Looking for the unexpected!

State Parks in Utah: Kodachrome, Goblin Valley. Calf Creek falls on Highway 12, highway 12, Burr Trail Road near Boulder, UT through Long Canyon and the Burr Trail switchbacks, second Kolob Rd. drive.

Here are 3 unexpected finds we made while we were in Virgin, UT, just outside Zion Natl Park. We stayed at Zion River RV Resort, which was super nice.

1. The Cactus Room is a combination antique store/restaurant. Bob is very friendly and cooks a nice meal.
2. There is a very un-traveled drive called Kolob Terrace Road within a mile or so of there...it has some beautiful scenery and winds in and out of a section of Zion, without all the crowds.
3. About 50 miles southeast of Virgin is Kanab, UT--lots of things to see there, but the best thing is that it is the location of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, well worth a drive through...there are sections with dogs, horses, etc., and the pet cemetery is filled with little monuments and wind chimes that you can hear long before you get there.

Stop at the local Forest Service Ranger Stations and BLM Field Offices. These are great sources of maps, advice and local information.

This is one of my favorite websites for all things in the area: The American Southwest.

I've had the best luck stopping at locally owned independent businesses like a barber shop for a shave or hair cut and conversation. Hardware stores, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. The key is locally owned and not a chain store. The locals have all the best info. Course you have to be there to do that. Pot luck is the best luck. Hit the road and explore with no deadlines or reservations.

Chamber of commerce is a great idea, thanks! I'll check them out tomorrow :)

NM...

I can't help you exactly, but don't over look the local chamber of commerce on line at some of the small towns you'll be going thru. If they are really tiny and don't have a chamber of commerce don't overlook the county chamber of commerce. Some of them have really nice parks and stuff to do, (and keep you in town longer hoping you'll part with more money in some cases). Some don't have big dollars to advertise to compete with bigger places. Our theory is the more off the main road the more neat things that are not tourist dollar generated.

That looks like a great trip you are going to take.

Would love to do that one also.