I snapped this photo in the Utah desert last summer. It reminds me a little of the show Breaking Bad. It also reminds me of hot summer days hiking through Arches and Canyonlands with a wonderful friend.
Summer is just around the corner. I’ve been busy ordering visitors guides, scrolling through the web and studying maps.
Here’s hoping for a summer of memorable photos like this one.
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
“I don’t much care where –”
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
Lewis Carroll, Alice In Wonderland
I encountered this elderly couple a few times during my summer vacation at Arches National Park. They were older but very spry and tackled the steep climbs in the heat as well as most folks half their age.
Their memory has stuck with me – partly because we saw the gentleman take a tumble off the side of a cliff – a fall that I was certain would be his last. Thankfully, he caught himself and scurried back up without incident.
I also think of them sometimes because of this picture. They were almost perfectly in sync with each other – they appeared to walk in step and often stood like this, like a couple of bookends.
More importantly, they just seemed satisfied to be together. Partners in life and hiking and exploration. It was nice to see two people who, at least from an outside perspective, were absolutely content.
If only we all were so lucky.
There’s a lot of personality in this picture. I love old license plates and the gas pump is gorgeous. If I had a garage I’d probably have a collection of vintage gas and oil pieces (so it’s probably good that I don’t have a garage).
You can see this and other odd scenes at Hole in the Rock near Moab, Utah.
Roadside attractions are part of the fun of any road trip. Yes, sometimes they’re corny and a little pointless but a good roadside attraction will often rank one of the most memorable parts of your trip.
There is a real oddity just outside Moab, Utah. It’s called Hole in the Rock and it’s a fun stop if you’re traveling down US 191.
Essentially, it’s a giant sandstone rock that’s been carved up into living space. It’s a quarter mile high and about a mile around the base. The folks who turned the rock into a home for their family took twenty years to do so. In addition to living here, they operated a diner and eventually began giving tours.
Today you can receive a brief guided tour for just $6 and hear all about the unusual home which has been lovingly maintained with its mid twentieth century furnishings. They don’t allow pictures inside so I sadly have no images to share.
They also have a petting zoo on site (which we didn’t tour), a handful of gift shops and a wealth of novelties to look at.
It’s the most unusual home I’ve ever seen and the whole place is just a neat stop where you can stretch your legs, buy a cold drink and have a look around.
Are you tired of hearing about my Utah vacation yet?
Good. Here’s more.
We spent the bulk of our week based in a tiny house just outside Moab. It was located on the outskirts of town close to the road to the national parks, the stores, downtown and pretty much anything else we needed.
Moab is an interesting place. Settled back in 1878, Moab today is largely a tourist community with a fun downtown district and rich history. My two favorite places here were a locally owned bookstore and a place called Moab Made that specializes in handmade jewelry, art and gifts.
We also liked the patio of a little Italian place along the main drag as well as the Sunset Grill which sits high above the city and offers the best food, views and even a great story. By the way, it has a great story and you can read about it here.
The area has a prominent place in pop culture too as it has been featured in a number of Hollywood films. It’s a long list but my favorite would have to be Thelma and Louise which was an ongoing joke for us gals as we adventured through our week.
The town has a great little museum that covers much of their history including ranching, the Uranium boom, the development of the parks, native history and a nice display on the Civilian Conservation Corps camp that was once here.
Moab is home to a number of companies that arrange adventure tours by air, land and sea. If you’re looking to fly, rock climb, off-road, kayak or do basically anything else outdoors, there is a tour operator here that can help.
If you go, consider taking the Airbnb route. Hotels here are pretty expensive and you could have a whole condo here for about half the price of a modest hotel.
What else? Oh. Look for the public art. There’s a lot of it around town and it does a lot to add character to the place.
I’m always on the lookout for my next great adventure. What town is your favorite place to visit?