Canyon Lands

When originally mapping out our itinerary, I admittedly was less enthusiastic than I usually am.  Jesse had been dreaming of this trip for months, Canyon Lands 2014 {not to be mistaken for the park named Canyonlands}.  While the Grand Canyon had been on my to-visit list, our other stops did not grab me in the same way.  Nonetheless, I was up for an adventure and let Jesse take the lead.  He painted such an amazing picture of our plan that a couple of dear friends decided to join us on our excursion.

First stop: Las Vegas.  Since half of our group had never been, Vegas was a must.  One night was just right for me - enough to soak in the sights of the town and play a few hands of blackjack or a few rounds at the slot machines.  A few standouts were our stay at the Vdara and our brunch at Honey Salt.

We left the glitz of Las Vegas to immerse ourselves in the beauty of the West - in this case, pictures can tell only a piece of the experience.  The crisp, fresh air and the boundless landscapes bring such reprieve, especially when escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.

Our next stop was a two and a half hour drive from Vegas -- Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah.  If this destination is not on your radar,  add it because it will exceed the wildest of expectations.  Breathtaking {not the Seinfeld use of the term}, invigorating, and peaceful.

Sunsetting in Zion National Park

While we only had two nights here, we certainly took advantage of every minute, savoring the fresh air and the sunshine.  We filled our days with multiple hikes - the most memorable being Angel's Landing.  The trail was about 5 miles round-trip with multiple switchbacks, steep inclines, and narrow ridges wide enough for just one person to pass with sheer drops on either side.  Not exactly what some imagine for vacation, but it felt incredible to indulge in adventure.

Climbing Angel's Landing

Atop the trail

The town of Springdale was charming and had exactly what you want after climbing a trail like Angel's Landing - hearty meals and comfortable places to sleep {and a good coffee shop to fuel your mornings}.  

After saying goodbye to Zion, we drove east to Page, Arizona to stop to see Upper Antelope Canyon, which is a slot canyon where you could snap amazing photographs of scattered sunlight. Unfortunately, visitors are required to utilize a tour group, which ultimately means that dozens of people are herded through the canyon at one time while the tour guide snatches each person's camera to capture the supposed outline of a bear or the face of George Washington in the canyon walls.  If you are contemplating adding this to your itinerary, skip it and explore online or in guidebooks.

Onward we went to the Grand Canyon, where we had the opportunity to stay at one of the hotels right on the South Rim.  Two things caught me by surprise, although they really should not have.  First, the immensity of the canyon simply cannot be experienced until you are standing there overlooking a field of canyons for as far as your eye can see.  Second, I did not expect to be surrounded by people - not quite as bad as Disney World but close {maybe not that close}.  Certainly, the Grand Canyon is a sight to behold, but not necessarily a place to commune with nature and rejuvenate, unless you spend the time {and energy} to hike to the bottom.  While the Rim Trail did not sound as exciting as getting to the floor of the canyon, it was a great way to enjoy multiple perspectives and watch the sunset. 

 

Last, but not least, we drove two hours to Sedona for our last two nights.  Here, we slowed our pace a bit and reveled in the splendor of the red rocks {and even enjoyed a javelina sighting}.   We rented mountain bikes and set off for the Bell Rock Pathway.  I definitely learned that mountain biking is not as easy as it looks, but certainly a thrill. 

After an afternoon of biking, we refueled at ChocolaTree.  Sometimes healthful and delicious do not go hand in hand, but they definitely do at this cafe.  Restorative and refreshing smoothies were so craveable that we returned the next day before we headed to the Phoenix airport.  In fact, upon our return, we picked up a new blender to recreate our Sedona cafe experience.

This trip was unlike any other - incredibly active while also being invigorating.  Traveling with friends also proved to be wonderful.  Not only was it fun to catch up during long car rides, but also the additional companionship throughout the journey motivates the group to continue with the next adventure.  This type of trip though made it unbelievably difficult to return to a normal work routine where your hours are spent indoors behind a computer.  Weeks after our vacation we are longing to return - a sure sign of a well architected itinerary.

{If you want to view more landscape photos like the ones above, hop over to Jesse's flickr site}  

Best. Chocolate chip cookie. Ever

Look at this photo - need I say more?   

 

If you are in search of something to satisfy your sweet tooth, the Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookie is a fantastic bet.  Buttery crisp on the outside, pillowy soft on the inside, with melted chocolate swirled around hunks of walnut. 

This cookie is not dainty by any stretch of the imagination.  Instead, it is a perfect treat to share with your someone sweet {grab an early dinner because the bakery closes at 7!}.