To continue our support for the national parks, and so my wife could add another magnet to the fridge, we went to Zion National Park. We stayed several days in Springdale, UT, just outside the park. I think Springdale could be a good model for how other towns handle public transit. There was a free bus service that traveled the main corridor through downtown and took you into the park. Now, I am not opposed to walking; it is one of my favorite things to do when exploring a new town. I love seeking out small businesses and art galleries to visit and support with my dollars.
One notable artist I found on this trip was David J. West Photography Gallery. He had a beautiful showroom, and his photography was even more spectacular. He also had a great business model that allowed people of all economic statuses to afford something from his gallery. My kids bought bookmarks with his photography on them; my wife bought a puzzle with a beautiful landscape scene for a gift, and she hinted at some of the more expensive items as a gift for her. Which I, of course, ordered later through his website.
His gallery was one of many that we visited on foot, but as the heat of the sun wore us down, it was time to find something to eat. The free shuttle bus was a great way to get us back down the 4 blocks to the restaurant that we had taken note of as a dinner possibility earlier that day. We rode the shit out of that bus to revisit many of the shops. This was a service I missed while I was visiting Las Vegas on a work trip building custom furniture. While I was in Vegas, it felt like I was trapped in the linked buildings and not able to go outside to explore other options.
After exploring Springdale, the next morning we rode the shuttle to the park entrance. A couple sitting across from us were making idle chit-chat until the husband realized he had forgotten their park pass to get into the park. His wife was quite perturbed by this, and ragged on him the rest of the way to the entrance about what they were going to do. He suggested that they just buy a day pass and not worry about it; a day pass was not that expensive. Her response: “Well, that’s a waste of money; I can’t believe you left our pass at the hotel!” He then suggested they could ride the bus back to get the pass. She snapped at him. “What are we going to do, ride the bus all day?”
The bus arrived at the entrance of the park, and my family and I jetted off as fast as we could to get away from their negativity. We had a wonderful day hiking through the park and taking some incredible pictures of the landscape. I could have spent several more hours photographing sunsets, but the last bus back to Springdale was at 7 p.m., so we hustled back to the bus to head into town for dinner. I found a seat on the crowded bus, sat down, and looked up. There they were, sitting on the seat across from me, the couple from that morning. It was all I could do not to comment, “So you really did ride the bus all day.”
I’m the owner of Benham Design Concepts, a Colorado-based Custom Furniture design and fabrication studio. I design and build custom furniture that resembles works of art, using materials such as wood, glass, stone, and metals. The furniture I produce serves not only as practical items but also as works of art, infusing character and style into any space.
