Western US Road Trip Summer/Fall 2016: Day 15, Monday, August 29, Salt Lake City, Nephi, Zion National Park

We rose this morning, scrambled some eggs and packed up to leave Salt Lake City. We left the hotel at 9:00 am so that we could be at the opening of the Botanical Garden. It is at the University of Utah and it is a nice garden. Not in the same league as the Missouri Botanical, but it is well worth the visit. We got some good ideas for our back yard.

After leaving the garden, we went to the Whole Foods Market at Trolley Square. T really wanted to find some pate. We did not find any but did pick up some essentials for our next four days in the "wilderness". We then proceeded to our favorite Utah State liquor store to get a couple more bottles of champagne. By that time it was 11:30 am and time to head toward Zion.

It was just over 300 miles and we stopped in Nephi for lunch at Michael's. This guys obviously has a toy train fetish as there were trains running all through the restaurant. The food was good and T actually was able to order some liver and onions. It made her day.

Trains at Michael's

The rest of the trip was uneventful. The scenery was desert, cedar and sage, with peaks on both sides. We passed a fire up on the west range.

Upon entering Zion, everything changed. We drove to the Lodge and got settled into our cabin.

Turn off I-15 toward Zion

At Zion Lodge

The elevation here at the lodge is about the same as Salt Lake City, around 4,300 feet. The temperature is 95F, but it is very dry and comfortable in the shade.

Our Cabin

Welcome to All

We took dinner at the lodge. T had trout and I had bison meat loaf. Both were very good.

Bison meatloaf

Trout

During dinner, we observed deer along with a herd of turkey crossing the grounds outside the restaurant. After dinner we strolled back to our cabin. On the way we crossed paths with the faun we had seen on the way to dinner. It had nestled down and was cleaning its fur. It showed no fear of us at all.