Guide To Zion National Park

Above, Checkerboard Mesa at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My first visit to Zion National Park was in August 1969 with my parents. We camped in an umbrella tent that was my grandfather's at the Watchman Campground. It was there we heard on the radio of the Sharon Tate murders in L.A.

Back in those days, there were no crowds and getting a campsite in the park wasn't difficult.

USA Today has posted a guide to Zion National Park as part of their yearlong series on national parks.

They begin it with:

It’s no secret. Zion National Park is one of America’s most spectacular national parks.

It’s also one of the most popular, coming in second or third in visitation each year in recent years, according to National Park Service numbers. And it’s easy to see why.

“Zion National Park encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States,” said Jorge Hernandez, education supervisor at Zion.

Unlike the Grand Canyon, which most visitors approach at rim level, visitors begin exploring Zion from the canyon floor.

“You look up, and you see these massive Navajo Sandstone cliffs on either side of you. And as you start going into the canyon, you start to see those walls becoming narrower and narrower, which I think is really fascinating,” Hernandez said. “Also, Zion National Park is located in the juncture of the Colorado Plateau, the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin ecoregions, and that creates a very unique environment for a variety of lifeforms and ecosystems here at Zion. Zion also preserves a plethora of human history.”

Here’s what else travelers should know about visiting Zion, the final park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series.

To read more, go here.

Guide to Utah's Five National Parks

Above, The Narrows at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first time I visited any of the national parks in Utah was in August 1969 with my parents. We camped in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.

The reason I remember the month and year so well was due to the news coming from Los Angeles of the Sharon Tate and La Bianca murders by the Manson Family while we were camping at Zion's Watchman Campground.

Back in those days, the parks weren't crowded at all. Nowadays, they are very crowded and reservations need to be made in some.

The Salt Lake Tribune has posted a guide to Utah's "Mighty Five" national parks.

They begin it with:

Even if you didn’t know very much about Utah before moving here, one aspect you likely are fairly well acquainted with are its national parks. A tourism campaign launched in 2013 put Utah’s “Mighty 5″ on the national landscape — some would say too well. Visitation increased by half a million visitors, on average, during each of the three years after the campaign launched. They now rank among some of the country’s most visited national parks, drawing between one and five million visits each year.

But how well do you really know Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion national parks?

If you think the attractions are all in the names — arches, canyons, heavenly views — think again. While all five are well-stocked with those, there’s plenty more to see. Check out the rivers, stars and even orchards.

To read more, go here. 

Camping Fees May Be Raised At Bryce and Zion National Parks

Above, The Watchman at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I camped at Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks was in 1969. My parents and I camped in my grandfather's old umbrella tent. In fact, it was while we were camping at the Watchman Campground at Zion that we heard the news of the Sharon Tate murders.

RV Travel has reported that both national parks may be raising their camping fees and a new fee structure for dump station usage at Zion. 

They begin with:

Two of the “Mighty Five” national parks, Zion and Bryce Canyon, may see fee increases that could affect RVers. Campground fees at both would be raised, and a new fee structure could be implemented at dump stations in Zion. What are the potential changes, and how can you make your feelings known about them? Read on.

 To read on, go here.

Zion National Park: Things To Know

Above, the mountain peaks above the Watchman Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Utah's Zion National Park is not a large national park, yet it draws thousands of people there annually.

I first visited Zion in 1969 with my parents. We camped in an umbrella tent at the Watchman Campground. I spent much of my time floating on an air mattress on the Virgin River. It was there that we heard on the radio of the Tate-LaBianca murders by the Manson Family.

The last time I was there was in June 2015.

Since so many people are visiting Zion, there are things that people should know when visiting.

KSL NewsRadio posted an article on those things.

They begin with:

SALT LAKE CITY — As the summer months are approaching, visiting places, such as Zion National Park, become front and center for most people.

And as such, national parks are getting ready for an influx of visitors. Jonathan Shafer, public affairs officer for Zion National Park, joined KSL at Night with hosts Leah Murray and Scott Simpson on Tuesday. They discuss what visitors can expect when they visit the park.

To read more, go here. 

Zion National Park Camping: All You Need To Know

Above, The Watchman, where the campground gets its name. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I've camped in Utah's Zion National Park was in August 1969. My family tent camped in the park's Watchman Campground. Since then, we've either stayed at a private campground or motel.

It was at the Watchman Campground where we first heard the news of the Sharon Tate murders in L.A. on the radio.  

I was 15 at the time and spent my days in Zion floating down the Virgin River on an air mattress. These were the days before everyone else discovered Zion and crowded the place.

Travel + Leisure has posted an article on everything one needs to know about camping in Zion National Park.

They begin with:

There's a reason why Zion National Park was protected back in 1919 — the expanse of land in southwest Utah is both beautiful and historic. The massive red, orange, and pink sandstone cliffs shoot vertically out of the ground, forming scenic canyons once walked by native people. Today, those same paths remain, giving park visitors a glimpse into what the landscape might've looked like long ago.

Perhaps most impressive are the park's slot canyons — narrow pathways surrounded by sheer rock walls — and the surprisingly lush Emerald Pools, which are fed by waterfalls. In short, it's not the sort of place you can experience in a single day, and it would be a shame to leave the park's beauty for a hotel room. If you're up for sleeping under the stars — and let me tell you, there will be stars — here's everything you need to know about camping in Zion National Park.

To read more, go here. 

Zion National Park: Nation's 4th Most Visited National Park

Above, the Great White Throne in Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Zion National Park in Utah is not one of the largest national parks in the U.S., but it is the 4th most visited one and is an economic powerhouse.

My first visit to Zion was in August 1969 and it was there that we heard the bulletin on the radio of the Sharon Tate murders in L.A.

According to Deseret News:

SALT LAKE CITY — Zion National Park, Utah’s superstar of tourism, draws millions of visitors each year and stands to deliver even more economic success under a scenario with planned improvements to its east entrance.

A new report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah details the financial impact of Zion National Park, which out of 62 national parks in the country ranked No. 4 in visitation.

Findings underscore the popularity of Zion and other national parks’ impact on tourism, including:

• One-third of all Utah national park spending was by visitors to Zion, and over 40% of all visitors to the parks in Utah made a trip to Zion. 

• In 2019, Zion National Park visitors spent a record $253.6 million in Kane and Washington counties, supporting 4,438 jobs, $140.5 million in earnings, $235.3 million in gross domestic product and $42.2 million in state and local tax revenue. 

• Park visitors are one of Utah’s top visitor spending groups, with an estimated $1,133 spent per travel party per stay in 2019, and an estimated annual statewide spending of more than $434 million outside of the park and its surrounding communities.

To read more, go here. 

Zion National Park: Worth Going To On Holiday Weekends?

Above, Zion's Checkerboard Mesa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first time I visited Zion National Park was in August 1969 (we heard the news bulletin about the Sharon Tate murders while there) and there weren't any crowds.

Today, there are nothing but crowds (especially on holiday weekends) at Zion National Park.

AZCentral asks the question, "Is it worth visiting on a holiday weekend?"

They begin with:

Zion National Park is crowded. Even more so on holiday weekends. Here are some facts from the Fourth of July 2019: 

• More than 94,000 people visited over the four-day holiday weekend, the park said on Facebook.
• Wait times were up to 90 minutes to board a park shuttle.
• Hikers waited up to four hours at the trailhead for Angels Landing.
• Zion's parking lot was full by 8:30 a.m. July 5 and 6.
• Parking in Springdale, Utah, just outside Zion's western entrance, was nearly full by 1 p.m. both days.

My preference for visiting national parks is during the off-season and not during holiday weekends. Who wants to join thousand of other people "wanting to get away from it all"?

To read more, go here.

Brush Fire Threatens Benedict Canyon

Above, the house where George Reeves died in Benedict Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, a major fire struck the Bel Aire/Beverly Hills section of Los Angeles County.

Now, a big brush fire has hit the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

According to Variety:

A fast-burning brush fire, called the Portola Fire, is threatening the Beverly Crest area near Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles, the location of numerous multi-million dollar mansions. “I Dream of Jeannie” star Barbara Eden, who spoke to ABC7 News about how close the blaze was to her home, is among the many celebrities who live in the area. 

Other residents of the surrounding area include Emmy Rossum, Channing Tatum, Jon Lovitz, Jessica Alba, Jon Voight, and Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd. 

The fire was reportedly caused by a weed whacker being used in a resident’s yard. Evacuations are expected to be lifted by 8 p.m. as the fire danger diminishes. 

Benedict Canyon is on the west side of Beverly Hills, north of Sunset Blvd., and east of Bel Air and the 405 freeway. 

No injuries or damages to structures have been reported. Authorities and news media are recommending avoiding the entire Benedict Canyon area so that emergency vehicles can access the fire.

Benedict Canyon gained notoriety during past years from the suicide of Adventures of Superman star George Reeves in 1959 and the Sharon Tate murders by the Manson Family in 1969.

To read more, go here.

Manson Dead

Above, Sharon Tate's grave. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was in August 1969 that I was camping with my parents at the Watchman Campground in Zion National Park when word came over the radio that a mass murder took place in Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles.

It was the first word of the murders of actress Sharon Tate and her houseguests that a group of killer hippies, who later became known as the Manson Family, to reach the world.

Now, nearly 50 years later, Charles Manson, the leader of the group, has finally died.

The New York Post reported:

Charles Manson, the ’60s cult leader behind one of the most notorious killings in American history, died Sunday in California after a prolonged illness, officials said. He was 83. 

Manson – housed at Corcoran State Prison since 1989 – died at 8:13 p.m. local time at Kern County Hospital, the California Department of Corrections said in a press release early Monday. 

He’d been in failing health for months and was first hospitalized back in January, reportedly with serious gastrointestinal problems.

The Manson Family conducted more crimes. They include murders of the LaBiancas in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles, the attempted burglary of Western Surplus in Hawthorne, California (not too far from my home) and the attempt on the life of President Gerald Ford by Manson follower Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme in Sacramento.

All one can really say is, "Good riddance!" Maybe I'll listen to the Beatles' "White Album" to celebrate.

To read more, go here.

Too Many People Visiting Zion National Park

Above, the mountain peaks near The Watchman (right). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My first visit to Zion National Park was in August 1969 with my parents. We camped at the Watchman Campground in a canvas umbrella tent with our dog and cat. When not driving around the park and hiking a few trails, we hung out at the campground and I spent a lot of time floating down the Virgin River (the river flowed next to the campground) on my surfrider raft.

It was during that trip that we heard the radio report that the Sharon Tate massacre by the Manson Family took place back in L.A.

Back in those days, Zion was far enough away from L.A. and other cities that the park wasn't overrun with people. Those days are over and there's too many people coming to the park and the National Park Service is looking for ways to manage the crowds.

The Elko Daily Free Press has an article on the problem.

They begin with:

What happens when a national park becomes so popular that the crush of visitors makes each visit less enjoyable? During the one month of June, 2017, Zion National Park saw over half a million visitors, and 70,000 during the 2016 Memorial Day weekend. In 2007, the park received 2,679,181 visitors, that increased to 4,317,028 in 2016. 

On popular days, the line of vehicles approaching the South Entrance Station reaches back through the town of Springdale, snarling traffic for town residents and visitors alike. The parking lot for the Visitor Center and shuttle departures is often full. Cars line the east road so people can walk back to the main canyon road to catch a shuttle. Visitors wait in line to get on the shuttles. Hikers encounter long lines of people using popular trailheads. 

The National Park Service is searching for a way to limit park visitors, putting together a new Visitor Use Management Plan. 

It is unfortunate that steps have to be taken to manage and possibly limit park visitors. But the park has to be protected, so a management plan is necessary. Zion Canyon is not that big, so it has limited space to accommodate visitors.

Besides avoiding hot summer weather, I prefer visiting national parks during the off-season to also avoid the hordes of people.

To read more, go here.

Dearly Departed Tour - Part Two

Once everyone set for the tour gathered, the Dearly Departed Tour company brought their tour bus to the front of their store for departure.

The tour began with drive-bys of places where some celebrities met their demise.

Above, the apartment where actor Bela Lugosi died in August 1956. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the El Coyote Mexican restaurant where Sharon Tate and Jay Sebring had their last meal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the apartment where actress Rebecca Schaeffer lived. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the doorway of Rebecca Schaeffer's apartment where she was gunned down by a stalker. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Other places included: the house where Humphrey Bogart died, the house were Michael Jackson was murdered, the Beverly Hilton (where Whitney Houston died), the house where Bugsy Siegel was gunned down, Mae West's apartment building, the apartment where Jack Cassidy was cooked, the bungalow where John Belushi overdosed and more.

End of part two. Part three will feature the Westwood Cemetery.

Celebrity Graves

Today, I had a "get-acquainted" or "meet & greet" job interview at an insurance company in Culver City, California.

The interview was a few blocks away from Holy Cross Cemetery, where a number of celebrities are buried.

After my interview, with camera in hand, I paid a quick stop over at Holy Cross Cemetery (since I was in the neighborhood) and snapped a few pictures of celebrity graves buried in the "Grotto - Our Lady of Lourdes" section.

They include:


Bela Lugosi

Lugosi (right) is best known as Count Dracula on stage and the silver screen. His 1932 movie, Island of Lost Souls, in which he played a supporting role as "The Sayer of the Law," will be released this coming October on Blu-ray and DVD by Criterion.























Bing Crosby

In the same row as Bela Lugosi rests Bing Crosby, actor and singer. Several members of the Crosby family are buried next to each other in the same row. Crosby is famous for the holiday favorite, "White Christmas" and appeared in several "Road" pictures with Bob Hope.






















Jack Haley, Sr. and Jack Haley, Jr.

Actor Jack Haley, Sr. (below) is best known as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and son Jack Haley, Jr. (above) was a producer, director and an ex-husband of Liza Minnelli. They are buried next to each other a few rows below Bing Crosby and Bela Lugosi.




Sharon Tate

Actress Sharon Tate was little-known at the time of her death. She appeared in minor roles in different movies including Valley of the Dolls. But her murder at the hands of the Charles Manson family changed all that. She was married to director Roman Polanski and was eight and a half months pregnant at the time of her murder in her home in Benedict Canyon. Next month (August 9) marks 42 years since her murder.















There's a Walter Brennan in this section, but the "Grandpa McCoy" Brennan is buried in the San Fernando Valley.

Visiting Bela, Bing and Sharon

Worked a 12-hour shift yesterday. I spent about 3 hours of it riding along with a co-worker.

We were heading into Culver City at one point and came to the entrance to Holy Cross Cemetery and asked her if she wanted to see "Dracula's" grave (i.e., Bela Lugosi). She initially declined and then said, "Why not?"

So we went in and we first visited Lugosi's grave. From there, about 2-3 steps in the same row, we visited Bing Crosby's grave. Then we went over to the next section and found Sharon Tate's.

From there we made a stop at one of our client's locations and then proceeded to Tito's Tacos for lunch.

Not a bad day.