Spring Break 2025: Plans and Pivots

It had been over three years since we traveled by air, initially due to unexplained medical issues for one of our kids (eventually diagnosed as a platelet disorder and severe iron deficiency) and last year due to our home expansion and reno.  So we decided that 2025 was the year to get adventurous again.

Zion National Park

We booked non-stop, round trip tickets to Las Vegas and made a detailed plan for drives, lodging, food stops, sightseeing:

1 night in Las Vegas

2 nights near Zion

2 nights in the Grand Canyon

2 nights in Las Vegas

But the massive late and unusual March snow storm had us pivoting after 3 nights, re-routing drives and re-booking lodging.  We ended up needing a highway closure overnight stay in Kingman, Arizona, followed by one planned and one last minute added night in the Grand Canyon with a final single night in Las Vegas.  Even with all the changes, we had a great vacation.

Hoover Dam

When we travel, as a rule, we do not eat at chain restaurants, but try to visit one of a kind local places.  I enjoyed the best cinnamon roll I've ever had on this trip.

River Rock Roasting Company 
in La Verkin, UT did not disappoint

We also had stuffed Prickly Pear French Toast, a blue corn pancake, and a Warrior Navajo Taco at the Cameron Trading Post which tends to be busy with tour bus visitors unless you get there early which we did.  Such a pleasant experience and super friendly staff.

With all the re-routes, we logged over 1200 miles in the car on this trip and got to see a lot of great and varied scenery in Utah, Nevada and Arizona where the snow that mixed up our plans created a picturesque drive.

Our grand finale was the Grand Canyon where we visited the entire south rim from Desert View Point to Hermits Rest.  Due to mobility and safety concerns, we had to limit our on foot explorations to around Mather and Yavapai Points and used our rental car/ park shuttle to reach all other overlooks.  I did walk the short distance between Powell and Hopi Points on my own and Hopi Point ended up being my favorite view at the park.

Red Rock Canyon

On our final day in Las Vegas, we hiked at Red Rock Canyon, visited an impressive cactus garden, and enjoyed Luv's Custard.  We made it back home on a Wednesday at 6:00 am and went straight to bed.

There was one new state added on our mission to visit all 50: Utah.

The first trip of 2025 was a success!