The Great Southwestern Road trip

I just wanted to take a moment to recap my Great Southwestern Road Trip. From National Parks and the sunrise over the Grand Canyon to historic hotels and restaurants filled with history, I sure packed a ton into a short amount of time and was able to see and do the following:

• 15 hikes
• 3 National Parks
• 2 National Monuments
• A historic landmark hotel
• A café that has been around since 1860
• And several notches off the bucket list

This is just a recap. So many of you had the chance to read the stories as I went but I wanted to resend this with links to all of the stories from the trip just in case you missed one or wanted to come back to a story. There were plenty of highlights but I think two of my favorite moments were these.

Sunrise over the Grand Canyon

The Fatman vs. Fat man’s pass!

Here is a list of the stories that I posted, including where I drove and where I stayed for each leg of the trip. I hope you enjoy.

The Great Southwestern Road Trip

Day 1

• Denver to Santa Fe
• 392 miles
• Hotel in Santa Fe: Hampton Inn
• Fisher’s Peak State Park Challenge Trail (Hike)
• Tequila’s Family Restaurant – Trinidad (Food)

Day 2

• Santa Fe, NM to Sedona, AZ
• 411 miles
• Hotel In Sedona: Andante Inn of Sedona booked through Hotels.com
• Sun Mountain Trail (Hike)
• Weck’s – Santa Fe (Food)
• Church Rock (Hike)
• Painted Desert Rim Trail (Hike)
• Winslow, Arizona (Sight)

Day 3

• Sedona to Horseshoe Gulch back to Grand Canyon (via Flagstaff due to detour)
• 295 miles
• Hotel at Grand Canyon: Red Feather Lodge booked through Hotels.com
• Cathedral Rock (Hike)
• WIldflower (Food)
• Broken Arrow Trail (Hike)
• Horseshoe Bend ( Hike/Sights)
• Big John’s Texas Barbecue (Food)

Day 4

• Grand Canyon to Mesa
• 245 Miles
• Hotel In Mesa, Arizona: Extended Stay America (Booked through Hotels.com)
• Sunrise at the Grand Canyon (Sights)
• Ooh Aah Point (Hike)
• Foodie Club (Food)
• Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail (Hike)
• Flagstaff Station (Food)
• Yavapai Vista Trail (Hike)

Day 5

• Phoenix
• Hotel In Mesa, Arizona: Extended Stay America (Booked through Hotels.com)
• Freedom Trail (#302) (Hike)
• Over Easy (Food)
• Fat Man Vs. Fat Man’s Pass (Thoughts)
• Mormon Loop to National Loop Trail (Hike)
• Four Peaks Brewing (Food)

Day 6

• Phoenix
• Hotel In Mesa, Arizona: Extended Stay America (Booked through Hotels.com)
• Spring Training Baseball (Bucket List)

Day 7

• Phoenix to Santa Fe, NM
• 466 miles
• Hotel In Santa Fe: Hampton Inn
• Rock Springs Cafe (food)
• Meteor Crater National Landmark (Sights)
• Blasted Bistro (Food)
• Crystal Forest – Petrified Forest National Park (Sights)
• Giant Logs – Petrified Forest National Park (Sights)
• El Rancho Historic Hotel and Dinning (Sights and Food)

Day 8

• Santa Fe to Denver
• 392 miles
• Great Sand Dunes National Park (Hike)
• Lu’s Main Street Café (Food)

Are you planning a road trip.

I wouldn’t have been able to take this trip without finding some great deals with a company I partner with, Hotels.com.

Hotels.com makes finding lodging near national parks very easy by clicking on the banner below. Disclaimer: I have an advertising relationship with hotels.com and may receive a small commission if you book through the below link.

Another great option if you don’t feel comfortable with staying in a hotel but want to get away right now would be taking an RV. I have also partnered with a company called RVShare.com that allows you to rent an RV for a trip. It is a little like Air BNB but with RV’s. An RV trip might be the perfect opportunity to get away for spring break and feel comfortable with social distancing!Rent an RV to see all of our Amazing National Parks