RED(rum), WHITE(water), & BLUE(birds)- A Grand Finale TR to Our Year of the National Parks

[HouCuseChickie]

We got a good laugh at Rabbit Valley before leaving the state. We always joke that the big round hay bales (and the square ones too) are left by giant rabbits...so we wondered if this was where they lived.

It felt good and yet kind of funny to be back on an interstate after driving through such quiet areas.

And we're back in Utah...a totally different part of Utah.

We stopped at the first rest area to use the facilities, but nobody wanted to walk to see Harleys Dome...so we skipped taking this path.

So, we kept driving towards Moab.

Yeah, we drove by this place...

And then we turned towards our destination and started driving that way...

The closer we got, the more the landscape changed...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Sorry...lots of pics, but it was just such a striking change in the landscape and just so cool driving into this area...

We passed signs for Arches NP and Canyonlands NP and we could see the entrance to Arches, so we knew we were pretty much in a national parks sandwich at this point. In the pics above, Arches is pretty much directly to our left and the outer areas on the boundaries of Canyonlands is to our right. We got into Moab shortly after this and arrived at our hotel...

We were able to check into our hotel...which everyone loved. Honestly, I don't think it was that amazing, but it did provide us with a lot of space and an sleep sofa in addition to the two queens. And it's a sort of pretty view out the window...

These two were content to just sit and play games (if we let them!)...

We were there and there was still plenty of daylight, so we decided to hit Arches. On our way, we spotted this restaurant with sunset views that I was asked to research...and I would later on...after everything else.

Almost there...

We passed this one rec park along the way with gondolas going up...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

So close...

We have arrived!

The ranger at the guard shack told us to thank our 4th grader for saving us $. Kind of sounded a bit snarky, but it is what it is. So, we headed in...

Finally out of the car and heading into the visitor center...

The first thing I noticed was the tourists. Not that there weren't tourists at RMNP and DNM (or anywhere we travel), but this was the first time we were seeing a multitude of a foreign tourists this trip. Not quite YNP scale, but it wasn't something we'd seen in the other stops for this trip. Oh well...hopefully everyone gets the warning and doesn't touch the hot sculptures.

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Coming up- we explore the visitor center, tour a little bit of Arches, and get to know Moab while also getting some dinner.

 

[Sans Souci]

I am patently waiting for the white water rafting...

Re: playing games in hotel room. That is all my son ever does when we travel. We stopped going to WDW because I was paying for adult ticket media and he wanted to stay in the room to play games.

That gargoyle at DEN made me think of all those crazy conspiracy theories about it. It's meant to be a staging area for the New World Order. But the stallion sculpture with the glowing red eyes killed the sculptor by falling on top of him and severing his femoral artery!

But then, you went to The Stanley, too! I'd like to go there. I love old, grand hotels, especially ones with ghosty histories.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I am patently waiting for the white water rafting...

Re: playing games in hotel room. That is all my son ever does when we travel. We stopped going to WDW because I was paying for adult ticket media and he wanted to stay in the room to play games.

That gargoyle at DEN made me think of all those crazy conspiracy theories about it. It's meant to be a staging area for the New World Order. But the stallion sculpture with the glowing red eyes killed the sculptor by falling on top of him and severing his femoral artery!

But then, you went to The Stanley, too! I'd like to go there. I love old, grand hotels, especially ones with ghosty histories.

It's coming, but it's towards the end of the report. We rafted on our third to last day.

My older one isn't too bad, but the younger one and my husband are horrible. They were going through XBox withdrawal several days into the trip.

I forgot about all of that with the gargoyle and the statue. We saw Blucifer and I think he's a blend of cool and creepy, but I never got a picture.

The Stanley really was beautiful. I love walking into places like this because they have such a rich history to go with all of those beautiful details.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

So, we looked around inside the visitor center for a bit.

They also had a gift shop and K bought a souvenir...

And I bought a magnet for that one coworker who wanted something from Utah. I thought I took a pic of it, but my uploads for this trip were all over the place due to some issues...so, I'll probably find it in a few months! I did take a really bad pic of some of the retro national parks art. We're thinking about investing in some of these and making a wall of retro art combined with blown up pics from these National Park trips.

The lady who rang us up asked us where we were from and when we told her, she remarked that we're probably some of the only people ready to handle the heat. It was around 100... maybe a bit hotter outside...but maybe 8% humidity. So, it was still pretty comfortable.

We peaked out the windows a bit, but decided to hit the road and head into the park...

And we're driving...

We finally spotted an arch!

I've since learned that we're not the only ones who have gone to Arches and expected more...well... arches. Yes, there are many arches forming, mini arches that the visitor center describes that just don't stand out, and arches that have fallen over the years...but it's not the sea of arches that many expect.

*sorry...this is the point in the trip where the bug guts have started to take over the windshield.

Pics are better when it's on my side of the car...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We decided to turn off at the Balanced Rock and Windows arches section and make that the focus of our afternoon...late afternoon.

We're back in the car and driving farther down to several arches. This first one is I guess a less popular arch.

I think this is another less popular arch.

The Windows, however, are more popular...

It is kind of interesting how you can see arches forming.

We wanted to save the rest of the park for the morning, so we headed back out. I think this was also when David started his whole "REDROCKS" thing...where he was saying it like REDRUM. So, try and hear that in Danny's voice and just keep saying, "Redrocks, redrocks." I at least had a better view of some things on the way out...so I took pics of LOTS of REDROCKS! As I sit here looking at the pics, I realize just how impressive the park looks and how well it photographs. And it is neat...it's just in person, I expected more.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I mean, I could make postcards or posters just from the pics of this one little section...and I'm still not done!

I think we're finally moving on to the next area on our way out...

So what do I do...I take pics of the stuff on David's side that I forgot to photograph on the way up. Ha!

And stuff through the buggy window (this will become a theme)...

Still, I managed some more out my window. I think this is also around the time I got yelled at for putting my window up and down. All of the windows got locked and David initially blamed me for breaking the rental. Yeah...he hit the child lock!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

(almost looks painted)

We drove back into Moab, looked at a few dining options. We hadn't really done much more than snack through the day after the hotel breakfast, and we weren't up for getting dressy. We decided on this place called Zax. Ya know...everyone loves a ski lift photo opp.

Seriously though, we liked the idea of sitting on their 2nd floor outdoor seating area with the misters. It was pretty comfy and a great view!

(the almost teenager NEEDS to color!)

(the view behind me was nice too, but the lighting wasn't right to capture it)

David and the kids had the pizza, soup and salad bar while I had pulled pork on a GF bun and double slaw.

I also drank a little this night.

Kendall was also trying their tomato soup after being disappointed with what she had in Denver.

David is always a fan of a salad...

I can remember what was setting Sam off...but she was in such a silly mood.

Both kids also enjoyed a post meal mist next to a faux arch.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

After that, we walked a bit around Moab.

Side note...I really liked Moab!

Before going back to the hotel, David stopped for soda, and I spotted my first car! Well, minus the fun spoiler mine had. Still love these things, but the upkeep has got to be $$$$$$. Still trying to wrap my mind around the age of the vehicle. It also sparked the "Are Saabs Ugly or Cute?" debate that was always a thing with it back in the day. We were a car divided!

I didn't bring my phone, but after this, we went back to the hotel and I watched the kids swim for a bit. The pool was tiny, but the view was nice and they enjoyed it. After that...it was back to the room to fight with my laptop and the internet. I never got it working for my laptop with this hotel...and this would be where I fell behind with uploading my pictures. However, I did learn a trick if you try and log into WIFI like this and don't automatically get the splash screen to come up. abc.com worked for this for the rest of the trip. We had also discussed driving back up to Arches for a bit of stargazing. I guess it's one of the best dark parks in the country for this, but I just wasn't prepared. So, we skipped it.

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Coming up...2 National Parks in 1 Day- we return to Arches for morning hiking and we have a rushed visit to Canyonlands

 

[HouCuseChickie]

DAY I Have No Idea...maybe 9? No...8. That sounds right.

I had a hotel gym, so I was downstairs early to get in a run and workout. The gym temp was a bit warm for my indoor tastes and I didn't like the internal and external windows that could see in, but I liked the equipment. After my workout, I met David and the kids in the social area for the hotel's complimentary breakfast. No pictures, but it was nice to finally be someplace that had hard boiled eggs.

We went back to the room and after a quick shower and water bottle prep (we had the two Camelbak bottles we bought in YNP last summer, my Camelbak insulated hand strap bottle, and my 2L insulated hydration pack), we headed out to Arches NP. First stop...Delicate Arch. OK...well, some driving (shockingly, no pics of that!) and walking first...

We decided to go to the viewpoint rather than the arch itself because it looked like the arch hike was about 3 miles with a steady uphill hike of 480'. With the way Kendall had been of late, we just didn't think she'd make it. It's hard to tell the grade of the incline, but this was a lot of uphill walking on this fairly short hike to the viewpoint. I think my watch recorded it as 12 flights of stairs.

As you can see from these pics, there were TONS of people all around the arch, so it was kind of nice to be on a more quiet trail that still gave us a nice view.

I seriously just noticed the vegatation growing on top of the arch!

This pic (and some others) stood out to me because there are people under the arch. We'd seen mixed rules and feelings on this. Ultimately, arches have fallen before and while they are being monitored for cracks, you really never know. I know we take risks driving through areas where falling rocks could be a problem (note the recent death in Glacier).

Wall Arch Collapses - Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

Still loving the green rocks down below...

Sam also found somebody's rock cairn. Not really needed on such a short and obvious trail, but I guess maybe in the dark?

On our way down...we spotted a lizard, but by the time I could really got a camera on him...this was all I got.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

A some nice little cacti...

What goes up must come down...

Next stop...Devils Garden!

We drove deeper into the park and tooks pics a lot more REDROCKS! LOL

I know...it's a lot of red rocks, but this is what I meant about wishing there were more obvious arches.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Finally...an arch!

We finally parked, got the water ready, and headed in. Well, not without taking some pics of the red rocks around where we parked.

I even found a less camera shy lizard.

The hike, at first was very comfortable. We were in the shade from the rocks and things were very pleasant.

We were trying to get to Landscape Arch...probably the second most photographed one after Delicate. It was a longer hike, but not as many people were going that way, so it seemed like a good plan at first.

Mini arch?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

And we're still walking. It's warm, but it's very pretty and really not as bad as home because of the low humidity.

I know...tons of pics...and these aren't even all of them, but it all feels so different with every few steps and angle changes. It's also the sheer size of everything...

And so my Keens weren't jealous of all of my hiking boot pics...

These were such a find. I love 6pm and Zappos (which are both Amazon owned). Kid Keens went on sale...I got the girls' for $13.99 a pair...they normally sell for $50 and the adult ones in our sizes sell for over $100. I fit into the biggest kid size! It wasn't as cheap as the pairs for the girls, but I think I still paid around $75 less than adult Keen prices for mine.

I also recall this being after the point when we turned around. Kendall just wasn't really ready for any of this. She's been too lazy over the summer. To make matters worse, she was downing the water. Don't get me wrong, you should stay hydrated, but she wasn't pacing herself. She'd consumed nearly her entire big water bottle, wanted ours, and was cramping and sluggish from all of the water sloshing in her stomach.

And I'm still walking down the trail and taking pics. Are you noticing how it's pretty but very little in the way of arches?

Ok...well...there's an arch...

Kendall didn't really want to go down the trail to it, but it was a much shorter trail and we were there. In fact, that's kind of how I was feeling about all of this. For as much as I liked Moab, the odds of us ever coming back here are slim...so I wanted to make the most of this while we were here...without overdoing it at the same time.

Of course, there were lots of people all over the arch, but I potisitioned everyone to try and block out the people for these shots. I think there are a good 7 people behind them in these pics...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Kendall got annoyed with all of this and walked off, but the other two were game...

Then it was on to one more nearby arch...

And there it is...

And then it was time to head back to the car. There was a bit of an uphill climb and while I handled it well, I turned around and none of my family was there. Apparently, Kendall threw a fit at the bottom of the hill about having to climb and wanted to find another way out. Ummmm...no.

On our way out, I took a pic of this area...without all of the kids playing in the sand at the bottom. I guess everything that's eroded collects in there.

Sad...this was the arch I really wanted to see...

We refilled the water bottles and started heading back to the car. We thought the holes in here were pretty neat...

So we headed out...even saw some evidence of some creatures living in there...

Time to drive out of Arches...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Sorry...I know it's a lot, but I swear, this isn't all of them!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

It was also what I'd call a good sky day, so that makes me take even more pics.

I forget all of the names of these sections...but the big wall looking one is the Great Wall, the one that looks like a trio is the Three Gossips, and I think one of these is the Capitol... although the one kind of reminds me of Petra in Jordan.

And we're out.

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Coming up...arches outside the park, ripoff dino meal, and Canyonlands for more REDROCKS!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We just left Arches when I left off.

We stopped to get gas right after that. We thought this little barn/chapel/schoolhouse structure was neat and then we realized that you can see some of Arches from this point...specifically, the Windows.

David also made a joke about Ferellgas...being feral and that it's sad that they don't have domesticated gas. I know...bad, right?

Oh well...I just sat there and took pics while we waited during fill up...

He also wanted to get a quick bite to eat before heading to Canyondlands, so we stopped into this major tourist trap for some food. And do you want to know one of the top ways to tick off a near-teen kid...be out of dino toys when she orders the kiddie meal!

This raven is telling me to go back to Moab!

I could see how it would be neat for a dino loving kid, but they had all kinds of warnings about prosecuting people who tried to go beyond the restaurant without attraction wrist bands.

I wound up with some pulled pork in a container because there wasn't much they could do for me.

After leaving the dino-disaster...we headed towards Canyonlands NP and lots of REDROCKS!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I swear, at some points, it's hard to tell that we ever left Arches. We're definitely not in Canyonlands yet, but this has an Arches look to it.

Things seem to be changing a bit...

As we got higher, we encountered a number of cattle signs.

We're almost there...

We have arrived!

We didn't have all the time in the world because David had to call our insurance people by a certain time. So, we put together a plan of attack for the Island in the Sky portion of the park and kept an eye on the clock.

You drive in and you're immediately wowed by the canyons. Speaking of...Sam dubbed this park "Candylands."

I tried taking some pics as we drove...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

First official stop and we're still in awe! And no, we're not as close to the edge as it looks. It sort of stair steps down a bit.

I believe this was the second spot we got out at...super quick stop where we watched the storms off in the distance.

Call me crazy, but I think I liked this more than the Grand Canyon! (and we haven't even gotten to the really good stuff yet) Although, when you think about it...they're all connected. Canyonlands leads into Glen Canyon, which leads into Bryce, which leads into Grand...if I'm remembering the map correctly.

After this, we made it out to the Grand View Point. There were a number of steep cliffs here, so we kept our distance, but we saw a few families who were 6" at most from going off the edge. And we all know these rocks aren't as stable right on the edges, so some Darwin awards could have been handed out this day. In any event...the scenery is gorgeous!