Under the Arches

No, we’re not talking about the golden arches – this is the real thing! To kick off the second half of our spring break we headed down to Utah where with Chad’s parents we toured the amazing sites of Arches National Park.

Coming off the airplane we made a quick lunch stop at Grandma and Grandpa’s house before driving down to Green River where we spent the night in a hotel. The kids had a fantastic time jumping into and splashing around the pool with Chad, while I observed from my preferred vantage point in the hot tub. Grandma and Grandpa even got in for a little while. Afterward we enjoyed dinner at a place that serves breakfast all day. Not surprisingly, Chad’s mom and I were the only ones not eating pancakes.

During the drive down to Arches the next morning the scenery got redder and redder and redder, and the rock formations got taller and taller (kind of reminds me of this Henry and Mudge favorite). Every once in awhile we’d come across a long line of off-road vehicles gearing up for some adventure. At one point we stopped at the side of the road to check out some of Chad’s favorite desert flora.

At the visitor’s center the kids collected their Junior Ranger booklets – our sure guide to an educational visit. As we got out of the car I discovered it was WARM. Having forgotten what that felt like, I’d brought only one short-sleeved shirt on the trip. It was absolutely, decadently fantastic to walk around in short sleeves without a jacket all day long and to actually need sunscreen. I could get used to southern Utah in the spring . . .

Driving into the park we spotted all kinds of unusual rock formations like Balanced Rock and the Three Gossips (both included in the slideshow below). Our first stop brought us to the trailhead to Delicate Arch, the unofficial symbol of the state of Utah. After a medium-length gradual incline across varied terrain we climbed up the side of the trail to spot the famous landmark through another arch. Reaching the actual site, we snacked, climbed, and waited our turn for a photo opp. The landscape was absolutely magnificent, from the panorama of surrounding peaks, to the bowl-shaped depression below, to the arch itself.

On our next short hike to Landscape Arch we discovered just how lucky we’d been to enjoy the previous tranquil hike. Going up and especially coming back we were hit with wind carrying sand and small pebbles. The kids found refuge in a sand ramp of sorts between two tall rock formations where they dug in the sand and ran and jumped. Lunch was a particular adventure, part of which was spent chasing napkins and food wrappers across the landscape.

Fortunately, the wind died down a bit by the time we reached Double Arch. Chad, Arwen, and I took the short hike up into the arch which, with its opening in the ceiling above, almost resembles a triple arch. Arwen was feeling pretty proud of herself after the climb!

On our way out of the park Arwen and Gavin passed off all their requirements and were solemnly sworn in as Arches Junior Rangers. What a great time in a beautiful place with wonderful company. As much as we love hanging out at Chad’s parents’ place, it’s especially fun to get them all to ourselves out of their routine every once in awhile. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa, for taking that time away with us. We such had a great time!