I’m writing this from my second visit to Southern Utah, unexpectedly finding myself back from just a couple months ago. When I first mapped out my desired destinations to explore this year, I had a good idea of where I wanted to go. I knew I would start out in Arizona because it’s a neighboring state to my home state California. The one place I was eager to visit was Jackson, Wyoming, but to get there, I would have to pass through Utah. So, Southern Utah and Northern Utah naturally became the next stops on my travels. After driving across the state of Wyoming, it would lead me down to Colorado where I would spend a month in Denver. From there, I would stop in Santa Fe, New Mexico – a town I had just visited a year ago and truly loved. After that, I’d head back to Arizona, followed by California, just in time to be home for the holidays. It was going to be this giant loop of a route.  

Well, only about half of these plans ended up happening and I can blame it all on Utah. Damn, Utah, how dare you be so lovely. Out of all the places I’ve wanted to visit, Utah was not originally on my radar, but I had to pass through to get to Jackson Hole. I’ve visited Salt Lake City about a decade ago for a work trip, but never fully had the chance to experience all the beauty of this state. I was not expecting to love it so much! My first stop in Southern Utah, right outside Zion National Park, made quite the impression. 

First, let me tell you about the beautifully chaotic drive coming from Flagstaff, Arizona to Southern Utah. This is a road trip I will never forget because of the heart attack it almost put me through on this 6-hour endeavor. 

It was a hot August day in the middle of monsoon season and Mother Nature decided to show what she does best. The first couple hours were pretty pleasant as I passed through some Navajo towns with trading posts on the sides of the road. It wasn’t until I reached the east rim of the Grand Canyon that things started to shift. The road leading to the Grand Canyon became narrower and bumpier with nothing but desert mountains surrounding for miles and miles. I stopped at the Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon to check out the scenic views. I almost fainted looking down from the bridge at the Colorado River passing through the very steep canyon. It was one of those moments where you can’t believe what you’re seeing with your own eyes because it’s simply unfathomable.  

Continuing my drive parallel pathing the Grand Canyon, I noticed some dark clouds ahead of me. I glanced in my rearview mirror, and it was bright as day, but when I looked ahead, a massive lightning bolt shot down from the ominous dark clouds just miles in front of me. I was driving into a full on lightning storm. The narrow one-lane road became even narrower, and I found myself driving 25 miles per hour behind a semi-truck, a pickup truck, while another car was behind me. It was the four of us vehicles on this tiny road about to endure this storm together. I pulled out my phone to try to capture the lighting and noticed I had no reception. The “SOS” signal was all it read above the service bars. I couldn’t even call for help if something went wrong—I felt completely helpless and isolated. There was no turning back, no pulling over, and no detours. I had no choice but to keep moving forward. I relied solely on the other cars on the road and made sure I stayed close. The view ahead of me looked like I was about to drive straight into the depths of Hell. With no civilization in sight, and nothing but giant rock mountains and desert lands for miles and miles, I felt like a tiny grain of sand on a beach. It was me against this desert storm. The closer I got, the more lightning kept striking down every few seconds.  

Finally, the storm started falling hard and the road became windy as I drove through the mountains of Kaibab National Forest. I could barely see out of my windshield and relied on the car lights in front of me to lead the way. After an hour of this torture, the storm started fading away and I had reception again. I pulled over to ease my anxiety and take a break from literally “weathering the storm”, then continued on to Zion.  

As treacherous as it was, it was all worth it in the end when I found myself captivated by the state of Utah and the red rock mountains of Zion National Park. Before I knew much about Zion, I assumed it was simply a spot for hiking and outdoor activities. Although, I do like to hike, it’s not something I plan my trips around. I was happy to learn that there is so much more to explore both in and around Zion than just hiking alone.  

Right on the south entrance of the national park is a small town called Springdale. There are a lot of amazing shops and restaurants with patio seating and picturesque views of the red rock mountains. Everything is walkable and worth taking the time to explore, especially for non-hikers or those just wanting to spend a day in an awesome town. I ate at Oscar’s Cafe and Porter’s Restaurant, which are both very dog-friendly restaurants with the most hospitable staff. In fact, the waiters at both places suggested some local things to do that I never would’ve found searching online. It’s always good to connect with locals to get the ultimate experience.

The drive up to Springdale is mesmerizing in itself as you pass through small, quaint towns with bed and breakfasts and large ranches with nothing but surrounding nature. I stopped in some areas off the beaten path along the way to explore everything around me.

It was mid-August during this time, so the temperatures were understandably high. Having just come from Scottsdale, Arizona, where the heatwave pushed daily temps to 110-115 degrees, I found it fairly tolerable. However, the heat still kept me from doing any big hikes I had wanted to do. On top of that, Zion doesn’t offer many dog-friendly trails, and even if it did, it was too hot for my pup. I didn’t mind too much, though—I’m more of a sightseeing gal anyway. Cruising in the comfort of my car, I was still able to take in some breathtaking views. 

What I loved most about my Zion experience was the glamping resort I stayed in called Zion Wildflower in Virgin, Utah. This resort was quite the magical experience! They have different types of rooms that consist of glamping tents, bungalows, and even wagons. I felt their “Shooting Star” bungalow was the best option for me as a solo traveler. The bungalow was the perfect size with a one-bedroom king size bed and a living room area where I spent my days working from my laptop. I also conveniently had my own private parking space next to the bungalow making it easy to unload and load my belongings. Every night, I watched the sun peacefully set behind the mountains in a rocking chair on the deck and it was absolutely perfect. They also have a community pool, along with other common areas that completed the entire experience. I stayed for 6 nights during a non-busy time, so it was nice having my own privacy. Check out their website here: www.zionwildflower.com. 

If I had known I would have enjoyed my time in Zion as much as I did, I would’ve booked a longer trip. Leaving the majestic red rock mountains behind for the bustle of Salt Lake City, my next stop, was not easy. However, it makes you appreciate and want something more when you only have a brief taste of it. 

There’s not much I can say about Salt Lake City itself, except that I found the surrounding areas far more enjoyable than the city. I stayed in the heart of SLC for about a couple weeks as an in-between stay to get to Wyoming, but I took advantage of my time there to absorb what I could. I’ve learned quickly how adaptable you have to be to the constant change of sceneries as a nomad traveler. I was still riding the high from my magical experience in Southern Utah, only to suddenly have to shift my energy for the complete opposite vibe of a busy downtown city. That’s not to say SLC doesn’t have plenty of cool things to offer—it’s simply a change of pace, and it all comes down to personal preference. This city has a lot of character and incredibly friendly people! What sets SLC apart from other major cities I’ve visited is the stunning mountain views and the ability to escape into nature within minutes. It truly offers the best of both worlds. 

During my time in SLC, I had the opportunity to explore the surrounding towns like Park City, which is just 30 minutes away in the mountains of Northern Utah. The only other time I have been to Park City was on a snowboarding trip my sophomore year of high school, but my teen self definitely did not appreciate it the way I do now. Being in Park City feels like a spiritual experience with the most perfect views. I stopped in Old Town, a charming strip of boutique shops and restaurants that feels like something straight out of a movie set. While sitting on a restaurant balcony overlooking this quaint town, I found myself wishing I could stay longer.

Here’s where my plans started to shift. I had a few days left of my stay in SLC and I had not booked my Denver trip yet. There were a few reasons that made me want to return to Utah after exploring Wyoming, but time was cutting close and the rental options in Denver were becoming limited. My mind was mostly set on the original plan and continuing my journey to Colorado, so I impulsively booked a month stay there to lock something in. Literally seconds after booking, I opened Instagram and randomly saw a post headline about Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment buildings in Denver and Aurora, a neighboring city. My heart sank and I immediately felt like I made the wrong choice. Maybe that was a sign. I’ve visited Denver a few times and know it’s a great city, but I wasn’t entirely confident about the safety of the area I had booked. From my research, it seems crime is on the rise there, which made me hesitant. I was already starting to regret it, but I kept the booking anyway to give myself more time.

By Labor Day Weekend, I finally made it to Jackson, Wyoming! I had been dreaming, thinking, and talking about visiting Jackson leading up to it, so you can imagine how excited I was to be there. I made sure to explore as much as I could in the short 3-day weekend. I stayed at a dog-friendly hotel called Anvil Hotel just walking distance from the town square. One of the first things I did upon arriving in town was head straight to the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where I grabbed a drink and people-watched from the saddle bar stools. I spent most of the weekend strolling around the town square, shopping, dining, and taking in the sights. I even treated myself to a custom hat from Kemo Sabe, which was definitely worth the investment. The highlight of my trip, however, was attending the Jackson Hole Rodeo, an experience I genuinely loved and recommend.

After the holiday weekend, I took the week off of work to explore Wyoming by venturing through Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Cody, and other towns across the state. I will be sure to go more in-depth on my Wyoming experience in another blog, but this is all being led to that fork in the road mentioned earlier. 

By the time I got to Cody, Wyoming, I had to decide whether I was to continue on to Colorado or go back to Utah. I was halfway through Wyoming, with Casper as my next stop, a destination I had pre-booked while planning for my Colorado trip. After Casper, I would either keep going east towards Colorado and stay in Cheyenne, Wyoming as a pit stop, or go the complete opposite direction and make it back west to Utah.

After deep pondering and weighing my best options, my heart kept pulling me back to Utah. I felt like I left with unfinished business and wanted a second chance to explore and reconnect. Feeling a strong urge to return, I decided to trust my instincts and follow where they were leading me. I ended up losing some money from canceling my Denver booking, but it was worth it knowing I was following my heart. I decided to book a 3-week stay in Park City that ended up extending to 5 weeks because of how much I loved being there. Everything ended up working out for the best, and I know I made the right choice. Even though I wanted more time in Utah, I do still plan to make better travel plans for Colorado to fully explore the amazing mountain towns—so that adventure will happen eventually, just not right now. I’ll share my experience in Park City soon, but let’s just say, it was exactly where I needed to be.  

And that’s what brings me back to Southern Utah. The desert offers me so much healing and happiness, and I’m grateful to be here again venturing around the red rocks. I’m here in the St. George area because I’ll be heading to Arizona in November, and then back to California for the holidays to spend time with family, which was all part of the original plan.

The one thing I keep reminding myself on this journey is to stay adaptable and let go of expectations. Plans can change, just like anything in life, so it’s all about embracing a mindset of allowing and accepting whatever comes your way. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to have a change of heart. It’s okay to choose a new path instead of the one you sought out for.

Sometimes, you find yourself lost in the right direction.  

XO, Tawnie