Southwest Parks October 2025

Sarah’s birthday trip this year unfolded as a ribbon of desert highways, red rock cathedrals, and shared moments that felt both adventurous and deeply personal. 

We began in Las Vegas and drove east into the towering cliffs of Zion National Park, where the trip quickly set its tone. Hiking Angels Landing together was exhilarating—exposed, challenging, and unforgettable—rewarded by sweeping views that made every careful step worthwhile. We filled the days with other trails as well, savoring quiet sunrises and glowing sunsets that painted the canyon walls in gold and crimson.

From Zion we continued on to Bryce Canyon National Park, where nature surprised us with the season’s first snowstorm. Our planned hike was cut short, but the hoodoos dusted in fresh snow created a magical, almost surreal scene—one of those unplanned moments that becomes a favorite memory. The contrast of white snow against rust-colored stone felt like a gift in itself.

In Page we slowed down for two nights, and that’s where Sarah’s birthday truly revealed itself. Wandering into a Navajo pawn shop, we found the perfect gift: a beautiful squash blossom necklace, rich with history and meaning. We also explored the sculpted light and shadow of Antelope Canyon, hiking through its flowing sandstone curves that felt more like art than geology.

The heart of the journey came at the Grand Canyon, where we stayed three nights right on the rim at the El Tovar Hotel. We hiked both the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails, feeling the immense scale of the canyon with every switchback. We caught three sunrises and three sunsets, each one different, each one humbling. On Sarah’s birthday, she was also surprised with a song written just for her—created by David and ChatGPT—a moment that blended creativity, love, and celebration in a way we’ll never forget.

From there, Sedona welcomed us with its spiritual red rocks. We hiked Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and several other trails, and even experienced a vortex session with a local guide—an introspective and grounding pause near the end of the adventure. 

Finally, we drove on to Phoenix for our flight home, carrying with us not just photos and souvenirs, but a shared story of landscapes, laughter, and a birthday journey that felt perfectly, uniquely ours.