Page 20 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – January/February 2021

TRAVEL
Glorious
National Parks
of the West
By Judie L. Karhan
From tranquil pastures to soaring peaks, the American West displays the grandeur of Mother Nature in our celebrated national parks. Spectacular views of canyon lands, rushing rivers and waterfalls, grasslands and mountains offer welcomed respite from the trappings of our everyday lives.
A grand tour of the West’s national parks will be the focus of AAA Central Penn’s National Parks of America tour August 13- 24, 2021. Please join us!
The artist’s colony of Sedona offers a colorful starting point
for our exploration of the Western states’ national parks; the amazing rock formations of this avant-garde Arizona town change hue with each turn of the road. West of Sedona lies Utah’s Lake Powell, where you can enjoy a scenic day cruise to glide through the narrow sandstone turns of Antelope Canyon.
Arizona’s famous Grand Canyon needs no introductions. One of the seven natural wonders of the world, this 190-mile- long 10-mile-wide and one-mile-deep Grand Canyon was carved out of the Kaibab Plateau by the mighty Colorado River over the course of 10 million years. The Grand Canyon offers mesmerizing scenery in a kaleidoscope of hues with
its serene North Rim and breathtaking South Rim. It’s easy
to be hypnotized by the canyon’s grandeur, in its towering rock formations, lush pine forests, isolated shallow lakes and expansive flowering meadows.
At Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, take in spectacular views of giant natural amphitheaters called hoodoos, the creation of wind and water erosion over eons of time, which bring an explosion of colors to the scene. The forests and meadows of Bryce Canyon provide habitats for diverse animal
life, from birds and small mammals to foxes, mule deer, bobcats, black bears, and mountain lions.
In terms of sheer magnitude and color, few places on Earth match the beauty of Zion National Park. Marvel at red and white sandstone cliffs as you take a day to explore Utah’s first national park. Climb aboard Zion’s open-air tram and wind your way alongside the Virgin River and through the 2,400-foot-deep, half-mile-wide Zion Canyon.
Heading northward to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we make a stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, taking time for a sightseeing tour and exploring on your own. En route to Wyoming, you will see the majestic Bear Lake Summit, and upon arrival in Jackson Hole take part in a fun-filled evening of cowboy entertainment and a taditional chuck wagon dinner. Jackson Hole offers much to see and do to make the most of your day, including hiking and river rafting, shopping and sampling the local cuisine.
From Jackson Hole, pass through Grand Teton National Park. Towering more than a mile above the valley of Jackson Hole, the Grand Teton rises to 13,770 feet. One of the many highlights in this park is the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser, a fountain of steam that rises more than 130 feet in the air.
As we make our way to Sheridan, Wyoming, along picturesque Lake Yellowstone, pass through Cody for a stop at the
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a tribute to one of the most colorful figures of the Old West, Buffalo Bill Cody. There is also opportunity to visit Crazy Horse Memorial. The still-in-progress monument dedicated to Native Americans was started in 1948. Upon completion, the figure of Crazy Horse astride his horse
will be 563 feet high and 641 feet long, the largest statue in the world. Scaled models of the statue, exhibits and an audiovisual program explain the work on the mountain. The visitor complex also includes the Indian Museum of North America and its Native American Educational and Cultural Center.
The last leg of the journey takes us to famous Mount Rushmore, whose four figures carved in stone represent the first 150 years of American history. The memorial is visited by nearly three million people each year that come to marvel at the majestic beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota and learn about the birth, growth, development and preservation of this area.
20 I JAN/FEB 2021