Monument Valley

Monument Valley has always been on our list of places that we wanted to see and experience. Well, not only did we accomplish that, but we got to add another state to our map of states where we have spent a night. That would be Utah.....

And it was nothing but WOW as we drove in to Monument Valley. Soon we saw the sign for our destination today.....Gouldings

We got checked in and found our spot and got settled in.....and right off we found that this entire stay would be governed by VIEWS.......

Like I said, the views were everything. Well, not quite everything. Was pleasantly surprised to find that we  had 5 bars of AT&T 3G coverage. Our satellite dish worked. We had sewer, water, and 50 amp service. Gouldings is run almost entirely by the Native Americans - Navajo's. We found them ALL to be most friendly and very helpful. One of the first places that we visited was the Gift Shop and the Restaurant. Again, it was all about the views....

Upper Parking area- Motel, Gift Shop, Restaurant

The almost entire Native American Staff do a remarkable job serving the many people that frequent this place during the day. All with a smile on their faces and a really pleasant disposition. Quite impressed.

A View of the Goulding Museum

Inside the Museum is a history of the place, from when the Gouldings initially bought the place, to its development as a tourist attraction, and more so to it's Movie Industry attraction. Many, many films have been shot on location here, including John Wayne Movies like  Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Rio Grande, The Searchers, and other movies like Forrest Gump, Easy Rider,  Back to the Future. And all, or most of them are documented in the Museum. The upstairs is or was the living quarters for the Gouldings when they lived here. Completely authentic. Out behind the Museum is a small movie theatre that offers John Wayne movies almost nightly. And behind the movie theatre is the building as seen in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon where John Wayne stayed.

Did I say VIEW or what?

While we were there, we took the 4 hour guided tour. Our tour director was a very friendly and quite knowledgeable navajo by the name of Joe. He was so good! Not only did he provide a running commentary on sites we were seeing, he provided history lessons. We were picked up at 7:45 am in front of the office at the RV Park.....

This is Joe standing beside his rig

We then headed down the road to the main Goulding Complex(Motel, Restaurant, Gift Shop, Museum) where we picked up the rest of those that would be part of our tour. 20 of us in total.

And then we began the tour in to the Valley....I'll let the pics speak for themselves....

This is the Navajo Nation Motel/Hotel in the Canyon itself. What a view they have!

One of our many stops along the way where we got out of the vehicle and wandered around taking pics

On one of our stops, Joe actually got on a horse that was ready and waiting for him for a ride out on to the rocks......

You can see Joe and his horse out on this rock

On one of our many stops, we got to visit an actual Navajo home. While more of a ranch than anything, it included a Hogan. This was special. We got to meet Loretta, a very nice Navajo woman who showed us how she processed wool to make yarn to make rugs.....

Some of her finished work up above, some of her tools on the floor

The outside of the Hogan really hides the comfort  inside

Part of our group

A view of the complex from afar

The rest of the tour was just as impressive.....

thought at one point we were going to get stuck in the soft sand. But Joe knew what he was doing....

Some of the rocks were incredible

Monument Valley was everything that we had come to expect. It is definitely worth the trip, and because of the nice people here we will probably return. It is that good. And don't forget the VIEWS....

Sunrise at Monument Valley