-
Devils Garden and the Primitive Trail Loop – Arches National Park
Devils Garden has something to offer every hiker and is one of my personal favorites in Arches National Park. This section has a plethora of sights to see, including arches, windows, towering rock fins, and beautiful views of the valley. Some of these vistas can be found via a short hike down an easy path, but others require a more adventurous route. Want to read more about Arches National Park? This post is part of a series on Arches National Park. You might also want to check out Park Avenue, The Windows, Delicate Arch, Sand Dune Arch , and Skyline Arch. Logistics: Distance: Anywhere from 2 miles (3.2 km) to 8…
-
Skyline Arch
This one is a quickie but goodie. It’s a short hike from the car to an arch high up in a rock wall. It won’t take much time to stop here on the way to Devils Garden and have a quick peek. If you’re pressed for time though, I would recommend the other hikes on our list before this one. This is difficult for me to say because every place in Arches National Park is amazing. As one of my friends once aptly noted, there aren’t enough adjectives to describe the Moab region. I feel like I’m repeating myself when I keep saying how wonderful every site here is- but…
-
Make Your Own Rustic Faux Fireplace
One day, while scrolling through Pinterest, I came upon an idea. Any time a sentence starts with scrolling through Pinterest, you know there’s a project coming. I have to be careful with that site- it can be dangerous! Whenever I think of Pinterest, I remember this quote from comedian, Adam Norwest, that never fails to make me laugh: So what idea did I find? A faux fireplace! We have always liked when we’ve stayed in hotels with fireplaces in the room. I love cozying up under the covers with a good book and a fire crackling beside me. We’ve discussed many times how nice it would be to have one…
-
Sand Dune Arch is a Great Place to Bring the Whole Family – Arches National Park
If you’re visiting Arches National Park, choosing what to do can be daunting. There are too many wonderful options to fit into one trip. Every time we go, we do some of our favorites and find a few new places to explore as well. I can’t believe it took us until our fourth trip to discover this one! Sand Dune Arch was a favorite, especially of our kids. It’s a short, easy hike to a secluded arch among fins of rock. The opportunities for play around the arch are endless. Want to read more about Arches National Park? This post is a continuation of a series on Arches National Park.…
-
Whodonit? (Plush) Shark Attack and Restoration
The Crime Scene One morning, our son woke to find his beloved shark stuffed animal savagely mauled outside his bedroom door. Poor Sharky. There were no eye-witnesses, but preliminary forensic evidence pointed to a list of usual suspects thought to be in the vicinity at the time of the incident. The Suspects: Ridley: 7 years old, brother of Samus, cuddle bug, verbslizes hunger every morning, has place at family dinner table, Hadley’s disciplinarian, clean record Hadley: 14 months old, spotty record, expert chewer, high energy, toy thief, occasionally poops household objects Samus: 7 years old, sister of Ridley, get-off-my-lawn face, murder button permanently engaged, loves coffee, cuddles in order to…
-
Delicate Arch
This post is a continuation of a series on Arches National Park. You can find the others by clicking on these links: Park Avenue The Windows Delicate Arch Sand Dune Arch Skyline Arch Devils Garden Delicate Arch is the world-famous, iconic arch of Arches National Park, and has become one of the state symbols of Utah. It’s the largest free-standing arch in the park and the one that has made it onto the Utah license plate. Logistics: Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km) out and back Elevation: Approximately +760 ft (232 m) Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Facilities: Pit toilets and picnic tables Dogs Allowed: No Parking: At trailhead, overflow parking available 1/4 mile…
-
Relentless Forward Progress
I love this saying. I first heard it from a book about running ultras but it applies to every aspect of life. In a moment where you feel like you’ll never see the finish, just focus on relentless forward progress. No matter how small the steps are, they are moving you toward your end goal. Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons by Bryon Powell. (This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.…
-
The Windows
This post is part of a series on Arches National Park. You can find the others by clicking on these links: Park Avenue The Windows Delicate Arch Sand Dune Arch Skyline Arch Devils Garden Logistics: Distance: About 1 mile (1.6 km) for loop, not including primitive trail Elevation: +164 ft (50 m) Difficulty: Easy Facilities: Pit toilets and picnic tables Dogs Allowed: No Parking: At trailhead Getting there: First Head to Arches National Park You will need to pay an entrance fee, which is good for 7 days, or have an America the Beautiful Pass. There are also certain Fee Free days and did you know that 4th graders can…
-
Park Avenue
This post is part of a series on Arches National Park. You can find the others by clicking on these links: Park Avenue The Windows Delicate Arch Sand Dune Arch Skyline Arch Devils Garden Oh how I love Arches. So many breathtaking vistas. So many great hikes. So many arches! All close to the fun town of Moab. As you drive into Arches, the first hike you reach is called Park Avenue. Apparently, the giant walls of this canyon reminded early visitors of buildings lining a big city street. Logistics: Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) out and back Elevation: Approximately 260 ft down into canyon and then back up at…
-
Indoor Monkey Bars
We have a long hallway in between our bonus room and the rest of the house. One day, while walking down it, I realized it would be a perfect place for some monkey bars! We needed something for the kids to climb because they were quite literally climbing the walls. Supplies: 2×4 lumber (We used a total of four, two on each side. You will need the length of your monkey bars x2) 3/4-in x 10-ft galvanized steel pipes OR you could buy them pre-cut, if you can find a length that works for you, like THESE 3/4-in galvanized 2-hole pipe straps 3-in screws Paint for 2×4’s (optional) Tools: Tape measure…
