Take your winter break in Utah...

Have you ever felt a cool breeze  blow on your face without the  sounds of traffc, and the mayhem of  the urban sprawl?  Have  you  ever  seen  something  of  such  beauty  in  nature  that  you  question  what  else you are missing out there in the  world?  Seasons  here  in  California  usually  means  a  cooler  night  and  a  little  more  rain  during  the  ever  shorter  days,  but  it  leaves  nothing  aesthetically  pleasing  to  the  eyes,  only a bland monotone atmosphere  of color. Unless you open your eyes  to  the  beauty  of  nature  you  may  never appreciate what the world has  to show and offer. I  recently  spent  a  lost  weekend  wandering through the awe-inspiring  national parks in southwestern Utah. 

Although not much covers the space  between the parks and small hamlets  in between, the horizon line is full of  beautifully painted walls of orange-  red  stone  contrasted  by  a  sapphire  blue  sky  whose  beauty  is  only  enhanced by  the  sunlight of a days  end.  Even  the  leaves  on  the  trees  seem  like  an  artist painted  them  in  their  splendor.  What  begins  as  a  no seriously, Utah simple  walk  through  a  trail  easily  turns  into  a  trip  spanning  miles  simply to see what is around the next  ridgeline,  or what  other wonderful  features are hidden deeper down the  canyon’s path. Many of these sights can be found  in  Zion  National  Park  and  Bryce  Canyon National Park, only  two of  several national parks in southwest- ern Utah. Not to say that none of the  other parks have anything as beauti- ful,

The northern face of  the Grand  Canyon is a mere hour’s drive away  as  well  as  the  Escalante  Staircase.  You may  not  know  it,  but  the  area  is rife with beauty and offers a small  bit of peace of mind. There are such  things  of  unimaginable  beauty  that  cannot be seen anywhere else.