Southwest
We were planning on traveling to the Southwest for our 1st anniversary in 2020, but Covid had other ideas. We ended up postponing our plans for 1 year and ultimately taking an incredible road trip in 2021. The Southwest is filled with scenic locations, natural wonders, more wildlife than you might expect for the desert, and loads of activities to keep busy.
We visited in Spring and were able to create a loaded itinerary seeing the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon National Park, Horseshoe Bend, Marble Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Valley of Fire State Park … all in 1 week! Somehow between hiking through slot canyons, watching breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, exploring red rock terrain, and encountering wild animals, we found time to relax under the desert stars. The southwest is a mesmerizing place and we recommend it for everybody!
Things to See and Do in Southwest, USA
Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon National Park
Zion National Park
Marble Canyon
Bryce Canyon
Horseshoe Bend
Valley of Fire State Park
Glamping
Hiking
“Zion National Park”
“Zion National Park”
The Southwest totally surpassed our expectations! Hiking Cathedral Wash Trail and Angel’s Landing were 2 of our main highlights on the adventure side of things, while watching the sun rise at the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend were indescribable. We encountered bighorn sheep, deer, elk, buffalo and a herd of pronghorn during our drives which was really cool because we love seeing wildlife!
We can’t wait to get back out to the Southwest again. On our next visit we would like to hike The Narrows at Zion National Park, kayak to Antelope Canyon, and explore more of Southern Arizona. The Southwest might be most well known for having the Grand Canyon, but there is so much more to see and explore. We really encourage everybody to take a trip through the Southwest.
Favorite Memory – Completing the Cathedral Wash Hike together!
Logistics
Accommodations – We stayed at a mix of hotels and Airbnbs, but also did glamping at Zion Wildflower Resort which was a nice, peaceful experience. Our favorite hotel was the Hyatt Place in Page Arizona – clean, comfortable and complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast every morning.
Food – Food is a big deal for us! Birdhouse in Page, Arizona was the best fried chicken sandwich ever! Ryan has actually already convinced 2 people from his office to go there on their own trips to Arizona (and we’re in Florida). Another restaurant we really loved was Pig’s Ear American Bistro in Hurricane Utah. Pig’s Ear is close enough to Zion National Park (about a 25 minute drive) and it’s exactly what you want to eat after a long day of hiking!
Transportation – We flew in and out of Las Vegas and rented an SUV with unlimited mileage. This is not a walkable trip; you will definitely need a vehicle.
Quick Tips
1
Food
There are certain stretches where you’ll be driving through nothing but desert, so you’ll want to keep some snacks with you in the car and also in the national parks. Other than that, please do not miss out on Birdhouse or Pig’s Ear, if you are nearby!
2
Safety
Stay hydrated at all times! Bring more water than you think you’ll need; you will get dehydrated fast in the dry, hot air (especially if you are exerting energy hiking Angel’s Landing or scrambling through a slot canyon like Cathedral Wash Trail). Don’t get too close to the edge of cliffs for pictures, and take the Wildlife Crossing signs seriously.
3
Activity
If you are in Page, Arizona, checkout Horseshoe Bend at sunrise. The sun will be at your back as it rises over the canyon, as opposed to sunset when it will be beaming into your face.
4
Logistics
Take advantage of Las Vegas’ proximity to all of these great places. Zion National Park is less than 3 hours away from Las Vegas, and Valley of Fire State Park is less than an hour away. If you only had a few days, you could have an unforgettable trip just by going to these places.
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January 29, 2022
