Tuesday September 22

Our second full day out West took us from the bright lights of the Desert Oasis of Las Vegas to the spectacular red-rock formations of Valley of Fire State Park. It was a day filled with good food, beautiful scenery, fascinating history, and another reminder of just how diverse the American West can be.

Breakfast in Overton

We left our hotel this morning before breakfast, so we decided to find something along the way. We stopped in Overton, Nevada, at Salt’s, a popular local restaurant.

We ordered the Captain’s breakfast platter and decided to split it. That turned out to be a very good decision. The platter included two enormous pancakes, two scrambled eggs, and two large sausage patties. The pancakes may have been the fluffiest we have ever tasted. We both ate until we were full and there was still food left!

Through the Nevada Desert

After breakfast, we continued north on I-15.

Along the way, we passed the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and then the three exits for Mesquite. One of the things that continues to fascinate us about traveling through the Southwest is the way unexpected pockets of green appear in the middle of an otherwise rugged desert landscape.

The golf courses around Mesquite were beautifully manicured and plush green—almost like oases in the desert.

Then we turned our attention toward one of Nevada’s great natural treasures.

The Valley of Fire

Our destination was Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s first state park and one of the state’s most spectacular landscapes. The park encompasses more than 40,000 acres of brilliant red Aztec sandstone surrounded by gray and tan limestone. The sandstone formations were created millions of years ago, and the landscape contains evidence of human habitation going back thousands of years.

The name “Valley of Fire” seems entirely appropriate.

The brilliant red, orange, and pink sandstone formations almost seem to glow when the sunlight strikes them.

We enjoyed seeing several of the park’s most recognizable landmarks, including the Beehives, Arch Rock, Elephant Rock, and Atlatl Rock.

The Beehives are fascinating examples of geological cross-bedding. Arch Rock is exactly what its name suggests—a natural sandstone arch that can be viewed from the road. Elephant Rock looks remarkably like an elephant, and Atlatl Rock is especially interesting because of its ancient petroglyphs.

We also saw several other interesting features, including the Seven Sisters, Petrified Logs, and the Fire Canyon/Silica Dome area. The park also includes such attractions as Mouse’s Tank, Rainbow Vista, White Domes, Balancing Rock, and the Fire Wave/Seven Wonders area.

One of the highlights was the new Visitor Center, which opened in 2025. It is an impressive facility with exhibits focusing on the park’s geology, ecology, prehistory, history, and wildlife.

We could have spent much more time there.

The timing of our visit was also interesting. The park’s busiest season doesn’t really begin until October, and some of the trails were still subject to seasonal closures. Nevada State Parks closes many trails from May 15 through September 30 because of the extreme summer heat.

Even with some areas unavailable, there was plenty to see.

And one of the lessons of travel is, you don’t have to see everything to appreciate those things you do see.

On to Hurricane

After leaving Valley of Fire, we continued north into Utah and eventually arrived in Hurricane, where we checked into the Wingate Hotel.

Hurricane makes a great base for exploring this part of southern Utah. From here, Zion National Park and several other spectacular attractions are within easy reach.

And that’s where we’re headed tomorrow.

A Burger and a Few Motorcyclists

After checking into the hotel, we enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner at Red Rooster, just a couple of blocks from our room.

As graduates of Jacksonville State University, we couldn’t resist the name!

We both ordered burgers, and they were absolutely delicious.

While we were there, we met a group of 16 motorcyclists who were traveling together to visit several of the national parks. They were from France and were making their way through the American West. They already been to the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, and they were headed toward Vegas.

One of the things we enjoy most about traveling is the people we meet along the way.

Sometimes the most memorable encounters aren’t on the itinerary. They happen at a restaurant, in a hotel lobby, at a gas station, or beside a scenic overlook.

A trip is measured not only in miles traveled but also in adventures experienced, people encountered and stories shared.

Tomorrow: Zion

We headed to bed early tonight because tomorrow promises another big day. We’re going back to Zion National Park.

This will be our second visit to Zion, and we’re looking forward to seeing those magnificent cliffs and canyons again. There is something special about returning to a place you’ve visited before. We hope to refresh a few memories and make a few new ones.

As we continue this journey, we’re reminded again how fortunate we are to have the health, time, and opportunity to travel during our retirement years.

Every day brings another road, another view, another meal, another story, and another memory. And that’s one of the great gifts of travel.

As writer J.R.R. Tolkien famously observed, “Not all those who wander are lost.”

We’re not lost. We’re simply wandering out West.

And tomorrow, we’re wandering into Zion.

Stay tuned. The adventure continues!