A GREAT ROUTE THROUGH THE WESTERN UNITED STATES

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We do not know very well why, but in recent days we have remembered many times a route we did a few years ago through the Western usa.
Perhaps it was because of the coincidence of dates or because in recent days we have read several posts about the area that have made us review some photos we made and reread and the travel diary we made to the West Coast and a desire has attacked us uncontrollable to return to those lands.

The idea of travel to the western US Roger had it, I wasn't too convinced until he told me he wanted to include Yellowstone Park on the itinerary That's when he totally convinced me and I got carried away by a planning that seemed impossible to do in just 26 days.

The 26 days included 3 important cities: San Francisco, The Angels Y Las Vegas and 12 National Parks... yes 12, as you are reading!
At first it seemed crazy, but as we were planning the route, we realized that we could do it by maintaining some of the habits that we normally adopt when we are on vacation: get up early, rest a little, get shattered at night to the accommodations we had booked and when we returned home to rest and recover from those vacations.

And so we did, on October 10 we were on our way to that "promised land" with which we had dreamed so much in recent months.
We have to say, past these years, that it has certainly been one of the travels more complete than we have ever done. And one of the most enjoyed by many factors. The freedom of traveling by car, without schedules, without problems to reach any destination was one of the best assets we have and that made us enjoy these days to the fullest.

Yellowstone marked the beginning of the trip, taking a 13-hour drive to get there from San Francisco, but it was worth it. Perhaps it was the most spectacular of the whole trip. A dream we had for years and finally fulfilled.

Yellowstone. A great route through the western United States

Yellowstone

One of the many natural wonders we found in Yellowstone

For him Big tit We passed a little above, something that we did not like too much, but when carrying out a little tight planning, we had to leave it to travel it with more tranquility on another occasion.

Crossing the Great Teton. A great route through the western United States

We use this park as an exit route from Yellowstone to lead us up Arches, a park that impressed us as soon as we saw the first arch.

Double Arch. P.N. Arches A great route through the western United States

From there we go to Canyonlands Y Dead horse point, perhaps one of the most impressive places we have ever been. We keep a special memory of a sunrise that we live in front of this exceptional landscape.

Enjoying an incredible sunrise at the P.N. Canyonlands

"Living" the P.N. Canyonlands

The amazing Dead Horse Point. A great route through the western United States

And what can we say about Monument Valley... as soon as we stepped on those lands, it seemed that we were inside a movie. All those scenes that we were now watching full of admiration we had already seen them so many times on the small screen, that it seemed almost unreal to be there.

A sunsets in Monument Valley. A great route through the western United States

Saying goodbye to Monument Valley

We had read a lot about Antelope Canyon, but we would never have imagined meeting what we found, something incredible with some shades of impressive colors.
We ran out of battery in both cameras as soon as we arrived. We could only take some photos, rushing to the maximum one of the batteries that still gave a slight sign of life.
Maybe it was a sign that told us that sometimes, we get lost behind the camera and don't really soak up what we have in front of us. We enjoy it as children ...

Posing in Antelope Canyon one of the great discoveries of the trip

Game of lights and colors in Antelope Canyon

Reach the Meandering the San Juan River It was one of the best experiences we had on the trip. It was another thing we had seen thousands of photos of, but we couldn't really admire what it was until we climbed that slope that leads directly to the meander ... impressive.

Meandering the San Juan River

TO Bryce National Park We arrived without too much information, we had just read some things about the park and seen some photos. And we were impressed, like everything we had seen so far, but in a different way.
It was not just landscape, it was not just color, there were incredible formations and spectacular trails to spend a few days walking in the shelter of sculptures made of stone.

Bryce National Park

From Bryce National Park We went to Zion National Park, here, perhaps because of landscape turmoil or expectations, we were a little disappointed, even though we had read real wonders and surely with reason. But we missed something ... we still don't know what ... we will have to go back to find what we were looking for!

Zion National Park A great route through the western United States

And finally we arrive at Grand canyon full of enthusiasm, although we had been traveling for many days National Parks, this one was very special. The most famous, the incredible Colorado's canyon!!
And it did not disappoint us. Maybe we missed one more day to savor it with more tranquility, but we finished off the visit with a helicopter flight that finished showing us one of the wonders of nature.

Grand Canyon National Park A great route through the western United States

And what about Death valley? Roger didn't like it much, but I enjoyed it very much. I loved. It was like being on another planet.
We were at the end of October and we had 40 degrees ... it was hot that just tired of taking a few steps. But it was amazing, exciting ... knowing that we were at the lowest point on earth.

Passing heat in Death Valley

We arrived to Sequoia National Park with the firm idea that we were going to marvel at some giant trees and we were not disappointed, no doubt a park to go to, even though the journey from Death valley It became a nightmare for having to make an incredible detour through a place with a heart attack road.

Giants in Sequoia National Park. A great route through the western United States

The famous General Sherman in Sequoia National Park

And we get to Yosemite National Park, with the Captain as a reference and main protagonist.
We only stayed for a couple of days and it takes a few more to enjoy it to the fullest. We will have to do it next time 🙂

Posing next to the “protagonist” of Yosemite National Park

And finally, we toured the Big sur, that although it is not a National Park, is a tour of the US West Coast, totally recommended, which should be done at least once in a lifetime ...

One of the stops we made on the tour of the Big Sur ... with sea lions

In those 26 days we discovered some places that left us with our mouths open and most importantly, they left us wanting more in all of them. The day we were leaving each one, we thought we should have spent a couple more days.
That only happens when you have enjoyed something to the fullest. And we did it.
After this time, now every time we see an image we no longer think "Look, there I have been" we think "We want to return ... and we hope it will be soon"