Arizona – HilaryStyle

January 1, 2018December 26, 2018

2017 A Year In Pictures: Happy New Year!

Malibu Fishing Pier Malibu Los Angeles California

I don’t know about you, but this year seemed to fly by! Like any year there were ups and there were downs, but happily it was mostly ups! As far as travel is concerned I wasn’t sure I’d ever beat 2016, but with trips to, New Orleans, the American Southwest, and London as well as road trips throughout California, and extensive exploration of my home town Los Angeles I would say 2017 definitely gave it a run for it’s money.

Plane Window View New Orleans Louisiana — Plane View

2018 is already filling up with plans for Atlanta, Georgia and possibly Austin, Texas early in the year. Both are places I’ve never been, and of course I’m angling to get in another trip to my beloved NOLA, maybe Spring Break? As for the rest of the year, its still open, but I’m excited to see what’s in store, and I’m confident I’ll work out plenty of fun adventures! Before I close the book on 2017 here’s a look back at some of the highlights:

January

We took a mini road trip to meet friends in La Quinta and along with a visit to Joshua Tree National Park it was the perfect way to get the year started!

The Joshua Tree National Park is located just over two hours from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. People come from all over the world to enjoy the park’s unique trees and alien like desert terrain. Hiking, camping, rock climbing and stargazing are just some of the activities available within the park.

You might also be interested in: Day Trippers: Joshua Tree National Park

February

We’ve always loved Santa Barbara, and its close proximity to LA is a real treat! Quick trips just for lunch have even been known to happen!

Lifeguard Tower Santa Barbara California

Even closer to home, but still feeling like a world away is Malibu. One of our favorite “escapes” is Sunday brunch at the Malibu Farms restaurant, located at the end of the Malibu Fishing Pier, which overlooks Surf Rider Beach.

You might also be interested in: Santa Barbara!

You might also be interested in: 50 Things to do in Los Angeles

March

A record year of rainfall and the resulting flower super bloom prompted our March visit to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I had to see all those amazing flowers!

Deciding to go on this little adventure at the last minute meant accommodation choices were somewhat limited, so we decided to stay on the coast in La Jolla, the Jewel of San Diego. So, two birds with one road trip… Desert and Coast.

#childrenspoolbeach — Baby seals in La Jolla

You might also be interested in: Exploring California from Sand to Sea

April

NOLA Again! In April, we visited NOLA for the sixth time. A day trip to visit the plantation homes was a highlight of our visit this year!

As I write this I’m dreaming about 2018’s visit, because it’s definitely happening! If you haven’t been yet, consider making 2018 the year you finally go. It’s always amazing, but did you know that it’s the 300th anniversary of New Orleans? There’s sure to be plenty going on, so what are you waiting for? LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER!

#bourbonstreet — The Infamous Bourbon Street

You might also be interested in: Day Trippers: The Plantations of River Road

You might also be interested in: 10 Things to do in New Orleans with Kids

May

I already love all the lifeguard towers that dot the beaches here in SoCal, so imagine my surprise and delight when I came across this fabulousness during my morning ride! I’m so excited to say that the City of LA voted to make this wonderful statement permanent

You might also be interested in: 8 reasons Venice Should Top Your LA List

June

I admit that during my 8 years living in the Bay Area, I spent very little time exploring San Francisco’s many unique neighborhoods. We did our best to remedy that during our June visit! We chose to explore the vibrant Mission District, where we discovered delicious food, a fabulous park, and amazing street art! So in other words, my perfect day!

Mission Dolores Park San Francisco with Kids — Mission Dolores Park San Francisco

July

July’s found us on an epic 2000 + mile road trip through the great American Southwest! We made stops in Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Monument Valley, the Antelope Slot Canyons, and the Grand Canyon to name a few!

Things to do in Las Vegas with Kids — The Famous Las Vegas Sign

Bryce Canyon National Park Utah — Bryce Canyon National Park

Arches National Park Utah #windowarchhike — Arches National Park

Monument Valley Utah #monumentvalley #forestgump — Monument Valley Tribal Park

Antelope Canyon Page Arizona #photography — Upper Antelope Valley Slot Canyon

Grand Canyon National Park Arizona #grandcanyonwithkids — The Grand Canyon

Although I was initially apprehensive about driving so far on my own, as you can see from the photos above the trip was a success!

Historic Route 66 Seligman Arizona American Flag painting — Historic Route 66

You might also be interested in: Postcards from the American Southwest

August

To say I am a fan of public and street art would be an understatement! The idea of bringing a piece of it home a dream. Dreams can come true, and they did with the installation of this @bumblebeelovesyou’s piece in my own backyard!

Bumblebeelovesyou Street Art Los Angeles California — Tim and I pictured with Bumblebeelovesyou

You might also be interested in: InstaLA! Part 3 Art Explosion!

September

Historically September has been a slow month for us, if you don’t count that one time, when we ditched work and school and set off for a road trip through Portugal and Spain! That was fun! However, like many before it, this September found us sticking close to home. Exploring Downtown LA and its many tasty treats was a highlight!

Bottega Louie Los Angeles California #dtla — Bottega Louie’s Famous Macarons

Angels Flight Railway Los Angeles California #angelsflight — Historic Angels Flight

You might also be interested in: The Sweet Tooth’s Walking Tour of Downtown LA

October

While I didn’t travel in the month of October, I had the best time playing tourist, or maybe I should say, tour guide, when friends flew in for a visit!

Street Art Sidewalk Sayings Los Angeles California — Downtown Los Angeles Art District

We hit the Hollywood Sign, the Bowl, Disneyland, Korea Town, Venice Beach, and Downtown LA to name just a few!

Depeche Mode The Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles California — The Hollywood Bowl

LACMA Los Angeles California — Urban Lights Exhibition at LACMA on Museum Row

You might also be interested in: 5 Places to get your Groove on in LA

You might also be interested in: 11 Places to get your Culture Fix in Los Angeles

November

Grateful for friends and family who travelled from both near and far to celebrate Thanksgiving with us, we were also grateful for the amazing Southern California weather, which allowed all 25 of us to eat outside!

Thanksgiving hilarystyle Los Angeles — Grateful for Family and Friends!

December

Ending 2017 just as we started it, on a high note, we celebrated the winter holidays in London! My favorite city in the world! Highlights include: Ice Skating at the Tower of London, meeting up with friends, attending A Christmas Carol at Windsor Castle, Afternoon Tea, New Year’s Eve fireworks and more… I’ll be sharing our many adventures in the coming weeks. Stay tuned…

Wishing you and yours all the best in the coming year.

Happy New Year!

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October 10, 2017October 10, 2017

The Grand Canyon & other Stops Along the way in the American Southwest

I’ve been a road tripper my entire life. I have fond childhood memories of summers our family spent touring the Western half of the United States in a VW bus. In recent years we’ve found ourselves exploring further afield. Last year we spent three weeks driving around Ireland, Scotland and England, the summer before that we toured Portugal with stops in Lisbon, Sintra and Carvoeiro before we set off for further adventures in Spain. Along the way we’ve discovered many wonderful surprises!

Portugal: Detour to the End of the World

England: Along the Way: Hadrian’s Wall

Glen Canyon Dam Page Arizona #lakemead — We met this gorgous view at an unplanned stop along the way…

No matter our destination one thing has always been the same: I’ve been the passenger for thousands of miles. Preferring to let others take on the driving duty, I was content to sit back taking photos out the window, and reading my guidebooks in between periodic naps. But that changed this past summer when the boys and I joined my parents for a 2000 + mile road trip throughout the American Southwest.

The One Behind the Wheel

This time I would be the main driver and I was somewhat aprehensive. I knew I could do it, but everyday for two straight weeks? Would I get bored? Would it be too much driving? Would I hear a never ending chorus of “Are we there yet?” from the back seat…

Route 66 Kingman Arizona #route66 — Historic Route 66 is definitely worth a stop! Did you know it ends in Santa Monica, California?

Deciding to take my chances and do it my way, we took our time and stopped when and where we felt like it, which really helped to break up the monotony of the miles. Success! I don’t recall hearing anyone ask “are we there yet?” and we discovered many wonderful places along the way! Here are just a few*…

THE SEVEN MAGIC MOUNTAINS

Along the way from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
Henderson, Nevada
20 miles from The Delano Hotel Las Vegas

Seven Magic Mountains Las Vegas #sevenmagicmountains — It was impossible to snap a people free photo

Our first “along the way” stop was The Seven Magic Mountains, a temporary art installation, in the desert just outside Las Vegas. An instagrammers dream, this grouping of brightly colored boulders stacked 30 feet high was created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. Installed in May 2016 the exhibit will be in place for two years.

Seven Magic Mountains Las Vegas Nevada #sevenmagicmountains

GLEN CANYON DAM

Along the way from Monument Valley to Antelope Canyon
Page, Arizona
125 Miles from Monument Valley

The famous Antelope Canyon brought us to Page, but our visit wasn’t until the following day, so we decided upon a visit to the Glen Canyon Dam. The Visitor Center provides fabulous views, of the Dam, beautiful Lake Powell, and has an exhibition worth exploring. We took the Dam tour where we not only learned about the construction of the dam, but had the chance to walk across the top, and to go inside, which was around 638 feet down…

Glen Canyon Dam Page Arizona #glencanyon

HORSESHOE BEND

Along the way from Antelope Canyon to The Grand Canyon
Page, Arizona
110 Miles from The Grand Canyon

Located just outside Page, Arizona, Horseshoe Bend is one of the most photographed spots on the Colorado River. That said, walking to the edge of a 1000 foot drop with no safety guards isn’t high on my list (pun intended!) Go? Don’t go? How could I skip this natural wonder? Go? Don’t go?! I went, but I had to crawl to get to this point. I admit I didn’t heed the signs, but you should. What have you done to get that photo? Would you have leaned over to get the perfect pic?

THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Along the way from Horseshoe Bend to Las Vegas, Nevada
253 Miles from Las Vegas

Grand Canyon National Park Arizona #grandcanyon — The Desert View

I know what you’re thinking! How is the Grand Canyon National Park just a stop along the way? Well… after two weeks of soaring temperatures, visitor centers, and redish colored rocks we were simply canyoned out. We felt a bit like National Lampoon’s Vacation. Arriving just before the rain, we had time to visit the Desert View overlook and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center before we called it a day.

The next morning we had a family meeting and gave ourselves permission to continue on our journey without another visit to the Park. I can’t say for sure if I would have felt this way had The Grand Canyon been our first stop, but we visited many beautiful places on this adventure and felt no remorse about the nature of our visit.

Grand Canyon National Park with kids Arizona #grandcanyonwithkids

HISTORIC ROUTE 66

Along the way from The Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
Kingman & Seligman, Arizona
104 Miles from Las Vegas

At one time stretching from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California Historic Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in the United States. No longer an official highway it is still possible to drive on stretches of what was once known as America’s Main Street, or The Mother Road. We took the time to stop in Seligman for some kitschy Americana photos and again in Kingman at an old school diner for some lunch.

THE HOOVER DAM

Along the way from Route 66 to Las Vegas
33 Miles from Las Vegas

Our final along the way stop was the Hoover Dam. Walking across Glen Canyon was pretty neat, but driving across Hoover Dam was really cool, at the same time I couldn’t help but think about all the action movies I’ve seen where they detroy the dam… Let’s get out of here!

*If you’d like to read more about our adventures through the American Southwest, and other fun places we stopped along the way check out these related blog posts:

8 Things to do in Las Vegas… with Kids

Family Friendly Hiking in Zion National Park

Exploring Bryce Canyon National Park Day & Night

Road Trip to Arches National Park

Soaring Over Monument Valley

Chasing the Light in Upper Antelope Canyon

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October 3, 2017October 3, 2017

Chasing the Light in Upper Antelope Canyon

#familytravel Antelope Canyon Page Arizona

‘As the sun moved across the sky, beams of light would shine through the cracks in the earth high above us. Our time in Antelope Canyon was limited, and I had to get this right, this would be my one and only chance. I set up my camera equipment as best I could, an amateur masquerading as something more; I fumbled with my camera’s settings… would I be able to capture the wonder of this ancient place?

I pressed myself as close to the wall as I could, but there was nowhere else to go. It was so hot I could feel the sweat dripping down my back, and my knees ached from squatting in the dirt. In places the walls were so close together I had to squeeze to get through, and as the rush of people pushed past the dust swirled around me like a lightly falling snow.

The Antelope Slot Canyons Upper and Lower

Formed by the passage of water over the course of thousands of years the Antelope Canyons are an incredible natural wonder. The two slot canyons at this site are referred to as Upper and Lower Canyons.

A visit to the Upper Canyon requires no hiking or climbing, which makes it a more family friendly option. Additionally, Upper Canyon has access from both ends while Lower Canyon has one-way in and one-way out. *Flash flooding is a real possibility in both locations..

A Photographers Dream

Maybe you’re thinking what was this self described indoor girl doing crammed into a crack 120 feet below the surface, with the very real possibility of flash flooding? Funny, I had the exact same thought!

It was the light that brought me to this magical place and I wasn’t alone! Photographers from around the world come to chase the light beams through the narrow passages and unique rock formations of Upper Antelope Canyon.

When the midday sun breaks into the canyon and shines upon the smooth sandstone walls it brings to life the brilliant reds, oranges and yellows, which would otherwise be hidden from view. This natural phenomenon only takes place March through October.

Tour Options – Antelope Canyon can only be viewed via guided tour.

Over the past few years I’ve come to realize the value of a guided tour, however in the case of Antelope Canyon a guided tour is the only option. While there are multiple companies offering tours, not all of them are equal. We lucked out when we chose the fabulous Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours!

Antelope Canyon Page Arizona #antelopcanyon — A tour group waiting to enter Upper Antelope Canyon

Depending on your group’s interests there are different tours available. Wanting the chance to both take photos and to enjoy this special place I opted to take two different tours. I took a photograhy tour early in the day and came back in the late afternoon with my family for a sightseer’s tour.

I loved my morning guide, Richardson, so much I requested he be our guide during our afternoon tour.

Photography Tour

This tour is aimed at more serious photographers, or at least those serious enough to have invested in a fancy camera and tripod. Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours limits the number of participants on photo expeditions, so it was just Richardson, myself and one other fellow, Chris from Luxembourg.

We took photos for two straight hours all the while chasing the light based on the position of the sun. Richardson knew where to go within the canyon at any given time to get the best shot. As the sand falls from above it accentuates the beams of light giving them texture and creating a spectacular effect.

Antelope Canyon Page Arizona #antelopecanyon — Taken with an Iphone 6

This tour is all about photography. There won’t be any explanation of the formations or history. If, like me, you don’t have a lot of experience photographing dark places, your guide will help you with suggested camera settings.

Sightseer’s Tour

Returning later in the day with my family, the beams of light were gone, but the canyons were no less awe inspiring. Focusing less on photography, though cameras are welcome, we learned the names of different formations and enjoyed just being in this wonderous place. At one point we were asked to put our cameras away so we could fully immerse ourselves in the experience.

Need To Know, Tips and Advice:

Antelope Canyon is located just 10 minutes east of Page, Arizona and a two hour drive from Monument Valley.
Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours is located at Indian Route 222 HWY 98 between milepost 299 & 300
Plan ahead! Tours sell out months in advance, especially midday tours March – October.
Photography Tours are $120. Sightseer’s Tours are $48 for adults and children are $28. Parking is free.
In addition to your payment, which is collected upon your arrival, the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation will collect an $8 permit fee. This fee must be paid in cash, however credit cards & traveler’s checks are accepted for tours.
Arrive 60 minutes before your scheduled departure. If you have not checked in 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour, your reservation will be canceled.

ONLY cameras and water are permitted on the tour.
NO BAGS of any kind are permitted on the Sightseer’s tour.This includes purses. Tripods aren’t premitted either.
A DSLR or SLR camera and a tripod are required for the photographer’s tour. A camera bag is permitted on this tour.
In the event of bad weather, flash flood warnings, rainout, or high wind advisories, the canyon will be closed. These warnings are taken very seriously.
You’ll be driven via an open air 4×4 vehicle to the Canyons.
The road is rough, bouncy, hot, DUSTY and dry. Make sure to shield your camera from the dust. I wrapped mine in a disposable plastic baggie.

Dust will cover everything and get everywhere. A bandana or other face covering will come in handy.

upload-8c161286e8d388b4d7c000b6bb044b89. — Map provided by Antelope Canyon Tours.

*There was a flash flood in the canyon the day after our tour.

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September 26, 2017September 26, 2017

Soaring Over Monument Valley

Monument Valley Utah Arizona #monumentvalley

If there was a main destination on our epic 2000+ mile road trip through the American Southwest it was Monument Valley, which is located on the border of Utah and Arizona. Believe it or not my inspiration for this mega adventure came while riding Soarin’ Over The World an attraction inside Disneyland’s California Adventure Park. And why not? Inspiration can come from anywhere: magazines, guide books, blogs, television shows, food, instagram feeds, and yes, even theme park rides.

Soaring over Monument Valley

Family Road Trip to Monument Valley Utah Arizona #monumentvalley — We “flew” over the West Mitten Butte at Disney’s California Adventure.

As I was saying, after “soaring” over Monument Valley on a theme park ride, I just knew I had to see this amazing natural wonder in person. Not only that, this was a part of the United States no one in my family had visited, so it would be something new for all of us.

Along the Way

The drive to Monument Valley from Arches takes around 2.5 hours, and other than a few photo stops along the way, we drove straight through.

Mexican Hat Utah #mexicanhat — We stopped for a quick photo of the Mexican hat rock

It was a happy accident when we decided to stop for a photo in the very place Forrest Gump stopped his cross-country run!

Monument Valley

Monument Valley is famous for it’s majestic sandstone buttes, the tallest of which rises over 1000 feet from the valley floor. It’s no wonder that this place has been repeatedly featured in film and media since the 1930s.

Visitors can choose to drive the Park’s 17 mile dirt road in their own vehicle, however the roads are more suited to off road vehicles and much of the Valley is only accessible via guided tour. Along the way you may run into local Navajo people selling handmade goods.

The View Lodge & Visitor Center

Upon entering the Park you’ll find yourself at The View lodge and Visitor Center. Inside you’ll find park information, a museum, restaurant, gift shop, and of course amazing views of the Valley in every direction! Even the elevator has a view. Really! If you plan on taking a guided tour the View Lobby is where you’ll meet your guide.

Tours of Monument Valley

Monument Valley Utah Arizona Family Travel #familyroadtrip — Monument Valley Loop Drive

Realizing that navigating a winding bumpy dirt road for 2 – 3 hours wasn’t the best way for me to see the Valley or to keep my sanity I booked our group on a guided tour. We chose the Dineh Bekeyah tour company, which was a great experience.

Our guide, Steven was kind, friendly, and informative. During our four hours together we learned about the Navajo people, their customs, and their relationship to the Valley. We drove into the backcountry, where we were able to venture onto some of the rock formations and climb mountains of sand. We saw pictographs, “dragons”, and wild horses!

Sleeping Dragon

Merrick Butte

Big Hogan

West and East Mittens

There is really no way to explain the sheer size of the monuments, and how I felt being among them. A little little like Land of the Lost, maybe?

Wild Horses

Suns Eye Pictographs

Photography

Family road trip through Monument Valley Utah Arizona #familyroadtrip — Photographers Point

If you’re a photographer than Monument Valley is the place for you, in fact there is even a place called Photographer’s Point. IF the weather is in your favor, sunrise and sunset are popular times to take photos, as well as after dark when the dark skies allow the stars to come out in full force.

Photographer’s Point

Unfortunately my plans for an astrophotography tour were foiled when an extreme storm complete with rain, wind, thunder and lightening blew through the area. That’s not to say I didn’t get a few snaps, just not night sky.

I rose before the sun to catch the sunrise. I’m pretty sure a bat flew into my face while I attempted to take some photos in the predawn light. Eeek!

Gouldings Lodge

Our accomodations during our visit to Monument Valley were at Gouldings Lodge, which is located just a few minutes drive from the Park entrance. Our little cabin of sorts, which had a great view of the Monuments and conveniently a kitchenette was perfect for our party of five.

The Gouldings story is quite fascinating. Originally sheep farmers, their farm was struggling during the depression of the 1930s. Through a series of events and luck they brought Hollywood, to the Valley (and with the filming of the famous western movie Stagecoach starring John Wayne) the Valley to the world.. The rest, as they say, is history…

Onsite at Gouldings you’ll find the Stagecoach Restaurant, a grocery store, swimming pool, museum, gift shop, and more.

Tips & Advice:

Monument Valley isn’t a state or national park, but rather a Navajo Tribal Park.
There is a fee to enter the tribal park.
Navajo people live and work within the park’s boundaries.
The backcountry is only accessible via guided tour.
Hiking opportunities wihtin Monument Valley are limited, and during extreme temperatures the trails may be closed.
The View Lodge is the only lodging inside the park and it books far in advance.
We booked our guided tour in advance, but same day tours are possible.

Inspiration is Everywhere

Disneyland inspired Monument Valley, but it’s not the only place I’ve ever visited due to a little help from an unusual source. Our visit to Northern Ireland was born out of a desire to see the Giant’s Causeway, but it was my love of Game of Thrones that led me to the Dark Hedges.

Postcards from The American Southwest

My boys, and I* have been road tripping through the American Southwest these past two weeks, which means I’ve been out gathering a ton of fun information to share with all of you, but haven’t had time to write about it in detail yet! I thought it might be fun to give you a sneak peak at some of the amazing things we’ve experienced during this summer’s adventure, all of which I plan to write about in more detail in the near future!

Dear Faithful Reader,

Don’t you just love receiving mail! I do! We’ve been having quite a summer exploring Nevada, Utah and Arizona! It’s been so hot out and we’ve been doing a lot of driving! The USA is a vast and unique place!! Here is a little sneak peak of our Southwestern Adventures!

xo, hilary

Next stop… The American Southwest!

Dear Faithful Reader,

No road trip would be complete without long stretches of endless road. We saw this sign from the road, but when we pulled off to explore further, things weren’t quite what they seemed. Snapped a few picks, but didn’t hang around long…

xo, hilary

Next stop… Las Vegas, Nevada!

Dear Faithful Reader,

Las Vegas with kids wasn’t something I’d ever planned on… I’ll be writing more about our experiences there, but I think I’m going with my first instincts on this one.

xo, hilary

Next stop… Zion National Park!

Dear Faithful Reader,

Zion National Park has hikes and walks which are suitable for all ages! We did both the Emerald Pools hike and the River Walk!

We saw waterfalls and a tons of wildlife! It was 108 degrees, so dipping our toes into the river at the end of the walk was a welcome reward!!

xo, hilary

Next stop… Bryce Canyon National Park!

Dear Faithful Reader,

We saw this strange object from a distance and wondered… what is that?! Turns out it was the Rock Stop! There are so many of these shops, but this is the only one we saw that was actually in the shape of a rock!

We just had to stop!!

xo, hilary

Next stop really is… Bryce Canyon National Park!

Dear Faithful Reader,

After high temperatures in the 100s for days on end, the cooler temperatures in Bryce Canyon were a welcome reprieve!!

We did a moderate hike through the hoodoos. There were even a few raindrops! It was a steep climb back up, but so worth it!

xo, hilary

The next stop… ~~Arches~~ Capital Reef National Park!

Quick Stops at Capital Reef National Park and Goblin Valley State Park

Dear Faithful Reader,

Have you heard of Capital Reef?

Although it doesn’t get as much press it’s pretty beautiful! Many people say it’s their favorite due to low crowds… we saw some petroglyphs that were 2500 years old!

xo, hilary

The Next stop… ~~Arches National Park~~ Goblin Valley State Park!

Dear Faithful Reader,

The road from Bryce Canyon to Arches was so LONG….!
We took Scenic HWY 12, which was probably my LEAST favorite road ever!
It was beautiful, but so curvy!!!
We stopped at Goblin Valley State Park
for a stretch and a rest

The valley is filled with hoodoos, which one can walk among… it was hot hot hot!
Evning might have been a better choice…

xo, hilary

Next stop… Arches National Park!

Dear Faithful Reader,

I was surprised by how impressed I was by the arches! Does that sound silly?

Unfortunately, the hike to the famous Delicate Arch was in the difficult category, but there are a number of family friendly walks and viewpoints throughout the park!

xo, hilary

The Next Stop… Mexican hat!

Dear Faithful Reader,

After a few days in Moab, it was to head to our next stop: Monument Valley! This is the stop that starte it all, but I’ll save that story for a future post!!

The drive from Arches to Monument Valley isn’t too long, so wedidn’t stop along the way except to snap a pic of Mexican Hat Rock and to see the Forrest Gump movie sign!

xo, hilary

Next stop… Monument Valley! Finally!

Dear Faithful Reader,

We all loved our visit to Monument Valley! There so much history in this beautiful place!

We had hoped for some stargazing and to see the sunset over the magnificent valley, but instead were treated to quite a summer storm, complete with lightning, rainbows, and hail!

All was not lost… I set my alarm for sunrise and was treated to quite a light show, the soundtrack was provided by frogs and crickets! I may have seen some bats!

xo, hilary

Next stop… Page, Arizona!

Dear Faithful Reader,

When I first considered this trip, I knew the Antelope Canyon slot canyons would have to be on the itinerary! These canyons are easilyt one the most unqiue places I’ve ever visited, and this city girl definitely had a moment when I realized where I willingly was!

Wanting to take photos, and to enjoy the moment I opeted for two tours in one day! It was the best decission! our guide was awesome and this experience was definitely a highlight of the trip!!

xo, hilary

Next up… Horseshoe Bend!

Dear Faithful Reader,

Horseshoe Bend is the most photographed location along the Colorado River and it’s easy to see why! The view of the bend in the River from 1000 feet up is pretty magnificent!

I’ve recently learned I’m not great with extreme heights, so I wasn’t able to get all the way to the edge fro a complete view, but hopefully you get the idea!

xo, hilary

Next stop… The Grand Canyon!

Dear Faithful Reader,

We’ve been on the road for two weeks, and we’ve seen some pretty amazing sights!

Today was our final stop The GRAND CANYON! We visited the South Rim, where our first stop was the Desert View.

We were pretty excited to see an endangered California Condor fly over the Canyon!

xo, hilary

Next stop… HOME (via Las Vegas)!

*Tim stayed home to hold down the fort!

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