Utah

Arches National Park is one of the most iconic of the parks in southern Utah... I mean, just look at their license plate, and you'll see it for yourself. The park was so unlike anything else I'd ever seen before - the rock formations were spectacular. The park is also very easily accessible, so many of the features are just a short walk from the parking lots. We spent the whole day exploring the park and had so much fun. A ten-minute drive from the park is the town of Moab. There were lots of souvenir shops, trendy restaurants, and walking trails. We fell in love with Moab - I would not be surprised if my father buys a home here to spend his retirement!

Canyonlands is another park close to Moab; however, it felt like a world apart. I had never truly understood how vast the world was until I came here. You can see nothing for miles and miles; it was both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and there were plenty of easy hikes for my family to do. There is an infamous off-roading trail there that my father and I will surely take a Jeep out on one day. 

We stopped in Capitol Reef National Park on our way from Moab to Bryce Canyon. This park honestly shocked me with how underrated it was. The hiking and history here were incredible! The canyon walls are etched with ancient pictographs, and a historical farm serves fresh pies every day. My dad and I (mom stayed at the bottom due to her fear of heights) hiked up to Cassidy Arch, which was a stunning hike. The trail leads you to an infamous outlaw's hideaway spot - an arch at the top of the mountain. It definitely wore us out for the rest of our drive!

Bryce Canyon receives the most snow out of Utah's Mighty Five, so we should not have been surprised when we showed up and there were four feet of snow on the ground. While it was a little disappointing that the majority of the trails were closed, I was left speechless by the beauty of the park. Bryce Canyon is easily my favorite park we visited, even though we didn't hike a single trail. The bright orange color of the rocks popped against the white snow and looked like something from a fairy tale. 

Zion has been on my bucket list for years now, so I was so excited to be able to visit finally. Despite being the most crowded park, it was quickly one of my favorites. There is a reason that it draws over 4.5 million visitors a year, and while the crowds can be a downside, it almost forces the park to be more accessible. The trails were very well marked and easy for people who are scared of heights (cough, my mother) to walk on. I fell in love with the park and the town of Springdale, so don't be surprised if I end up moving here and working there next summer...