As I continue my Best of 2011 posts, I got to relive our wonderful three week trip this past June to visit several of our western states. Wow--what an incredible trip!!!!! It is much too hard to pick out my favorites in only one blog post---so I'll divide them into two different posts. (And even that was hard since that trip was the highlight of our entire year!)
Today, I will share six of my favorite pictures with you. Above is a picture from the PAINTED DESERT. That was our first major stop on this trip ---and we were just blown away by the colors of the desert. Unbelievably gorgeous! If you would like to see my blog from the Painted Desert, click
HERE.
Be sure to click on all of the photos in order to see them larger.
After leaving the Painted Desert, we visited the PETRIFIED FOREST. This is another fabulous place!!!! Above is just one picture of the petrified wood. For more explanations of petrified wood, click on my blog post
HERE.
All of my life, I had heard about the GRAND CANYON, but had never seen it in person until June 14, 2011. I wish you could have seen my face when I saw this beautiful place for the first time. I got teary with JOY, and was overcome by God's glory when we first got there. Oh My Heart!!!! This place is truly awesome in every respect. The picture above was taken at the Grand Canyon and shows the Colorado River below. For more pictures from the Grand Canyon, click on my blog post
HERE.
Another first for us was seeing the sunset from the GRAND CANYON. This picture will show you a sample of what we saw. Is this not breath-taking? For more sunset pictures from the Grand Canyon, click on my blog post
HERE.
Zion was not one of our favorite places on this trip ---so we hope to go back during another season (when there aren't so many people), so that we can stay longer and do some hiking (which I think would be the highlight of that area). Here's one picture from ZION NATIONAL PARK. For more pictures of the Scenic Byway 9 near Zion, click
HERE.
Finally, here is a picture of another gorgeous place we visited, the CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT. That is snow you see in this picture. Cedar Breaks is high in elevation ---so we encountered quite a bit of snow while there. If you want to see some of my blog post from Cedar Breaks, click
HERE.
As I said I will publish another post from this wonderful trip to the western states this past June. It was an incredible trip--and we hope to go back sometime!!!!!
Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday.
Hugs,
Betsy
Hi Betsy, Very pretty photos, especially the sunset. Hope you and George have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteLove all your wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteAmazing and beautiful photos, Betsy. That really was a trip of a lifetime! I hope you have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteThey are breath taking photos.
ReplyDeleteThe canyon is never the same each day because of the changing light.
Wish I could go there.
OH WOW! Each picture is breathtaking. Such beauty is hard to comprehend. Have a most wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to take you all of 2012 to get through the best of 2011!!!!!! What fun!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely breathtaking pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics! I just love that painted rock - so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJust stunning!! Amazing and wonderful. I will probably never see this in life so seeing it here is the next best thing!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say yesterday how much i love love love the header shot. and the painted desert is something i have alwasy wanted to see, it is just gorgeous and the photos are stunning.
ReplyDeleteThe petrified wood was just beautiful as was all the pics. Some were absolutely breathtaking ! I loved all of them,thanks so much for sharing your treasures. Blessings Jane
ReplyDeletesuch absolute gorgeous colors! i could feel the power of the rocks from your photos! :)
ReplyDeleteI remember loving your western trip posts. I don't remember the stump in the petrified forest. The colors in it are just amazing. Thanks for sharing again.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend.
Best,
Bonnie
Makes me long to see some red rocks and desert beauty again very, very soon!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of travel, my friend Sherry is planning a month-long trip to Alaska! I am SO jealous!!
I think I would be overcome with emotion too.....I want to go so bad. Your pics are so breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteI have a torn meniscus!!! (Advice, caution, sympathy/ha)
Surgery Feb 13! I just hate being put to sleep!
Stunning pictures! Loved your blog.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend...
http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com
I think your recommendations rock. (Pardon the pun.) Truly, I think my hubby and I need to get out of Dodge and head to these places when things warm up just a little more, but before it gets too hot.
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic. I love how you captured all the colors so well.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photo of the Grand Canayon sunset, Betsy.
ReplyDeleteAll the views are spectacular.
oh no words will suffice in describing these natural wonders. my hubby and i wept at the first sight of grand canyon.
ReplyDeletewe would love to see zion someday.
Gorgeous! Majestic and awesome. I'm so glad you share your travels with us.
ReplyDeleteOh, the Grand Canyon is indeed a gorgeous and incredible place, isn't it, Betsy!! The first time I saw it my reaction was the same as yours! The Painted Desert is another wonderful place, too, isn't it? Love your photos, they are superb! Hope your and George have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Amazing views
ReplyDeleteBeauty everywhere!!! But you KNOW my favorite photo today, this amazing sunset!!!!
ReplyDeleteNice to revisit those breathtaking photos!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend, Betsy and George!
Ok, Grand Canyon shots are always really cool to see, but that 3rd shot of yours is AWESOME! I just love the layers & the water at the very bottom... very cool shot, Betsy!!! =)
ReplyDeleteBetsy,
ReplyDeleteThe Grand Canyon is absolutely gorgeous! It really is breath taking! Thanks for taking us on a well-needed trip :)
Happy to revisit with you any time. Have a great weekend. Peace
ReplyDeleteYou're just getting me anxious to return to Utah. We are planning to go to Bryce this year!
ReplyDeleteYour photos of the Grand Canyon are so breathtaking. Why are we going to China instead of there?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and the Grand Canyon is awesome..Hope you have a nice weekend..Susie
ReplyDeleteThe painted desert is what is calling me. Wonderful photos. I really need to make that trip west.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
We adored Zion and know exactly where that photo was taken, LOL! We were there during a month of April and it wasn't that busy. Would dearly love to see Cedar Breaks. Oh, the west keeps calling my name for visits! I'm so glad that you got to see these spectacular sights.
ReplyDeletesuch gorgeous landscapes. Those belong on a card or something.
ReplyDeleteAll gorgeous BUT the sunset is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThose colors are just awesome in the truest sense of the word!!
ReplyDeleteGrand pics, Betsy, especially the one of the sunset! All the colors are gorgeous, too!
ReplyDeleteI loved all of these pictures, Betsy! And I felt your joy at seeing the grand-ness of the handiwork of our creator God who made such a beautiful world for us to live in.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent pics, Betsy! The sunset one is particularly gorgeous - as is your header!
ReplyDeleteThe grand canyon is superb - nothing like it on earth. I went years ago and I think it's time for a return visit.
Sending hugs
Wonderful shots for wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that petrified wood - the colors are so amazing. I'd love to have a piece of that in my garden.
The sun coming up over the Canyon -breathtaking!
I emailed Colin explaining Groundhog Day and he wrote back telling me they talked about it on his local newscast. It really is a small world. :)
These are absolutely stunning, Betsy. They were well captured and well chosen for this "favorites" post. I know Bryce Canyon will be coming up in another "favorites" post. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can never see enough of the Grand Canyon and just about anything else from Arizona. I want to go back up to Canyon de Chelly. Breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy, What lovely scenery and great memories you and your husband must have of that trip our west! Have a super nice day and stay dry! P.S. My bird feeder is finally up.
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy, What lovely scenery and great memories you and your husband must have of that trip our west! Have a super nice day and stay dry! P.S. My bird feeder is finally up.
ReplyDeleteI'm such a slacker when it comes to commenting ... but it doesn't mean I didn't pop in to see all the beauty that you share!! Thank you Thank you! I just love your blog and you and your sweet hiking hubby :) You take us to places that so many of us only dream of :)
ReplyDeleteLike Mel said, I, too, have been a slacker~~~sorry about that but soooo happy you still popped in on me. I love hearing from you anytime.
ReplyDeleteNow, about the GRAND Canyon...oh, she truly IS GRAND. Your sunset pics are awesome. What a wonder of our world.
BlessYourSweetHeartsYouAndGeorge
It is a different kind of beauty here in the Southwest! I remember the first time I saw the Grand Canyon too! It just didn't seem real to me. The pictures of my children I took looked like they were standing in a studio with a back drop of the Grand Canyon behind them.
ReplyDeleteI think we pretty much followed your footsteps this past July when I took Stijn to see all these wonderful places. Zion, Cedar Breaks, and Bryce Canyon (his favorite)
Have a great weekend, Betsy!!
Debbie
all your photos are from the first prize. Yes!!
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI know how hard it is to choose just a few shots from an amazing trip. These are super. The Grand Canyon is a fabulous landform.
ReplyDeleteWhat a travel log you have here!
ReplyDeleteHappy Super Bowl Sunday to you too Betsy. Hope your team wins because that's who I am rooting for too. These photos are magnificent and bring back a lot of lovely memories. I also would like to go back to Zion for some trail hiking, in quieter time. I remember seeing the Petrified Forest years ago as a new bride, the Grand Canyon too, when we drove across country having to change duty stations when Gregg was in the navy. We saw some incredible sights on that trip and would like to repeat it when he retires. You took some fabulous photos here. Absolutely awesome!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful!
Fabulous photos. I'm heading to Arizona next month and can't wait to see the red rocks.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful color in those rocks Betsy! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. It's so delightful to be having some nice weather. This is my kind of winter. :)
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
Oh my... this brought back wonderful memories for me - My husband and I went to all these sites on our honeymoon trip around America 34 years ago!! Interesting how the earth hasn't changed - but we certainly have!
ReplyDeleteBlessings dear Betsy!~
Ann
Three weeks is not very long when you are traveling around the US but you and George managed to see some of the most marvelous sights in that time. I love those gorgeous views of the Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon.
ReplyDeleteHope you and George had a great weekend.
That had to be a great trip!!! I think I might get in some of the places and forget to come home...except I get to missing home so might not last the trip.
ReplyDeleteI also loved the canyons and only admired them from the television box at home in Malaysia when I was a kid. When I landed in US, I made my way there finally. I also cried tears of joy and thanked God for giving me the chance to stand there to view the whole Grand Canyon!
ReplyDeleteYour photos seem to look better than what I saw. I think it was blazing hot summer when I visited, so it was too bright and hazy, making my photos so blurry.
Thanks heaps for sharing them!