If you missed the intro to this blog series, be sure to check it out here!
Day 7
Our last full day in Utah was jam-packed with adventure. First, we woke up super early for a much-anticipated hot air balloon ride with Canyonlands Ballooning. We definitely had some pre-flight jitters, but the pilot, Lou, and the rest of the crew made us feel insanely comfortable from the get-go. To get things started, we were driven out to the remote lands of Moab and watched a beautiful sunrise as the crew got ready for our flight. Then, we hopped into the basket, and up, up, and away we went!
There are truly no words to describe the experience. Although being thousands of feet in the sky, and despite anticipating a rush of adrenaline, the flight was actually quite serene. Both the ascent and descent were slow and steady, allowing us to soak in every single moment. And, my goodness, the views! To have panoramic, 360° views of Moab’s stunning landscape was awe-inspiring to say the least. After about an hour in the sky, we landed in the middle of the desert and were pleasantly surprised to learn about the tradition of a post-flight champagne toast. It was accompanied by the Balloonist’s Prayer, which is as follows:
“The winds have welcomed you with softness.
The sun has blessed you with its warm hands.
We have flown so high and so well that God
has joined you in laughter and set you gently
back into the loving arms of mother Earth.”
I can’t recommend the experience enough! If you ever find yourself in Moab, the guys with Canyonlands Ballooning were fantastic. We had a seamless experience from start to finish, and it was just as special of an experience as I’d always dreamt it would be.
After being driven back into town, we made a breakfast pitstop at Love Muffin Café. The menu was totally my steez: organic, local, and seasonal. Plus, the service was fast and, most importantly, the food was delish! We got it to go and ate it en route to Arches so that we could squeeze as much as possible into our day.
First, we stopped at the park’s visitor center and picked up some souvenirs that we’d been eyeing all week. I grabbed a hardcover copy of 59 Illustrated National Parks: 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service. It’s beautifully illustrated and perfectly informative! I highly recommend it for all the nature lovers in your life.
Anyway, after our stop at the visit center, we headed towards the Devil’s Garden trailhead. You’ll know that you’re in the right place when the park’s paved road dead-ends. I absolutely loved this hike! It’s 7.8 miles long, with some portions being incredibly easy and other portions being extremely difficult. It took us roughly five hours to complete, but it was well worth it as it allowed for up-close-and-personal views of several of the park’s 2,000+ arches: Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Double O Arch, and Private Arch. What I loved about it most was that portions of the hike involve scaling up and over sandstone fins (read: future arches). So cool!
After an awesome hike, we beelined it to the Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint for sunset. This viewpoint allows for views of Delicate Arch from about a mile away. Now, this is where you pay attention, people. DO NOT DO WHAT WE DID. Instead, go to the Delicate Arch Trailhead, do the three-mile-roundtrip hike, and take in this iconic arch from the closest vantage point possible. After all, this is the arch of all arches, having earned itself a spot on the Utah license plate. Unfortunately, we didn’t realize our rookie mistake until the sun was setting and it was far too late to engage in a three-mile hike. The upside? The storm clouds that we witnessed were insane and made for some remarkable photo ops.
Double Arch, Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, and The Windows are some additional attractions worth mentioning. They were also on our “to see” list, but it simply wasn’t feasible to experience them given our limited time in the park. I think it goes without saying that one day is not nearly enough time to experience this magnificent park and all that it has to offer. As such, I’d love to revisit this park in the future!
After leaving the park, we briefly headed back to camp, freshened up, and headed to downtown Moab. We had dinner accompanied by local brews at Moab Brewery. Then, per the recommendation of our server, we hit up Woody’s Tavern. Think live music, top-notch people watching, beer mugs the size of yo’ face, and the perfect mix of locals and tourists. It was an absolute blast and is definitely worth checking out if you’re in the mood to party!
Day 8
Verost and Miller behaved themselves the night prior, so they woke up at the ass crack of dawn to return to the Delicate Arch trailhead. Major props to them! Colleen and I, on the other hand, were feeling a little rough and decided to sleep in. Once Verost and Miller returned to camp, we packed up and headed to downtown Moab for some shopping. Eventually, it was time to embark on our four-hour drive to Salt Lake City and catch our flight home.
Words can’t express how grateful I am for this trip. It had been a bucket list trip of mine for years, and to have made it happen with an amazing group of gals by my side was the icing on the cake. It was hands down one of my favorite trips of all time, and I have no doubt that it will remain at the top of that list for years to come. #prairedawgsforever
…Next stop, home sweet home! <3
In Wanderlust We Trust 
The Canyon lands..woah. The hammocks are unbelievable.
I am so happy that you were able to experience this trip. How amazing it must’ve been to see the wonders of nature. It’s definitely on my bucket list to go up in a hot air balloon. It made me think that if we could find a place local, it would be a great birthday present to Chris. For the places you were able to make, it would be a nice family trip.!