Moab, UT: Arches, arches, everywhere!

The United States is truly a beautiful country! We started our day in Park City where the air was brisk and it felt as though the snow could fall at any moment. We then headed south, cutting through the jagged cliffs of the Wasatch/Uinta mountains. From there, the views just continued to get better. Fall colors painted the hills and fresh snow gleamed from the peaks. Green pastures and hot air balloons served as entertainment along the drive and it seemed that the moment I began to grow weary of driving was the moment another incredible view would appear.

Rather than driving straight through, we took time this afternoon to explore Arches National Park just outside of Moab, UT. Mikayla was a bit antsy about the hike, but exploring the red rock trails, massive natural arch formations and spectacular views was worth the extra effort. The park was flooded with tourists and to our surprise, there seemed to be more foreigners than Americans. Mikayla was a bit of an attraction herself and was popular among the hikers – most of whom were in disbelief that we had brought our six week old to the mountains.

  

After leaving the park, we headed to Cortez, CO, where we’re staying tonight. Along the way, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset that painted the sky with pink and lavender and turned the mountains in the distance to a deep plum. It was quite possibly the most picturesque sky I’ve ever seen.

There’s not a lot to see in Cortez itself, but the people are nice and eager to strike up conversation about the Minnesota Twins versus the Yankees, ranching, elk hunting and just about anything else you’re willing to discuss =). Besides, now that we’ve checked Colorado off on the list of states Mikayla has visited, the tally is up to six. Stay tuned to find out where she ends up next.