I have so much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving 2017—my loving family back home and elsewhere, my sweet friend to share this experience, and the most fortunate combination of time, money and health for yet another adventure! I’m, indeed, a lucky girl and I know it.
My dear friend, Lyssett, flew from Miami and I flew from Norfolk. We met in Phoenix on Thanksgiving morning. (Travel tip: Flying the day before a holiday is quite expensive but prices drop significantly on the actual holiday.) Leaving the airport it’s immediately apparent that we’re in a desert region.
We jumped in a rental car and arrived in Sedona in time for an afternoon hike among some of the most beautiful rock formations on this earth. I packed for seasonal weather of 60’s in the day and 40’s at night but it was a surprising 85 degrees!
Pictures don’t do justice to the brilliant colors and majestic scenery. At every turn we came across yet more natural splendor.
Sedona is an awesome town dripping with local artisans, yoga studios, and Native American influence. There are lovely sculptures all over town. 
The permitting process must include strict architectural review because all the buildings and signs blend well with the geography. And, there’s no end to fine dining establishments, all of which are situated with amazing views and excellent ambiance. I recommend Rene at Tlaquepaque, Mariposa, and Oaxaca.
We rose before sunrise everyday so as not to miss the beauty of the early light hitting the rock formations and canyon walls. The morning air is cool and the colors are extra brilliant at sunrise as if the rocks ignite by an internal source. 
As hard as it may be to believe, we enjoyed all this in just the first 24 hours.
Heading out after breakfast, we drove north bound for Zion National Park, Utah. This is my idea of an excellent way to spend Black Friday—out in nature; far away from malls, traffic and frenzied shoppers. It’s about a 4-hour drive but we stopped many times at random places to take pictures or explore a bit. 
One notable stop was the Glen Canyon Dam that is beautiful with its pale orange canyon walls trimmed with white limestone reminiscent of a cream-cycle.
You absolutely cannot be prepared for the scenery at Zion National Park. It’s breath-taking. 
This was my third visit to the park but it never loses its amazement as if I remember it intellectually but can’t possibly recall the emotions it evokes until I’m there again.
Saturday morning we embarked on a full day of hiking, tackling the most challenging first…the five and a half mile roundtrip trek up to Angels Landing and back down. Yep, we climbed from street/river level to the very top of this cliff.
Passing people on the narrow ledge of rock was quite unsettling at times. At the worst spots, there is a chain to hold onto, as shown in the next two pictures. 
If you look closely you can see people ascending and descending. It’s a 2,000 ft drop at approximately 6,000 ft above sea level so you don’t want to get dizzy and slide off the side. It was very windy when we were on this section of the trail. 
There were several difficult areas like this passage. Quite a few people stopped short of the very top at the end of the trail. It’s moderately-difficult and good shoes are highly recommended it but doesn’t require special climbing gear. We spotted two legit climbers on the vertical sides of the canyon walls and were told they take several days to summit, sleeping on the narrow ledges at night.
We also climbed to the three Emerald Pools, the path along the Virgin River that leads to the Narrows, and a few other short hikes. 
Wisely, we packed protein bars, snacks and water because there are no concessions inside the park at all. There were a few areas with rest rooms and water refilling but that’s the extent of the services. I never even saw a ranger or a ranger station but there was a welcome center at one end of the park.
Sunday morning we enjoyed the sunrise and wildlife (deer, chipmunks, and birds) a while longer then headed back south to Page, Arizona, about a two-hour drive.
Our first stop was Glen Canyon and the Horseshoe Bend hike. This is a popular stop for tourists and tour buses. Just as we noticed in Zion, there seemed to be a lot of Asians, Europeans and Indians but very few Hispanics or Africans. Everyone was congenial and smiling with wonderment. I felt proud to share my beautiful America.
Next stop, Antelope Canyon! It’s important to try to go mid-day so the sunlight shines into the canyon for maximum color. 
This slot-canyon is on Navajo territory and access requires a reservation (no pun intended) with an Indian guide. I’m glad we booked ahead because all tours were sold out.
Like a Persian rug, the colors of the walls vary greatly depending on the angle at which you view them.
The three options are the upper, lower, and “the wave”. We opted for the upper which is the most frequently photographed portion and is on level ground. It’s an easy walk for people of all ages but not wheelchair accessible.
Wow, wow, wow!
After Antelope, we drove about three hours to spend our last night back in Sedona. Don’t think I can ever get too much of this beautiful town. Perhaps it was because late-November is considered off-season but, to my surprise, the entire town closed down early. We literally closed down a sports bar/restaurant and were asked to leave about 9:15 PM.
We spent our last morning hiking Bell Rock and driving up to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. 
Walking through town, there are ample cafes and boutiques. Before leaving town, we enjoyed an excellent Mexican lunch with superb service. Such a peaceful, easy feeling surrounds Sedona.
The drive back to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix was quick and easy; less than two hours. We dropped off the rental car (Ford Focus Hybrid that was comfortable and excellent on fuel consumption) then jumped on the train to the airport for the only inequity of the trip. Lyssett took a direct flight to Miami and arrived in about 4 hours. My flight through a connecting hub to reach Norfolk was almost double both the expense and time.
“There is nothing so American as our national parks…. The fundamental idea behind the parks…is that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir
Kathryn Byler, blog 