Surprise!

The first surprise was that I was being taken on a trip. We would be leaving town for three days and I was told to pack the following:

sunscreen

clothes and shoes for hiking

hat

sundress

swimsuit

camera

The second surprise was revealed on the way to the airport. We would be on this journey with our favorite travel companions and dear friends, the Perrins.

Boarding a flight bound for Salt Lake City, Utah was the third surprise. After landing in Salt Lake, we rented a car and headed south to what would be our final destination – Moab, Utah. For the next  three days, we explored the trails of both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, as well as the sites that Moab has to offer. The boys had reserved rooms at the Red Cliffs Lodge which sits on the Colorado River. This was our view.

Probably the most famous structure in Arches National Park is Delicate Arch. The hike across the dusty and rocky terrain does not prepare you for the moment of awe you experience when you come around the corner to see it.

The trails are marked by cairns, or small stacks of rocks, to keep hikers from becoming lost in the dusty terrain. And there are a surprising number of plants thriving in the desert heat.

While I did slightly fear for my life, I do recommend taking a hummer tour with Moab Adventure Center. It’s a great way to see the slickrock in a vehicle that can do things you never thought possible.

My travel companions indulged me with a stop at the Mormon Tabernacle before we returned to the airport in Salt Lake. Because really – what trip to Utah is complete without a visit to the Temple?