Zion National Park

It was wonderful to see Zion again after so many years away. I think Bryan and I went to Zion three separate times while we were young newlyweds - the first being our honeymoon. I've always wanted to stay in the lodge and it was breathtaking to wake up to those tall cliffs just outside our window. Zion has gotten noticeably more crowded since we were last here and one of the perks of staying at the lodge was getting to see the park after it emptied out. We even saw a mule deer right on the lawn in front the lodge.

Along the River Walk

Hanging Gardens at the Temple of Sinewava

Columbines growing out the rock

My favorite photo from the trip - Bryan feeding the wildlife M&M's

I don't remember why Freya was making this face

Weeping Rock

Playing in the creek at the base of Weeping Rock - a trip highlight for sure.

Freya and Alice were so wet and muddy after this we made them stand on the shuttle ride back to the lodge

It was so nice to wake up and walk from the Lodge to the Emerald Pools Trailhead

Emerald Pools

Arches National Park

This year for our annual family national park adventure we went to Arches and Zion National Parks. We started and ended in Arches to break up the long drive from Denver. Bryan and I went to Arches together in 2008 and this was a completely different trip. We saw arches this time that I have no memory of seeing (although perhaps I saw them when my parents took me??). I think because we spent our time hiking to the more remote Arches in '08 we missed some very incredible (and incredibly accessible) arches.




Something else that surprised me were how many beautiful wild flowers there were. I don't know if we just came early enough in summer to see them or if I just don't remember them but it was remarkable how many pretty blooms manage to thrive in the desert. This park is so beautiful that despite having seen it before my jaw was still dropping at every turn. I hope we can return when the girls are older and explore some more.

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The girls loved the pool at the Springhill Suites in Moab. It was definitely a trip highlight.

Norah with Delicate Arch in the background. She really wanted to do the hike to Delicate Arch but alas, her younger sisters were not up for it. Even this 1/2 mile hike to see it from a distance was too much for them.

Freya was either bounding with energy on this trip or exhausted. One minute she was running in the opposite direction from us and the next she was so tired she refused to walk.