NEAR VERNAL UTAH, 2004 (Part 2)

We went to Vernal because we had wanted to see Utah's famous Flaming Gorge and the Green River and to visit Dinosaur National Monument. 

So, our visit to the McConkie ranch (previous post) was a great example of serendipity because we'd never even heard of it until we got to the Vernal KOA where we stayed.  It really pays to pick up that tourist literature and to talk to people in the parks where you are staying.

The Gorge was every bit as breathtaking as we had been led to believe. Breathtaking not only because of the incredible colors and formations, but also because you have to hold your breath as you drive into Vernal on a long 8% grade. There were actually roadsigns that read "Vernal, 10 hairpin turns ahead" then "Vernal, 8 more hairpin turns left" and so on. Always fun pulling your house behind you on that kind of road.

Here is just one of many good links to more information about the Flaming Gorge:

http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/flaming_gorge/nra.html

(the nra stands for National Recreation Association, by the way.)

Dinosaur National Monument was truly interesting.  However, we should have had a young grandson with us. At that time, we had two of them back in the Northwest who were at the perfect age to be experts in the matter at hand, so we missed them here especially. Little boys and dinosaurs belong together.

For more information about Dinosaur National Monument go to: http://www.nps.gov/dino/

(Don't think -- as I did when I first heard of it -- that this is one of the many dinosaur tourist traps.  This is the real thing, where paleontologists have been working for many years.  There are many acres of places still to be excavated where these bones lie buried.)

Comments

[Sallie]

Geoff, you're right -- if I had more carefully read the link which I posted, I would have seen that the center is currently closed. I hope it reopens eventually.

[Geoff]

Didn't look it up, but I think the monument center may be closed. something to do with the building being unsafe.