The American Southwest is a vast area that is mostly dry and thinly populated.  The Holwick family saw plenty of dry places but an amazing amount of water - amazing not in its volume but its impact.  We had some wonderful hikes and a few close calls.  On the left is The Narrows of the Virgin River in Zion National Park in Utah.  The kids were not impressed with Zion until I took them on this hike.  They fell in love with it.  The creekbed often fills the canyon from wall to wall so swimsuits and sneakers came in handy.  Expect to get wet and footsore.  This is a hike we will repeat some day.

On the right is Lower Calf Creek Falls near Escalante, Utah.  The canyon is a verdant green encompassed by red walls of rock.  There are petroglyphs along the way and a beautiful creek but nothing compares with the waterfall.  We got there late in the afternoon on a hot day and the water was refreshingly cold.  It definitely gives you something to aim for.  There is a nice campground near the highway, too. More on Page 2 ...