Wandering Wahls

A couple of weeks ago, PBS ran a series by Ken Burns about our National Park system. As readers of this “travelblogue” (my invented term) know, the National Parks system has been an integral part of our journey. Therefore, I thought I would pass along a suggestion for anyone planning a family trip.

One of our recent stops, and favorites, was Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Utah is actually has a good number of National Parks (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef) that are all within driving distance. Plus, there are some of the most scenic state highways that we have seen on our trip that connect the parks (stay off the Interstates!).

Bryce is unique in that you enter and stay on top of the canyon so that one can hike along the rim or down into the canyon. There are nice campgrounds as well as cabins and a lodge for those disinclined to sleep among the stars on hard ground, or in the comfort of an RV.

When we stayed, there was a “Harvest Moon.” We were lucky that on nights with full moons, a Ranger leads a moonlight walk along the canyon rim (talk about not wanting to miss a step). We also hiked down into the canyon a couple of times to walk among the rock formations unique to Bryce – the Hoo Doos. These aren’t witch doctors but are towers of bizarre rock formations that Native Americans thought were people who had stolen from other tribes and turned into these towers by the Coyote when they wouldn’t repent. I don’t want to be around when their term expires.

These formations are fascinating to step on, (our children liked to step on top of a narrow Hoo Doo and call over to us – see our Facebook page, “Family Wahl”), look over, hike through, and walk among; and, would cause the most indoor oriented, Wii driven youngster to take a hike. Thus, if you’re thinking of holiday ideas look to get some of that Hoo Doo magic.

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