Friday, April 9, 2021

Discussion: Sloth Goes Places - Arizona and Utah


This Week’s Topic: Sloth Goes Places - Arizona and Utah
Back in March, Sloth went on an adventure, a Disney Adventure to be exact. He was very excited, as his last adventure was back in 2019, and he's eager to share the highlights with you. 

DAY 1: RED ROCK WELCOME

This was a LOOOONG travel day. Sloth had to make his way to the airport way too early. He flew from O'Hare to Phoenix International Airport, where we had a little family reunion. Then we boarded our motor coach and made our way to Sedona. We stopped off twice along the way. Once to check out the saguaro cacti and again to visit Montezuma Castle. After we checked in at the Enchantment resort, we had a welcome dinner and received an extra special pin celebrating our 4th Disney Adventure. 


DAY 2: HIT THE TRAIL!

We were surprised to awake to snow. Who knew it would snow in Arizona in March? The good news was that it didn't interfere with our off-road tour of Diamondback Gulch. Rollercoasters are nothing compared to this. After, we made our way into Sedona for lunch, where I was really surprised to get a little birthday celebration. The guides knew our original trip back in October was to celebrate my birthday, and it was very sweet of them to give me a pin and a special dessert. We walked around Sedona, bought some crystals (you know there are four power vortices there), and ate some prickly pear ice cream. 


DAY 3: GRAND DISCOVERY

After breakfast, we hopped on the bus and traveled to Bearizona Wildlife Park. It was a lot of fun! On another leg of this journey, we stopped off in Williams, which is part of the legendary Route 66, and Mather Point, which was our sneak peek at our final destination -- The Grand Canyon. After a quick view of the canyon and dinner, we met with a Navajo family who do educational programs. It was wonderful! They shared their music, signing, and dancing with us. 


DAY 4: THE MIGHTY CANYON

We went on a guided tour along the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. It was was awe inspiring, to say the least. Then we watched the sunset on the canyon. It's amazing how much the view changes due to how the light is hitting it. 


DAY 5: WESTERN MONUMENTS

Back in the bus as we travel to Horseshoe Canyon. It was a bit of drive, but there were so many stunning things to look at along the way. Since the Navajo Nation is still closed due to COVID, we could not visit Monument Valley Park, but we did a tour of Horseshoe Canyon, climbed up to Teardrop Arch, and were able to get a good look at all the monuments. After, we had a cookout in the canyon. You can see Kiersten made some fry bread, and we dined on Navajo tacos. I was really excited for dinner, because I read about Navajo tacos in two books recently and was curious about them. I will say, they were delicious. After dinner, we sat fireside and were entertained by a local band called Dark Sky, who treated us to a mix of traditional and contemporary songs. On the ride back to our villas, I just drank in the sky. It's been a long time since I've been able to see that many stars. 


DAY 6: MOSEY OVER TO MOAB

Another bit of a ride, but well worth the trip. One fun thing they did, was we recreated the scene from Forrest Gump, when he stops running. It was hilarious, and also very cool to be in a location where so many films were shot. The same could be said for Moab. In fact, the resort we stayed at had a little movie museum, which I visited after our horseback ride along the trails made famous by John Wayne. 


DAY 7: NATURE'S FAULT

This day was spent in Arches National Park. Wow! The formations are epic. I did the easier tour and explored the Window section of the park, while other people in our group hiked to the Delicate Arch. We later went into Moab, ate, and shopped. It's a nice town. Then it was time for our final group dinner. We had a singing cowboy, which was fun, and even made s'mores and sang together around the campfire. 


DAY 8: HAPPY TRAILS

We traveled to our final destination together - Grand Junction Regional Airport. That's 3 states and over 1,000 miles in 8 days. I have to say, this was the smallest airport I ever visited. It took less than 5 minutes to get through the TSA line (which is some sort of miracle). It was sad to say goodbye to Kiersten and Sloth, but I know we will see each other again soon. 


THE PINS

Each day had a theme AND a collectors pin. 





Have you visit any of these places? 
Let us know in the comments!

26 comments:

  1. I've never been to Arizona or Utah, but now I really want to! Your pictures are amazing and I'm glad you had such a great time on your trip!

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    1. I was not sure about going on the trip because of COVID, but I am glad I went. So wonderful!

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  2. What a cool trip! I did a Sedona tour when I moved to Tempe for college. I remember that Montezuma Castle. It was cool and Sedona is also so pretty. I did the Grand Canyon a couple of times as well with friends and family. I wish I would have visited the Navajo Nation while there. My college roommate's best friend is Navajo and from the reservation, so I did learn a lot from her at least. I'm glad you had such a great trip. Happy belated birthday!

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    1. You are very familiar with the area. It beautiful out there! I wish we had been able to go to Monument Park, but we were really, really close. My birthday was in October. It was weird getting cake for it, but you know I love cake.

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  3. This is the cutest post ever! I love how sloth got to be in so many pictures ♥. I explored AZ for a week with my bestie back in 2004 and have always wanted to go back and also keep venturing out to where you guys went. Someday! It looks like you guys had the most amazing time ever, I'm so happy for you guys!
    Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog

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    1. He is ridiculously photogenic. We don't want to waste that. I can attest to how beautiful that part of the country was. Even the ride the airport was lovely. I saw antelope just running alongside the road. It was wild for me. I hope you make it there someday

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  4. Oh Sam this is incredible! I am always here for a sloth-filled post, but these pictures are GORGEOUS! And as someone who is desperately missing traveling, I appreciate it extra! I have been to New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, even into California a bit, and along Route 66! It's so amazing, isn't it? Like- a whole different world, truly! I am so glad you had this experience, especially with Kiersten!

    ALSO I had no idea that Disney Adventures was a thing! So. I have wanted to go on a family trip for a long time, now that the kids are like, old enough to be actual travelers and not just hip accessories. And for my 40th (gulp) birthday next November, I desperately want my whole family to do something. Like that is ALL I want. And my parents are game, but we were having such a hard time thinking of something we'd ALL like- and Sam, I think you have solved our problem! I am on their site now looking at the destinations and YEP this is perfect! So THANK YOU! I am so glad you were able to have such an amazing adventure! Hoping you'll be able to have another sooner rather than later, too!

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    1. You have traveled a lot! I have been to some places, but not many in the US beyond the eastern seaboard, so it was great seeing how things are out west. So different in terms of landscape! I have been on 4 Adventures by Disney trips and all were amazing. They are not cheap, but they plan everything for you, it's mostly all inclusive, and they always make me do things I would not have planned for myself. We are hoping we can take the trip we originally planned (Rhine Riverboat Cruise) in 2022 for my 50th (40 - you're a youngster!).

      I hope you get your adventure to celebrate 4 decades of you!

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  5. This looks like so much fun! I love the sloth photos. I’ve been to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Moab, and Arches. I’m glad you got to see them. They’re beautiful. Happy late birthday!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. It's nice over in your neck of the woods. I am sad I did not get to go to Monument Park, but I am glad we were able to visit the area.

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  6. This is just too adorable!! Love seeing Sloth with a daily photo on your adventure! I'm glad your trip went well! Also, the pins are such a nice touch!

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    1. Sloth had a great time. He had to share! The pins are cool. I am not a collector, but my daughter is, so she enjoyed that Disney touch

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  7. This is so cute! Haha! I've never been to any of these places but I'd love to visit the Grand Canyon someday.

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    1. The had us walk towards the canyon with our eyes down, and then told us to look up, and the kid was like "that's it?". I about lost it. I was quite taken by just the size of it, and it was quite beautiful at different times of the day. I hope you make it there at some point.

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  8. It reminds me so much of our trips to the US! We went to Monument Valley, Grand canyon , Arches and Moab too. I confess that if I had to live in a town in the US, I'd love either Moab, either Durango.

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    1. I am not sure if I would enjoy their weather that much. If I moved somewhere, I would want to improve on the climate I have to live in. I did think it was very beautiful out there and liked seeing a landscape that was so different from the one I know.

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  9. It looks like Sloth had a fantastic trip. I have not traveled to that area yet but it looks like it would be a fantastic trip. I am so glad that you were able to go enjoy yourself.

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    1. I am really happy we had a chance to see more of the US. They have Montana and Wyoming trips that look great too, and I REALLY haven't been to any middle states.

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  10. "We were surprised to awake to snow. Who knew it would snow in Arizona in March?"
    At least it didn't wreck havoc on your trip!

    "After, we made our way into Sedona for lunch, where I was really surprised to get a little birthday celebration. The guides knew our original trip back in October was to celebrate my birthday, and it was very sweet of them to give me a pin and a special dessert."
    Aww. That sure was well-planned hospitality!

    I loved the sloth and bear pic the most 😂. All the pics were creative though! And the places you visited were beautiful of course. Thanks for letting us live vicariously! (BTW, I've never gone anywhere abroad...).

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    1. Kiersten has a great eye, that's why she's the official staff photographer of the family. I love all her Sloth pictures.

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  11. Oh. My. Goodness. I absolutely love this post! Sounds like your vacation was absolutely fabulous, and the sloth pictures just make it all so much fun!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Sloth always likes when our whole family is together, and he enjoys going places. It was a wonderful trip. I have nothing but good things to say about Adventure by Disney. They never disappoint.

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  12. Such a cute post and wow, what an amazing trip! I've not been to Arizona or Utah yet but would love to at some point just to see those incredible views. I love that they gave you a belated birthday celebration too. That's just such a nice touch.

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    1. The guides were wonderful and very sweet. It is incredibly beautiful out there. I hope you get a chance to visit

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  13. What a fun post! I'm glad Sloth had such a great trip - and took you along for the good times. :) I've never been in that area of the U.S. and the pics are stunning. I got a kick out of the Zoltar machine. :) And how nice of them to recognize your birthday!

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    1. Sloth good to me like that, letting me go places with him and all. I also was delighted by the Zoltar machine. I am not sure if my daughter understood why I wanted the picture, but she took one.

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