If you ask me what my favorite part of our ultimate road trip was, Antelope Canyon is my answer.
Going into our trips, I had SUPER high expectations about seeing it. And it literally blew those hopes out of the water. After walking through the canyon, I would have turned around and did it all over again...and again. And not only did I love it, we all did! Seriously, if you're within 2 hours of Antelope Canyon, make the drive, and visit it. You will not regret it.
But first, let me tell you a little about the drive from Alton, Utah to Page, Arizona. The entire two hours was beautiful. We made numerous stops to view the landscape (and a to collect a sandwich baggie full of cool red sand) and we could have made countless more. The Vermilllion Cliffs are stunning! I even made a note (for when we for sure return to this part of the country) to hike Kanab Canyon. We would also want to visit the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park and the Grand Staircase in Escalante National Monument (and that's only in southern Utah...we haven't even gotten to the numerous parks in the northern Utah). I didn't know that this State has so much to see!
Here are a few quick pictures from a stop we made on the drive. The landscape made us feel like we were on another planet.
It was other worldly
The boys, of course, set off to climb and conquer, because that's what boys do.
Mountain goat Josh
Find Josh
Sam
The climbing brothers
Doesn't it look like he's walking on the surface of Mars?
As we arrived in Page, we made a quick stop at Glen Canyon Dam (also a National Park). Our canyon tour wasn't until 2:45, so we had a nice sit down lunch of pizza before heading to the canyon. The canyons are Navajo reservation land, so in order to visit them you have to book a tour. While this initially felt annoying (and a bit expensive), we thoroughly enjoyed our guide (all the guides are Navajo Indians). The stories he told and information about the canyon that he gave us were well worth the price of a tour. We also lucked out, as our guide was a photographer, so he took some sweet family pictures for us! One other note: there are two Antelopes Canyons, an upper and a lower. After doing some research, we decided to do the lower, as we read that it was more kid friendly. In Lower Antelope Canyon, you enter and exit at different points, as opposed to the upper canyon where you have to return the same way you came. This makes lower feel a little less crowded. I'd love to visit both someday. Also, we didn't book early enough to get the "optimal" time for lighting (you can get cool sunbeams through the canyon when the sun is overhead). This also didn't matter much...it was honestly so stinking cool without them.
Can you tell that I'm excited? Because I was. So. Excited.
The view down into the canyon from the entrance.
Descending...
First glances. Check out the texture on the walls.
It was hard to know where to look: up, down, back, forward...every viewpoint was different and striking.
Seth
There were three or four different sets of staircases throughout the canyon.
First of many cool family pictures.
There were times that the canyon was so narrow you had to step over or around a piece of the wall.
We were in awe
There was an adventure around every corner.
I doubted that the kids would really enjoy or appreciate the tour, but they loved it and were amazed at the sandstone walls. It was a grand adventure to them.
Even Joshy loved it.
Look at how small that space is!
Notice how narrow the path is? (the boys enjoy doing a silly picture, which is what the picture on the right is).
I love this picture...Josh running around, Seth touching the walls in amazement...
One of my favorite pictures of the trip!
The walls were so cool!
I think that this is my favorite family picture.
Awe.
Every picture has such a unique perspective, I couldn't decide which ones to eliminate.
Our guide took this one. The sandstone shapes look like a mountain range.
Check out how everyone is in different section/angles of the canyon...so cool!
Ben is doing this pose to make his legs look skinnier...silly man.
Peek-a-boo Josh
So, at one point in time during the tour, the kids were running ahead finding their own "caves." Then the guide says, "Let me show you my cave." He sat in this cave, had the boys sit next to him and be quiet, and then pounded on his chest. The sound echoed! Apparently a lot of the walls are hollow! So crazy cool!
Our guide took this picture as well. It's called, "A broken heart."
Exiting the canyon (unfortunately).
The top portion of the canyon.
Diane coming out of the canyon. Can you believe how small the slot is for the canyon at the top?
After our tour, we stopped by Horseshoe Bend. It was windy and cold and filled with swarms of these newly hatched gnats. All that to say, it was a pretty cool view, but we didn't linger for long.
And then, we were cold and with tired legs, so Josh and I even stayed in the car instead of seeing the Glen Canyon Dam viewpoint.
Ben took this picture.
And this one of the twins (Sam and Seth)
Thus ended an epic day. Visit Antelope Canyon. You will not regret it.
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