Riverwalk at Zion National Park

 

 We got a lucky break one summer day a couple of weeks ago when Mark didn't have to go into work on a weekday.  Yay for unexpected holidays! We chose to spend the day at Zion National Park.  After a beautiful drive up the canyon, we decided to do the Riverwalk.

Lucy loved the hike.  It is hard to know her favorite part but I am guessing it was between running down the little hills exclaiming, "Whee!" 

or this sand pit where she took her shoes off, ran around in circles, and giggled nonstop....

or when she got to explore the river with Mark.

 

This was when she had to stop playing in the river and get back on the trail. No surprise there.

 

I don't blame Lucy for having so many favorites.  I had a couple of favorites too.  I loved how beautiful and peaceful the river was (I know--just try and look at the peaceful river not the red blob in the way), 

 

the tall canyon walls with water trickling down them,

and seeing four deer so close!

When I saw this one eating I thought about how lucky this deer was to live in such a pretty and peaceful place. I told Mark, if was a deer I would live here too.  They have it pretty good. :)

 

And this is why Mark usually takes the pictures.  This one was standing right by Mark and Lucy and was looking right at me.  What do I do?  Take a picture when the camera is off and give it a chance to jump away. It was neat in real life,  I promise.  You can see Mark trying to tell me to hurry with his eyes. :)  

Here we are all done with the hike and waiting for the tram...

 

and here we are having fun on the tram on the way back. 

I am hoping for more unexpected vacation days in the future.  What a great surprise on a weekday!