricacies of the hoodoos and their formation through the Claron Formation’s erosion.”
https://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/inspiration.htm
This was a sharp incline that led up to a fantastic view.
You can hike down inside the canyons and follow various trails, but we didn’t do that…we will next time.
5StarTips🌟:
- Visit NPS Government Find A Park for current park conditions.
- Be very careful as some areas drop off. There are crumbling rocks.
- Be sure to experience Mossy Cave Trail.
Mossy Cave Trail
On your way out of Bryce Canyon, stop at Mossy Cave Trail. The trail is a peaceful walk alongside a creek, and at the other end of the path is a small cave where icicles form in the winter.
“The stream was artificially created by pioneers who needed to find an irrigation source for the towns of Tropic and Cannonville. The ‘Tropic Ditch’ has changed the geology along its course, creating an actual erosion-canyon, as opposed to the rest of the park’s canyons formed from frost-wedging.”
https://utah.com/hiking/bryce-canyon-national-park/mossy-cave-trail
Kanab
After spending several hours at Bryce, we headed back to Kanab for dinner at Wild Thyme Cafe, which was fresh and delicious.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
After a relaxing evening, we were up early the next morning for another adventure! We drove out to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Our expectations were not the same as reality. I had seen beautiful photos of high dunes, and I assumed you could drive out and park, then walk a few steps to the dunes. I am happy to report that I was wrong.
Park your car, and then can walk out quite a way to the sand dunes. These massive dunes are what you see in photos of this park.
The pink sand is fine and powdery. Walking in it on a scorching morning felt like I was slugging through hot towels in quicksand. On a cooler day, I could have made it out to the giant dunes, but after walking only a few yards, I was sweating and not feeling it this morning. So…here is a great 5StarTip🌟: Visit on a cool day and you will have a fantastic experience! 😉
5StarTips🌟:
- The fee is $10 to enter the park.
- You can walk around on the pink sand, wear proper shoes.
- Sand will get in your socks, shoes, and color your clothes and skin pink, so bring some handi-wipes to clean your legs and feet.
Maqui Cave
We drove back to Kanab, stopping at the Moqui Cave for a quick look at this exciting place used to be a dance hall and bar in the 1950s. There is a collection of rocks and minerals to view.
Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon
In the afternoon, we took a tour of Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon. The canyon is an area only accessible by ATV or four-wheel drive. You are lead through twists and turns of pink sand roads.
The hike through the canyon is easy and flat. I took so many photos here. It was unbelievably gorgeous, and I recommend taking the three-hour tour adventure tour. Our guide drove us around various places in Kanab to see the natural beauty of this place. It was a perfect afternoon.
Return to St. George
After this wonderful day, we made our way back to St. George for the evening. The next morning, we ate at First Watch, which offered gluten-free breakfast items.
FRITTATA RUSTICA
On the way out of St. George, we visited the Red Hills Desert Garden, a beautifully landscaped garden, and admission is free! Various cactus, desert plants, and landscape plus a sweeping view of Kanab made this the perfect way to end our Utah adventure.
Plants and succulents at the park.
Then it was on to Vegas for the night and home the next day. Making this a wonderful road trip! Below is our itinerary:
- Southern California, Temecula (Home)
- Las Vegas
- Valley of Fire
- St. George, Utah
- Zion National Park
- Kanab, Utah
- Bryce Canyon, Coral Pink Sands, Moqui Canyon, Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon,
- St. George
- Red Hills Desert Garden
- Las Vegas
- Southern California, Temecula (Home)
5StarTips🌟 Trip Tips:
- COVID regulations are in place all over, so you need a mask, hand sanitizer, etc. while in hotels, restaurants, casinos.
- If you like breakfast as I do, Kanab doesn’t offer much at all, so buy something to eat ahead of time or prepare to drive at least a half-hour to find a place.
- When you park your car, it will get hot while exploring, so be careful about what you leave in there.
- Plan ahead, visit https://www.nps.gov/index.htm for restrictions and closures.
- Check Trip Advisor for hotel recommendations.
- Find Me Gluten Free is an excellent app for finding restaurants that offer gluten-free options.
- I cannot recommend this enough: good sturdy shoes and comfortable clothes, a hat that will block the sun, and a backpack for water and snacks while hiking.
- Take a look at All Trails App for hiking trails.
- A great itinerary app is TripIt!
Final Thoughts:
This trip was so much fun and a great look at the natural beauty of Utah. If you are eager to get out and explore and to discover the best places to visit from California to Utah you will definitely achieve that goal with this itinerary. Being out in nature is so soothing and healthy, especially with life’s challenges right now. Fresh air and sunshine will always make you feel more peaceful!
“I go to nature to be soothed, healed, and have my senses put in order.”
– John Burroughs
Other articles by Cindy Bokma:
A bit about the author: Cindy Bokma
Cindy Bokma grew up in New Jersey but now lives in California. Cindy is the author of
The Blondes of Bel Air, A Thousand Dollars for a Kiss and Here If You Need Me. She has also written a children’s book, Victorious Girls and has pitched television shows to networks such as Disney and Nickelodeon. She is an accomplished screenplay analyst, having worked for a popular Hollywood production company.
Order her book: Low Oxalate Cookbook – The Low-Oxalate Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook: 75 Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Yeast-Free, Low-Sugar Recipes to Help You Stress Less and Feel Better on Amazon.
Visit her also at Wild Flower and Woods And Visit her also at Cindy Bokma Books
About Pamela Rossi
I am passionate about travel and taking each moment and making it a five star experience. My goal is to create those experiences for YOU!
Great article! I’m planing on a road trip next month and this sounds sooo good!! How many days did it take?
The weather will be totally different, tough.