2 Week Out West Trip

It was our last hooray before getting pregnant and what an adventure it was.

We went in May and we started planning in January. I suggest setting some time to sit down and plan. Bobby mapped out the different spots we wanted to hit and what would be possible in a 2 week span. Continue to read on to see where we ended up.

On Friday, April 30th we flew into Phoenix, AZ where we picked up our rental car (make sure to book ahead of time) and headed to Sedona, AZ. It was about a 2 hour drive. The airbnb we stayed at was absolutely perfect thanks to the view and location. Once we got settled in our airbnb we went to Golden Goose Grill. We had white russians for our drinks. I had the pecan crusted trout and Bobby had the country fried steak. After this meal we could not stop talking about how good it was and the service was great too.

For the first day, we started with the Coffee Pot . They had great food and pricing. We went just about every morning for breakfast while we were in Sedona if that says anything. After stuffing ourselves with yummy food, we went to Devils Bridge Trail. This was a great starter trail to kick off our trip. After we got back to the car, we then went to the Birthing Cave which was a pretty short hike. It was a really neat spot once you got to the end. Our late lunch was from the Outlaw Grill, which was 10/10! I had a delicious burger and Bobby had a yummy pork sandwich.

After we rested at the airbnb, we went to dinner at The Hudson, which was recommended to us. However, I feel like it is overrated. Although it has stunning views, the wait times are insane and the food that we got was okay, nothing to die for.

Day two started at the Coffee Pot again and then we headed straight to the Grand Canyon ( 2 hours away from Sedona). The Grand Canyon was really cool. I told Bobby I don't know what I was expecting, but it was different than what I thought, haha. It was one of those things you see pictures of and hear people talk about it, but until you are there to experience it you won't understand the beauty.

We packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that day with chips and snacks for lunch. We were there for a good bit and headed back after we felt like we saw enough. For dinner Bobby and I decided on sushi, so we went to Hiro's Sushi & Japanese Kitchen which was delightfully fresh. The service was absolutely incredible and so fast.

On day 3 we made some oatmeal and headed for our excursion, horseback riding. We were luckily the only ones in our group, so it was just us and two guides (talk about feeling like a VIP). After the ride we were starved, so we went to Red Rock Cafe for brunch. I highly recommend this place!

Once our food settled, we decided to go for a hike at Cathedral Rock. This hike was pretty short, but steep. There was one part that was a little spooky, but we got past it. We went for a caesar salad and pepperoni & pineapple pizza from Moondog Pizza for dinner. It a great easy dinner after a long day. We ended the night with a light hike and watched the sun set.

Grabbing a bite at the Coffee Pot to start the day we were excited to head to our next destination, Page, AZ (approx. 3 hour drive). We stayed in a cute Airbnb that was close to everything we did while we were there. Birdhouse was where we had dinner and y'all it was the best chicken sandwich I have ever had including their homemade bird sauce. Literally to die for. You must go there if you are in Page. That evening after dinner, we went to Horseshoe Bend to watch the sunset. The scenery was breathtaking.

Day 5 started at the cutest locally owned donut shop, Hot n Sweet Coffee and Donut Shop. Bobby got their breakfast burrito with a hot coffee and I got a breakfast sandwich, fruity pebbles donut, and iced coffee with two pumps of vanilla. This is also a must have while in Page.

Since Antelope Canyon was still closed due to Covid we decided to kayak Lake Powell. We were able to see a little bit of Antelope Canyon when we got to the end of kayaking. While we walked the trail we ate our PB&Js for lunch. Later on for dinner we had Big Johns Texas BBQ which was just what we needed after that long day of kayaking and walking. That night we slept so good.

Day 6, we had oatmeal for breakfast and headed to Springdale, UT/Zion that morning. That trip was about a 2 hour drive. I loved the airbnb we stayed at. It was cute and cozy with the best management. There was a hot tub and it came with breakfast vouchers at the restaurant 5 minutes from us (Oscar's Cafe), so we were able to walk to it every morning. FREE BREAKFAST, like yes please.

For lunch, we had Cafe Soleil which was healthy and SOOOO tasty. They had so many good options that it was hard to pick. After we ate, we started planning the hikes we wanted to do while we were there and had to buy shuttle passes right at 5:00 pm (they sell out so fast). Dinnertime came quick, so we went to Thai Sapa. I would say they were average for taste and the service was so slow (they did warn us due to COVID they were short staffed), but a decent option for dinner since the portion sizes are pretty big.

On the 7th day we headed to Angels Landing after a big breakfast. That was a HIKE. We walked about 10 miles that day, but once we got to the top, the view and feeling of achievement was so worth it.

For dinner that night we had Stage Coach Grille with beautiful views. I had a salad, steak, veggies, and loaded baked potato. Let's just stay my plate was cleared after that day full of activity. To end the night we relaxed in the hot tub.

Since the Narrows were kind of sketchy with a deadly algae at the time, we skipped that trail. We ended up doing a lighter trail and checking out the Emerald Pools. It was a neat trail with pretty pools of water. For dinner, we carbed up at the Spotted Dog Cafe. Bobby had spaghetti with meatballs and I had the pesto pasta with chicken. Very tasty!

After breakfast on day 9, we drove for a change of scenery and a lighter trail. It was nothing crazy, but it was nice to get out and do a beginner trail to get the legs moving. For dinner we had Casa De Amigos because I needed a margarita after all of the hiking we had done, haha. It was a fun atmosphere with tasty food. After stuffing our faces with chips & salsa, tacos, rice and beans, we headed to the candy store for something sweet.

Day 10 consisted of breakfast and a 5 hour road trip to Moab. Make sure you pack lunch because it is a long drive with limited stops. The airbnb we stayed at was so cool. It came with living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Once we got everything in the room and cleaned up, we headed to dinner at Thai Bella which was so good. We shared spring rolls for an appetizer. I had the cashew chicken meal and Bobby had their Chicken Teriyaki meal.

We had Jailhouse Cafe for breakfast to start day 11. It is a great option if you are in the area. The excursion for the day was Arches National Park. We only did one trail while we were there since our legs and feet were so tired from all of the other trails we had done this trip. I told Bobby I wish we would have had one more day in Moab to explore the park a little more.

At lunch we had Quesadilla Mobilla and it was one of the best quesadillas I have ever had. They were highly recommended and had so many positive reviews. For the rest of the afternoon we rested and did some laundry. We had Trailhead Public House and Eatery for dinner where I had a chicken salad and Bobby had a burger with fries. After dinner, we took a stroll around their downtown of shops.

Day 17 was a travel day to Salt Lake City, about a 4 hour drive. Once we got into the more urban area, I spotted a Chick Fil A and we rushed over to it. A lot of the restaurants we had gone to over the span of trip did not have sweet tea, so to say I was excited for Chick Fil A was an understatement. It was honestly hilarious how genuinely excited we were to eat a chicken sandwich meal.

While we were in Salt Lake City we stayed at The Grand America Hotel which was a lovely stay. The only downfall was they were working on the outdoor pool while we were there. I was disappointed because we said we were going to stay for an extra day to relax and lay by the pool, but we were not aware of the construction. However, it was good that we were there an extra day because we got to have dinner with a friend from college that lives there.

Here are the food places we ate while in SLC:

Breakfast: The Park Cafe- They were packed! After eating there we could see why they were so busy, great service and even better food.

Dinner 1: Whiskey Street Cocktails- amazing atmosphere and food. We went back the next night for a pre dinner drink and appetizer.

Dinner 2: Eva- Tapas that you share with the table. This food was sooo good.

On day 18, we dropped the rental car office and headed home so refreshed and content with the beautiful memories made.

After experiencing the trip of a lifetime, we noted all of the things that were so helpful or would have been helpful to know. Please see below our recommendations.

• Book what you can ahead of time - flights, airbnbs, car rental, any excursions, and pet boarding

• Download AllTrails app- we would have been lost without this app. It also provided trails that we would have never known about if it wasn't for this app.

• Staying hydrated (water and powerade)- because of the higher elevation, I started getting light headed and feeling weird for the first couple of days we were in Sedona. Once I started being more intentional with my water and powerade intake I was better.

• Pack snacks- granola bars, energy bars, fruit snacks, and PB&Js

• If you are hiking, invest in hiking shoes/boots and wool socks- it is important to note that the different brands tailor to different types of feet. I recommend going to an REI to find out what kind of hiking show best works for you and your feet. Since my feet are more narrow, I got Salomon and since Bobby has wider feet he got Altra.

• Bring a couple of books for reading- finished one book in the first two days, so pack an amount that will work for your reading speed.

• Must haves/ Packing Essentials- sunscreen, wool socks, jackets/pullovers for the cool mornings and nights, bandaids, tylenol & advil, hat, backpack for hikes, water bottle to refill, hiking shoes, items to keep you occupied while relaxing (books, ipad, sketchbook,etc.)

• Be prepared to pay for state parks- We had to pay for entry for Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell access for kayaking, Zion, and Arches.

Favorite place: Sedona, AZ

• best trails, no paying for trail access, so many food options and things to do, just beautiful

Least favorite place: Sprindale/ Zion, UT

• first it is absolutely beautiful, but the biggest downfall is that there is not a lot of food options and getting shuttle passes for access into the park was so stressful