Adventures with Chris and Jenn
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon before – this is totally different. Most people visit the tourist destination of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, which both of us had already done. This trip, we chose to explore the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and were thoroughly surprised when we found ourselves in pleasant, cool temperatures and thickly forested areas – totally, 180-degrees different than the South Rim!
Continue reading
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
We only had a brief stop at Lake Powell, but it was definitely worth it. There was little shade at the campground and it was incredibly warm outside while we were there. Since I wasn’t sure how Bailey would do on the boat ride necessary to reach the Rainbow Bridge, I stayed back at the campground with her for a relaxing afternoon. Rainbow Bridge National Monument is one of the largest known natural bridges in the world, extending 290ft into the sky and 275ft across Bridge Canyon.
Continue reading
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
Monument Valley has been on my bucket list for quite a long time. I’ve stared at pictures of the majestic landscape and often dreamed about visiting. I was terribly excited for this stop, but also anxious that it wouldn’t live up to my imagination’s expectations. This stop ending up being my absolute favorite and far exceeded my hopes and dreams for how vast, stunning, and spiritual a landscape could be.
Continue reading
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
While Canyonlands National Park is adjacent to Moab and Arches, it is still a bit of a drive and the scenic drive through the park itself is long. Make sure you come with a full tank of gas and bring some snacks and a picnic lunch to make a day of it! We took our time and enjoyed meandering through the park as we took two cars for the day because Chris and I were determined to “stay up late” and catch sunset in the park.
Continue reading
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
Having been through hot, cold, windy, and rainy thus far, we felt relatively unprepared for just how hot it was during the day in Moab and just how crowded Arches National Park would be. We started our day incredibly early in the morning to beat some of the heat, took a mid-day break and had lunch and siestas back at the campground, and then went back to the park after an early dinner (sunset was around 9:30PM)
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
We woke up and headed into Capitol Reef National Park for a day of exploring. As you can see from the pictures, we started off the day with very dramatic clouds which unfortunately included a possibility of thunderstorms throughout the day. We did have to modify some of our plans in the park as we had planned on hiking a wash and following a 4×4 road. Overall, Capitol Reef is definitely an underrated (and very not-crowded) national park and we will definitely be returning.
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
Although several roadtrip guides had recommended taking the HWY 12 (All American Highway) route between Bryce and Capitol Reef, I was very much unprepared for the majestic beauty and unexpected sights of this drive. While it is a slightly longer route than the alternative, it was easily driveable with a small or large trailer. The sights are well worth the extra time, and, if you allow for it, there are some lovely stops along the way. We did not have time (or energy) to stop at all of these
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
Given how hot it was in Zion for this time of year, I was not expecting how lovely and almost cool it was in Bryce. Note that Bryce is the top (highest altitude park) of the Grand Staircase National Monument. Bryce is a bit more spread out, there were less people crowding everywhere, and you could drive yourself and go at your own pace. If you are sensitive to altitude changes, you may want to hang out at the campground for an afternoon before hiking. Because we drove in the morning from Zion and did Bryce the same day, by late afternoon and several short hikes, I ended up with an altitude headache.
Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!
So day 1 is actually day 2 because all of actual day 1 was filled with panicked packing up, a late departure, more traffic than expected, and a nighttime arrival at the campground. Having to learn how to back-in the teardrop at a campground for the first time at night (during quiet hours), was not a fun experience for either of us (and left us both very cranky), so we will say nothing more about the real day 1.
© 2024 McNuttyGoodTime
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑