Don't blink or you will miss this "Welcome to Springdale" sign.  Yea really!

I ran this through mapquest from the 89109 Zip Code.. that places the Round Trip point at the South Strip.  Distance is roughly 162 miles and driving time (estimated) is 2 hours 40 minutes.  I live about 26 miles North of 89109 and I drive a tad faster than the limit.  I simply can't tell you how fast we made it to and from.

Go back to the OpenVegas Gallery.. then CLICK on the photo.  It will go FULL 3000x pixel size.  You will see exactly what you are getting yourself into with this small trip!

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The drive there?  Well it has changes since the last time we drove there!  That is NOT a good thing BTW.  One of the "Towns" you drive through is Hurricane UT. Probably on the AAA map of "SPEED TRAPS".  Watch yourself.  If you are driving over the posted limit.  AND LOOK HARD FOR THE SIGN.  AND if you are the ONLY ONE out there driving.  Be double Extra careful.  These cops see you as $$$$$$$ in their coffers.

Don't let the photo fool ya.. it is a WHITE and YELLOW car.  Their unmarked cars are small and cheap looking.  Remember you are Their Meal Ticket!

We drove in late.. 11pm on a Sunday night.  I own the Valentine ONE Radar Detector.  One of the best radar detectors made on this planet today.  It has saved my "bacon" every time I leave my home. 

Not an Affiliate Link

http://www.valentine1.com/

If you are lucky enough to own a Valentine.  You will never know how you drove your car without one.  This could be a blog just about my adventures using my trusty Valentine ONE. Please remember car thiefs and other bad guys (cops too) know the value of your Radar Detector.  At $400ea.  They will bash in your window to steal it.  The police?  Well they must figure you are a serious speeder..and will do their best to write you up for all the times THEY "Missed Ya".  So make sure that it is covered when parked.  And GET IT OUT OF SITE if ever pulled over.  Oh and.. we use a simple black bathroom towel for all of that.  At night the RED numbers are easy to spot. (probably at over 1000 yards)  So when the Cop is tailing you.  Flip over the towel.  You can still HEAR the detection.. but Officer Friendly can't see that you have "The best Radar Detector ever made" on your dash.

When driving through the DARK and QUIET Hurricane UT.  OMG LATE AT NIGHT!  10-11pm The detector went crazy.  First I encountered 3 unmarked Police cars zooming past me in a row. 

See the speed limit in parts of Hurricane is 30 and 40mph.  They must take their "Tickets" very seriously there.  At such LOW speed limits.. and long empty roads it is very easy to get moving up to 65mph.  As quick as "You're busted for $500 Plus!"   A $500 ticket is not only possible but inevitable. OUCH!

Enough about "Bad Law and Bad Cops"..  If they made better roads and had driving exams that blind people couldn't pass.. we would not need so much "Johnny Law" on the street taxing us with their Tickets!!!

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Me and my wife found Springdale more than 14 years ago.  When we found it all we wanted was a simple quiet getaway.  In the 14 years since Springdale has GROWN UP.  It can be thick with tourists.  But not that bad.  The people are generally nice.. that goes for the visitors and the people that LET you into their town.

Each time we return it seems that somebody has created an even better place to day.  I thought I was in Heaven when I first saw a room with an air conditioner.  Now the "Higher End" rooms/places have flat screen TVs and much much more.  Believe me it is like standing in front of Gods Golden Gates when you stay there.

I have a lot of video and more breath taking shots to show you.. but I thought I'd throw together this very quickly.  My wife and I plan to go back and really SHOW you what Springdale is all about. 

Many people come to Vegas and after about the 10th trip.. they ask "Now what?"  Many do what everybody else does.  Red Rock, Valley of Fire, Lake Meade, the Dam and the other places.  Some even go to the Grand Canyon.

Now I haven't done any of the AZ helicopter rides.. (I have taken the night flight over the strip.. and that is another story and blog)  But to tell you the truth.  If you have the time and a rental car.  It just makes sense to drive. Don't rush to the "Grand" canyon.  Spend some days at this part of UT.

Springdale is the kind of place for people that love "Quiet Places" or folks that love to hike.   Me and mine are the "Quiet" types.  We really love it in Springdale.

I'm also a Gadget person.  I own a portable telescope/spotter scope.

Not an affiliate link:

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=refractors/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_ id=09794

I used to carry all kinds of telescope stuff.  Nothing worked until I got this one.  I got rid of the view finder in favor or a cheap green laser.  You just plop the laser on top of the scope and Bling.. you know what you are looking at.  That night over the breath taking Zion hills/Mts. I could see Jupiter.  Within minutes I had my scope out of its carrying bag and there WE were.  Looking right at Jupiter.  Now if I was a smart guy.. I would have brought a camera extension (that I own) a filter and I'd have photos to share with you.  Sorry gang..  but I swear next time I will have such photos.

The scope is great.  The glass is very very good.  Worth every penny and it comes with a super logical carrying case.  Since I got this travel scope.. I use it nearly every trip and never am I disappointed.  When you look through the lens everything is right side up.  That is wonderful because that means you can bird watch in the day time hours as well as look at the night starts.  The down side is it is difficult or impossible to look straight up with it.  I think that another type a tripod would fix that issue.  But as a travel scope.. nothing beats this one.  Seriously.  I love it.  And as I wrote.. the glass is not that cheap junk you find in the stores or even in the "Sporting goods" places.  For $150 You get what you pay for.  When there is something in the sky you want to see.. this scope will give you a crystal clear look at it.

The restaurants.    Well.. Springdale has the good sense NOT TO LET McDonalds or Starbucks or Walmart anywhere near their little town.  Their Restaurants are very good.  The food above average if not GREAT!  Service is better than well.. most Las Vegas hotels. (unless your play rates High Roller Status)

The first night we ate "Hot Dogs" at the Misqute Slurp and pump.  Awk.. but we had plenty of extras.  Fresh fruit to keep us over.  We at "Fresh Mex" the second night.  The food and service was above average.  Ok.. the service was INCREDIBLE.  The food was above average.  They were all very very nice to us.

There is a market at the end of town.  A bus of some sort that you can drive around for free. 

I have health issues.. so the idea of going into Zion.. is not on my "To Do List".  Just being in this town is enough for me.  A short drive from Vegas.. Great food, nice people, rock stores.  I'm one happy camper.

Check this out:

yea yea..  Who could afford it.

But we did buy 3 little ones.  Two were in the 20 - $25 range.   One was in the $10 range.  We are going to mount them so one of my wife's family (the kid) can hang it on his wall.

The place was called Zion Rock and Gem.  Very nice people.  There was a place right down the road that had this very attractive Red Head "Girl" working behind the counter.  In fact a guy was actually hitting on her when WE were talking.  I can't remember the name of that store.. but was also locally run and had some very nice people running it. 

Speaking of affording anything.  Now this is a Crystal Ball.  A psychic's dream come true:

THEY.. the owner of Zion Rock and Gem wanted.. GULP!  $3500 for it.  I "GULP!!" offered $1200 for it.  I was very happy that my offer was declined.  Frank (yea that Frank) says that there is a big deal wholesale Gem Stone Fair in AZ he goes to sometimes.  So for such "Wonders".. I'll wait.  

It might be hard to tell.. but this real authentic quartz crystal ball is about the size of a small beach ball.

I have many more shots.. and several TIME Lapse photos of our time there.  What does that mean?  Well.. We want to go back.  Instead of for 2 fast nights.. maybe 5 days.  5 days in a room with a jacuzzi and fireplace in it.  Lots more photos and fab videos.

We spent way way to much money there.  Me buying rocks like a hound.  And then loading up on fossils and tee shirts for the kids back home. 

If you have come to Las Vegas for 20 plus times.  And you enjoy the "Quiet Life!"  Give Springdale a try.  It is like a micro vacation that breaths life back into my soul every time I go.

So what if you went to the "Grand Canyon".. take a look at the few photos I brought back.  That is my slice of heaven.  Not that many crowds.. reasonable cost rooms and good eats.. without the Corporate BS.

Thanks for reading.. and ask yourself.  Why isn't my Vegas blog with photos (uploaded to the OV gallery) here?

GENE

November 2009 update:

As expected..  The 10 year old boy went "Crazy" with his Fossils.  He even knew the NAME's of what we gave him.  The wife got him a large book that listed many Fossil types and names.  He was spell bound. 

So once again..  if you you have young boys back home.  Don't miss Springdale and their rock shops.  You'll spend to much but you will get so much more than you expected.

- GENE

Tags: Side Trip To Zion National Park - From Las Vegas To UTAH

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