Arizona, Utah, & Las Vegas
We took approximately one million photos on our trip through Arizona and Utah, and yet not a single one managed to do justice to the beauty we saw in person. I was a very happy girl on this trip! We did get engaged while hiking in the Grand Canyon at the very beginning, which probably helped set the tone, but even without that little bit of special, the American West is a place I genuinely think everyone should experience at least once. We rented a camper van and set off through some of the most spectacular landscapes we’d ever seen, starting at the Grand Canyon and then making our way into Utah, with stops at Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Each park was completely different—vast and humbling at the Grand Canyon, otherworldly and almost surreal at Bryce, and dramatic and towering at Zion.
Eventually, we made our way back to Las Vegas for the final stop of the trip. Of course, we did the Vegas things: walked the Strip, ate at a Brazilian steakhouse, saw a show at the Mirage, and did plenty of people-watching. But after days of waking up in serene landscapes, breathing fresh air, and being surrounded by nothing but mountains, desert, and enormous open skies, Vegas felt like being dropped into a different universe and the sensory overload was almost comical by comparison. And since we’re not gamblers, smokers, or people who can party until 4 a.m., we were perfectly happy to spend only a couple of days there before heading back home.
The Grand Canyon was so massive, obviously, but it’s seriously hard to describe something that is so huge you still can’t comprehend its scale even when witnessing it in person. We did a few trails down into the canyon but didn’t make it all the way to the river and back this time. Bucket list addition to camp overnight at the bottom some day.
Stevens proposed while we were heading back up Skeleton Point trail <3
Bryce Canyon was amazing! The park has the largest concentration of hoodoos anywhere on Earth. While geology tells us these thin spires of rock were formed by frost and erosion, local indigenous legend from the Paiute tribe is that they were once people which the trickster coyote god, Sinawava, turned to stone as punishment for their disrespect. Whatever the story, they are a sight to behold.
Zion was much more warm and green than the other two parks. Again, our days were filled with as many hikes as we could squeeze in. Sadly, the western ridge was closed due to rock slides during our visit, but just another reason to start planning a return trip. Being up in the mountains looking down the sunny valley was simply breathtaking. Zion a very popular destination for all types of people, which is not a bad thing, but just be prepared for your neighboring campsites to maybe party a little too loud, a little too late, and for the trails to be very busy unless you get up very early (for the first mile or so anyway). We hiked past Angel’s Landing out the east ridge a ways and had the trail almost all to ourselves.
What can I say, Vegas is a vibe! I am glad I experienced it, it has history and leaves an imprint for sure, but there are other places I’d choose to visit over going there again. If you find yourself in town though, we do recommend splurging on a good dinner and seeing a show at one of the casinos.
