Day 14: Zion River RV Resort

For the next four days we will be staying at an RV park in Virgin, Utah.  We usually stay at state parks, where one is actually out in nature.  This RV park, like many we have visited in the past, is basically a parking lot with nice landscaping.

So why stay here?  For one thing, it's the closest place to Zion National Park for camping.  It had good reviews, and it will serve as our base as we use the car to explore southwest Utah.

Not to mention, it has a pool, hot tub, great showers,  a store, a dog play area, Wi-fi, a laundry, very clean facilities---pretty luxurious for us!  

After catching up from a poor night of sleeping at Grand Canyon, we both slept solidly, despite the high temperatures in the afternoon (99).  This being a desert environment, once the sun went down, so did the temperature, to upper 60's by bedtime.  

It was cool enough in the morning for a long walk with Ranger, as well as an energetic play session in the dog play yard.  We had a big brunch, and then spent time on a major clean-up.  After several weeks on the road, with much time in dusty and sandy areas, this was needed.  So.....three loads of laundry, vacuuming, washing the floor, etc. etc....the place is now sparkling!
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By 2:00 we were ready to take a look at Zion.  As we drove in (about 12 miles) we started seeing signs that the national park parking lot was full; "park in town" the signs said.  The town of Springdale was full of cars, parallel-parked all along the way.  Once parked, a person can catch the Springdale shuttle bus into the national park, where you change buses to get into the park.  (Zion does not allow private vehicles in; you must ride their shuttles to see the park.)  

We parked near bus stop 6, caught a bus readily, and arrived at the visitor center.  As I remembered, the scenery was spectacular:

However, it was extremely hot in the sun (though temperatures only in the low 90's), and the park was CROWDED with people.  We didn't last long, just picked up print materials to do our planning for the coming days, then joined the dozens of people waiting in line for a bus back into Springdale.  (A ranger assured us that it would not be as crowded on a weekday; we will see.)  

Back at the RV park, I headed for the pool, while Dan enjoyed a cold beverage.  It cooled off enough to grill chicken outside, and it seems it will cool off enough to open windows soon for sleeping.