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In Zion we stayed at a nice place called the Zion Ponderosa Ranch. It was a resort ranch place where you could go as high as renting a lodge for $900 a night or do what we did and rent a campsite for $20 a night:
<%image(20090825-zionwebcamp.jpg|448|336|Our campsite)%>
Our site was not much, just a dirt lot and a picnic table, but the real bonus was the ranch itself. The ranch has hot showers, wi-fi, a pool, a park, and an activity barn. They have a lot of activites you can pay for like canyoneering, horse back riding, massages, etc. We however just used the free amenities. The two we used the most were the pool:
<%image(20090825-zionoverweb.jpg|448|336|Nice two tiered pool.)%>
and the park:
<%image(20090825-ajswingsweb.jpg|448|336|AJ really likes to swing.)%>
We could of stayed all day doing things at the ranch, but we were really there to see Zion National Park. The first day we were there we parked at the Visitor Center and took the tram up to the Temple of Sinawava and did the Riverwalk trail up to the narrows. It was a good thing we did this our first day, because the second day it rained and would’ve made it impossible. On the walk to the narrows we saw many things. First was the scenery:
<%image(20090825-zionnarrowsweb.jpg|336|448|Zion from the Narrows)%>
<%image(20090825-ajdenisenarrowsboulweb.jpg|336|448|Big rock)%>
Then there was the wildlife:
This Black Snail is only found in Zion, it is really small:
<%image(20090825-blacksnailweb.jpg|448|336|Zion Black Snail)%>
The Squirells have no fear of humans, you are not allowed to feed them, but they are not afraid of taking it from you with or without your permission. You have to do what you can to avoid them:
<%image(20090825-squirellweb.jpg|337|336|attack mode)%>
In addition to the narrows, we visited the Museum of Man and I climed up to all three emerald pools (the first one was easy, the next two were a bit harder). The view from the Upper Emerald Falls was great though:
<%image(20090825-viewupperfallsweb.jpg|336|448|View from Upper Emerald Falls)%>
While Denise explored the Marketplace AJ and I went hunting for petroglyphs. These are some we found of Ancient Publeons, it was an easy hike just took us a bit to find it (not advertised that much by the Rangers):
<%image(20090825-ajandmepetroweb.jpg|448|336|Ancient Pueblo Art)%>
In recap Zion National Park was a great way to end our vacation. As if to say goodbye, today when we left the park for the last time we saw some rock sheep grazing by the road. We stopped and took pictures and they didn’t care at all that we were there or up close:
<%image(20090825-rocksheepweb.jpg|448|336|I counted 5 from our car.)%>
<%image(20090825-caprocksheepweb.jpg|330|275|We didn't leave the car, because they had big horns)%>