Trip report: WY, UT, AZ, NM
 

Just came back from a fabulous road trip and wanted to share our highlights. Thanks to all who gave us great advice and really helped our planning.

We left Pittsburgh on Sept. 11. Stopped in Omaha, then Rock Springs and arrived in Jackson Hole on Sept. 13 via a fabulous scenic drive.
-Stayed at the Sassy Moose Inn. Great location near Teton Natl. Park. Nice room with fireplace and good breakfasts.
-Teton Natl. Park is incredible. We saw tons of wildlife including bears, a coyote, a moose, tons of elk and deer.
-We had pretty cold weather, including light rain and snow but managed to hike around Jenny Lake when the skies cleared up.
- Dinners at Nora's Fish Creek Inn and Calico. Lunch at Cadillac Grill. Good food everywhere, but nothing spectacular.

Left Jackson Hole on Wednesday, Sept 15 and drove to Moab.
-What a great area. We could live here!
-Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. It's new and very clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful.
-Spent first morning at Arches (sigh!!!). Hiked Park Avenue (awesome) and Landscape Arches. Drove to Canyonlands ... checked out some fabulous overlooks, then headed down the Shafer trail. I just have to tell Utahtea that my husband is indebted to you for life. He loved it! I have a little problem with heights and was very nervous, but loved it also. The amazing thing was that after we were through the trail and on Potash road, we came across a Cadillac with four guys heading towards the trail. They asked if they could get out and we suggested they turn around. Crazy!! I could not believe how far they made it in the Caddie.
-Went back to Arches to try and make the Delicate Arch hike at sunset, but started to run out of daylight. Ended up going to the viewpoint at sunset instead. Next time!
- Next morning we went back to the park to do Windows Arches.
- Great breakfasts at Slickrock Cafe (huge) and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Dinners at Buck's Grill (very good) and Fiesta Mexicana (I needed a few strong Margaritas after the Shafer trail)
-Please don't write that we should have stayed in Moab longer, because we know that!!! I'm ready to move there.

Left Friday to head down to Monument Valley.
Took the Moki Dugway (very cool) to check out the Valley of the Gods on the way.
-Drove through Monument Valley (amazing).
-Went back to Valley of the Gods and stayed at the B&B. This is a must-do for anyone who likes this area. I never felt more relaxed or at peace as I did at this place. We arrived around 4:30 and stayed in the little cabin. We never left our porch until 10pm or so and woke up in the middle of the night to go back out and see more stars. It was just amazing.

HIked the next morning around the valley then drove to Chinle for Canyon de Chelley. Took the afternoon Thunderbird Lodge tour and highly recommend it. Another awe-inspiring experience.

Drove to Holbrook that evening and stayed in a wigwam at the Wigwam Motel. Fun to do for one night.

Next morning (Sunday) we went to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. Unfortunately it rained a good bit and it cut our day short, so we went on to Albuquerque and hit the High Noon Saloon for more margaritas!

Left early Monday morning for our favorite place on earth .. Santa Fe.
-Stayed at the Water Street Inn and it was fabulous. Wonderful room, great little happy hour and close to everything! A new favorite for me.
-Shopped till we dropped for 3 days and spent WAY too much money.
-Restaurants included Pasquals, Harry's Roadhouse (killer green chili cheeseburger), Coyote Cantina (BBQ duck quesidilla, queso fundido and fantastic chilitini's ... chili infused vodka on the rocks), Rio Chama (good steaks and an amazing chocolate pot dessert), Plaza Cafe and Los Mayas. Also, margaritas at Maria's (by far the BEST ever).

Unfortunately, we had to leave and headed back home on Thursday the 23rd. Arrived in Pittsburgh late Friday and I've spent the last 2 days doing laundry and now I'm back to work. The fun has to end some time!

Thanks again for all of the advice that I received from the forum. You guys are the best.

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! I would love to move to Moab TOO! Even a week there isn't enought time.

Utahtea

peezee,

Thanks for a great trip report. Sounds like you had a fabulous time and wonderful memories (which you will enjoy as soon as the laundry is done :) Question for you: have you ever done the GC/Bryce/Zion loop? We just did it, loved it and are looking for 'the next great trip'. Going to Moab and NM are possibles. So I wondered if you could compare the experiences.

I haven't been to Bryce or Zion (yet, we have already been discussing that), just the GC .. so I can't make the comparison for you unfortunately. I really don't think you would be disappointed in Moab at all. It's incredible and I really think that over the next few years or so that it will get more popular so you may want to do it before it gets too crazed. And I just love New Mexico for different reasons. Santa Fe is just a great place to go after spending time hiking, touring, etc. There are great restaurants, galleries, shops and museums. There are also a number of great day trips (Taos, Abiqu, etc.) if you don't want to hang in town. Hope that helps.

Thanks! It does help. My crew (with the exception of me!) is not the galleries/shopping kind. So I think Moab is worth checking out--thanks.

ccrosmer,

I've done vacations a couple of times at GC/Bryce/Zion and Moab and would not want to have to pick one over the other. It's hard for me to imagine that anyone that would enjoy one would not enjoy the other.

My only suggestion is that you somehow squeeze in Monument Valley. It's out of the way of either vacation (kind of in between them) but is a must-see destination that is different from either of them.