I survived traveling across Arizona with three boys and a tent.
This past spring break, I could not afford to go to Florida or one of Mexico’s many popular spring break destinations, 'tis the life of a broke college student. It was not the absolute bummer that you may think though, because the alternative turned out to be amazing.
My boyfriend and two friends had been itching to see the Grand Canyon for years. They never made solid plans to visit before, but this was our last chance to go together so we buckled down and made a real plan. We all threw in ideas for places that we wanted to stop at along the way, so it became a whole state excursion rather than just a visit to a national park.
We began planning about three weeks ahead and those three weeks were wracked with both research parties and excitement. The four of us set a realistic budget, but it was only possible to keep because we did thorough research about affordable places to stay, taking the shorter routes and planning our meals to reduce eating out. While all of that seems like a lot of effort for a road trip, it helped us get pumped for the adventure. Every time we booked a motel or campsite the trip became less of a plan and more of a real event. I had also made lists for everything: camping gear, food, addresses and essentials, and everyone ended up appreciating my mom-level preparation because it helped us avoid wasting time picking up things along the trip that we might have forgotten to pack.
Five hours from San Diego, California to Phoenix, Arizona; it was a lot of desert, a gorgeous sunrise, one border patrol stop and lots of loud singing to keep us awake as we drove on three hours of sleep from the night before. We stopped to eat at Los Reyes de la Torta and my giant quesadilla was the only memory I have from Phoenix.
Deciding to skip the state capital and head straight for Sedona was a good idea. Sedona is famous for its gorgeous red rock formations and new age spiritual atmosphere. After reading reviews and taking a consensus of the group, we set our GPS for the Devil’s Bridge, a moderate hike to stretch our legs and give our lungs a break from the air conditioned car. Breathtaking was the only word I could use to describe the vistas on this hike. The trail wound up a rock formation that looked over a green tree strewn valley surrounded by more rock formations.
Tired and satisfied with our first day, that night we reached Flagstaff (a college town) early enough to check out the bars and restaurants downtown. The whole place was asleep. Apparently spring break out there was still going so a lively atmosphere was a rare sight.
The next couple days at the Grand Canyon were like a preview for our return trip to the canyon. We had only allotted a modest amount of time there to gain a first visit high. Then as we hiked in awe of the size and beauty, being there let us imagine the possibilities of the next trip: hiking all the way to the bottom of the canyon and kayaking in the Colorado River. Each night, rejuvenated by our hikes, I built our campfire and we cooked under the trees; smoke saturated our clothes and hair.
Our last full day in Arizona was spent in Page Arizona where we explored Antelope Canyon on foot and by kayak. The walls of the canyon were smooth and striated. Their curves and grooves held the ghost of every flash flood and stream that passed through. I never loved the desert, but seeing these canyons helped to change my mind.
This trip left us waking up somewhere new every day. It gently dipped into our wallets and gave us an entire vacation with incredible destinations to reinvigorate our spirits. It inspired us to explore further and farther; now that we have this successful road trip under our belts, we are confident in our next adventures.
