Located in southwest Utah, Zion National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the USA. In part one of our video tour, check out the scenic drive there from the Grand Canyon, eat in a local saloon, see the campground and lodge, explore the visitor’s center and museum, and hike the Watchman Trail.

“It’s about a 3-hour drive from the north rim of the Grand Canyon to Zion National Park. And what a beautiful drive it is! This is definitely one of the most scenic drives in the whole United States. It’s so beautiful, that you’ll probably have to stop your car and get out to take a look. Continuing on your drive,  you’ll go through a long tunnel, which was built to make the park more accessible.

Before heading into the park, you can stop at the Bit & Spur Saloon. This place is popular with locals and tourists alike, and for good reason. Sit outside to enjoy the amazing views. Start off with some chips, salsa, and homemade guacamole. Wash it all down with a Suspension Pale Ale, a local brew. Try a special, such as these swordfish tacos, or a southwest standby – pollo relleno, stuffed with all sorts of tasty things. After dark, there’s not much to do but have a campfire and stare at the moon.

Inside the park, you can campout for just $17 a night. If you’ve got some a bigger budget, you could splurge for a room at the Zion Lodge. Wherever you stay, you’ll be surrounded by some of America’s most beautiful natural scenery.

Start your trip in the Visitor’s Center. Outside, you can see a small model of the entire park, and you can also learn a lot about the land and its history. Inside, you can get information from park rangers, visit the book store, and learn about the various trails.

From there, you can begin exploring the park on the relatively easy Watchman Trail. This is a moderate hike along a dirty path. It is three miles round trip. The name comes from the towering peak that is known as the Watchman. The entire trail should take you about two hours if you stop to rest a bit here and there. The change in elevation is 300 meters in total, and you don’t actually go to the top of the Watchman peak. This trail can get very hot and there’s little shade, so it’s better to do it early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Walking along, you may see a few lizards. When you get to the top of the trail, you can enjoy great views across the canyon.

Back at the campsite, you might have some visitors. In the afternoon, everyone is eating lunch.

To avoid the hottest time of the day, you can check out the Human History Museum. Enjoy the air conditioning, and learn about the people who once called this land home through informative displays full of artifacts.

Hop on the free shuttle bus and head to the top of the park. Make sure you’ve got plenty of energy, because you’re about to head into the Narrows.”