Park 2: Arches (Part 1) May 2009

I've got to backtrack a little to keep my park visits in order...

In 2009, my parents and I headed to Southern Utah to visit Arches and Canyonlands. Utah, is by far, one of the most beautiful states I have ever visited. Seriously, if it weren't for all the crazy polygamists, I could definitely live there. (However, 'Big Love' on HBO was an awesome show.) Salt Lake City is a little blah, but just south is Provo and Sundance, which are absolutely stunning and is where we stayed the first 2 days. It was so wonderful to breathe the crisp air- something you just can't find in Tennessee- and to see a valley covered in green aspen, but the mountains behind still covered in snow.

Sundance is the famed ski resort owned by Robert Redford and home to a "little-known" film festival. Want to know what it looks like? Check out the film 'Jerimiah Johnson', add in some Uggs and Hollywood celebs riding the ski lift and and an over-priced mail-order catalog, and you've got Sundance. But seriously, it was a fantastic place to stay for the night. We slept in a little hillside "cabin", ate some amazing food and took a couple of art classes at the on-site art studios. If you ever have the chance, check out the resort, especially in the off-season when prices are right.

Sundance's ski-worthy mountains.

Once leaving Sundance, we headed south for the tiny town of Moab. It's about a 4-hour car ride, but the scenery is absolutely beautiful (if you can stay awake... I'm like a baby in the car and fall asleep pretty quickly). The temperature rises as you drop lower and lower, out of the snow-capped mountains and onto the desert floor. In the course of one day, I went from wearing jeans and a fleece to shorts and a tank top.

On the way into Moab, you actually drive by the entrance to Arches National Park. It has a lovely Visitor's Center that I recommend stopping at before entering, mainly because the park rangers are happy to point out places of interest and help you decide on the best hikes. This is where we stopped and picked up our park pass (required for all visitors) before heading in to town to the house we rented for the week.

The main road inside Arches National Park.

This is where I have to give my mom credit for always planning and organizing some wonderful trips for our family. Wherever we travel, she puts together the itinerary, the accommodations, the hikes... it's always fantastic. One of her main sources of info is VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). With a little bit of research, rental houses can be just as affordable as a hotel, especially when you consider that a rental home gives you the opportunity to cook some meals instead of eating out all the time. Plus, rentals usually include washers/dryers, which means you can travel with less clothing.


Moab is paradise for any active person, but especially mountain bikers, jeep off-roaders, and hikers. There are only about 4,500 permanent residents that live there, the majority of which work in the tourism industry. The locals are either bad ass mountain bikers or batty old hippies. (Seriously, there a no overweight people in that town.) Moab is also home to some great breweries, restaurants and art galleries, one of which I purchased some fantastic art by Jonathan Frank.

Moab Recommendations:

Restaurants:
Jail House Cafe (the original town jail that now serves amazing breakfast)
La Hacienda
Moab Brewery

Bike Shop: 
Chili Pepper Bike Shop

Art Galleries:
Framed Image Art Gallery

Favorite Gear: The Sun Shirt (aka Clothing for Really White Girls)

Red hair and pale skin means I don't usually rock an awesome tan. I do, however have some freckles that have started to merge together....  Anyways, growing up I was always pretty good about wearing sunscreen at the pool and whatnot, but it wasn't until about 5 years ago that I really had to start taking it seriously. Through some skin checks with the dermatologist, and a visit with a specialist, I found out that I have Dysplastic Nevi, which means my moles are more likely to turn into melanoma (skin cancer). I've had to have about 7 moles removed from my arms, legs and stomach because they were headed in the "wrong direction."

Now, I have to get my skin checked twice a year and pretty much wear sunscreen all the time. Usually at least 30 SPF on a cloudy day in the office, and 100 SPF (Neutrogena is my brand of choice) anytime I do an outdoor activity. It's a pain in the ass, but I'm not willing to take any chances. And I'm certainly not willing to give up my love of the outdoors.

Along with slathering myself in sunscreen, I've become a big fan of "sun clothing". Different companies call it different things, but basically it's clothing made to block out the sun (and make you look like a dork). Of course, any clothing is going to block out some sun, but fabrics made with a tighter weave and certain dyes carry an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value. These ratings range from 15 (good) to 50+ (excellent).

Most of the UPF clothing I use are actually long sleeve shirts and jackets, that I can wear as layers over my other clothes. The good ones have ventilation in the sleeves and back so that you can wear them even in the hot desert. My favorite brands are Columbia and ExOfficio, but almost all hiking brands have products that are UPF rated. Stores like REI make it really easy by tagging the clothing with stickers that let you know the UPF value.

As I post more trip photos, you'll probably notice I'm usually wearing one of my sun shirts. I try to only take it off if we are in the shade or it is very late in the afternoon. Oh, and I wear a lot of hats. Again, just trying to keep the sun off my face and scalp as much as possible. Yes, my clothing tends to look a little goofy out on the trails, but, this ain't no runway, k? And until Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs start designing specifically for the melanin-challenged, I'm going to keep wearing my trusty sun shirts.

Mom and I ready to take on the sun.