Fall Break 2025- Utah Road Trip (Part 2)

The next morning we woke up to pouring rain. We tried to wait out the rain, but it didn't seem to be stopping so we headed out to Arches National Park. We stopped at Balanced Rock on the way into the park. It was a short little hike to the rock. We tried to hike around it, but the wind and rain was whipping us in the face so we headed back to the car. 

Unfortunately, the forecast looked like heavy cold rain all day. So we headed back to town to eat lunch at Trailhead Public House and Eatery. It was delicious! After lunch we took naps at the hotel before our jeep ride that night. The rain stopped just in time for our jeep ride!

We stopped at some dinosaur tracks on the way to the trail. 

We were doing the Hells Revenge Jeep tour, which is located in Sand Flats Recreation Area just outside of Arches National Park. You can see an Arch trying to form in the photo below. 

The jeep ride was full of roller coaster type attributes. We went down huge hills, up 45 degree angles, and then raced through sand hills. It was pretty thrilling! There is an easy section and a hard section of Hells Revenge. Only the guides are able to do the harder parts, like the Hell's gate portion.

Can you believe we did this? It was crazy being in the car!

We stopped at the top of the mountain for about an hour to enjoy the sunset with strawberries and whip cream. We watched the sunset over Arches National Park and it was so beautiful. 

Our guide was so funny. We picked up the jeep at his childhood home, which is at the bottom of the mountain. So he grew up with this in his backyard. He has been driving this trail since he was little. In fact, his dad was the one that discovered the trail! He taught us so much and we really enjoyed hearing all of his stories.

So pretty!

 

I am so glad the rain cleared for our jeep ride. It would not have been nearly as much fun in the rain!

After the jeep ride we went back to the Public House Eatery. The kids all really enjoyed their lunches and asked if we could go again. Although the day didn't go as planned because of the rain, we still made the best of it!

Fall Break 2025- Utah Road Trip (Part 1)

This year for Fall Break we decided to explore 3 National Parks in Utah to complete the Mighty 5.  The flights into Salt Lake City were pretty pricey, so we flew into Denver and drove 6 hours to Moab. We arrived mid-day on Saturday and decided to split up the drive there. We drove 3 hours to Glenwood Springs, Colorado and stayed the night there. It's a pretty town on the river with Hot Springs running through it. 

Our first choice for hotel was Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, but it was booked so we stayed across the street at Hotel Maxwell Anderson. There was a pedestrian bridge to the Hot Springs from Hotel Maxwell Anderson, so we walked across to the enjoy the hot springs. This is the largest hot springs pool in the world which is pretty cool. 

We spent the whole afternoon playing in the hot springs. Unfortunately, we just missed the slides but we still had a great time!

It was all lit up at night. So pretty. We headed back to the hotel around dinner time and ate at the Glenwood Canyon Brewpub. The brewpub is in the hotel and it was SO good! 
 

The next morning we ate brunch in town and then made the 3 hour drive to Moab. Michael hurt his back the morning we were leaving, so he had a hard time with the drive. He ended up calling his doctor to call him in some medication in Glenwood Springs. 

We arrived at the Hoodoo Moab in the late afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, so we hung by the pool and relaxed after a couple days long drives and flights. 

We went to Dead Horse State Park for sunset. Dead Horse State Park overlooks Canyonlands National Park. We made it just in time for sunset. It was gorgeous! 

I've found that enjoying a sunset with gorgeous views is one of my favorite parts of visiting the National Parks. 

It's hard to capture the colors and vastness of this place!

After sunset we went to dinner at Moab Brewery. We normally love to go to brew pubs on our trips. But this brewpub was not good. I don't think any of us liked our meal. 

Father Ryan Mother/Son Dance

On Sunday Patrick and I attended the Space Cowboy Mother/Son Dance. It was a busy weekend and we pulled these costumes together last minute!

We met up with some of his friends for dinner at Corner Pub before the dance

The dance

Can't believe how much taller he is than me now, even with heels on!

It was such a fun night and I am so glad he agreed to go with me!