WEBSITE: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/ YouTube Video Index -- A list of all of my videos: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html We did this same circle 11 years ago and we wanted to take our five and a half year old son on this trip. For us a good starting point is Las Vegas and since we had a wedding to go to their it worked out great. Las Vegas and Zion National Park are only about 2.5 hours apart. Part of the Grand Circle is Bryce Canyon but the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim closed on October 16th so we cut our trip a little short. Las Vegas to Zion: Basically we took Interstate 15 from Las Vegas to HWY 9 into Zion National Park. It took about 2.5 hours. Zion to Page Arizona: From Zion we took HWY 9 which goes through the park and out the 1.5 mile long tunnel to the city of Kanab. From Kanab we took HWY 89 into Page Arizona. About 3 hours with a few scenic stops. Page Arizona to Grand Canyon North Rim: HWY 89 to Alt 89 was closed through Page when we went so we had to take HWY 89 all the way back to Kanab then we took Alt 89 (89A) to HWY 67 which takes you directly to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. About a 4 hour drive. Normally through Page on 89A it would take 2.5 hours. The Monument Valley, Grand Canyon South and Grand Canyon West are all part of the Grand Circle but we didn't have the time to do the complete route. It is quite a scenic drive and there is a lot to see in each place. In Zion if the climate is right (Summer) you can walk the Narrows which we did the first time we were there. There is also a hike up to one of the peaks which we didn't do since it is dangerous (Angels Landing) where six people have fallen to their deaths. Zion is just a spectacular National Park. In Page you have the Glen Canyon Dam which is impressive just by itself. There is enough cement in the Dam to pave a 4 lane highway from Page Arizona to Chicago Illinois. It took 17 years for Lake Powell to fill after it was completed and it is rated to last for another 300-500 years. American built and engineered. Lake Powell is nice and I am sure in the Summer it is a great destination. In the Winter there wasn't much going on. There is also Horseshoe Bend which is about 1 mile up the road on HWY 89 from Wal-Mart (I know, go figure). You will see a small sign and a turnoff. It is about ½ mile hike down to it. It is amazing. People come from all over the world just to see it. Antelope Canyon is also a must see. It is right up HWY 98 just before the giant factory you will see a turnout to the right. This is where you pay and take a tour. You can also do a tour from companies in town. If you want to see the famous light beams you will need to go in July. But be warned it is pretty crowded at that time. When we went it was sparse at most. We were at the Grand Canyon North 11 years ago but didn't stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim. We decided this time to spend the night. The food at the Lodge was okay and the little cabins turned out nicer than they looked. It is a great place to stay and a very private experience as the North Rim is not a popular destination. But I think the North Rim is the best of the four Rims. Our trip was almost cancelled due to the US government shutdown. At the last minute the Governors of Utah & Arizona stepped in and used State funds to open the park - literally at the last minute for us since we had reservations Saturday and Zion was reopened Saturday morning. Here are some contact info for you: Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge: http://grandcanyonforever.com/lodging/ In Page there are a few hotels, we stayed at the Days Inn - it was an OK hotel: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g60834-Page_Arizona-Hotels.html In Zion if you want to stay within a mile of the park entrance you need a hotel in Springdale UT. We stayed in the Best Western which was a great hotel with spectacular vistas and a free buffet breakfast. http://www.utah.com/lodging/zion.htm A note about the food on the trip: We couldn't find a good restaurant anywhere on our trip. The food was average to bad. When the hotel breakfast buffet was the best meal of the trip (Best Western in Zion) you know your in trouble. It is hard to get the grandeur of it all from the video and I suggest going yourself to each of these places. You won't be disappointed. For a Playlist of my Non-Pool Videos on My Channel: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsvsTjbpoT-cJmOt7AYs-nMyspB2k1ykq Mrdgvb1 Social Media Links: Google +: https://plus.google.com/b/107735343574734346096/ Blogger: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Youtube-Mrdgvb1/381257741926763?ref=hl

• published: 18 Oct 2013
• views: 3328