Utah – 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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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.

Road Trip to Arches National Park

Arches National Park, one of many National Parks we visited in Utah, was also the furthest and most challenging drive of our two week road trip. That was partly due to our decision to take Scenic Byway 12 from Bryce Canyon to Moab, home of Arches National Park. The drive proved to be more of an adventure than I planned on, and to say that I was nervous while driving on the extremely steep and winding road would be the understatement of the century. Petrified would probably be a more accurate description.

Utah has some of the most diverse landscape I’ve ever seen, and once I was able to look up again, I was amazed at all the different types of terain we drove through.

The Road to Arches National Park

Goblin State Park Utah #goblinstatepark — Goblins standing sentry at Goblin State Park

Although the road to Arches felt long, we made stops at both Capital Reef National Park, and Goblin Valley State Park, which helped to break up the very curvy drive. Temperatures were well over 100 degrees, so our visits were on the quick side.

Capital Reef National Park

Capital Reef National Park is one of Utah’s Mighty 5, however it is the most underrated of all the parks. Many people I spoke with consider it their favorite of all the parks, they love having the place all to themselves.

The Visitor Center Capital Reef

Capital Reef National Park #capitalreefnationalpark

The Capital Reef Visitor Center is located along HWY Route 24, and after a quick look around we drove a short distance down the road to see the Freemont Indian Pictographs, which date back to between 700 AD – 1300 AD. Parking and a convient walking path make viewing the pictographs a very family friendly activity.

There are viewfinders available for a better look.

The Pictographs are high above on the cliff face.

This set of Pictographs was actually quite far away

Goblin Valley State Park

Recommended by a friend we made stopping at Goblin Valley State Park a priority, however in hindsight I realized I should have timed this visit for either sunrise or sunset. Because our visit took place mid-day, temperatures were extremely high, there was no shade and the harsh lighting meant a very abbreviated visit.

It was sot hot, my boys wouldn’t leave the car’s airconditioning, but I was here and didn’t want to pass up an oppotunity to walk among the hoodoos or “goblins”, which are the main attraction at Goblin State Park.

Walking among the goblins

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is home to the largest concentration of natural arches in the world. The most famous of which is the Delicate Arch, which also happens to be on the Utah State Liscense Plate.

Arches National Park #utahliscenseplate — This liscense plate has been retired and was for sale in a gift shop.

I admit I underestimated the time it would take to drive to Arches so our time in the park was limited. We would just be getting a taste of what this park had to offer. For example this Utah liscense plate was the only way I would be seeing the famous Delicate Arch.

Visitor Center

As always our first stop was the visitor center. We watched a movie about the Park’s unique landscape, viewed interactive exhibits, consulted with the rangers, and of course vistied the gift shop!

Knowing that our group wasn’t up for moderate or difficult hiking in the extreme heat we chose to view the park via two easier walks, and the many pull ins along the Park’s main road.

The Windows – Easy

This wasn’t our first stop within the park, but it was my favorite. A quick and relatively flat walk, and we were able to explore The Windows and see amazing views without too much effort. We all loved this walk, and sitting under the shade of the giant Window Arches helped us get a feel for just how massive these formations really are. This is perfect walk if you have limited time in the Park.

Arches National Park Utah #windowsarches — View from The Windows

Sitting under The Windows

Balanced Rock – Easy

Balanced Rock, as you can see isn’t an arch, but it certainly is impressive. It’s hard to get a sense of scale when looking at photos, but if you look closely you’ll see tiny people among the rocks. The Rock can easily be seen from the parking area or there is a short walk around as well.

The Courthouse View Point

Arches National Park Utah #courthouseview

The Gossip Ladies – View Point

Zax’s Pizza

A casual pizza restaurant with unique and delicious toppings and great service, Zax’s wasn’t the only meal we ate while in Moab, but it was our favorite! Don’t just take my word for it, Zax’s came highly recommended by just about every person I spoke to when discussing our trip to Moab, and now I’ve joined the club! I wish my photos were better, but I was too busy eating to take many pictures…

Tips & Advice:

There wasn’t much shade and it was 104 during our visit. Bring water! Yes, I know I should be wearing a hat.
Be aware and heed all signs. People do die here, often people who don’t heed signs.
Keep in mind that many of the more famous hikes are moderate to difficult for example Delicate Arch is considered difficult.
Many of the park’s sights can be seen from the car, and or convenient lookout points.
Automobile Lines to get into Arches National Park can be long, so plan to arrive early if possible. You’ll beat the lines and the heat!
Once you leave the Visitor Center there are no facilities of any kind inside the park.

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September 5, 2017September 5, 2017

Exploring Bryce Canyon National Park Day & Night

Bryce Canyon National Park with kids #BryceCanyon

Bryce Canyon National Park, was just one of many National and State parks we spent time in during our visit to Utah. In fact we visited four National Parks, one State Park, and a Tribal Park. If the number of photos I took are any indication, Bryce Canyon was a favorite!

That could be due to its higher elevations and cooler temperatures, which made Bryce Canyon a welcome respite from the extreme heat of our previous stops in Zion and Las Vegas.

We enjoyed hiking through unique and alien landscapes by day, and explored the night sky, and it’s many wonders, under it’s famously dark skies by night.

Bryce Canyon National Park #astrophotography — The Milky Way!

Getting There

At around 80 miles the scenic drive from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon is a very manageable distance, however the road can at times be curvy, steep and narrow or all three at once, and if you’re me, that can make for slow going.

Other times, the road seems to stretch out in front of you for what feels like forever, and it was during one of those stretches that I saw something in the distance. What is that large and strange looking formation?

The Rock Stop!

Having previously read about The Rock Stop, we decided to stop and take a look around! As it turns out we were far from the only ones! People come from around the world to visit the Wonders of Utah, and it turns out The Rock Stop is one of them.

This turned out to be a perfect place to stretch our legs and grab a drink and a snack. We even picked up a souvenir or two!

People come from around the world!

The Rock Stop is a popular destination

Bryce Canyon National Park By Day

If, like us, you have limited time in the Park, consider making the visitor center your first stop. While there, you can learn about the park, pick up a park map, and speak with the Park Rangers about what might be the best experience for your group’s needs.

Mossy Cave Trail – Easy

The Mossy Cave trail includes close up views of the Park’s famous hoodoos, the mossy cave, and a waterfall. At just under one mile roundtrip Mossy Cave Trail is a perfect hike for all ages and fitness levels. This hike includes parking and services.

Walking among the hoodoos

The trail was very family friendly

There are services and parking

The Navajo Loop/Queen’s Garden Combination Trail – Moderate

Bryce Canyon National Park #thorshammer — You’ll see “Thor’s Hammer” on the Navajo Loop Trail

One of the Park’s most popular hikes, The Navajo Loop/Queen’s Garden Combination Trail, is a perfect hike if you want to get a taste of what Bryce Canyon has to offer, but don’t have a lot of time in the Park.

The hike is a loop and starts at Sunset point. For safety the NPS park service recommends walking .4 miles along the canyon’s rim to Sunrise point where you follow the Queens Garden Trail down into the canyon. Whoops we did just the opposite.

The hike took us around three hours, contains 300+ feet of elevation and includes some very steep drop offs. The views from above the canyon were stunning, but I also loved walking among the Park’s famous hoodoos. You can see more photos from this amazing hike at the end of the post!

We took our time and along the way enjoyed some light rain, the unique landscape, and the many chipmunks!

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Chipmunks were everywhere!

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Bryce Canyon National Park By Night

Dark Rangers Telescope Tour

If Bryce Canyon was one of my favorite places, then The Dark Rangers Telescope Tour was my favorite activity of the entire trip! It’s been a dream of mine to photograph the night sky, specifically the Milky Way, and Bryce Canyon’s remote location makes it the perfect place to fulfill this dream. My sons both love science making this a wonderful family activity!

I discovered Dark Rangers Telescope Tours while researching the Park’s official site, and I can’t say enough about our experience. Our evening with Kevin Poe, a local park ranger, and astronomer, was perfect from start to finish.

We met Kevin at his observatory, and spent three hours learning about and exploring the night sky. We saw Saturn and Jupiter, a swan nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, Vega, star clusters, exploded stars and more. It was truly amazing!

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Not only that, but I got a lesson in astrophotography, and night vision! Did you know that red is the only color light that allows your vision to stay in night mode?

Tips & Advice:

Are you traveling with a Senior Citizen or a 4th Grader? That’s good news! Seniors can purchase a lifetime National Park Pass for $80 with access to over 2000 locations, and their companions will be able to enter along with them for free.
Fourth grade students and their families can enter National parks for free with the Every Kid in A Park Pass. Sign up on line, print out the temporary pass, and redeem it for your permanent card when you visit your first park!

Bryce Canyon City is located just outside the park. Food, lodging and free parking can be found here.

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Cars are allowed in Bryce Canyon National Park, but I highly recommend taking advantage of the free parking in Bryce Canyon City and using the park shuttle.

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The Visitor Center is the first stop inside the park.

Watch your step and look where you’re going. There are many drop offs and very few protective measures in place, we saw a little baby slip and he almost fell. Really! The daddy caught him at the last second when I gasped!

If you’re interested in astrophotography book your tour with the Dark Rangers in advance and you may be able to connect your camera directly to the telescopes.
There are a variety of tours available, however I wanted to include astrophotography, so chose a private tour.

Photo Gallery:

Bryce Canyon National Park Utah #sunrisepoint — We finished the hike at Sunrise Point.

Bryce Canyon National Park Utah #queensgardentrail — Steep drop offs mean: Watch your step!

Bryce Canyon National Park Utah #sunsetbrycecanyon — Tropic, Utah

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August 29, 2017August 29, 2017

Family Friendly Hiking in Zion National Park

Did you know that over 4 million people visit Zion National Park every year? This summer we decided to join the masses and see what all the fuss is about. Part of a larger loop, Zion National Park was our second stop, which included stops in Nevada, Utah and Arizona, over the course of two weeks.

Located in Springdale, Utah, Zion is a very manageable 2.5 or 3-hour drive from Las Vegas (our first stop). We arrived in the mid-afternoon and there was plenty of daylight left, so we went straight to the Park.

Zion National Park with Kids #zionnationalpark — We completed two “hikes” this was taken on the Riverside Walk.

There are many walks and hikes of varying lengths and difficulties. We chose “hikes” that would suit everyone in our group, which was made up of all ages and fitness levels. Strenuous or more challenging hikes weren’t ever on our agenda, however with temperatures soaring into the hundreds even the easiest hikes can feel challenging.

During our visit we completed two hikes, both of which were paved and felt more like walks, and both would be suitable for all ages, The River Walk, which leads to The Narrows, and the Lower Emerald Pools Walk. During our visit we saw wild turkeys and their babies, countless squirrels, and many deer.

The Riverside Walk (Shuttle Stop 9)

The Riverside walk is an easy 2.2-mile paved path, which follows alongside the Virgin River. This is also the access point for one of the Park’s most popular hikes, The Narrows, a strenuous 8+ hour, 9.4 mile hike through the river.

The Riverside walk was perfect compromise for our group! We saw wildlife, hanging gardens, and cooled off by dipping our feet in the river. We felt like we got a small taste of the Park and even saw the famous Narrows!

Beautiful views of the Virgin River

Sunset along the trail.

The Lower Emerald Pools Trail (Shuttle stop 5)

Zion National Park Utah — Much of the Lower Emerald Pools trail is without shade.

The Emerald Pools Trail consists of three parts. Parts two and three are more strenuous, with a moderate rating, while part one The Lower Emerald Pool Trail is listed as easy, making it a perfect choice for our second walk in the Park.

The 1.2-mile trail is paved and leads to a waterfall, which is a very rewarding end to this 1-hour walk with a slight elevation and limited shade.

Some welcome shade

The backside of water!

Once you reach the waterfall you can continue on and complete the entire Emerald Pools trail, or like us, you can turn around and head back. Keep in mind there are some very steep drop offs. If you look carefully at the photos below you can spot some tiny people up on the ledge, which is located just above the waterfall where we ended our walk!

Can you spot the tiny people on the ledge?

With temperatures well over 100 degrees, not everyone in our group wanted to participate, so we dropped them at the Zion Lodge, a lovely place to take a break and relax. If you’re looking for a souvenir there is a lovely gift shop inside as well. You know I stopped there!

Navigating within Zion:

It’s important to note that vehicles aren’t allowed within Zion National Park. The Park Service operates a free shuttle bus, which takes visitors throughout the Park, stopping at 9 different designated stops starting at the Visitor Center and ending at stop 9 The Temple of Sinawava. The ride takes about 40 minutes from start to finish, and its not only incredibly scenic, but informative as well. Shuttles come about every 10 minutes*.

As I mentioned above, 4 million people visit Zion every year, so you can imagine that at times the park will be very crowded. Because the shuttles are the only way into the park consider arriving on the earlier side, or at off times to keep your wait times down.

For example, our wait time in the late afternoon was nonexistent, but on our second day we attempted to ride during a peak time, and we were met with an hour + line, just to get on board. After all that waiting we still had to contend with multiple shuttle stops, a long hot ride and 108-degree temperatures. An earlier start might have saved us as much as two hours!

Practical Information:

Zion is an oasis in the desert, but it is still a desert. Bring water everywhere. I really can’t stress this enough. It’s important to bring enough water for everyone in your group. Temperatures can and do reach well over 100 degrees.

Accommodations:

Desert Pearl Inn Zion National Park with Kids #Zion — View of the pool from our room’s balcony

I admit I didn’t research accommodations in Zion, I didn’t have to! My fellow blogger, Oregon Girl around the World, suggested The Desert Pearl Inn, and we couldn’t have been more pleased! However, we weren’t the only ones happy with this choice, it was completely booked, so planning ahead is a good idea.

The property is conveniently located within walking distance to the Park’s entrance, but if you prefer a ride there is a separate town shuttle which stops right out front of the Inn.

The service, pool and grounds were all lovely. The room was spacious, the beds were comfortable, and even with a full kitchen two double beds and a sitting area our group of five had plenty of room to spread out.

Tips & Advice:

Check the weather and possibilty of flash flooding before you go, especially for The Narrows.
Bring lots of water and snacks for everyone in your group.
Wear appropriate clothing, hats, and shoes.
Heed the signs. People have died on these trails, and many more have been injured, or suffered heat related illness.
The Visitor Center doesn’t sell food or drinks, but there is a little grocery just outside the park gate.

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July 25, 2017October 8, 2017

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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Soaring over Monument Valley

Along the Way

Monument Valley

The View Lodge & Visitor Center

Tours of Monument Valley

Photography

Gouldings Lodge

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Inspiration is Everywhere

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The Road to Arches National Park

Capital Reef National Park

Goblin Valley State Park

Arches National Park

Visitor Center

The Windows – Easy

Balanced Rock – Easy

The Courthouse View Point

The Gossip Ladies – View Point

Zax’s Pizza

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Getting There

The Rock Stop!

Bryce Canyon National Park By Day

Mossy Cave Trail – Easy

The Navajo Loop/Queen’s Garden Combination Trail – Moderate

Bryce Canyon National Park By Night

Dark Rangers Telescope Tour

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The Riverside Walk (Shuttle Stop 9)

The Lower Emerald Pools Trail (Shuttle stop 5)

Navigating within Zion:

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

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