We go away each September,

To places we like to remember.

So to help I write a poem.

When we get back to our home.

The Grand Canyon we have seen

And to Yellowstone we have been.

These places we have visited twice,

But we had not seen Zion or Bryce.

YELLOWSTONE PARK

So we decided on a date,

When we would visit Utah State.

To see the canyons in the Parks,

See the arches and the landmarks.

But first, as we left Canada,

We had to land in Nevada.

It’s the gambling State I guess,

So we landed in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS

This was the start of our trip,

Our hotel was on the Vegas strip.

We didn’t have to spend a dime,

Seeing so much filled in the time.

We found a little grocery store.

Had plain coffee, and much more.

Mix your own in a great big cup

You could hear the grinder mix it up.

  EXCALIBUR HOTEL

In a huge casino called New York.

Riders in a big dipper were hauled,

There were all the skyscrapers to see,

And it included the Statue of Liberty.

The fountains dancing to the lights,

Another one of Vegas’s highlights.

Also the battle of the ships we saw,

With the pirates who knew no law.

NEW YORK HOTEL AND CASINO

The huge casinos had it all.

An aerial show and they didn’t fall.

 There were malls inside you know,

The M G M casino had lions on show.

One had tigers that were white.

  Aladdin’s casino looked like night.

And with the ceiling built so high.

They painted it just like the sky.

WHITE TIGER

As you walked the strip I recall,

A cafe with a Harley in the wall

Also a huge bottle of coca cola.

And visitors sitting in a gondola.

These boats were in a hotels ground,

Men dressed up took them around.

Other hotels had ducks and things,

There were even some penguins.

HARLEY DAVIDSON CAFE
 

GONDOLAS OUTSIDE THE VENETIAN HOTEL
 

Fancy art adorned the walls.

 Paintings and sculptures in the halls.

But we had to be on our way.

This was just a part of our holiday.

To travel around this scenic land.

We had booked a car beforehand.

We had to go and pick up this.

So we walked and found Avis.

DECORATED WALLS

Then back to the hotel we went.

It was close and convenient.

We loaded all our goods to go.

Cases, cameras, everything, you know.

Then we departed for the parks.

Looking at maps and making marks.

Having booked the places to stay.

We didn’t have to go far each day.

EXCALIBUR HOTEL IN DAY TIME

Springdale was the first nights stay.

With Zion Park not far away.

To see the park there’s a shuttle bus,

It’s easy to use with no parking fuss.

As we arrived early, at about four,

We took the shuttle bus for a tour.

Staying on the bus, which is free.

We saw some deer and wild turkey.

SPRINGDALE VIEW AT SUNSET

We saw a snake, it stopped the bus.

Because it wouldn’t stop for us.

But as the camera wasn’t on.

Another photo chance was gone.

Then the flowers that bloom at night.

We saw them by this evening light.

So as we returned to our hotel,

We had these stories we could tell

DATURA

In the morning we drove to the gate.

Lots of buses so it’s not a long wait.

We boarded the Zion transportation.

  Zion's called ‘A place of inspiration.’

At Weeping Rock, we got off there.

The views spectacular everywhere.

On this tour we stopped twice.

Then back to the car, onto Bryce.

ZION PARK ENTRANCE

Bryce is made of jeweled spikes.

As it rivals the Las Vegas lights.

It’s a geologic masterpiece.

A place of serenity and peace.

Bryce’s history is carved in stone.

By rain, snow and weather alone.

There are view points along the way.

 You see the canyon as it falls away

  BRYCE CANYON

You look down at these formations,

 From eight thousand feet elevations.

 Different colors of spires and domes,

Where Bryce and Syrett built homes.

It’s a photographers dream this place.

Just this small part of our earths face.

The pink cliffs with its grey and white.

 Make this place such a delight.

BRYCE CANYON

There is some wildlife in these slopes.

Seeing ground squirrels and Antelopes

Stayed in Panguitch near the park.

So we paid it a visit before it was dark.

A yearly pass helped us this way.

As we went back the next day.

We saw the sites and then rolled on.

To the next park and a new canyon.

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE.

We didn’t really have to hurry,

 Our next stay been close, in Torrey.

The colors of fall are really great,

When you travel around this date.

The park we were to visit here.

 Capitol Reef, it was quite near.

With interesting sandstone cliffs.

On the rocks some petroglyphs.

THE FALL COLORS.

Some formations had been named.

But this land could not be tamed.

We saw the Castle standing proud.

And lots of lizards on the ground.

So now it was on to the next stop.

We headed for Moab, a short hop.

But we would pay a visit on the way,

Another park, having time today.

PREHISTORIC PETROGLYPHS

LIZARD

THE CASTLE

Our stop was Arches National Park.

The great arches being the trademark.

These massive arches dot the land.

Like some architect had planned.

There were places to park your car,

 A walk to the double arch wasn’t far.

As we walked past sandstone towers,
We saw some late blooming flowers

THE DOUBLE ARCH

Moab was our next traveling break.

We had more park visits to make.

Another visit to Arches and its sites.

So we stayed in Moab two nights.

The park has fantastic formations.

 With signs showing these destinations.

Delicate arch is the best known.

In many guide books it is shown.

DELICATE ARCH

The Three Gossips stand around,

Like old ladies would be found.

It was great to see all these sights,

That included some short hikes.

Then on to Moab to where we stay.

Plan the route for the next day.

  South to see more rock stands.
In the park called Canyonlands.

THE THREE GOSSIPS

Mesa arch is the main attraction.

And standing proud to attention,

Is ‘The Washerwoman’ and her tub

Giving the clothes an extra scrub

The Grand View Point Overlook.

With views for any photo book.

You have views from this grandstand. Of the vibrant colors of this parkland.

THE WASHERWOMAN

Back to Moab for our last stay.

 Then we’d return a different way.

Cedar City was on the route back.

 With some time to go on a sidetrack.

This spot at times was overlooked.

But our Cedar City room was booked.

So we went on this short run.

Passing the colors of the Aspen

GOLDEN ASPEN

Cedar Breaks was quite unique.

 The scenery could not be beat.

It was really worth this comment.

Not a park, a National Monument.

You see the reds with ribs of gray.

View all the spires far away.

See the trees like blades of grass.

 All the beauty you can’t surpass.

CEDAR BREAKS

Then back to Vegas the city of sin.

We didn’t gamble so we didn’t win.

Unload our cases at our hotel.

Return the car and all was well.

Walking the strip, seeing the stalls.

Going in casinos admiring the walls.

See the casino first built long ago.

The fancy entrance of The Flamingo.

MARKET STALL

To see the fountains again at night.

Dancing to music and flood light.

As the show was really so nice.

 We stuck around and saw it twice.

An overnight stay then we depart.

Taking the shuttle to the airport.

We had seen what was our aim.

 But it was time to go home again.

THE FLAMINGO