Category: Travel

My Solo Spring Reset: 4 Days in Arizona for a Wellness Escape

Published on by Amanda Leggette1 Comment

Turning 40 felt like the perfect time for a reset—an opportunity to step away from the everyday hustle and gift myself a little space to reflect, move my body, and soak up nature’s beauty. When my husband needed to be in Arizona for work (and since I could fly for free thanks to his companion pass—woohoo!), I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and turn the trip into a personal wellness retreat.

For four days, I focused on slowing down, moving intentionally, and soaking up Arizona’s stunning landscapes. Here’s a recap of what made this solo trip such a refreshing escape.

Day 1: Hiking & Sunset Views at Piestewa Peak

Nothing sets the tone for a trip like a good hike after a long travel day, and Piestewa Peak did not disappoint. The climb was a challenge, but reaching the summit and taking in the panoramic views as the sun dipped below the mountains was absolutely worth it. There’s something about standing at the top, watching the sky transform, that makes you feel both small and limitless at the same time. It was the perfect way to kick off my time in Arizona—just me, (and several other hikers), the trail, and that golden-hour glow.

Day 2: Exploring the Neighborhood, Hot Yoga & A Private Oasis

I signed up for unlimited yoga at a nearby studio, which offered a variety of hot yoga classes. Before class each time I laced up my running shoes and went for a morning run, winding through beautiful neighborhoods with stunning mountain views. There’s something so peaceful about running in a new place, letting the scenery unfold, and viewing the achitecture and landscaping as you go.

Hot yoga was a regular practice of mine when we lived in Wilmington, NC and recently I reincorporated it back thanks to the amazing studio I found locally. Each session here in Arizona felt like a reset—sweating out tension, deep stretching, and grounding myself in the present. There was also something so freeing about not knowing a single sole in the studio for class.

Part II of Day 2: A Private Oasis & Total Relaxation

One of the highlights of this trip was my micro boutique hotel—a true oasis tucked away from the busyness of the city. With a pool, hot tub, fire pit, and even a cold plunge, it felt like a spa retreat all on its own. I spent time simply being—reading by the water, listening to music on the Bose speaker they provided, taking refreshing dips, and soaking up the Arizona sun. It was a reminder that rest is just as important as movement, and this space gave me the perfect environment to fully unwind.

After my time by the pool, I went to The Henry for dinner. Adam and I had eaten here a couple years prior when we visited a few national parks and Scottsdale, AZ. We loved the ambiance of the restaurant and were blown away by the food that is prepared in their craft kitchen. They have a great happy hour menu, robust menu offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They truly are the neighborhood restaurant. Just look at their website and you’ll see why we talk about it to this day.

Day 3: A Day in Sedona – Hiking & Red Rock Magic

When Adam and I traveled out west in April of 2023 to visit Bryce, Zion National Parks and other bucket list stops, we passed through Sedona at the end of our trip but didn’t have time to explore. Knowing I’d only be 2 hours away on this trip, I made it a priority to incoportate it into my itinerary as an adventure day. I got coffee for the road at Black Riffle Coffee Co (which i was excited to know was walking distance from my rental) and made the drive to Sedona. I spent the day hiking three different trails, each one offering something special—red rock views, peaceful forested paths, and that unmistakable Sedona magic.

The landscape here is breathtaking, and I could feel the grounding, calming energy with every step. It was the perfect way to wrap up my wellness retreat, feeling strong, clear-headed, and deeply refreshed.

If you have one day to spend in Sedona, just know that it is an easy day trip from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. I’m sharing a simple itinerary if you want to squeeze in hikes and see the area.

12 hours in Sedona:

Leave Phoenix by 6AM. If the timing is right, you can catch the sunrise as I did at Aqua Fria National Monument along the way. It was right off of an exit.

Arrive at Devil’s Bridge via Mescal Trailhead around 8AM and hike the beautiful trail. There is some rock scrambling as you get closer to the bridge but it wasn’t too difficult for a seasoned hiker. I would feel comfortable if our 3 sons were to hike it at ages 10, 8 and 4. Be sure you also check out the short trail that leads you to the underside of Devil’s Bridge. Allow 2 hours for this hike. During peak tourist season, you may need to allow more time if there is a long line to take picture on Devil’s Bridge.

*It’s not as narrow as it appears in pictures. It’s a wide area to walk across and again, I would be okay with our boys going on it but they would, of course, be holding our hands.

Drive to Fay Canyon Trail (10 Minutes) – This is a shorter hike. You can not miss the offshoot trail that leads to another arch. It is more scenic than the trail end of Fay Canyon. Allow 1.5 hours total for this hike.

Stop in town for a quick bite to eat or enjoy snacks you bring for the hikes as I did. I wanted to hustle to get in as much in as possible.

Drive to Cathedral Rock – 18 minutes from Fay Canyon. Pit stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross that’s along the drive.

Cathedral Rock is considered difficult on Alltrails and I would agree. There is a lot of rock scrambling to get to the top. I pushed through the uncomfortable and challenging path to get to the top and I’m glad I did. The views were worth it.

Drive back to Phoenix and enjoy the views along the way. If you’re lucky, you’ll see hot air balloons in the sky near Sedona.

Day 4: A Travel Day – But first, Get. Those. Steps. In.

Given the time I needed to be out of my rental, I had time to make a cup of coffee, relax in my private Oasis, then head out for another scenic run before I had to shower and prep for the airport.

It’s kind of wild that Adam and I traveled so far together and didn’t spend much time, just the two of us, in Arizona. I did get the best surprise on the last night when he wrapped up work early and was able to join me at my rental for the night.

Final Thoughts: Why This Trip Was Exactly What I Needed

Stepping away from my normal routine and gifting myself these four days was one of the best things I could have done. Movement, nature, quiet moments, and intentional rest—this trip reminded me how important it is to carve out time to reset. So, thank you to all my friends for encouraging me to go when I almost backed out.

Whether it’s a solo getaway or just taking small moments in everyday life, prioritizing your well-being is always worth it. This is something that I have learned to not feel guilt over the older I get. At the end of the day, I know carving out this time will, hopefully, allow me to be present and live a healthier life so I can be here for our family.

If you’ve ever thought about taking a solo trip, let this be your sign to go for it! Everything you you normally have to do will be waiting for you when you get back. So, go on that trip. Take the time. Miss your family. Let them miss you. Then go back with a refreshed mindset and core memories that you’ll hold with you forever. (Especially if you’re celebrating a milestone birthday like I was). 💛

Would you take a solo trip for a wellness reset? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Rediscover Raleigh: A Staycation Guide to the City of Oaks

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

If you’re looking for a little getaway right in the heart of Raleigh, the Heights House offers a charming and cozy retreat with a touch of elegance. Whether you’re a local seeking a short break or a visitor wanting to explore the city’s vibrant culture, this staycation plan offers the perfect balance of relaxation, good food, and local adventure.

We recently planned our Raleigh staycation to celebrate our 14th anniversary that focused on exploring more of our area. We made reservations at the stunning Heights House, a place that has been on my bucket list forever and dinner reservations at one of our favorite local restaurants—one we don’t visit often enough due to its distance from home. The combination of a dreamy stay and an indulgent meal made for a perfect way to mark this special milestone and one that I hope you will consider planning if you are local or visiting the area. (Or perhaps you need a gift idea for that someone that is hard to buy for but loves experiences over things. This is it!)

Raleigh Staycation @ Heights House

Our check-in lead to a tour of the beautiful home, a brief history lesson and fun facts shared about the curated collection of furnishings within Heights House and how it came to be what it is today. Be sure to get a tour and history of the property when you check in. 

Here is a suggested itinerary that is loosely based off of our experience.

Evening Kick-off: Cocktail Hour at Heights House

Start your evening with a drink in the beautifully restored parlor of Heights House. The intimate setting, paired with expertly crafted cocktails, sets the perfect tone for a relaxing night out. The mixologists here know their craft, and whether you’re in the mood for a classic or something a little more daring, you’ll be well taken care of.

The drink menu is set within vintage books. The attention to detail throughout the property was curated by the owners. Be sure to get a tour and history of the property when you check in. 

After your cocktail, it’s time to head over to Brewery Bhavana. This award-winning restaurant combines craft beer, dim sum, and an elegant atmosphere to create a dining experience that’s both unique and satisfying. The food is creative and full of flavor, with dim sum options that are perfect for sharing.

For those who are gluten sensitive, there are numerous items that are gluten free. Make sure to try their bao buns and dumplings paired with a cold beer from their in-house brewery, my husbands go-to. I tend to stick to the wine. It’s a standout dining option for any Raleigh staycation.

Morning After: Breakfast and Coffee at Heights House

Start your next day with a delicious breakfast at Heights House. The inn offers a range of breakfast options, from fresh pastries to hearty favorites, all thoughtfully prepared to kickstart your day, all included in your stay. Enjoy it while relaxing in the peaceful surroundings of this beautifully restored home.

A Morning Stroll into Downtown Raleigh

After breakfast, head out for a leisure walk into downtown Raleigh. It’s a beautiful way to see the city and enjoy the fresh air before diving into the local scene.

Coffee at A Place at the Table

Your first stop? A Place at the Table, a nonprofit coffee shop that does more than just serve excellent coffee. This café’s mission is to provide a “pay what you can” model for its meals and drinks, meaning you can grab a coffee to go, and even purchase a meal for someone else. It’s a feel-good stop that supports the local community while also giving you that caffeine boost.

Explore Downtown Raleigh

From there, take a casual stroll along Fayetteville Street, stopping in local shops, boutiques, and art galleries. Raleigh is known for its mix of modern flair and historical charm, and this walk offers the perfect opportunity to explore.

One of my favorite finds on our recent staycation was Copperline Plant Co.. I’m growing my plant collection at home so it was nice to explore different varieties and chat with the shop owner to learn more.

Dinner Options for a Raleigh Date Night

If you’re looking for more date night ideas beyond a stay at Heights House, here are a few options that offer delicious food and drinks in different parts of the city:

Option 1: Drinks at Jolie, Dinner at Crawford and Sons

Start your evening with a drink at Jolie, a stylish spot offering craft cocktails in a chic atmosphere. Their rooftop is the perfect setting to catch a sunset. Be sure to make reservations. Once you’ve sipped your way through their menu, head to Crawford and Sons for dinner. Again, make reservations ahead of time. This upscale restaurant features modern American cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. The menu changes seasonally, but you can expect dishes that are both inventive and beautifully plated but most of all, delicious. I promise, you’ll talk about your meal for weeks to come. 

Option 2: Whiskey Kitchen, City Market Sushi & Dessert at Bitter Sweet

For a more casual yet equally delightful evening, begin with drinks and apps at Whiskey Kitchen. This lively bar offers a fantastic selection of whiskey and craft cocktails, perfect for sipping before dinner. They also offer a creative menu that combines Southern-inspired dishes if you want to linger longer before dinner.

Then, make your way to City Market Sushi in Moore Square for fresh sushi and tasty rolls. To cap off your evening, walk over to Bitter Sweet for dessert. This local favorite serves decadent treats, from cakes to ice cream, all with a creative twist.

Whether you’re planning a full staycation or just looking for a fun date night, Raleigh offers a wealth of experiences that combine good food, great drinks, and plenty of local flavor. A night at Heights House or any of these recommended date-night spots will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to explore even more of what this vibrant city has to offer.

I hope you will feel inspired to plan a local staycation for your next special occasion. Too often we can feel pressured to travel far to have a magical experience but sometimes we just need to stay close to home and explore the wonderful options that are just outside our doorstep, or a short drive away.

Crisp Air & Colorful Trails: Our Top Family Friendly Hikes in The Triangle

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

When I look back on my most cherished memories, from childhood to adulthood, so many of them were spent outside, immersed in nature. Adam and I have always loved to get out and explore new places, both locally and in our travels.

Our family dynamic has evolved with the addition of our three sons, who are now 10, 8, and 4 years old. What hasn’t changed is our love to get outside in nature and explore.

Bringing kids along can sometimes feel overwhelming, but I assure you, with patience and persistence, they’ll develop a love for the outdoors and enjoy exploring new trails with you.

Hiking, biking, scootering (this is a word, right?), and running different trails local to our area has lead us to find our favorite places that we frequently visit.

Here are our top 5 family-friendly trails that you should definitely add to your adventure list! Along with each trail, I’ve included a guide to help you determine if it’s ideal for walking, running, biking, or scootering—so you can pick the perfect path for your next outing.

Bass Lake Park – 🚶‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ 🚴‍♀️ 🛴 (Greenway Path only)

This is a 2.02 mile loop, mostly mulched, that also has connecting access to the Carl Dean Greenway and Sugg Farm.

This is a beautiful trail year-round. In the summer and spring, everything is lush and green. In the Fall, the foliage is vibrant. Be on the lookout for wildlife year-round. We almost always see deer in the woods. We have also seen river otters, cormorants, and snakes in the summer but this is rare.

The main club house also has concessions available for purchase like various chips, cracker packs, ice creams, water and sports drinks. (Very inexpensive too) This is a fun fact you can keep in your back pocket if you need to encourage little ones to make it around the lake.

The kids will also love viewing the various reptiles and small animals they have inside the clubhouse.

If you are up for a longer distance, 4 miles out and back from the main parking lot, I highly recommend getting on the connecting greenway path. The kids take their scooters or bikes when this is our planned adventure. We often take the greenway all the way to Main Street Square where you’ll find a few shops but our favorite stop is Thanks A Latte. I can get a little pick-me-up and the kids share a baked good.

The greenway also connects to Womble Park in Holly Springs which is a great park for kids of all ages.

There are various workout stations along the greenway path that the boys love to rush ahead to find and try out. (Pull up bars, core bench, step-up boxes, ect.)

If you’re feeling really adventurous and are biking the greenway path, you can continue past Main Street Square and follow the sidewalk into downtown Holly Springs for shopping, lunch, and ice cream. I did this with all 3 of our sons one Saturday when daddy was out of town on a guys trip. We had the best day and felt like we were exploring somewhere far away from our home. We parked at Bass Lake, biked to Main Street Square (had a snack), biked to Smash Burger, biked to Fresh Homemade Ice cream, biked to Womble Park and played, then biked back on the greenway path to the car. Total mileage was around 8-9 miles. The older two did it with ease while the littlest was along for the ride in the carrier attached to my bike.

Fuquay Varina Greenway – 🚶‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ 🚴‍♀️ 🛴
2-6 Miles

This is a mostly flat and paved path with a few gentle hills. Since it’s an out-and-back trail, you can easily adjust the distance depending on where you park and how far you choose to go along the greenway.

If you are to park in the main lot off of Hwy 55 in Fuquay Varina, you can follow the path all the way to the main lake which is 1 mile. There are benches and two swings at this point. If you continue past the lake and follow the pathway to the right, you will reach the High School. Continue around the school to the connecting sidewalk. Circling back around the school to the greenway path is 4 miles back to the parking lot. You can also park at the lot by ClubWorx gym but it will require you to cross Hwy 55 via the crosswalk. Parking here and following the path all the way around the high school will be 6 miles in distance.

Our boys love to take their scooters or bikes for this outing. Our youngest will often ride his balance bike but I still bring the stroller from time to time if I know he will teeter out and need to rest. Isn’t this how most walks go with toddlers? You end up carrying the gear of the tired little ones.

The boys sometimes fish at the kayak launch that is located on the lake.

Raven Rock State Park – 🚶‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️

You can choose trails of varying lengths, depending on how far you’d like to hike. Our favorites, which are probably the most popular, offer scenic views and unique rest spots along the way. We usually stick to the Little Creek Loop Trail and Raven Rock Loop Trail, which conveniently connect for a seamless hike.

To access the trailhead for Little Creek Loop Trail, park at the first lot on the right after you enter the park entrance. There, you will see an oversized picnic shelter. The trailhead is just to the right of it.

The boys love Little Creek Loop as it follows alongside the creek with several pathways that run off the main trail that connect to the creek which they explore. They enjoy jumping onto the larger boulders that are in some areas, skipping rocks, and looking for crayfish.
(Insert picture of boys on the rocks at the creek)

Don’t miss out on the stairs that lead down to the banks of the Cape Fear River. The rock walls and exposed roots of the trees are worth exploring.

Explore the various trails at Raven Rock here.

Hilltop Needmore Town Park – 🚶‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ 🚴‍♀️ 🛴

This was a former golf course within a neighborhood community. The trails are paved and were once the pathway for golf carts. There are some steeper hills which can pose to be more challenging for the littles on wheels. It’s never stopped our boys from trying to make it to the top peddeling. Going downhill is no issue apart from my own anxiety as they fly down.

There are 5 miles of paved trails with varying elevations on each. Due to some construction of a new community center and elementary school, there is one trail section that is closed to pedestrian traffic. Stay current with closures on their website, here.

This is a beautiful park year-round. The large oak trees, rolling hills and ponds throughout provide for many scenic spots for picnics, leisurely walks, and wildlife watching. Whether you’re exploring the trails or simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, it’s a perfect place to connect with nature.

Lake Benson + White Deer Parks – 🚶‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ 🚴‍♀️ 🛴
2-4 Miles

Lake Benson Park and White Deer Park in Garner, NC, offer a perfect family-friendly outdoor escape. The trails at Lake Benson wind along the shores of the scenic lake, providing peaceful views and ample opportunities for spotting local wildlife. We have seen several deer on our visits. The wide, mostly flat trails are ideal for leisurely walks, jogs, or bike rides with kids.

There is one gravel section that goes into the woods that I’d recommend doing if you are on foot.

You can also explore shaded picnic areas and enjoy any three of the playgrounds making it a fun outing for all ages.

While you’re in the area, be sure to stop by Holl & Stone. It’s located between Lake Benson and White Deer park. There, you can feed the llama, alpacas and other farm animals, shop fresh produce and plants then get a ice cream from their food truck.

As a family, we’ve found that these hikes not only help us get outside and move but also create opportunities for bonding, problem-solving, and even a little adventure. Whether it’s a peaceful stroll or a more challenging trek, there’s something for every energy level. I hope you’re inspired to lace up your shoes and hit the trails with your family. 

Colors of the Caribbean: A San Juan Edition

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

I recently had an opportunity to join my husband on a work conference trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Even though I knew our time together would be limited due to his work obligations, I was all in to join him.

Alone time on a beach with a book? Yes, please.

Seeing San Juan through a different perspective this trip was much different than my first time on the island. Many years ago when I was in the youth group at church, we traveled to San Juan for a mission trip, World Changers. The week was spent tackling various construction projects to help serve the community.

Need a visual? I was on a crew that built a small home and put on a new roof on a home, in the Summer, in the Caribbean, and under the blazing sun. High schoolers with adult crew leads and supervision completed the physical labor. Can you imagine that?

I think it’s safe to say that my hands on experience with DIY and seeing the impact it can have on others, myself included, started at a very young age. Re-roofing a home for someone who didn’t have the means to fund it and building a small home from the ground up and witnessing a family’s gratitude when the job was complete was by far one of the most impactful moments for me on that trip. It certainly beat my coming home and my ankles being the same size as my calves because of my reaction to numerous fire ant bites. This is NO exaggeration, ask my parents who greeted us at the RDU airport.

Apart from one afternoon exploring Old San Juan as a group, we were immersed in the deep culture of San Juan and slept in a non-AC building where fire ants infested our beds (no amount of Arm & Hammer sprinkled on our sheets deterred them). It was a HOT week.

I think it’s important for you to have a visual of my first experience to see the contrast of my visit back to San Juan as an adult for vacation and not a mission trip.

Present day travels to Puerto Rico looked much different and I’m here to share about our few days in the vibrant city of San Juan.

Lucky for us, the conference was held at a beachfront resort on the popular Condado beach.

The area was pedestrian friendly with sidewalks and a greenway path for bikes that lead you all the way into Old San Juan which was approximately 3 miles before you reach the downtown entrance. We walked all the way into town early one morning. I ran the pathway every morning and soaked in the sunshine, ocean breezes and made a few stops along the way for scenic opportunites. It was fun to explore charming pockets of common areas, historical remnants and scenic overlooks.

We arrived to San Juan early on a Sunday morning which gave us a few hours to explore before Adam had to be at the conference. We unpacked, changed into shorts and t-shirts and booked an uber into town. There was a good bit of traffic on our commute so when we were close to town, we asked our driver if we could get out and walk. She was happy to let us out and we were happy to get out and walk in the sunshine along the coast.

As we wondered through the colorful streets and historic landmarks of San Juan, we found ourselves captivated by its beauty. There is vibrant architecture and rich culture everywhere we explored.

There are two major historic castles in Old San Juan that you can tour. Paying the entry fee into one gets you entry into both on the same visiting day. Because it’s a US National Park, we were able to use our National Park pass that we had purchased for our travels to Zion & Bryce National parks just last Spring. Read all about that life giving trip here.

It was well worth the time exploring Castillo San Felipe del Morro and the history lesson, highly recommend.

The greenspace around the Castillo was full of families flying kites, having picnic lunches and groups gathering to hang out.

If you’re wondering if San Juan is kid friendly, without question, YES.

We left the Castillo and walked the sidewalk into the vibrant streets of Old San Juan to explore. The only thing we had marked on a map were three recommendations from the hotel receptionist for places to eat and the location for the original Pina Colada.

We popped in a few shops along the way, talked to the locals working there and confirmed we needed to visit, Barrachina. We snagged the last two seats at the courtyard bar, ordered two of the original Pina coladas and an entree to share, a local specialty called Mofongo, pictured above.

It was a very rich dish with a lot of flavor.

After exploring the streets a little while longer after lunch, we hustled back to the hotel and went our separate ways. I set out for the beach where the staff set up chairs and umbrellas, anywhere you want to be, and Adam set off for the conference.

I have to admit, my chair was placed in a very popular area of the beach due to the Puerto Rican flag by the water. It provided entertainment for me as several couples seized it as a photo opportunity and video content.

The water was beautiful. I made the most of the only full sunny day we had and spent as much time at the beach and pool as possible.

Food Recommendations from our trip that I highly recommend:

Burrito Social – Fresh seafood tacos and Mexican cuisine + margarita happy hour.

La Hacienda – Market + Cafe, you can order fresh made items a la cart from the deli (eggs, chorizo, eat.), collect items to cook if you’re staying at an Airbnb, and order coffee. Prices were some of the best we found.

Barrachina – Pina Colada + local cuisine

Di Zucchero – Across the street from the Marriott, they have a very robust menu, rooftop and indoor/outdoor dining options.

Anitas – BEST gelato we’ve had outside of Italy. Truly, it was amazing. We visited the location on Condado beach and in downtown San Juan. Their story of how they started and where they have expanded globally is incredible. Come to NC Anitas!

One thing I wish I had researched ahead of our trip was visiting El Yunque Rain Forest for a hike and exploring. Some of the other conference goers had done this and show us pictures. It looked amazing so I would highly recommend doing this if you have a car rental and/or book an excursion through your hotel. Learn from our missed opportunity and read more about how you can explore the rain forest on your visit to San Juan, here.

This trip reignited my love of color and affirmed my recent design decisions in the home that incorporates more.

More than anything, Adam and I were reminded how much we love to travel. Before kids, we made travel a priority. After kids, we started including the kids. It’s important to us to expose them to many cultures and experiences from little weekend getaways to larger trips that require thorough planning.

All this to say, it’s worth making arrangements to travel with your spouse sans kids and together as a family.

San Juan, Puerto Rico would be a destination you could easily travel to with little ones and is also a great area to retreat to with your spouse, kid free.

Whether you’re drawn to its colorful streets, rich history, or lively culture, San Juan promises an unforgettable adventure. I hope you’re able to experience firsthand why this Caribbean gem captures the hearts of all who visit.

We certainly left with full hearts and vibrant memories.

A Recap on our Getaway to Greenville, SC

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

I didn’t know much about Greenville, SC other than things I had recently heard from a few friends. Everyone said it was beautiful and the perfect place to travel with your family. I was intrigued and wanted to know why Greenville was on the map as a desirable destination for a getaway.

I’ve been following Getaway House for quite some time so when I saw they had a new location open in Greenville, SC, we knew immediately it was a top contender as a destination for this year’s annual trip with our dear friends.

I suggested the idea of Greenville and staying in a cabin to them and they said, “Yes, let’s do it!”

Spoiler alert, it was worth the trip!

Getaway House’s concept is based on the idea of encouraging you to get out in nature to rest, disconnect from the everyday while also being close to cities where you can explore all they have to offer. Yes please! Getaway House has two cabin types, a single queen or a bunk cabin with a second queen bed that is lofted. They provided me with a referral link that will get you $25 off in addition to any specials they are running, book here.

Our youngest is 3 and doesn’t require much space at all so I knew the bunk option would accommodate our family. I could tell from images online that there was a good amount of space next to the lower queen bed and would likely fit a toddler cot and our dog. I was correct and they both fit in that space perfectly.

Weekend Itinerary:

Thursday – Travel day and meet our friends in Downtown Greenville. The cabins were another 45 minutes south so we wanted to stop in and explore downtown, find somewhere to eat dinner, and burn that travel energy. Greenville is both family and pet friendly so please, don’t hesitate on bringing your dog along with you on.

The downtown is beautiful. The leaves were beginning to change and beautiful landscaping with open green spaces were speckled throughout the downtown area and around Falls Park on the Reedy.

While waiting for our friends to join us, Adam and I were in need of an afternoon pick-me-up and found this local gem, Spill the Beans, which is also a known gem for their creamery as well.

When our friends arrived, they too got coffee then both of our families set out to walk downtown, walked across the Liberty Bridge and then settled on dinner.

After dinner, we set off for our cabins at Getaway House. We stopped in by the grocery for a few items that were needed for breakfasts and dinner the following evening.

Thursday Night – Get settled and relax by the fire for s’mores.

Friday – Stay close by to our accommodations and hike Yellow Branch Falls Trail

The trail was less than 30 minutes away. We drove through a couple of cute towns, one of which we all agreed we’d come back and explore after hiking, Walhalla.

Our hike was beautiful with a few creek crossings, a range of forest trails and some climbing that lead to the serene falls. We didn’t see a single person on the way to the falls so it was so peaceful.

We ended up splitting up along the hike from our friends but they ventured on to Stumphouse Tunnel which they said was really cool to see. We all met back downtown at Trailhead restaurant. We loved their outdoor seating area for the kids and dogs to run around. The food was delicious and offered plenty of options for everyone.

After lunch we snagged coffee after lunch from a local shop then headed back to our cabins to prep Turkey Chili in the crockpot.

The cabins have everything you’d need for cooking on a 2 burner stove or on the fire grill grate. Knowing this, Ashley and I planned out dinner and I brought our crockpot from home. She prepped cornbread muffins in advance for the kids and brought them from home.

Our chili dinner by the fire was perfect and followed by more s’more making for the kids.

The adults enjoyed bubbles, wine and a fall cocktail.

The men and a few of the kids ventured to a local brewery about 10 minutes from the cabins. The said it great and brought back an app of peppery pimento cheese. When the chili was still simmering, everyone was able to snack on the app, and fresh chips and salsa.

Our cabins were next to each other which made it easy for us to continue hanging out when the littles went to bed. The monitors reached with no problem.

Saturday – Checkout wasn’t until 11 so we had a leisure morning making breakfasts and packing up our belongings before heading back into Greenville for more exploring, lunch, then hiking at Paris Mountain State Park.

(The men actually had to make a run to the auto parts store as something was needed for our truck but that’s another story for another time.)

First the kids hung out on the rocky area of the Reedy while the adults enjoyed coffees from Spill the Beans, again. We walked around a bit then the group ventured on the Gather GVL, ranked the 6th best food hall in America in 2023 according to the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards. It was busy but such a fun spot for the families. Their website indicated pets aren’t allowed on weekends but they later told us they are allowed daily so just look into that before going if you have your dog with you.

Because we thought dogs weren’t allowed, I stationed up at the coffee shop for wifi and downloaded a couple movies for the ride home then ventured around downtown with the dog and our youngest. There was a crew breaking down the last of the setup for the downtown market which seemed to draw a big crowd on such a beautiful day.

Our two families went our separate ways after lunch. We ventured on to Paris Mountain State Park to burn off energy in prep for the 4 hour drive home while our friends stayed in Greenville for a while, explored and shopped.

Paris Mountain State Park was beautiful from the moment we drove in the park entrance. We were greeted with views of the first lake. Not really realizing how large the park was, we found parking at one of the earlier lots and set off to find trails.

I’m glad we didn’t venture further into the park because the 2 trails we hiked allowed us to stumble upon a Music in the Woods concert. The amphitheater was on the Mountain Creek Trail. As we got closer to the amphitheater, we were greeted by beautiful Greenville Symphony Ensemble. As you can see from the photo below, many were there to watch the show. I would have loved to sit and enjoy for longer but we had to head on and finish our hike.

The boys requested a trail with a creek so they could once again, hunt for crawdads. We hiked the Mountain Creek and a good portion of the Sulfur Springs Trail before turning back. In total, we hiked just over 4 miles. The trails were easy for all of us. We’ve hiked much more challenging trails with the kids but they did great.

Our youngest fell asleep in the hiking backpack before we made it back to the truck. He slept for hours before waking up around dinner time on our drive home.

As we were driving home, I told Adam that I see the draw to Greenville, SC and understand the draw of all that the city has to offer. You have the perfect mix of city nestled in so much green space, outdoor activities, and it’s close to so many other popular destinations. For example, Asheville, NC is only a little over an hour away and Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA are both around 2 hours away.

I’d say the general consensus on our time in Greenville was that we enjoyed the city and surrounding areas and would, without question, go back again.

Our time and adventures with the Boles Family continue and we look forward to making forever memories on future destinations.

Be sure to look into Getaway House and all of their current locations available in the US. Use my referral link for $25 savings . One other location I’ve looking into is in Asheboro and just minutes away from the NC Zoo and close to Raleigh and Charlotte areas, 45 minute drive to NC Wine Country.

See this post (coming soon) on our October day trip to the zoo and apple orchard during our two older son’s Fall Track Out from school.

Fall Apple Picking + Hearty Muffins

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

The crispness in the air that comes with Fall will always bring me the most joy.

It may be the nostalgia that comes to the forefront of my thoughts reminiscing of the annual trips my family took to the mountains of NC while visiting my grandparents cottage.

The aroma of soups and chilis filling the home, hikes and soaking up the changing of the leaves, the vibrant colors the season brings, sitting my a fire with friends and family, sipping on cider and warm teas, and baking seasonal favorites are just some of my favorite things about Fall.

Last year we visited The Orchard at Altapass for apple picking. The scenery was beautiful and apples plentiful. It was a sweet ending to our mountain trip and exactly what we needed after living through the experience of our oldest being stung by a yellow jacket and having a severe reaction. You may notice in the picture his sweet face was still swollen. We’re grateful for the swift action of the staff at the urgent care in Blackmountain.

We’ve started new traditions with our three sons which still include an annual trip to the mountains. Be sure to read about our favorite mountain town in this post.

Whether you’re picking apples fresh from an orchard in the NC mountains or you snag some from the local farmers market, you have to give my grandmother’s apple muffin recipe a try.

I’ve included my own modifications and added carrots to the original recipe to make them heartier.

I encourage you to get outside this Fall and try a new hike, bake something new, and do spend time doing things that bring you joy.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do.

A guide to Page, AZ & an unforgettable Glamping Experience

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

After two amazing days in Bryce Canyon National Park, we were so excited to head to our next stop, Under Canvas – Lake Powell Resort & Glamping.

If you missed the previous two posts, start here to see our trip overview with links to separate posts on each portion of our trip.

Travel day: Leave our AirBnB in Tropic, UT and head toward Page, AZ.

Itinerary:

Drive to Coffee at The Shop Coffee Co (which I found in a search for best local coffee shops)

Belly of the Dragon

The Sand Caves

Lunch in Kanab

Explore downtown Kanab

Continue drive to Under Canvas for our one night stay.

If you find yourself driving between Mt. Carmel and Glendale, you have to stop at The Shop Coffee Co. They are more than just coffee and have fresh baked goods, salads, açaí bowls and more. If you’re looking to book a tour via UTV, Jeep, horseback, or canyoneering slot canyons, East Zion Adventures is also located within the coffee shop and can help you take your adventures exploring to the next level.

With coffee in hand, we made our way to Belly of the Dragon. While it’s not much of a hike, it is a really neat place to stop. You can say, “I’ve been there.” It’s a manmade tunnel carved under the highway and is used for drainage from the upper canyons.

We hiked all the way through and then explored a trail that was on the other side before making our way back toward the entrance of the Belly of the Dragon. You could hike as much as 4 miles on the trail to a slot canyon. See map, here.

Next stop, The Kanab Sand Caves. You’ll see signs along the highway as you near the parking lot which is just off the highway.

When we parked, a local was nearby unloading his UTV. We talked to him and had a lovely conversation. He gave us confirmation on which way we needed to hike to get to the sand caves but also told us there are other sand caves located just down the road that aren’t touristy. In conversation, he invited us to join him, his son, wife and grandkids on their UTV adventure after we toured the caves. While I do regret not taking him up on their offer, they were all so incredibly kind, we ultimately decided we wanted to spend more time at Under Canvas since we would only be staying there for one night.

After hiking the 1.2 mile trail, you do have to scale a pretty steep rock to get to the sand caves. If you’re curious, check out the photos shared on AllTrails. I highly recommend shoes with good grip.

After checking out the popular Sand Caves, we did drive down the side road to visit the other sand caves the locals told us about. They were hard to get to as the trails are not very clear but we made it. The views were amazing. Our local friends told us we would see remnants of an old Disney movie that was filmed there, The Apple Dumpling Gang. Sure enough, we saw the old tracks and weathered set props on the side of the mountain.

Tip: travel with an open mind and talk to the locals. We have always taken this approach when we travel and love to take the advice of the locals which has always lead us to hidden gems.

Next stop: Downtown Kanab. Kanab is a popular destination for those who are visiting Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. In fact, my parents stayed in Kanab and drove into Zion on their trip. It’s only about a 30 minute drive to Zion. We could have easily spent more time in Kanab as there are so many things to do. Most popular attractions are Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Buckskin Gulch (UTV or 4-wheel drive vehicle required to get there), Little Hollywood Museum, Toadstool Hoodoos, Old Prairie Ghost Town, and Moqui Cave. Check out the best 10 trails and hikes in Kanab on Alltrails.

We stopped at Wild Thyme Cafe for lunch and enjoyed the outdoor dining area. It’s a small batch kitchen where everything is made from scratch. We would recommend eating here, although it was a pricier lunch spot.

Walking distance from Wild Thyme Cafe, I stopped in Asana Juice after lunch to get something for the road. We met the owner and she helped me pick out a fresh juice. There were so many other options on the menu ranging from juices, smoothies, açaí bowls, fresh salads, toast, seasonal soups and protein bites.

As much as we were enjoying our leisure day, we were anxious to get to Under Canvas and to see if it lived up to all the hype. Spoiler alert, it did.

Kanab, UT > Under Canvas Lake Powell – Approximately a 55 minute drive.

We arrived and immediately saw the allure for the glamping experience UnderCanvas is known for.

There are designated parking spaces for your vehicles. From there, they load up your luggage on a golf cart and a staff member drives you to your tent. They have handicap accessible tents as well if that’s an accommodation you need.

This particular location has it’s own slot canyon and area to hike and explore. After we checked in, we set out to explore the property.

On this particular day we felt like we needed a nap before dinner. We made our way back to our tent and had the best breezy nap with only the screens zipped.

Under Canvas has a restaurant on property, they offer complimentary s’more kits at night, and will provide warm blankets to you while sitting by the fire pits. Their common areas were designed to encourage you to meet and talk with others, which we loved. We had the best time getting to know other couples visiting.

Horseshoe bend is a popular area to watch the sunset at night but we decided to stay on property and saw a beautiful sunset over the canyons.

The night got cool enough to light the wood burning fireplace in our tent. We kept it on long enough to cut the chill in the room while we stargazed from the porch. On the dates we were at Under Canvas it was shortly after a new moon so a few planets were visible.

I grew up camping with my family and it was often in lieu of hotel stays. Our time at Under Canvas was both nostalgic and also nothing like the camping I was accustomed to. Adam is not a big fan of camping but our experience at Under Canvas was one he loved and was grateful I booked. It also lead him to looking up all of their locations across the country to investigate for a future trip.

Checkout was mid-morning which allowed us to have a slower morning. Sad to leave our perfect little glamping rental, we had more places to visit and a scheduled tour at the Upper Antelope Canyons.

On the road again and stops along the way:

Scenic viewpoint overlooking Wahweap

Scenic overlook of Glen Canyon Dam

Horseshoe Bend

Scheduled tour at Antelope Canyon with Adventurous Antelope Canyon at 11:05AM.

One important thing to note about our tour time is that we actually had an extra hour with the time change from UT to Arizona. We also booked one of the more popular times as the light in the canyons is ideal.

We had the best experience and were in awe of the amazing beauty behind the canyon entrance. From the outside, you’d never guess the slot canyons were inside, shape shifting formations that have been given names by visitors. Your guide will point them all out to you on the tour.

Below are some of the highlights for us:

Our week was full of adventure, long hikes, great food and amazing experiences. When planning the trip, I knew we would both love time to relax poolside, possibly book a spa appointment or play golf so we added a 2 night stay in Scottsdale, Arizona at The Boulders Resort & Spa. We love the Scottsdale and Phoenix area and always welcome the opportunity to go back. I booked our stay though a 3rd party site and got a really great deal plus Adam had points with Hilton that we applied making our stay very reasonable.

Our room was a little chateau with beautiful views of the foliage and surrounding areas.

The property had a hilly and scenic nature path that we ran daily before spending the remaining hours of our days poolside.

The first night, we made reservations at The Spotted Donkey Cantina which our resort shuttled us to and from via golf cart.

On our second night, we went to The Henry in Phoenix that had been recommended to us by friends who’d recently been. It was a meal we both still talk about. The ambiance was also idealic.

Look at this outdoor space.

I was happy to discover they have multiple locations in the US and am hopeful someone will open a location near us in NC in the future. If you’re reading this, maybe it’s a sign it could be you.

Our return flight out of Phoenix was around 2PM which gave us another leisure morning before a long travel day back to RDU.

Our Southwest adventure was a trip we will remember forever and one in which we talk about taking the boys to when they are older and physically able to hike longer trails day after day. We were also reminded of how much we love traveling, just the two of us. Before kids, this was always a priority. Traveling as a couple and as a family are equally as important experiences.

Advice: book the trip. Don’t wait. Experience new adventures. You will recharge and gain new perspectives for this beautiful world we live in.

Here’s a brief look back on the destinations we visited:

Don’t miss the posts on Valley of Fire State Park, Zion National State Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park – An ultimate 2 day guide

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

Many ask which National Park was our favorite between Zion and Bryce. If I’m being honest, I cannot choose either. They are both uniquely special and beautiful in different ways. Here’s a look back on our two days at Bryce National Park. If you missed the post on Zion, click HERE.

The drive from Zion National Park to Bryce National Park was only about an hour and 20 minutes at most. When we got closer to Bryce National Park, we were still in awe of how beautiful the Mt. Carmel Highway and scenic route was but little did we know, we’d continue to have those speechless moments when we saw hoodoos for the first time. I mentioned in the Zion post that we applied for the Coyote Buttes lottery when we were in the GEO range along the route from Zion to Bryce. See that post (toward the end) for more specifics if you hope to visit The Wave. You could also do this if your trip has you visiting Bryce Canyon before Zion.

Before entering Bryce National Park, you will drive through Dixie National Forest. This was the beginning of many moments when we were left, yet again, in awe of the sights surrounding us.

So much of Utah experienced more snow accumulation this Spring compared to the averages in years past. Lucky for us (because we don’t get much snow in our area of North Carolina), we saw a good amount of snow which had not melted as we approached Bryce National Park.

This made for a unique viewpoint and contrast of the hoodoos in Bryce with the snow that had not yet melted in contrast with the orange and tan hoodoo landscape. Seeing so much snow was fun for us. I also loved seeing my favorite type of Birch tree, the Paper White, nestled in the snow. It was quit picturesque.

Day I: Arrived in Bryce Canyon National Park by 12:30

We entered the park and went straight to the visitor center to look around and get confirmation on trail closures which are posted on a board daily. We also wanted to talk to a Park Ranger to confirm which hikes would be best to tackle the two days we were there even though we had pretty much decided what we thought was best.

Hike goal for the day: Peekaboo Loop Trail (5.5 Miles), Queen’s Garden Trail, Part of the Navajo Loop trail that was still open, Two Bridges Trail, and part of the West Rim Trail, and that leads you to the start of the first trail. This was approximately a 13 Mile total hike day.

You can view the trail map and descriptions of hikes HERE.

First, we decided to drive to the furthest point on the scenic area route that we wanted to see and then backtrack to park and begin our hike. This also gave us the opportunity to get our bearings of the park and possible lots with more parking.

Natural Bridge and Fairview Point were our first two scenic stops. They are located approximately 12 miles from the visitor center.

We decided to park at Inspiration Point which was a higher elevation overlooking the amphitheater. The views are incredible. Pictures cannot do justice of the scale of the amphitheater. Note, you will walk on the Rim Trail along the edge of the amphitheater until you reach the Queen’s Garden Trail entrance. This is mostly downhill so keep that in mind as the hike from this point to return is an out and back.

We weren’t able to hike the Navajo Loop Trail because of the melted snow that washed away most of the trail. We were still able to see the popular area from both the top and the base of the Navajo Trail. The switchbacks on the Navajo Trail are a popular highlight for many hikers but you will also experience views and hiking switchbacks on both the Queen’s Garden Trail and Peekaboo Loop Trail.

Bonus: Peekaboo Loop is a longer hike and considered strenuous. We felt the difficulty while hiking it as you ascend and descend a lot. We hiked the trail in a counterclockwise direction which, as I’m looking back on the park map now, it was recommended to hike clockwise. Given our experience and the views we had, I’d actually recommend hiking counterclockwise as we did.

See why from these views:

We’re so glad we pushed ourselves to hike one of the longer trails in Bryce on the first day and highly recommend it. Because there are so many places to stop and viewpoints to take pictures of along the way, you’ll have moments of rest throughout the hike.

You will also look forward to getting back to your car to sit at the end. Our leg muscles started twitched the moment we stopped and sat.

From here, we checked into our AirBnB in Tropic, UT which is only about a 20 minute drive. It’s a very small town with only a couple options for dining. The first night we ate at Rustler’s Restaurant. We barely made it before they closed but they happily served us. Adam ordered a Ribeye with sides and I ordered a grilled chicken Caesar salad. When you are as hungry as we were, it was an exceptional meal, particularly the fresh baked bread loaf they brought to the table.

We identified the only location we’d be able to get coffee in town first thing the next morning and made our way back to our AirBnB.

Headed to morning coffee in Tropic, UT
Images from AirBnB listing.

Day 2: Fairyland Loop Trail (8 Miles), plus The West Rim Trail out and back, totaling a 10 mile hike day.

We heated up oatmeal and leftover egg white and veggie omelets from our Zion hotel, I made lunches and packed snacks in our Camelbaks for the day and we headed for coffee at Bryce Canyon Coffee Co.

We decided to park at Sunset Point, hiked part of the Rim Trail until we reached Fairyland Point. There was a lot of areas on the furthest part of the Rim Trail that had muck and deep muddy areas. We passed a few people whose entires shoes looked like clay but realized they intentionally walked straight through those areas instead of making a path around them. You do you.

Fairlyland was widley different from the first day hiking in Bryce. The color of the hoodoos for one, was much lighter and almost a sandlike color. We also had more open trails with wide open views and weren’t down in the amphitheater looking up as we had the day prior.

We crossed one creek area that had the most beautiful pink rocks.

The coloring from the rocks and variations you see in the hoodoos are because of their mineral composition.

Do you know how the hoodoos come to be? They started out as a wall and over time, you will see a “window” form. As time continues, the top of the window breaks away leaving you will the individual hoodoos. If you want to read more on the history, this is a great source.

We felt this hike was much easier compared to Peekaboo Loop however, it’s much longer. It’s still considered strenuous on the trail descriptions.

We hiked relatively quickly and were done by lunch. We ended up eating our picnic lunch at Sunrise point and checking out the Bryce Canyon Lodge. There weren’t any available accomodations when we were booking our trip but I’d recommend looking into this when you’re planning in advance.

My mom had told us The Lodge had a restaurant that she remembered seeing when they visited and suggested we check it out. We looked at the menu, confirmed when they opened for dinner, toured the gift shop then headed to our AirBnB to regroup, rest and shower.

After a quick power nap, we decided to venture into another neighboring town that my parents stayed in, Panguitch. At this point, we were in search of finding another coffee shop in hops we’d make it to dinner.

The Flying Goat Cafe was our first stop in town. We walked to a couple restaurants down the street to check out their menus but decided pretty quickly that The Lodge was were we wanted to have dinner and planned to watch the sunset from Sunset Point overlooking Bryce Amphitheater.

Panguitch has a super cute downtown area with shops, restaurants and a couple Bed in Breakfasts, one of which my parents stayed on their trip the year prior. We ventured into two antique stores and had the best time looking at all of the vintage items. We shared memories with each other each time we saw something that reminded us of a grandparent, family member or a specific memory from our childhood. It was the perfect slow afternoon.

We made our way back to The Lodge for dinner as the restaurant doesn’t take reservations and seating is available on a first-come-first-served basis. Be sure to look at their menus!

Our meal was one of the best we’d had on the trip. Highly recommend it when you’re visiting Bryce. Don’t worry about being dressed up either. We saw a mixture of everything, people still in hiking attire (us included), and those who were dressed in casual dinnerware.

Two long hiking days in Bryce, we felt like we’d seen it all. We were ready for out next adventure, staying at Under Canvas in Page, AZ, visiting Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and more. We had a couple of stops planned along the way to Page which I’ll share in the next blogpost.

Our time at Under Canvas was unlike anything we’d ever done and was EVERYTHING we needed. Here is a peak at what I’ll share next.

Zion National Park – An ultimate 2 day guide

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

We spent more time in Valley of Fire State Park exploring than we anticipated but ultimately, we made our own schedule and didn’t rush through seeing all that we wanted to on our way from LAS to Zion National Park.

Day 1: Afternoon/Evening in Zion after arrival

After leaving Valley of Fire State Park, we drove to Springdale, UT which is a quaint town near the South entrance of Zion National Park.

It was around 4PM when we arrived to our hotel, Holiday Inn Express, which included a free (and healthy) continental breakfast every morning. For example, egg white and veggie omelets, fresh fruit choices, greek yogurts, oatmeal, DIY Waffles and pancakes, turkey sausage, freshly brewed coffee and a filtered water station to fill up your camelbaks and water bottles for a day full of hiking.

Springdale has a lot to offer including a complimentary shuttle service, shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, a brewery on the Virgin River and a greenway to walk/run or ride e-bikes.

After settling in to our hotel room, quickly walking the property grounds outside and resting for a little while, we were anxious to head out and hike one of the shorter trails that had promising views overlooking the town of Springdale.

A quick 5 minute drive to the South Entrance of Zion National Park, we handed over our National Park pass to be scanned, the ranger offered us a map (you will want this as it includes all of the trails, discriptions/difficulties and what stop you’ll need to get off for the shuttles to access each), and parked at the Visitor Center.

Watchman Trail – 3.4 Miles roundtrip. My watch calculated it was a bit further than that at 3.75 Miles which may have been because we did a smaller scenic route once we were at the top (definately do this…you will have better views) and we walked part of the Pa’rus Trail along the Virgin River which connects you to Watchman Trail.

We started this hike around 6:15PM and knew we needed to hustle before we lost daylight as the sun dropped behind the mountains. It probably only took about 45 minutes to get to the top and left us with plenty of time to take in the beautiful views.

We only passed a handful of people on the trail which was so peaceful. Having 3 boys at home that are all talkative from sun up to sun down, one of the first things we noticed while hiking either late evening or early mornings was the noticeable quiet all around.

We decided on a dinner spot, The Spotted Dog, and ended up having one of the best meals of our entire trip. Please go and ask for Freddy if he’s working. He was our amazing server and lead us to our dinner choices but more importantly, we had a wonderful time talking to him about his life and what lead him there, how much growth that has happened in the area in just a few years, and how it’s impacting locals.

Refueled with good food & a delicious cocktail, we were more than ready for a solid nights rest.

Day 2: Up and at ’em – Breakfast eaten by 6:30 and in the car to snag a parking spot at the visitor center to catch the first shuttle in Zion departing at 7AM. Our day’s objective was to see Angels Landing before the crowds.

Take the Zion Shuttle – Zion Canyon Line to Stop 6, The Grotto

Begin hike toward Angel’s Landing taking The Grotto Trail (1 Mile) to the West Rim trail which leads to Scout Lookout (4.2 Miles roundtrip) and Angel’s Landing (another .5 miles).

*Note* A permit is required to hike past Scout Landing and continue to Angels Landing. (Apply Here) Also keep in mind the difficulty and nature of the remaining .5 mile hike to Angels Landing. The most difficult part of the hike (for those afraid of heights) is the half mile out onto the ridge and back. Sheer drop-offs extend downward on both sides of the path in places. Some rock scrambling is also necessary. You will also have to hold onto the chain railing.

As you wind up the West Rim trail toward Scout Landing, the pathway will have many switchbacks leading up. The views continue to get better as you climb. This is one of our favorite viewpoints along the way.

Walter’s Wiggles is also another popular area on the trail.

After reaching Scouts Landing, there are restrooms and views that will take your breath away. You can continue right on the trail toward Angel’s Landing if you have a permit or left on the trail to continue on the West Rim trail as far as you want to hike. Keep in mind it’s an out and back trail so you have to hike back the way you came.

We continued on the West Rim trail and were quickly stopped by the rare sighting of two California Condors. We stood and watched them in complete awe.

While hiking the West Rim trail, I met a local couple who said “Angels Landing is so overrated. The West Rim trail is so much better and doesn’t have all of the traffic.” Hearing her say that made me feel better about our decision to not apply for the permit to hike Angels Landing. Pre-kids I wouldn’t have hesitated but something happened after kids and I have become too anxious when it comes to certain risks.

We had a picnic lunch/snack from this area on the rim trail and I have to say, the views didn’t disappoint. We were also alone until we packed up and began hiking again.

We probably hiked 2 miles on the rim trail before deciding we were ready to make the trek back down to our starting point and head to our next destination. The Condors were still on the trail and showing off.

It’s fun to hike the trail back down to see the views from a different vantage point.

Back at The Grotto stop for a bathroom break, we hiked the Kayenta Trail (2 Miles) leading us to the Emerald Pools trails. After taking the advice from a couple we met, we only did the lower and middle trails as they said the upper didn’t offer different views and there are no visible falls from that point.

Lower Emerald Pool Trail – 1.2 Miles

Middle Emerald Pool Trail – 2.2

Upper Emerald Pool Trail – 1 Mile

The Middle Pool Trail leads you back to The Zion Lodge which is another shuttle stop. Here you will find a restaurant that is a part of the Lodge, a gift shop and restrooms.

Next, we took the Zion Lodge shuttle from Stop 5 to the final Stop, 9, Temple of Sinawava.

Riverside Walk (2.2 Miles) – Takes you to The Narrows. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hike The Narrows as the water flow in the Virgin River was around 1400 CFS (cubic feet per second) and they require the flow to be 150 CFS or less for 24 hours before hiking is permitted. The extreme snow fall this winter caused the water flow to be at such a high volume.

This just means we will have to go back to Zion, right?!

Get back on the shuttle and stop at Big Bend, Stop 8, which is only available on the down-canyon shuttle. Take pictures and get back on to stop at the next stop, Weeping Rock. This .3 mile out and back trail is an easy and accessible trail for most anyone.

The shuttle service is an enjoyable scenic ride that also plays tour guide audio along the journey. We learned a lot about the sights we were seeing along the way that we had not already read in our research.

At this point we had hiked around 12-13 miles and it was only the early afternoon. We took the shuttle back to our hotel, had a much needed rest, then got ready for an afternoon/evening exploring Springdale.

Dinner at Bit and Spur Saloon – Walking distance from our hotel, we took the leisure stroll over to the restaurant. We had no trouble being seated right away but also discovered you can walk to their back property to seat yourself at one of their outdoor tables and order food from their taco truck and drinks from the outdoor bar. We requested to be outdoors and were able to enjoy the outdoor space on such a beautiful Spring day. It was kid friendly with open space, corn hole, a stage for live music performances and room to roam around. The views weren’t too bad either.

I ordered their seasonal margarita, Prickly Pear Margarita, which used locally harvested fruit. It was so delicious, we got a second after dinner.

Day 3: Observation Point (8 Mile loop) or Drive toward Bryce National Park. Unfortunately, access to this hike was closed as the trail was obstructed by a fallen boulder so we pivoted and began our drive. I read the views are worth the hike so try to incorporate it in your itinerary if you can.

Zion-Mt Carmel Highway – Arguably the most scenic drive in the entire national park system, this 26 Mile route winds around and through colorful rock formations, sweeping views, seasonal waterfalls and switchbacks. There are several scenic pull offs along the way. It’s hard to not stop at each one as remarkable beauty is all around and will leave you nearly speechless.

You will come to the Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel along the way. Once we passed through, we immediately noticed a slightly different change in the landscape.

If you hope to see The Wave in Coyote Buttes, you’ll have to apply for either the advance lottery 4 months prior or the daily lottery. You can apply for the daily lottery when you’re in range of the GEO mapped area only. You need to apply 2 days prior to when you hope to visit.

For us, it worked out perfectly to apply when we were in route from Zion to Bryce as our itinerary had us in Bryce for 2 nights. Should we be accepted, we would stop in Coyote Buttes on our way to our next overnight destination in Page, AZ.

Mt. Carmel Junction on the way and is where we applied online, here. Our hope was that we would be accepted giving us entry to Coyote Buttes after our 2 days in Bryce National Park. Our lottery entry wasn’t selected so I was even more thankful we had visited Valley of Fire State park and saw the Firewave as it had a very similar (albeit smaller) landscape as The Wave. (All about Valley of Fire State Park, here)

Our time in Zion National Park was only a small piece of the magic we experienced on our trip.

Next stop, Bryce National Park. (Click here to read all about our two days in Bryce.)

Reasons to travel to the Southwest: A Suggested Itinerary

Published on by Amanda Leggette3 Comments

Venturing to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Antelope Canyon have been high on our bucket list of places to visit for years.

With our boys being older, two in school full time and one in preschool, we finally felt like we were in a good place to take a week long trip.

We did and saw a lot in a short amount of time. I’ll break down our trip into separate posts with this one giving an overview of our itinerary and links to separate posts about each place.

This was certainly one of the most unforgettable trips we have taken to date. Full of adventure, hikes, beautiful sights, good food and great conversation with others we met from all over.

Be sure to get your National Park Pass. I recommend purchasing the annual pass from REI. They donate 10% of the proceeds to nonprofit organizations that support our public lands.

You’ll also need to gear up! See this post for all the items we recommend you have for your adventures.

Let’s go on an adventure!

Our trip went like:

RDU>LAS>Valley of Fire State Park>Zion>Bryce>Kanab>Page>Horseshoe Bend>Antelope Canyon>Scottsdale

The Fire Wave

Flight RDU>Las Vegas

Monday we slept over in Las Vegas at The Vdarra Hotel & Spa. I booked an amazing rate through Priceline for this newer hotel. When I saw it was associated with the Aria Resort & Casino which we had stayed at before, I knew it was a good location on the strip. They even gave us a complimentary upgrade to a Penthouse Suite because our room type was fully booked by the time we arrived. While it was a lovely room with an amazing view, it was 3am to our bodies when we arrived so we didn’t care where we laid our heads. We wanted a clean and comfortable bed.

Tuesday Morning: Day 1 after arrival

Rented a car and began our trip toward Zion

Our car rental is the only brief hiccup during our entire trip. When we arrived to the Hertz location, they informed us they only had an electric fleet of vehicles that matched our reservation. We assured them that would not work for our itinerary. Luckily the Hertz down the street was able to accommodate our need for a gas vehicle. While we would not have cared if we were paired with an electric vehicle, we didn’t know the area nor did we want to add in the need to plan for finding charging station into our itinerary.

Loaded up in a new 2023 KIA Sedan, we were on our way. (It was very efficient if I may add.)

First stop, a local Walmart to load up on food, spirits, gallons of water, and ice for our cooler. We purchased things like, Dave’s Killer Bread, fruit, peanut butter and jelly, Skinny Pop, Nature’s Path Organic Instant Oatmeal, beer for Adam and Vizzy for myself. I had already brought trail mix, verb energy bars, and protein bars with us from home.

We stopped in Valley of Fire State Park along the way.

This state park is well worth the stop and the $10 entry fee. You could spend so much time here as they have several hiking trails and many scenic viewpoints. A must to include in your trip plans in our opinion, especially if, like us, you didn’t win the lottery for The Wave in Coyote Buttes. See what Valley of Fire has to offer from our time there, blog post here.

We stayed in Springdale, UT two nights at this Holiday Inn Express. Breakfast was included each morning and it offered a large spread of healthy options, hot coffee and water station for filling up your camelbacks/water bottles. Located in the quaint town below the park entrance offering scenic views, several amenities (gym, pool, hot tub, laundry) and walking distance to restaurants and shopping, shuttle services, trails, and more we’d stay here again.

Zion 2 days of hiking ⁃ click here for our time and experience in Zion.

Day 3: Head toward Bryce Canyon National Park

Have your phone ready, the scenic drive is unreal and offered multiple stopping points along the way to pull off and take pictures.

Mt Carmel is a town you will arrive at along the way to Bryce that is in the geo area to apply for The Wave lottery. See the application options and geo mapping area here if you hope to include The Wave in your trip. If you’re planning your trip at least 4 months in advance, go here. If you’re planning your trip less than 4 months in advance, see the daily lottery option here. You’re technically applying 2 days prior to when you HOPE to go to The Wave.

We stayed in Tropic, UT for 2 nights. It’s a very small town with only a few options for eating but close in proximity to Bryce where we knew we’d spend all of our time. Our Airbnb accommodations were great and we’d recommend it.

Bryce – 2 days of hiking ⁃ Click here to read about our time in Bryce Canyon.

Day 5: Drive toward Page – This is where you’ll need to be if booking a tour of the upper or lower antelope Canyons unless you want to drive in the morning of from somewhere like Kanab.

We stopped along the way for coffee at The Shop Coffee Co which also had fresh menu items that all looked delightful.

Next, we stopped at Belly of the Dragon. There isn’t much to it but you can see this review that I found when researching for our trip.

The Sand Caves were our next stop along the way to Kanab. When we arrived, a local pulled up and began unloading his ATV. Through our conversation with him, he told us there are lesser known sand caves that we should also check out (and we did), but he also invited us to join him and his family on an off road adventure. We toured the sand caves first then ultimately decided we wanted to continue on with our plans to explore in Kanab. (I do regret not joining them. They were all so kind. The family had 3 young kids with them in the second ATV which made me think of our 3 boys back home.)

The well known Sand Caves
Local recommended – Sand Caves, not far from the others. Also the location for a movie, The Apple Dumpling Gang.

The locals we met at the base of the sand caves told us we would see remnants of tracks that were used in filming the Disney movie, The Apple Dumpling Gang. We did. There were metal posts still sticking out of the ground at the top of these caves.

We stopped for lunch in Kanab, drove around the town a little bit, then headed for our destination in Page.

We stayed at Under Canvas on Lake Powell. This was yet again, another bucket list item for me and was the best experience. We highly recommend it. Click here (coming soon) for our time at Under Canvas and touring Antelope Canyon and other activities available in the area.

During our time in Page, we toured Under Canvas’s canyons, slot canyons, stopped by Lake Wahweap viewpoint, the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, and saw Horseshoe Bend. This will all be included in the Under Canvas post.

Day 6: Drive to Scottsdale after Antelope Canyon Tour – 2 nights

Click here (Coming soon) to read about our time in Scottsdale and recommendations from our time there + past trips to the area for golf and more.

Day 8: PDX>RDU

HOME

As you can see from our itinerary, there is opportunity to leave immediately after you have explored the parks and Antelope Canyon. We wanted to take a couple extra days relaxing at a resort before traveling home. It was a good call on our part as our bodies were exhausted and very sore from all of the hiking.

Hiking the trails we did were very different from any hikes we have done in North Carolina and Virginia. When you add in the elevation change (roughly 8,000+ ft majority of our time), we were met with an added challenge. 100% worth every step but it’s certainly worth noting.

I’ve included a printable with a suggested itinerary for each national park we visited. We both agreed the order we visited each location was ideal. Starting with heavy hiking and ending with easy trails and tours.

I hope you find this information helpful in your planning and if you weren’t considering the southwest a destination, see this as your sign to go beyond and prepare to stand in awe around every corner.