Tim Trevathan 1/08/08

Zion was the beginning of my hopes, the end of my dreams. Resurrection, The hope

deferred to dream about tomorrow and have hope for today. In the year 2000 I had my best year

in recruiting in the computer technology field. The $192,750 bonanza had come early enough in

the year where I took a good part of the rest of the year off. The money was a means to an end to

spend more time with family and to travel a bit within the U.S.A.. Mexico and the Bahamas

paradises would come later in the year when tropical weather would suite the end of the year

weather transformation. I had just come from the other half of the equation, working twice as

hard to make half as much since the industry had closed down in June the previous year in

anticipation of the Y2K problems. This was a result of six months of pent-up demand and may

not happen again any time soon.

It felt like a John Cougar Mellencamp song “Living in the U.SA..” There was so much of

this country we had not seen as a family and life doesn’t always afford opportunities like this. I

told my wife to pack a bag and we were hitting the road for a trip to the Grand Canyon. Neither

she nor my daughter had been there and home schooling was transportable. It was a destination

close enough to drive without having an 8 year-old go crazy in the car, but far enough away to

enjoy a couple of weeks off. We had learned our lesson years ago when taking the long route

home from San Francisco going along the coastline and spent an hour too long before reaching

our accommodations and our daughter literally came un-wound in the car and took hours to

recover. It was funny and miserable at the same time, albeit unforgettable. This time, we ended

up being gone a month and determined to spend as little time on the road each day as possible

and still maintain some sort of itinerary to reach our destination goal.

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 I have a confession to make. I have never gone on a vacation where I have not fantasized

about living some other place other than Los Angeles. L. A. is one of those love-hate

relationships that you never quite get over. You love the weather, the central availability of

diverse recreation areas like beaches, mountains and deserts, but hate the crowds, the hectic pace

and the stress and noise of traffic. L.A. is a place you love to hate, and hate to leave, there is no

place quite like it.

We headed towards the Grand Canyon via Palm Springs and we were going to spend a

few days there at a quaint motel with a pool and went to the nearby water park during the days.

My daughter is a fish in disguise and loves the water. All of our bonding happened there. Swim

lessons, Family swim night at the Y.M.C.A., the Olympic-sized pool across the street at the park

in the summer-time. I loved the water and swam well, so did she.

This place was the seed of chosen isolation that prepared our hearts to fall in love with a

small time environment. The privacy to ‘own’ a small motel that had two other occupants in mid-

March of the year and a mid-week stay. Once all of the stress was shed, the love began to flow

again, our hearts melted to feel the freedom of giddy days spent warming in the sun and cuddly

nights spent around the fire place in the lobby. Hot chocolate, marshmallows and the sound of

the harsh desert wind sweeping against this tiny motel. The sand and wind sounded like it would

simply sand-down the building and it would be erased like a sand castle on the beach with the

next wave. In the morning the building was still there, and so were we. Our over-night stay lasted

a week.

We had no itinerary, no schedule and no requirements to meet. We were on the road and

free of time and had no fear of running out of money. We didn’t buy expensive houses, fast cars

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or luxury items. We were a traveling family and loved to explore and experience the world

around us. The mission field was the planet and we brought it to us and us to it on a regular basis.

This is where travel became tricky and potential for internal stress could occur. At home

and for work, I was structured, organized and planned and strategize most things. On vacations I

wanted no rules, no deadlines and even fewer responsibilities for making arrangements and

planning. On the other hand my wife was the opposite. In some ways that added to the ability for

her to enjoy a vacation, planning for all she wanted to do, but I didn’t even want to hear anything

that even smacked of requiring thinking and planning by then. This was the release-valve of life I

had worked so long and hard for each year.

We traversed the highways in a methodical manner that implied intent and purpose, but

no actual time table as to our time of arrival. Motels and hotels were acquired ad-hoc as we

approached areas that we intended to stop in or travel through within the next hour or two. We

had a chance to inspect locations for fun potential and ambience before checking in as we tired

and stopped to rest and eat. At times my wife insisted upon making reservations in advance.

Once we got stuck in a motel on a road to nowhere for a night that could have been in a horror

movie due to its isolation on the path to the Grand Canyon. After that, “she got it”. The worst

that could happen is that we slept in the car behind a Denny’s restaurant. Not desirable, but a

worst case scenario. After all, this was an adventure. This was the trip that engrained our family

motto “The Journey IS the DESTINATION.”

We stopped in a place outside of Zion National Park that had wooded cedar pine

structures that looked like a hunting lodge overlooking a man-made lake. It was a huge truck

stop and had a small market, a restaurant and internet access so I could check on any emergency

issues that may have been left behind from my business. All was clear at home and the business-

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front and a sunset with ducks and geese around the lake made for a memorable evening. The next

day we took a horse ride around the rim of the Grand Canyon’s younger sister in Zion National

Park. Refreshed and ready for the road again, we did not know that we were only a few hours

from falling in love.

As we approached Zion National Park, the sand-script Mountains burst with ancient

markings that made you know you were among mother earth’s oldest landmarks. The colors of

orange, yellow, purple, multiple hues of red and every derivative color from it, pinks, violet,

cayenne, the spectrum of colors was dazzling. Who had painted these mountains? They were

beautiful and the artist had great talent. We awed at the dazzling array of colors that matched

with the expansive sky full of billowing cotton-ball clouds in one part and open penetrating blue

skies in others. The sheer brilliance of the sky took our breaths away. We sensed we were

‘home’, but had no idea what that meant. What was a home? We didn’t care; this place was

mesmerizing us as we drove into it like a hypnotic set from the movies out of “Lord of the

Rings” or “Narnia.” It was a special-effects master piece; it just simply couldn’t be real. The

delusion of sensorary overload had captured us and we weren’t even ‘there’ yet, this was just the

entrance to the kingdom of what some might call ‘heaven’. It rivaled the Garden of Eden

“Butchart Gardens” in Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada we had seen a few years

earlier.

We drove into a town that I am still not sure if the name of the town or just the hotel was

named. The Bumble-berry Inn was a small typical hotel off the main street that ran through a

Mayberry RFD type small town that ran approximately a half of a mile long. We checked in and

decided to walk the town to take it in. We heard of a walking tour that led us into the mountains

of Zion and signed up for it immediately. I couldn’t help but dream and have visions of my

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residence there. A mission retreat center for those who serve around the world and a retreat

center where three month internships allowed missionaries to rest, recuperate and be served for a

time to refill after so much giving. I could see some music being played during the tour of the

mountain and a few moments of silence to take it all in. It was breath-taking and needed no

additions. Even the tour guide’s voice was at times too much. The music would only enhance the

sense of awe, not detract from it. Creation had landed here and all biblical references to Zion as a

place of holy worship suddenly made sense.

We went back to walk the town and wander around and found ourselves walking along

the fence of a horse corral. We walked toward the house that owned the horse. As we approached

we saw a yard with chickens and a pot-bellied pig and an old rooster that knew he was king. A

delightful lady engaged us in conversation and she invited us into her house. She was an artist

and had an easel setup in her living room and was painting the mountain outside of her window.

We discovered that we were surrounded by two humungous ‘Mood Ring’ Mountains that acted

as portraits for out new artist friend. In the morning the mountains had a blend of yellow, green

and orange. In the afternoon it turned into a bright orange, red and pink mood. Late afternoon

was the splendor of a lava lamp with shapes of deep blue, purple and flashed of green as the sun

began to disappear behind the mountain. It turns out that she painted all three times of the day

and had three separate easels to capture the three differing color transformations as they took

place over the course of the day. She was from Santa Barbara and was looking to sell this

$600,000 home for $300,000 for a quick sale. Since $10/hr. was high pay in this region unless

you owned a business, there was few but tourists and out-of-towners to bid on a place where a

double-wide mobile home with a three car garage and an acre of land cost $5-10,000. The

sunken tub, basement recreation room with full arcade and modern marble counter-tops in the

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kitchen attracted all of our attention. We wanted it; the only limitation was that internet access

was not there yet. My business as a recruiter was highly dependent on the use of the internet. Our

host sent us more information later, but the backup plan was the afore-mentioned cheap package.

We took pictures and my daughter hugged me with a sense of urgency and love that I will

never forget and still treasure. Her hug said it all. “Thanks Dad for bringing us on vacation.”

“Thanks Dad for taking time for us.” “Thanks Dad for being rested and relaxed, your stress level

stresses us out.” It was all in her face, I look at that picture often even now, seven years later. It

made me realize something about money, prosperity and vacations. Europeans, especially the

French “Get it”. The standard European six week vacation made them civilized in a way we

workaholic Americans were not. It’s about life and people who are really important to you. It

isn’t the money, it isn’t the prosperity of bragging about trips to friends and family, it is about

making choices and having the ability to choose real life instead of stress, fatigue and death.

I had the epiphany that there was more to life than grinding out life and working to eke

out a living. Standing on the top of the mountain I had been climbing all of my life gave me a

new perspective. Vacations were a time of love-making. This was a time to share hearts and

minds when other time doesn’t allow for that freedom. It said “You are important”, “You are

valuable”, I care enough to demonstrate my love in a significant and tangible way, not just in

words. I miss having that ability. So many different things come into the purity of that moment.

Jaded ingratitude can become status quo if it is a yearly family ritual. Busy-ness that makes

vacations an extension of the work and home life we wanted to leave behind. Vacations give us

the opportunity, not the guarantee to ‘make love’.

That hug was immortalized in my soul and memory. It is what keeps me committed to my

daughter. She doesn’t know it, but that hug defined the world to me, and it all happened in Zion.

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http://www.butchartgardens.com/the-gardens/image-gallery/image-gallery.html

Image Gallery

While the stunning beauty of The Gardens is most apparent when viewed in person, some small
measure of that may be conveyed through our interactive image galleries. Each set features a
seasonal collection showing what The Gardens has to offer. Click around, spend some time then
come see it all in person. Visitors to The Gardens often make available their amateur video clips
on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v/L_zS46XL4-
I&l=365&t=OEgsToPDskKcD4AfUwZB8IShUqF56oOa&sk=vTSSxMoe7_a9kLw_1SzqRgC&
sourceid=ys

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 • Bryce Canyon National
Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
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• Travel Deals Bryce Canyon Resort
• Travel Packets Ruby's Inn Bryce Canyon
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• Travel Tips We offer the finest accommodations, RV lodging (Cabins,
park/campground and amenities in the Bryce Suites,
• Video Gallery Canyon NP region. Ruby's Inn at Bryce is a Campground),
destination in and of itself... .(CLICK HERE) dining and many
activities such as; ATV Rides, Guided Scenic
Tours, Horseback Riding, (CLICK HERE)

Welcome To Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

This Complete Guide to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah will have
information for your visit. In the lodging section you will find links and
information for hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts. You then will be able to
view activities in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah -- like visiting
Kodachrome State Park -- by category which include horseback riding, ATV
tours, air tours, biking, entertainment, fishing, golf, guided tours, hunting,
museums, paintball, ranch activities, rappelling, river running, shopping,
snowmobiling and skiing. You may want to purchase a Travel Packet from
AreaTravelPackets.com to help plan your trip. If you're going to camp or
bring along your RV trailer on your visit to Bryce, then you will want to check
out the camping and RV park section of the website for links to great places to
stay. Everyone will want to find the best places to dine when visiting Bryce
Canyon National Park, Utah. Check out the dining section to find your
restaurants.

Before you come you can check out the photo gallery and video gallery to see

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 P.O. Box 346 / Springdale, Utah 84767
435-772-3224 / Reservations 1-800-828-1534
E-mail: bberry@infowest.com

http://www.bumbleberry.com/zion-national-park.html

Zion National Park

Zion is an ancient Hebrew word that stands for place
of peace and refuge. As you visit the immense
canyons of the beautifully sculptured rock
formations, soaring cliffs and breathtaking
landscapes you will agree that Zion National Park
certainly lives up to its name. The parks earliest
inhabitants were the Anasazi who lived in the area
around 2000 years ago. 1200 years later the Paiutes
began to inhabit the area and in the 1860’s the first
group of Mormon Pioneers arrived to settle here. In
1909 the park was established as Mukutuweap
National Monument and was later expanded to its
present day size of 229 square miles and renamed
Zion National Park.
Zion provides endless opportunities
for enjoying and exploring nature
and welcomes around two and a
half million visitors each year. Zion
is well known for its incredible rock
formations and is home to Kolob
Arch, which is the largest arch in
the worlds spaning 310 ft. Zion is
also famous for its deep slot
canyons. One of these canyons, The
Narrows, attracts hikers from all
around the world and was ranked
fifth on National Geographic’s 100
Best Adventures. Zion National
Park is located at the junction of the
Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and
Mojave Desert. This unique
geography provides Zion with an
unusual diversity of plant and

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 animal life.
Quick Facts:
Size: 229 square miles
Lowest Elevation: 3,666 ft., Coal Pits Wash in the southwest corner
Highest Elevation: 8,726 ft., Horse Ranch Mountain in the Kolob Canyons section
Visitation: In 1920: 3,692; in 1996: 2.5 million

Weather:
Spring weather is an unpredictable combination of
wet, stormy days and warm sunny ones. Spring
wildflowers bloom from April to June.

Summer days are hot with temperatures varying

between 95-110 F. At night it cools down to 65-75
F. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-
July through September, producing waterfalls and
causing flash floods.

Autumn is usually clear and mild. Autumn color

displays begin in September and peak in late
October.

Winter weather is fairly mild. Temperatures range

between 40-60 F during the day and 20-30 F at
night. This is a perfect time of year for hiking with
the lower temperatures. See our winter activities
page.

Tunnel
The Zion - Mt. Carmel tunnel runs between the
park’s east entrance and Zion Canyon. Vehicles
7'10" (2.4m) wide or 11'4" (3.4m) high, or larger,
are required to have an escort through the tunnel.
(Mostl RV's, buses, trailers, 5th wheels, boats, as
well as some camper shells will require an escort.)
The escort fee is $10 per vehicle. You will not
actually follow an escort, rather, the oncoming traffic will be stopped, allowing you to
drive through the middle of the tunnel. Vehicles over 13'1" tall, semitrucks, vehicles
weighting more than 50,000 lbs or measuring over 40 ft., bicycles and pedestrians are
prohibited in the tunnel.

Shuttle
Because more than 2 million people visit Zion National Park each year, the shuttle
system was established to help eliminate traffic in the park. Riding the shuttle is a free
and fun way to tour the park. Shuttles operate from late March through late October,

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during this time private cars are not allowed to drive through Zion Canyon (other
roads of the park remain open to private vehicles). Shuttles operate daily from 6:30
a.m. until 9:30 p.m. A complete round trip along Zion Canyon will take a minimum of
90 minutes, but you can get on and off as often as you like, to take pictures and enjoy
the views.

Entrance Fees:
All passes can be obtained at the entrance stations:

• Entrance $20 per vehicle, good for 7 days at Zion National Park only.
• Individual $10 per person, not to exceed $20 per family, good for 7 days at Zion
National Park only.
• Annual Pass $40, good for one year at Zion National Park only.
• National Parks $50, good for entrance for one year to all units of the National Park
System.
• Golden Eagle $65, good for entrance for one year in all federal fee areas.
• Golden Age $10 lifetime pass for US citizens 62 or older.
• Golden Access Free lifetime pass for US citizens who are permanently disabled.

Commercial Tour Vehicle Fees

There is a fee for commercial tours. Operators should contact the park at (435) 772-
3256 for specific information on rates. The fee for commercial tour buses is based on
bus capacity and ranges from $35 to $190.

More Area Attractions...

Springdale
Springdale, Utah is a community founded in the tradition of hosting visitors to Zion
National Park. In Springdale you'll find many of the things you'd expect to enjoy in a
gateway community to a national park. Fine restaurants abound and there are many
things to do such as:

Bumblebery Playhouse - Nightly entertainment is available right at our facility in

Springdale with an excellent musical review now playing. Ask us for details on
tickets.

Zion Canyon Giant Screen Theater

Every day this theater shows an incredible film on Zion National
Park. You’ll see things in the film that you would not otherwise
see. Also available are other large format films and first run movies
shown every night.

O.C. Tanner Amphitheater

Frequently you will find some excellent and even world-class entertainment at this
amphitheater located in Springdale, Utah. The setting is spectacular and the seating
capacity is over 2,500. Ask for details when you call for a reservation or click here to

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see a schedule - http://www.dixie.edu/tanner/

ATV Tours
Take an adventure ride outside Zion National Park. Click here Information regarding
guided ATV Tours with ATV Adventures.

Visitors to Springdale, Utah may ride tubes down the Virgin River, hike, mountain
bike on paved or single track trails, ride ATV's, go horseback riding, go shopping in
art galleries, boutiques and gift shops, and much more. There's plenty to do for many
days in the Springdale and Zion National Park area. Click here for even more area
activities.

While staying with us plan on basing at the Bumbleberry Inn and visiting these other
nearby attractions such as Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon or if you are looking for
things to do check out some area activities – Click Here.

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