We flew Delta Air Lines non-stop (5 hr flight) into Salt Lake City, Utah and jumped in a taxi for a 45-minute drive to Park City, Utah! Catching an early morning flight got us in early enough to enjoy pretty much a full day in Park City.
We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Park City which is a 10-minute drive to Main Street located in town where you will find shops & restaurants. The entire team here was accommodating and very efficient. I didn't get to spend too much time on property but I had no complaints when I did! The "One Bedroom King Suite" provides you with a home away from home. Full kitchen, washer/dryer and fireplace of course. Breakfast is the only meal we managed to grab but it was very good. Making it back in time for evening S'mores by the firepit is a nice touch. The weather this time of year is crisp, cool & warm all at the same time.
There is plenty to do in Park City, UT. Taking into account the fresh mountain air and picturesque scenery, outside activities are the way to go! We managed to fit in morning walks, rented bikes from White Pine Touring and enjoyed some great meals. When in town grab some lunch at Harvest Park City for casual, delicious food on the healthy side. You can also check out, High West Saloon which is known for its whiskey distillery and handcrafted cocktails, the food was pretty good too. We visited the Montage Deer Valley resort, a luxury property overlooking Park City where you will find the popular “Burgers and Bourbon” restaurant. Can't beat the views at this resort!
Since Park City was more of a starting point before we headed out on our road trip, we spent limited time here but there is much more to do. Next visit, I would try fly fishing, hiking and horseback riding just to name a few. While this is primarily known as a ski destination, not being much of skier myself, I love visiting ski destinations during the spring, summer and fall!
Let the road trip begin! First stop, Zion National Park - Utah's first national park and roughly a 5 hour drive from Park City, UT!
We arrived at the park mid-afternoon and drove through taking in our beautiful surroundings. There are plenty of stopping/viewpoints for photo ops and just soaking it all in, which I highly recommend. When we got to the end of the park, we parked and hiked the East Rim trail. Nothing too difficult but a nice start.
We stayed overnight at Zion Mountain Ranch which was only a 5 minute drive from the park at that point. We were pleasantly surprised upon arrival since we didn’t know what to expect in this neck of the woods. Numerous log cabins on beautiful grounds surrounded by bison, horses, chickens and even a few rabbits! Once again, we were greeted by friendly staff and stayed in the Buffalo Vista Honeymoon Suite. Picture rustic, fireplace, patio with rocking bench overlooking the field. Can't beat that after a long day of driving and exploring the park.
A little Gemstone shopping in Zion!
The following day and second stop on the itinerary, Bryce Canyon National Park! An hour drive from Zion Mountain Ranch.
We had an early start to Bryce since we heard morning is “the time” to enjoy this national park. The views are jaw dropping! Bryce Canyon National Park was one of the main destinations that I built this itinerary around and it did not disappoint. We began our hike with the Queens Garden trail and combined it with the Navajo trail. I couldn’t stop taking photos of the endless hoodoos along the way. After a long day at Bryce, we hopped right back into the car and drove straight to Page, Arizona for the next leg of this adventure.
We arrived Page, Arizona just in time to catch Horseshoe Bend at sunset! Even with some passing clouds and high winds, I was able to capture great shots. Now I understand why they say there really isn't a bad time of day to visit! We went back the following day for some early afternoon shots as well.
And last but definitely not least, the following morning we visited, Antelope Canyon! No words can describe walking through one of these slot canyons. They are SO amazing! I believe the pictures say it all!
Page, AZ is the closest place to stay if you want to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Antelope Canyon was the second destination this itinerary was created around. You can do tons of research about Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon and why you should visit one over the other. I opted for Lower Antelope Canyon even though the upper canyon is where everyone goes to hopefully get a shot of the light beams. Apparently, upper canyon gets very crowded and there is no guarantee of getting the light beams. I was VERY happy with my decision of choosing the lower canyon. I could not stop taking photo’s.... We booked the 10am tour with Ken’s Tours. It’s important to note you cannot visit these slot canyons without a guide. There aren’t many companies to choose from and I was happy with the service provided by Ken’s Tours. Antelope Canyon is a must see when visiting this area. Although, I hear you can visit other nearby slot canyons that are not so touristy as well. Every step you take and every angle surprisingly provides a different shot.
Before we left Page, AZ we were able to stop by Amangiri Canyon Point, Utah for a site inspection. Page, AZ doesn’t offer much in the way of luxury resorts so Amangiri is THE place to stay. Quite frankly, it would be hard to compete with an Aman property so I understand why nobody has bothered! The closest airport to the resort is Page Municipal Airport (PGA), approximately a 25 minute drive from the resort. Complimentary transfers are provided by the resort.
Driving down US-89 S you will see the sign for Amangiri and once you make that turn you quickly realize that you are entering a very special place. Engulfed by canyons and valleys you are truly in your own little world but yet a short drive from many popular attractions. There is a total of 34 suites and the rates are inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner (excluding alcoholic beverages) but this is not your typical all-inclusive! I was fortunate enough to visit during lunch. The spread presented in front of the open kitchen with wood-fired oven & menu options were quite impressive!
Each suite has an outdoor lounge area with stunning views of the landscape! Desert wing or Mesa wing, you can't wrong as the view seems to go on for days. If you don't manage to book a pool suite, don’t worry. The main pool at Amangiri is pretty awesome, reminiscent of Horseshoe Bend. From my understanding, the property was built around this particular piece of land. Talk about having a vision and executing it!
The Aman Spa, Yoga Pavilion and Fitness Centre (with a separate Pilates room) are everything you would expect. I had the opportunity to meet one of the fitness/pilates instructors. I immediately realized how knowledgeable and passionate the entire team is when it comes to fitness and the wellness journey of their guests.
The resort offers exceptional and unique customized excursions such as guided hikes with expert archaeologists & geologists, rock climbing and, my favorite, private visits to nearby slot canyons (two of which are exclusive to Amangiri). After a visit to the popular & touristy Antelope Canyons, you can appreciate this special experience.
Bottom line is Amangiri will NOT disappoint your luxury traveler! If you are not familiar with the Aman properties, you need to visit their website. They do luxury travel right!
We wrapped up our week with a short stay in Sedona at Enchantment Resort. After a week of driving, hiking and living out of a suitcase & car, a wellness break was just what we needed! The drive from Amangiri to Enchantment is around 3 hours. I have to say, even though I wasn't personally doing the driving on this trip, it was not bad at all. Regardless of how many hours we were in the car, the views were always beautiful and the roads were calming. We arrived just in time for happy hour and some much needed spa time.... Mii Amo Resort & Spa offers great “Journey packages” for 3, 4 & 7 night stays, for those "spa enthusiasts" out there. Everyone needs some time to unwind and regroup, these resorts provide just that. They offer great complimentary classes & activities such as “Sunrise Morning Stretch”, “Tabata”, “Yoga”, “Guided Meditation Labyrinth Walk” and I tried all of them! I should also add that the food at both resorts is very good but Mii Amo café stood out for me.
We left Sedona feeling serene and ready to take on the daily grind back at home! This wraps up our “U.S. Roadtrip, Pt. 1”, there is so much more of our beautiful country to explore and I can’t wait for Pt. 2, 3, 4, etc…. If I did the Southwest again (which I plan to), I would love to experience glamping in Moab, Canyonlands National Park & Arches National Park just to name a few. Until next time…..