Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix is a great beer city in the desert with a cute downtown and fun vibes

PHX Tips: 

• Downtown is the heart of the city with lots of great businesses to check out and it is very walkable.

  • If you’re lucky enough to be in town on the first Friday of the month downtown has a fun First Friday arts walk.

• Be mindful of when you’re visiting, it gets extraordinarily hot in the summer months but has a lovely climate the rest of the year.

• Be sure to check out Scottsdale while you’re in the area as well—recommendations below!

• Doing a Southwest road trip? Check out my Tucson guide here, Sedona guide here, Las Vegas guide here, and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Phoenix Recommendations:

• Wren House Brewing Company: The best brewery in the Phoenix area! Their beers are delicious and they have a cute little taproom with a back patio. They also have a taproom in Prescott, AZ.

• Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company: A fantastic brewery with a location in downtown Phoenix and in Gilbert, AZ. The beers are delicious and the vibes are even better. They have a superb patio space, frequent live music, cocktails, wine and a full kitchen including brunch. They are very focused on local ingredients and Earth-friendly practices. It is a popular spot, but worth the crowds.

• The Wandering Tortoise: A fantastic beer bar with 21 taps and a wide selection of cans and bottles as well. They have frequent tap takeovers and great vibes all around.

• The Theodore: A great beer bar downtown offering 5, 10 or 16oz pours which I love. This is a super cute spot with an outside area as well. They have 24 taps and a great can and bottle selection.

• Deseo—A Coffee Shack: A very cute Mexican inspired coffee shop. They have unique drinks and delicious pastries.

• The Shop Beer Co.: A good brewery in Tempe with a really nice patio. They have 15 taps with a nice variety of beers to choose from.

• Greenwood Brewing: A great woman-owned brewery with a small, cute taproom and nice outdoor patio. The beers here are solid and they do a lot of distribution as well. You can get local food delivered if you’re hungry!

• Wayward Tap House: A nice little beer bar with a good selection of local and non-local brews. They have a patio space as well and chill vibes.

  • Testal Mexican Kitchen: A nice spot for Mexican eats including vegan options and delicious burritos is right across the street. Grand Avenue has several shops and restaurants to pop around.

• Pedal Haus Brewery: A solid restaurant-style brewery with great vibes. They have a downtown Phoenix taproom and their main brewery is in Tempe. In Phoenix they have an awesome rooftop and fun space overall. Be sure to check out their happy hour! They’ve got a full food menu, cocktails and wine alongside their house beers.

Piestewa Peak Summit Trail

Phoenix Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Piestewa Peak Summit Trail: This trail is rated hard and is 3.65 miles long with 1148ft of elevation gain. From the summit you have a great view of all of the Phoenix area and Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Despite its steepness it is still a very popular trail due to its proximity to downtown. Be aware during the hot months of the year the trail is closed from 11am-5pm.

• Hole in the Rock Trail: A very short walk up to a hole in a rock that you can climb into and look out over Phoenix. This is a very popular “trail” that is .2 miles long with 32ft of elevation gain. Located in Papago Park.

• The Churchill: An open air food court with several small businesses to eat, drink and shop at. Check out Stoop Kid for bagels, coffee and burgers.

• ‘A’ Mountain Hayden Butte Trail: A short .9 mile trail with 279ft of elevation gain in Tempe on ASU’s campus. This is a very “classic Phoenix” hike with solid views. Unfortunately only paid parking is nearby the trailhead.

• Desert Botanical Gardens: A unique botanical garden with loop trails featuring different plants. Tickets are $29.95 each and it is located in Papago Park.

Hole in the Rock

Other Phoenix Things To Do:

• Tombstone Brewing: This is an interesting spot. The beers were good but the vibes were a bit off for me. Their Phoenix location is in a strip mall with somewhat trashy vibes and not great service. They have a food menu as well and the pretzel is tasty. The main taproom is in Tombstone, AZ.

• Stay at the Hampton Inn: This is a nice and new hotel right downtown. You can walk all over from here, but the only downside is they do not have onsite parking. 

• O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery: Outrageous Homebrewers Social Outpost has 4 locations across the greater Phoenix area. The Arcadia taproom has a full food menu including happy hour and brunch. It is a very large space with a front patio, back patio and a huge indoor space as well. They are a brewery and distillery and next door they have a market with a slightly different menu.

• Huss Brewing Company: An average brewery with a full food menu and full bar. They have a large taproom and spacious patio and are housed at the convention center.

• Press Coffee: A nice spot for coffee in central downtown. They have a small food menu as well and ample seating.

• Angel’s Trumpet Ale House: A 60’s style beer bar with a full food menu. They have a nice beer garden space and an average selection of beers.

• Skip: DoubleTree near the airport. I would highly recommend not staying at this hotel. The AC and WiFi are both spotty at best, it’s loud, and did not feel super clean.

Wine Girl

Scottsdale Recommendations:

• The Canal Club: An adorable spot for brunch. It is a bit boujee but the food is delicious so it’s worth it!

• Wine Girl: An adorable wine bar with a small food menu and Instagram-y vibes.

• Trevor’s: A great beer bar, bottle shop and liquor store. They have 24 taps and a cocktail list with a massive selection of cans, bottles, and liquors. Trevor’s has a nice patio space and frequent food trucks.

• Goldwater Brewing Co.: A good brewery with chill vibes and a beer garden out back. They brew many different styles of beer, but their IPAs are what they do best.

• Hotel Adeline: A nice hotel with a killer pool. They host pool parties in the hotter months and have a full bar, cabanas, DJs, and more.

• Merkin Vineyards: A cool spot for wine with tastings, glasses and bottles alongside a food menu.

• LDV Winery: Another Old Town winery option directly across the street from Merkin. They have a nice patio and tasty wines.

• Farm to Craft: A cute restaurant for brunch, lunch and dinner with great cocktails.

• Breakfast Club: A brunch spot with an extensive fresh made juice selection.

• Julio’s Too: A delicious restaurant for authentic Mexican food.

Sedona, AZ

Sedona is a Stunning city in northern arizona with a plethora of beautiful hikes!

Sedona Tips: 

• Sedona is a touristy little town full of souvenir shops and overpriced restaurants, but it is absolutely worth the downsides of town itself for the surrounding beautiful nature. Don’t expect to have super great eats or drinks, aside from a few spots.

• What you’d think of as “downtown” is called “Uptown” here.

• A lot of trail parking lots are closed Thursday-Sunday and you’ll need to take the shuttle. Be sure to research ahead of time if you are visiting during a weekend.

• March-May is the most popular time to visit Sedona because they do get snow in the winter being in the mountains but it also gets extraordinarily hot June-September.

• Taking a Southwest road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Tucson guide here, Vegas guide here and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Sedona Recommendations:

• Boynton Canyon Trail with detours to Boynton Vista & Boynton Subway: First you’ll come to Boynton Vista which has some views of the surrounding area. Next oddly enough the trail runs by an RV park but then you dig deeper into the wilderness. The Boynton Sunway is next which some folks call a secret but it is clearly marked on Google Maps, AllTrails and with sticks on the ground so it’s hard to miss. This is an absolute must visit! Be sure to wander around the entire section of the subway after you climb up—there are great views from the subway itself but also from the surrounding rim. After the Subway you’ll continue onto the Canyon, which is cool but a bit of a let down after the amazing Subway so if you’re short on time or energy you could skip it.

  • This trail is 8.5 miles long with 1200ft of elevation gain and takes about 4 hours with the detours. You will need a National Park Pass or Red Rocks Pass to park at the trailhead which has limited parking so be sure to start early. Additionally by starting early you will avoid the crowds.

• Devil’s Bridge Trail: A popular trail out to a floating bridge with beautiful views. This trail is 5.1 miles long with 521ft of elevation gain and takes about 2.5 hours. You can either take a 4x4 dirt road out or add a little extra mileage and take the Mescal Trail. This trail is very exposed and gets very hot on the 4x4 road so be sure to start early. Also be prepared that at times there can be a lot of folks trying to get photos on the bridge, but I did not run into this issue.

• Stay at Orchards Inn: A fantastic hotel in the heart of Uptown Sedona. The views from the balconies are absolutely stunning. The room itself also had a lot of amenities such as a fire place, huge TV, beautiful art and more. It is walkable to everything in town. Highly recommend!

• Sedona Beer Company: A solid brewery with a wide variety of beers alongside wine and kombucha as well. They have a front patio, back patio, and spacious indoor taproom. There is a full food menu and overall good vibes.

• Seven Sacred Pools via Soldier Pass to Brins Mesa Loop: This was a very cool trail with a variety of things to see along the way—Devil’s Kitchen, Seven Sacred Pools, Brins Mesa and stunning mountain views. This trail is 5.6 miles long with 846ft of elevation gain and takes about 2.5 hours. Start clockwise so you get a bit more shade, but either way the second half of the trail is quite exposed.

  • As a heads up the parking lot here is tiny, but there is additional parking on the opposite side of the trail at Brins Mesa. The gate to the parking area is closed until 8am and it is completely closed Thursday-Sunday and you’ll need to park 1.2 miles down the road and shuttle or walk to the trailhead. There is no restroom at this trailhead.

• Firecreek Coffee: A great little spot for coffee and pastries!

• 89Agave Cantina: A delicious restaurant for Mexican eats in Uptown Sedona. They have both front and back patios and a spacious indoor seating area. Highly recommend!

• The Art of Wine: A wine bar with curated flights, glasses and bottles. They’ve also got a small food menu and a selection of craft beers. They are housed in a shopping center with mainly indoor seating options.

Boynton Subway

Sedona Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Airport Mesa Trail also known as the Sedona View Trail: A nice and easy trail with a few different panoramic viewpoints. This is 1.5 miles long with 223ft of elevation gain and takes about 40 minutes. You can also drive between the viewpoints if you’d prefer—parking at the top with the airport is $3.

• Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole: An awesome swimming hole that I’d highly recommend. It is a 5 minute walk from the parking area down to Oak Creek. The water is nice and clear, though the bottom is rocky so you may want to wear shoes in the creek. You can also jump off the cliffs here into the water. This is the perfect post-hiking activity! There are several different swimming holes in the area, be sure to check them out! Parking here is $9 if you don’t have a Red Rocks Pass.

• Explore the Verde Valley Wine Trail:

  • Take a wine tour or visit wineries on your own! These two wineries were delightful and just 20 minutes from Uptown Sedona:

  • Page Springs Cellars: This winery has a beautiful property with seating options on the river deck, picnic space, back deck, and inside. They offer flights ($15), glasses, or bottles and a selection of food. The winery is solar powered which is pretty awesome!

  • Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery: 1 minute down the road from Page Spring. They have a nice patio with misters and indoor seating options as well. Oak Creek offers their wine via flights ($12), glasses, or bottles and they also have a small food menu. They have the smallest vineyard in the area but the most varieties of wine.  

  • Winery 1912: A winery in the heart of Uptown Sedona with flights, glasses and bottles. All seating is indoors, but there are nice views. The staff is very friendly and they also have a small food menu.

Devil’s Bridge

Other Sedona Things To Do:

• The View Coffee Cafe: A Starbucks spin-off with a small breakfast menu. The name is accurate—they have a fantastic view!

• Oak Creek Brewery & Grill: An average brewery on the second level of a shopping center. They also have a full food menu and are more restaurant focused.

• Oak Creek Espresso: A nice spot with coffee and a small food menu.

• The Secret Garden: A cute little spot for lunch and coffee in the same shopping center as Oak Creek Brewery and Grill.

• Oak Creek Brewing Co.: A small brewery with average beers, a large patio and a small food menu.

• JesseLee’s Craft Beer Market: A small craft beer store but they have a solid selection of cans and bottles to choose from.

• Bell Rock Inn: A nice hotel stay in the Oak Creek area that is now owned by Hilton. They have two nice pools and clean rooms.

• Skip Pago’s Pizza and Italian Cuisine: The staff here was super rude and the food was average.

Tucson, AZ

Tucson is a small southwestern city home to Saguaro National Park!

Tucson Tips: 

• It’s hot! Crazy insight here, I know. I visited in September and it was over 100 degrees every day, so just be mindful of when you’re planning to visit.

  • June to September is monsoon season, so just be aware that things can get a bit wonky with wind and water during those months.

• The beer scene in Tucson is not super impressive—there is a good number of breweries but they tend to be just average at best.

• Parking in downtown Tucson can be an absolute nightmare. If you’re heading downtown in the evening/on the weekend I’d recommend a rideshare or walking as much as possible.

• Planning a Southwest road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Las Vegas guide here, and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Tucson Recommendations:

• Explore Saguaro National Park: This park is full of giant Saguaro cacti. It is split into East and West sections on each side of Tucson which are about 45 minutes apart.

  • Gould Mine Trail: This trail is 2.4 miles long with 400ft of elevation gain and took 1 hour. There are nice views of the Saguaros and you also have a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Keep your eyes peeled for desert tortoises too!

  • Valley View Overlook Trail: This is a quick and easy hike with a nice overlook of the valley. Overall it was 1 mile long, mostly flat and took about 20 minutes. There are also nice signs along the way with information about the plants.

  • Bajada Loop Drive: This is a scenic drive on a dirt road with nice views throughout. The road can be a bit sketchy if you’re visiting during the rainy season due to washout, but it is a quick and pretty trip.

  • If you venture to the East side of the park Bridal Wreath Falls is supposed to be great, I chose to skip it because there would not have been water on the falls during the time of year for my visit and there was extreme heat.

• Crooked Tooth Brewing Co.: A nice brewery with a solid beers that tend to be Sour focused. They have a cute taproom and a back patio. They also have a small snack menu or you can order from neighboring Anello, a pizza restaurant.

• Ermanos Bar: This is a cute bar with a wide selection of craft beer, cocktails, wine and a full food menu. They also have a back patio for outdoor dining. The beer selection is pretty great and the cheese board was delicious.

• Pueblo Vida Brewing Company: A small brewery in the heart of downtown with average beers and a nice team.

• Stay at Hotel McCoy: A super cute hotel with vintage vibes and modern amenities. They have a fantastic pool and outdoor area with ping pong, foosball, and more. They are located 6 minutes from downtown. Overall the hotel is definitely geared towards younger folks with DJs and events, but it is still a family friendly spot and quiet in the evenings.

Sabino Canyon

Tucson Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Explore the Sabino Canyon: This is a gorgeous area that I highly recommend visiting.

  • Take the Sabino Canyon Crawler into the canyon. This is an hourly shuttle through the canyon with various stops. You can hop off at different stops as you please or it is a 1-hour roundtrip journey if you stay on for the duration of the canyon. The crawler departs every hour and is $15 to ride. Book your seat in advance as it does fill up. The ticket price also includes a guided narration via headphones of the canyon which was quite informative.

  • Parking in the lot is $8 daily or free with a National Park Pass.

  • Bear Canyon is also nearby and another option to explore!

• Linda Vista Loop Trail: This is a 2.7 mile long trail with 426ft of elevation gain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. There are beautiful cacti, red rocks, mountain views and city views throughout the trail. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.

• Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway: This a scenic drive through Coronado National Forest and the South Catalina Mountains. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to the summit which is at 9171ft of elevation. There are lookouts along the way with nice panoramic views of the area. There are many hiking trails, camping areas, a few restaurants, and ski areas (seasonally) at the top of the mountain.

Hotel McCoy

Other Tucson Things To Do:

• Borderlands Brewing: A brewery with a nice outdoor patio full of misters for the Arizona heat. They also have a small food menu and chill vibes. I found the beer here to be average and pricey, but I would still recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.

• Harbottle Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery in South Tucson. Unfortunately when I visited there was one staff member working for both the bar and kitchen and the spot was overrun with 20+ children and just a few adults. The beer was average at best and the food looked not great.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a beautiful National Park that everyone should see!

Grand Canyon Tips: 

• Depending on your location and your goals, choose which rim you’d like to visit. This guide focuses solely on the South Rim.

• You’ll need a National Park Pass or pay to enter the park.

• Keep your eyes peeled for elk! I saw several throughout my visit.

• Dress in layers—it can be super windy and cold one minute and super hot just a little bit later.

• Taking a road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Tucson guide here, and Las Vegas guide here.

Grand Canyon Recommendations:

• Desert View Drive: This is a beautiful scenic drive that is 25 miles long and heads east along the rim. This is a great drive to do in the late afternoon/evening because the colors are vibrant. There are scenic vistas throughout. Choose a vista and watch the sunset here!

• Watch the Sunrise at Mather Point: The sunrise is beautiful here! It is definitely a popular spot so be sure to arrive early to get a nice spot. I’d recommend at least 50 minutes before sunrise to see the magic start.

• South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge Trail: This trail is 3.1 miles long with 1102ft of elevation gain and takes about 1.5 hours. The trailhead is only accessible via the orange eastbound shuttle which departs from the visitor’s center every 15 minutes from 6:30 to sunset or every 30 minutes earlier. It starts with very steep switchbacks but progressively just heads down into the canyon. You can go as far as you’d like, just keep in mind you’ll need to climb back up! The views throughout are fantastic.

• Bike the 21 miles west along the rim! Take Hermit Road out to the last stop of the South Rim, Hermit’s Rest. You can rent a bike from Bright Angels Bicycles right near the visitor’s center. You could also shuttle between the stops or walk if you prefer, or there are shorter biking routes if you prefer. It took just under 2 hours to get to the last stop, Hermit’s Rest, with stops at every viewpoint along the way. In total I biked for about 3 hours and 40 minutes. It’s harder than you might think—you’re biking at 7,000ft elevation and the route out is essentially all up hill.

• Yavapi Lodge: A nice place to stay inside in the park that is convenient!

• Yavapi Tavern: A restaurant inside the park with counter service. They have several draft beers, a full food menu with shareables, burgers and more. There is also a coffee shop in the building and dining hall.

Surrounding Area recommendations:

• Flagstaff is a nice spot to stop on the way to the Grand Canyon. It is 1 hour north of Sedona and 1.5 hours south of the Grand Canyon. There are a lot of stop lights in the city and a lot of traffic, so keep that in mind if you choose to visit. Parking tends to be pay to park only unfortunately.

  • Dark Sky Brewing Company: A solid brewery with an IPA heavy tap list downtown. Pizzicletta is housed here with wood fired pizzas. They also have a beer garden next door with different food options and a large patio.

  • Mother Road Brewing Company: Another brewery option downtown with solid beers. They have a nice patio and super friendly team. Roadside Stove is an onsite food truck with a Cajun menu.

• Kingman is a decent stop between the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. Route 66 runs through here and the area is surrounded by beautiful mountains.

  • Rickety Cricket Brewing: They have 3 locations and the Kingman spot is their restaurant. They have a large tap list, a pizza focused food menu and a large space. They are in the heart of downtown.

  • The Home2Suites in Kingman is very nice. It is new hotel, there is free breakfast, the rooms are large and super clean, there is a nice pool and various seating options. They’re also dog-friendly!

Utah Road Trip Itinerary

Utah is a fabulous area for a road trip! In 12 days of adventures I explored 5 National Parks, 2 State Parks, 2 National Monuments, 1 National Forest and 1 National Recreation Area. This was with 1,863 miles driven and 121 miles hiked. All of the National Parks are quite small so you can cover a lot of ground in not too much time which is great! You can also shorten or lengthen this trip—the bottom of the itinerary has suggestions for both.

This is a recommended 12 day Utah road trip itinerary and how I did my trip, but be sure to check out my full Utah guide here for all of my recommendations on hikes, eats, drinks, where to stay and more! I also include a smidge of Northern Arizona on this route.

Day 1: Arrive

Fly into Salt Lake City—I chose an evening flight so I wouldn’t need to use another day of PTO. If you have any earlier flight you can combine days 1 & 2. You can also fly into Las Vegas and do this loop road trip just hitting Zion first instead of Arches!

Sleep: Salt Lake City

Day 2: Drive to Moab, explore Arches National Park

Hit the road! It’s a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City to Arches National Park, so get an early start and then you’ll still have almost a full day in Arches. If you want to start off with a bang the Devil’s Garden Trail is a great choice. Spend the evening exploring the cute town of Moab.

Sleep: Moab

Day 3: Arches National Park, Moab

Today is another full day for Arches and luckily Moab is just 10 minutes from the park entrance. Recommended hikes: Delicate Arch Trail, Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail, Fiery Furnace (permit required). If you’ve still got some energy later Corona and Bow Tie Arch Trail outside of the park in Moab is a nice hike with a massive arch.

Sleep: Moab

Day 4: Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park, Moab

Start the day with Fisher Towers Trail, about 40 minutes north of Moab. Head back into town for lunch before driving 45 minutes west to Canyonlands National Park. Half of a day for the Island in the Sky region is plenty. Stop at a few overlooks and do a couple of short trails such as White Rim Overlook Trail and Mesa Arch Trail. Head over to Dead Horse Point State Park for sunset—it’s 13 miles from Canylonlands on the same road heading back towards Moab.

Sleep: Moab

Day 5: Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Monument Valley, drive to Page

Today is the only day of the trip with a lot of driving so buckle up—literally and figuratively. Start the day in The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. This is 1 hour and 45 minutes south of Moab. Chesler Park Viewpoint Trail is a great way to see this unique area of the park.

From here it’s a 2.5 hour drive to Natural Bridges National Monument. Plan for about 2 hours to explore the loop drive and short trails here. From Natural Bridges head further south to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Lookout for cows in the road along the way and be sure to stop for views of Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley from the road.

It’ll take about 1 hour to do the scenic loop drive at Monument Valley and from there it is a 2 hour drive west to Page, Arizona. You could also cut out any of this—Natural Bridges and Monument Valley were my two least favorite stops out of the entire trip. Driving straight from Moab, UT to Page, AZ is 4.5 hours. Grab dinner/drinks in Page and then get to bed nice and early after this long day of driving!

Sleep: Page

Day 6: Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, drive to Zion National Park

This was my absolute favorite day and although it seems like a lot it was absolutely perfect! Start the day with sunrise at Horseshoe Bend. Grab breakfast and coffee then explore Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Recreation Area via kayak. Kayak rentals are for the full day but I found 3 hours to be the perfect amount of time on the water with getting to explore a loop route to Ice Cream Cone Slot Canyon and not getting too much sun.

After kayaking it’s time for the famed Antelope Canyon. The early afternoon is said to be best time for sun beams. Be sure to book this in advance, you can only visit via guided tour. After Antelope Canyon it’s time to head out to Zion National Park, a 2 hour drive north. Personally I was too excited to not explore any of the park and just grab dinner and go to bed so I did the short and sweet Zion Canyon Overlook Trail upon entering the park and this was the perfect way to meet Zion.

Sleep: Zion

Day 7: Zion National Park and Sand Hollow State Park

Today is a full day of Zion! Recommended hikes: Angel’s Landing (permit required) or Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail, The Narrows or The Zion Narrows Riverside Walk, The Watchman Trail, or Emerald Pools Trail (not my favorite personally).

After hitting a few trails, head 45 minutes southwest to Sand Hollow State Park for a nice relaxing time at the beach! A perfect way to cool off and rest after a day in Zion.

Sleep: Zion

Day 8: Zion National Park, Red Canyon, drive to Bryce Canyon

Another full day in Zion—hit whatever trails are left on your list and drink one more prickly pear margarita at Camp Outpost.

After a full day of exploring Zion head up to Bryce Canyon National Park, which is just under 2 hours away. Directly on the route is Red Canyon, which is part of Dixie National Forest, and is a great stop with beautiful trails.

Sleep: Bryce Canyon

Day 9: Bryce Canyon National Park

Today is a full day in Bryce Canyon—which is an absolutely stunning park! Recommended hikes: Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop to Peekaboo Loop (Figure 8), Fairyland Loop Trail, Mossy Cave, Turret Arch and Little Windows Trail, Lower, Mid and Upper Inspiration Points Trail. Be sure to also drive the Southern Scenic Drive here!

Sleep: Bryce Canyon

Day 10: Bryce Canyon National Park

Another full day in Bryce Canyon—hit some more trails and soak in those beautiful views.

Sleep: Bryce Canyon

Day 11: Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Drive to Torrey

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is home to one of my favorite hikes I’ve ever done, but this area is frequently overlooked since it’s not a National Park. The start of the National Monument is just around the corner from Bryce Canyon, and the trailhead for the Dry Fork Narrows, Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons Trail is 1.5 hours from Bryce Canyon. The slot canyons are definitely not for everyone, but I absolutely loved it!

After this drive an hour back up the washed out road to Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail for a nice easy, albeit a little long, walk to a relaxing waterfall. After finishing your hikes it’s an hour drive up to Torrey, a great place to stay for exploring Capitol Reef National Park. This drive is through Dixie National Forest and full of great views.

Sleep: Torrey

Day 12: Capitol Reef National Park and Departure

It’s the last day! Time for one more National Park—Capitol Reef! Recommended hikes: Grand Wash Trail, Cassidy Arch Trail and Hickman Bridge Trail.

After exploring Capitol Reef it’s time to head back to Salt Lake City, which is a 3.5 hour drive north. Catch an evening or red-eye flight home to wrap up your adventure. If you’ve got time in Salt Lake for a couple of beers before the airport don’t miss Templin Family Brewing and Grid City Beer Works.

Have More time?

Spend more time in Salt Lake City, add on the North Rim of The Grand Canyon, add a visit to Grand Junction, Colorado, or make a stop in Las Vegas and explore Valley of Fire State Park. Check out my Las Vegas Area guide here! Move slower—I like to keep a busy schedule and see a lot, but you could also add in more time throughout.

Have Less time?

Skip: Natural Bridges National Monument, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, or Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. You could also skip Page altogether and just stay in Utah, but Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are a real treat!

Consolidate: Spend less time in Arches—you can do Arches and Canyonlands in 1.5 days if you wanted to. Cut a day from Bryce Canyon or Zion (or both!). Cut some State Parks and extra trails.

Have you explored Utah? Let me know in the comments!
Cheers —Alexis

My Favorite Places I've Stayed Around The World

I get asked all the time where I stay when I travel and it is 100% dependent on where I am at. Generally speaking I am a somewhat frugal travel. I try not to spend too much on hotels/Airbnbs because I would rather plan another trip with that money. Sometimes where I stay is based on a hosted collaboration, sometimes it is a basic, reliable chain hotel that is reasonably priced (usually a Hilton), sometimes it is an Airbnb—it all just depends on the circumstances.

I have spent hundreds if not thousands of nights at different lodgings around the world and here are my favorite places I have stayed at:

Latin America

Tortuga Del Mar

Tortuga Del Mar: Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

I absolutely loved my beachfront room. The owners are so sweet and it’s nice and small so there’s barely anyone else around. The black sand beach is gorgeous and there are a couple of restaurants and a store within walking distance. Check out my Costa Rica guide here.

La Casa Verde: Banos, Ecuador

This eco-hostel is super relaxing, and the hosts are incredibly nice. There are hammocks, delicious snacks, and great views. Don’t let the word hostel throw you off—I had a private room and bathroom and nothing about it felt hostel-style, it was just a normal hotel with a variety of lodging options. Check out my Ecuador guide here.

Popa Paradise

Popa Paradise: Bocas del Toro, Panama

This is a gorgeous property! The pool, beach, walking trails and facilities were all stunning. The team here is also super nice and helpful. The food was fantastic and the place is quite small so you’re not overwhelmed by other guests. Check out my Panama guide here.

Arakur Resort & Spa: Ushuaia, Argentina

If you find yourself in Ushuaia at the very bottom of the content, Arakur is a must-stay. The outdoor pool and hot tub was one of the highlights of my entire trip! The views from the entire hotel are unreal. is Check out my Argentina guide here.

New Zealand

Edge Hill Hut: Taupo

The views from this Airbnb are superb! It is overlooking Lake Taupo and Mount Tauhara with sheep and farmland abound. The outdoor deck is packed with amazing amenities—an outdoor tub, fireplace, grill, comfy seating and more. There are thoughtful touches throughout the home and it was very clean and comfy. This airbnb is only a 15 minute drive from downtown Taupō and a little over an hour away from Tangariro National Park. It was also ridiculously affordable for such a nice spot. Check out my guide to New Zealand’s North Island here.

The United States

Kinn Guesthouse

Kinn Guesthouse Bay View: Milwaukee, WI

The set-up of Kinn Guesthouse is very cool. Each room feels more like a loft apartment and there is a shared kitchen and living room. It is housed above an Italian restaurant and walkable to several great coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Check out my Milwaukee guide here.

Fenway Hotel

Fenway Hotel: Dunedin, FL

The Fenway Hotel is a delightful spot. The hotel is gorgeous, the views from the rooftop bar are superb and the food and drinks are delicious. There is a trail on along the inlet in front of the hotel and you can easily walk into downtown Dunedin which is full of breweries, restaurants, shops and coffee shops. Check out my Dunedin blog here.

Orchards Inn

Orchards Inn: Sedona, AZ

Orchards Inn is right in the heart of downtown Sedona and the rooms offer spectacular views of the red rocks. Each room is a bit different, but my suite included a lovely fireplace, a spacious balcony, and an extremely comfortable bed. They have their own restaurant as well, 89Agave Cantina, which is delicious. Full Sedona guide coming soon!

North Carolina

Bryson City Cabin

This cabin on Airbnb: Bryson City, NC

This cabin had magical mountain views and was the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Outside there is a fire pit and inside their is a fire place so that you can have cozy vibes inside or out. The hot tub was excellent and there were lots of thoughtful amenities. Bryson City & Western North Carolina guide coming soon!

Aloft Wilmington: Wilmington, NC

Aloft Wilmington has loft-style vibes and is right on the Cape Fear River. The rooftop bar has great views and it is centrally located in downtown Wilmington. Check out my Wilmington guide here.

Glamping Unplugged

Glamping Unplugged: Boone, NC

Glamping in a dome on a creek in the middle of nowhere? Yes please. This is a fun and unique stay just 20 minutes from Boone. Make a fire, stargaze, fish in the creek, go for a hike—the outdoor possibilities are endless. Check out my Boone guide here.

Where are your favorite places you’ve stayed around the world? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis