Day 7: Celebrating 30 Years in Zion
Adventure, Awe, and Dancing Under the Stars
Waking up with you is the best part of my day!
When we first started planning our trip, I casually picked Zion National Park as the perfect spot to celebrate our 30th anniversary. Thirty years! Honestly, I didn’t see that coming; mainly because I didn’t see myself still standing after all those hikes and questionable life choices. But I wouldn’t change a thing, especially not the person standing beside me through the good, the bad, and the “where did I put my glasses?” moments.
For lodging, I booked us at Zion Canyon Lodge. If you have a reservation and the secret gate code it is the only place you can stay right in the park. I now realize that the gate code is probably less of a secret and more of a “just book early” situation. I chose a room in the Watchman unit, giving us instant access to multiple hiking trails, dining options, and the shuttle service. This was a smart choice because parking is apparently a national treasure here, and lines for shuttles can make waiting in line for your morning coffee look like a quick trip to the grocery store.
After a scenic drive through the park and the 1.1 mile Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel that made me feel like I was in an Indiana Jones movie, we arrived at the lodge entrance gate. We entered our code, drove in, registered, and then set off on a hike along Kayenta Trail, Grotto, and Emerald Pools. Spoiler alert: Zion did not disappoint! It’s breathtakingly beautiful and different than the other parks as far as geological features. The park is also very popular, which means it can get quite crowded. Think of it like the hottest concert ticket, only with more hiking boots and fewer backstage passes. It was lively, thanks to spring break crowds and folks renting bikes or riding the park shuttles.
After our hike, we stopped for a light bite at the Castle Dome Café. I happily swapped my hiking shoes for a cold local beer. Hydration is key, right? The shaded picnic area was perfect for soaking in the views, chatting about how we’d earned this moment, and people-watching to see who was brave enough to wear that hiking outfit in public. Long story, for another time.
For dinner, I made reservations at the Red Rock Grill. It was located conveniently above our hotel lobby. We enjoyed a wonderful meal by the windows, with the sunset painting the mountains in shades of orange and pink. Honestly, I could get used to this. Next milestone anniversary, I might just propose to the same view or maybe just order dessert again. Speaking of which, they brought us a complimentary chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. This was because nothing says “celebrating 30 years” quite like chocolate and a little extra indulgence. It reminded me of our wedding day on a riverboat in Laughlin, Nevada, where we ate Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs like they were gourmet cuisine. Progress? I think so.
Because Zion is renowned for its night photography and so I could pretend I was an astrophotographer for a night, we gave stargazing a shot. The sky was filled with constellations, though I’m pretty sure Orion was just trying to find his way home. Here’s a fun fact: our wedding song was “Keeper of The Stars” by Tracy Byrd. Dancing in the park’s parking lot under the stars was a full circle moment. It’s also a little hard to top that romantic memory, unless we decide to reenact it with glow sticks next time.
Here’s to 30 years of exploring the world one hiking boot step at a time. We have shared lots of laughter, love, and maybe a few more questionable dance moves than I care to share. Thanks for being my partner in this adventure, inside and outside the parks.
🥂. 30 Years of Partnership. 🥂
3 decades of Togetherness
360 months of Laughter
1,565 weeks of Happiness
10,958 days of Friendship
262,992 hours of Joy
15,779,620 minutes of Love
946,771,200 seconds of Memories
“Keeper of the Stars”
Zion Day 1 = 3.45 miles hiked