Southwest Trip

Like so many other families I know, our family had several trips planned that were canceled due to COVID. Each month we would try and wrap our minds around a new itinierary and a pushed back trip timeframe and then right about the time we would get used to the new schedule, it would get canceled again. We finally decided to scrap our original plans all together and come up with a special time for our family that we could 100 percent plan on.

Like I said in my previous post, my kids thrive on camping, hiking, and fishing. The outdoors have become so comforting to them, and that makes my nature loving mama heart happy. Our family is in such a sweet spot of ages, and time is something we will never get back. So I put together an itinerary that seemed to fulfill all of our hopes, dreams, and desires!!

How I planned it:

I typically always start by getting on google flights to find the cheapest tickets. I put in our departure city and the dates and then just see where in the world I can go in that timeframe for a good deal. I ended up finding round trip flights to Vegas for only $29 with Allegient air. Done deal!!! We had contemplated renting an RV and driving, but for that price we couldn’t pass it up. (I’ll talk more about the plane experience later)

I’ve always been intrigued with Utah, so from there I started researching places drivable from Vegas. Turns out, Zion National Park is only 2.5 hours away. Bingo!! We then discussed renting an RV from Vegas and driving around Utah in it, but one of the requirements due to COVID was a cleaning that we were required to do before turning it back into the owner and we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to do that remotely. Also, I had always had a dream of glamping and found the most perfect resort in Zion to make those dreams come true.

Zion Wildflower resort had JUST opened on July 1, 2020. We were so excited to check it out, and be one of the first guests. This place blew every expectation out of the water. From the little details at check in, to the air-conditioned bathhouses, and the most comfortable beds you could ever camp on, this place does it right! Not to mention, Utah was in the middle of a heat wave, and I began feeling nervous that we would be too hot in our canvas tent. Nope, not one bit. The large fans and humidifier in the tent made it oh so cozy.

There are many options at Wildflower for sleeping arrangements, and next time we want to try one of their adorable cabins. (The cabins are air-conditioned with their own bathrooms.) The canvas tent we chose was the best first experience with glamping, and I can’t wait to do it again. The day we left they were even installing washer and dryers so you can clean all those dirty hiking clothes!!!

Wildflower was about 20 minutes away from the actual entrance to Zion National Park. On the way in, you drive through Springdale which is a cute town filled with gift shops and restaurants. This is where we ate dinner at night, and got our coffee in the morning. To enter the park you either need a National Park Pass, or pay $35 entrance fee. We opted to buy the pass because we were planning to go to a few other parks that week, and later in the year. This is not the only thing you need to think of in advance when going to ZNP. For the majority of the trailheads that begin inside the park, you can only access them by shuttle. Cars are only allowed on one road that goes through the park, and cannot get you to specific trailheads. That being said, shuttle bus passes sell out quickly. You can buy them one day in advance, and they go for sale at 9 am. If you want them, set your alarm and be ready to pull the trigger. I believe they are only $1 a ticket. If you don’t get them, there are other options, like renting bikes (which with little kids would be hard) Or renting gear from the local shops who will shuttle you in. Or……

We decided NOT to hassle with the shuttle tickets because the two trails we had our sights on didn’t require it. The first trail we went on was perfect for kids, the second one….well I’ll tell you about the second one. We spent two days in Zion , and wanted to enjoy some time at our campsite, so opted for the shorter hiking trail in the evening when it wasn’t so hot. Canyon overlook was recommended to us by most people we talked to as their favorite trail, and now I see why. It was only 1 mile long round trip and super exciting the whole time. Not too strenuous, but not overly easy, with an incredible view at the end! Honestly the kids couldn’t tell the difference from the views day one to day two, even though we were much much higher day two. I highly recommend Canyon Overlook, located right after you drive through the tunnel inside the park. Parking spaces are to your right after the tunnel.

The second day was a doozy. Rarely do plans go off without a hitch, and this was one of those days where we just couldn’t get it together. We woke up early ready to hike Observation Point knowing it was a long hike, we wanted to beat the heat, but ended up hiking it around 2 pm which was a big big mistake. Observation Point is one of the highest points in Zion, and the original trailhead is currently closed due to a rock slide. There is another longer way to get to the same point, and we were told it was a very easy hike, which correct but, it is just very very long. To get to this trail you must completely exit the park and then turn left on North Fork Country road. You are actually looking for the East Mesa Trail, and the easiest way to get to it is by going to the Ponderosa camp resort. They say the hardest part is getting there, and they are right.

I suggest stopping at the restaurant at Ponderosa and asking for a map. This would help tremendously. We thought we were in the right place, and saw a sign for Observation Point so we parked our car and began walking. Turns out we were on an ATV trail the whole time, and it would of taken us twice as long to get to where we were going. About an hour in, with no service on our phones, we decided to turn around and call it a day. I was so bummed. We walked for a total of 2 hours to see nothing. The kids were actually in good spirits for the circumstances, but again bummed to sort of waste a day. We ordered a pizza and lots of water from the restaurant at the ponderosa resort and reevaluated the day.

After they gave us a clear map and directions of how to get to observation point we decided to try again. We told the kids it would be a 3.5 mile walk, but they agreed they wanted to try. The entire trail was woods, but not really shaded woods. It was basically a walking path without any cool views. The kids were bored about 1 mile in, and already sucking down the water. Aniston wanted to be carried, and even Kemp was complaining about his feet. We ended up hiking with them on our shoulders for a good portion of the time. Once we got to the top, the views were stunning, but we were all almost too exhausted to enjoy it, knowing we had to make the 3.5 mile trek back. We snapped some pictures and then assessed the water situation. YIKES, only one large bottle for all of us to share.

It was hot, and felt like all uphill. The kids were complaining, and we were down to a small amount of water. This is my worst nightmare. About half a mile in Brooks looked at me and said I’m going to run back to the truck. I’ll get more water from our cooler and then start walking towards you. He took one big drink of water and then took off. I was so scared that he would push himself too hard. It ended up being the best decision as he got back to us just as we were taking the last drop of water from the bottle, but I can’t stress enough CARRY LOTS OF WATER ON YOU AT ALL TIMES!!!!! The kids immediately fell asleep in the truck on the way to our next destination, and we were just thanking our lucky stars that something worse didn’t happen. You have to be so careful.

View from Canyon Overlook on the left and the view from Observation point on the right.

In true Mandy style I still had one more place on our itinerary for the day that I wasn’t willing to pass up. It was literally on the way to our next hotel and I knew deep down it could be one of our favorite stops. The kids were exhausted, and I’ve never seen my husband this physically spent before, but how could I literals pass by it and not see it?! We had a little over an hour till sunset so we pulled in, rented a board, and surprise surprise had the time of our lives.

The Coral Pink Sand dunes is what I’m talking about. When we first pulled in Kempton cried because he thought we were going on another hike, but when he saw the dunes and the board he quickly perked up and shouted, “this is my dream!!” Mounds and mounds of pinkish orange, super soft sand as far as the. eye can see, and the setting of the sun made it even more dreamy. The air wasn’t as hot by this point and the sand was cooling to the feet. I don’t know that we could of spent all day here, but we definitely needed more than an hour. We each got a few times down the hill on the board, but we didn’t take into consideration the amount of work it would take to climb back up the sandy hill. Major workout! If you are in this area, I highly highly recommend taking some time before sunset to come check it out. You can even camp here if you like it enough!! The Coral Pink Sand dunes is about 1.5 hours away from Zion, maybe a little less, and on your way to lake Powell. We stayed till the last bit of sun light was gone and then headed to Page, Arizona.

Page, Arizona is the closest town to Lake Powell, Lone rock beach, Horseshoe bend, and Antelope Canyon. It’s a pretty small town, but there are several hotels and restaurants to chose from. We weren’t too impressed with the ones we chose, but I definitely think this town will just continue to expand as the years go on. There is so much to do here!!! We stayed one night in a Best Western because we were too tired to set up camp, and one night camping on the sand at Lone Rock Beach.

Lake Powell spans across Utah and Arizona. Which is tricky because there is a time change between the two of them. Lone Rock Beach is in Utah, and most of our excursions were in Arizona. The time change actually worked to our benefit most of the time, so its just something to keep in mind.

Camping on Lone Rock Beach is so amazing. We hope to do it again soon but this time with our camper!!! It’s only $14 to camp for the whole week!!! You need a park pass to enter, but if you already have one like we did from visiting Zion, then it’s truly $14. (I recommend buying a park pass if you plan to do our itinerary because you will need it to get into antelope canyon as well. ) It’s best to get to LRB early to pick your spot. These are not reserved camping spots, and they are all primitive, with no electric hook ups. There is one nice bath house, but it’s all the way towards the front of the park. We chose a section towards the end of the beach with lots of shallow water for the kids. We got there early, and spent all day swimming and relaxing. We needed it after the busy day we had the day before.

We cleaned up a little that evening and headed back into Page for dinner. After dinner we planned to go to Horseshoe bend for sunset. Horseshoe bend is so incredible, and so out of nowhere. It’s basically right behind the Walmart in Page. It blows my mind that something so gorgeous is just right there in their back yard. You pay $10 per car to enter and then take the 15 min walking trail to view the canyon. This site is actually wheelchair accessible, or you could even push a stroller. There are many great places to view the canyon, so don’t be worried about the parking lot seeming busy. You will feel like you have adequate space once you get there. There really isn’t a lot of shade around the canyon, this is why sunrise or sunset seems to be the most popular time to view. In the heat of the day it would be HOT and really sunny. Another fun idea would be to grab sonic slushies to enjoy while viewing horseshoe bend. There is a sonic only a mile or so before the canyon.

Our night camping on lone rock beach. The day spent at the beach was fabulous, and all in all the night went ok, but here are some things to consider. First off, we packed as many camping supplies as we could in our luggage, but it wasn’t like camping when you can just throw whatever in the truck. We had a tent, air mattresses, a fitted sheet, and a tent fan (must have item), but some things we had to pick up at Walmart before hand were $3 pillows (ouch) because we knew we would throw them away, and a foam cooler, which wouldn’t hold ice for long. We set up the tent during the day before we headed back into town, and when we arrived at our site that night our tent was laying on it’s side YIKES!!! A sand storm had come out of nowhere and blown all of our things. Luckily our neighbors helped us out while we were away (yes, there are still good people in this world), but our cooler had somewhat dumped and now our bedding was wet and sandy.

Also it was 10 pm and still 90 something degrees out. We knew the temperature would continue to drop, but it wasn’t happening fast enough. It was pitch dark with nothing out but the moon and stars and we were sitting outside our tent trying to wait it out. Finally by 11 pm we were tired enough we went inside and tried to sleep.

This isn’t your typical campsite. Most places have a quiet time where loud noises aren’t allowed, but LRB is kind of a free for all. I swear those dang ATVs went all night long, and sometimes they would come so close to your tent you thought they might accidentally run into you. Not to mention their extremely bright lights shinning in. Oh, and who rolls into a campsite on the water at midnight?! Apparently the people who parked beside us do. Some family rolls up with all 20 kids (it felt like) and their big ole truck and trailer at midnight. The wife was yelling “more to the left” and the beeping of the back up sensor about drove me mad. Luckily the kids stayed sound asleep, but me on the other hand….

Then I woke up around 4 am to a chilly wind, silence, and the most incredible sky I have ever seen. It looked as if the sky was made of salt and pepper. I have never seen so many stars in my life. I wrapped up in my blanket and fell asleep into the deepest 3 hour sleep of my life. We actually woke up feeling refreshed and the sunrise was incredible. Wow God’s natural beauty!! Knowing what we know now, I feel like night 2 would of been a lot better.

Antelope Canyon. We saved the best for last. I had been dreaming of these marbly coral caverns for ages and today was finally the day. Leading up to the trip I had heard that the canyon was closed due to covid but was also reading that there were still ways to get their by boat. I would of been so sad to miss this gorgeous bucket list place, and where there is a will, there is a way. However, two days before we arrived they opened up antelope canyon marina. The boat launching ramp that is the closest to the canyon. The walking tours were still not opened, but at least this way would could get their safely on our own.

We rented kayaks the day before from Wazup kayaks right there in Page, AZ. You can pay to have them delivered to the spot you are kayaking from, or you. can pick them up. Since we had a truck we were fine grabbing them ourselves. It’s very important to plan your day wisely, because there are only so many kayaks, and only 2 of 3 places that rent them. We snagged some of the last two and we rented the day before. Keep in mind weekends are busier than weekdays. As for deciding what way of transportation you will get to antelope canyon, you have some options. Some rent boats, jetskis, kayaks, or paddle boards. We almost went the jet ski route, but once you get back in the canyon, you enter a no wake zone and jet skis have to idle. They also can’t get back into the canyon as far. So if you are wanting to beach your boat and walk the canyon on foot, like we did, you will need a kayak or a paddle board.

Once you launch your kayaks in the water from antelope marina, you immediately turn left. You will paddle through large open water for a good 15-20 minutes or like half a mile. This is the hardest part because bigger boats are zooming by, and it creates waves. Once you enter in the canyon it is a no wake zone and the paddling gets a lot easier. There are multiple places to stop and take a quick swim break. The kids loved this part, because even though you are in the water, it is HOT!! The entire trip took us about 1.5 hours to reach the part of the canyon where you must park your boat and continue on foot. I honestly felt like we were on another planet. It was so quiet back in the canyon and it felt as if we were living in a dream. This place is an absolute must see!!!! Round trip for the day took us around 5 hours.

In normal years you can do the walking tour which dumps you right in the heart of the canyon. I’ve heard great things about upper antelope canyon, and I’m excited to go back and experience it sometime. If we didn’t have the kids with us, I’m sure Brooks and I would of explored for hours. It was so peaceful back there. Well, peaceful besides our kids asking when we could go back and swim ha! We walked around for about another 45 minutes and then started the journey back, this time with many more swim stops!!

After turning in our Kayaks, we headed back to Vegas. A 4 hour drive, that we were actually excited to make. We had worked our bodies the past few days hiking, swimming, climbing, walking and so snuggling up in a car while enjoying the gorgeousness of Utah sounded great. The kids were out as soon as we hit the road, so Brooks and I put on whatever music WE wanted to listen to, and reflected on the trip.

What an amazing time bonding as a family, taking in some of the most beautiful settings we had ever seen, all while in the US, out in nature. There was never a time where we didn’t feel safe, or things didn’t feel clean or sanitized, even on the airplane. Allegiant did such a great job keeping us all well satisfied, and helping our kids. I truly felt like they went above and beyond. The hotels in Vegas are taking such extreme measures, as well as every restaurant we walked into. One thing I will note is Vegas is completely different on the weekends, meaning Friday-sunday. If you want to avoid little eyes seeing things that might make them ask questions, just avoid those days. Anytime we have taken our kids we go Sunday night through Thursday.

If you get a chance to take your family out west, I highly, highly recommend hitting up Zion and the Page, Arizona area. There is so much to do in such a small surface area, that we didn’t even come close to hitting all the spots. I truly hope to return soon, this time RV style!!!