Why we picked Utah and Arizona for our trip

Back in 2019 my mom, sister, and I were supposed to take a 2 week trip to England and Malta to celebrate my mom’s 50th birthday. However, my sister was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes HOURS before we were supposed to leave for our trip. Her doctor told her that she could not go on the trip because her blood sugar was way too high. We were pretty upset but we rescheduled our trip for March of 2020…we all know how that one turns out. Halfway through 2020 we are all pretty bummed our trip didn’t work out but we were still craving adventure and wanted to celebrate so I started doing some research and convinced my mom and sister that a 10 day road trip from Salt Lake City, Utah to Phoenix, Arizona was exactly what we needed. We planned our trip to land at the end of April/ beginning of May for the perfect southwest weather (typical temperatures found here)

Our Itinerary

Day 1: We flew into Salt Lake City and had brunch at the amazing Park Cafe . We enjoyed a short nap to help with the jet lag and then headed off to Bonneville Salt Flats for sunset and an engagement shoot. It’s definitely worth the drive from Salt Lake City! We felt like we were on another planet.

Day 2: We had planned to do a hike at Cottonwood Canyon but it rained all day so we spent the day shopping at the amazing mall downtown, got our nails done, and enjoyed an early dinner at Nomad Eatery. It was actually really nice having a laid back day after a long day of travel from day 1. If I were to do it again I would probably do Bonneville flats on the second day to avoid the drive after a long flight.

Day 3: We left Salt Lake and headed about 4 1/2 hours south towards Zion National Park! We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Springdale and I don’t have enough good things to say about our experience. The employees were helpful and informative, the rooms were great, the view was better, they had all of the amenities, and have tons of information about the area. Since we arrived in the afternoon we spent a few hours by the pool then enjoyed a wonderful experience at Kings Landing. If you are only going to eat out once your entire trip THIS is the place! The view is spectacular and the food is unmatched.

Day 4: The Narrows! If you’ve read anything about Zion you have probably read about the Narrows. It’s a hike through the narrowest part of Zion Canyon where you’ll be hiking through the Virgin River (yep, you’re going to get wet and the water is FREEZING). I read a lot of reviews before our trip because I wanted to be prepared. You’re definitely going to want to rent the water shoes and the bibs (unless being cold and wet for hours sounds fun to you). We saw a lot of people turning back early who didn’t rent the gear. We did our rental through Zion Outfitters which was perfect because you can walk from their shop right into the park. You’ll need to book your shuttle for Zion in advance because during their busy season, Zion doesn’t allow cars into the park. It’s a very simple and organized system but make sure you read the instructions before heading to the park (shuttle info here).

Day 5: Canyoneering in Kanab and Bryce Canyon National Park. We started our day at 5am with breakfast and an early drive to Kanab for our canyoneering adventure with Roam Outdoor Adventures! We had so much fun and our guide was very knowledgable about canyoneering and the ecosystem of southern Utah. After our adventure we enjoyed a good sit down lunch to rest our legs before we headed to Bryce Canyon for an afternoon hike. At Bryce we hiked Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail which we found highly recommended on Alltrails. Bryce should definitely be at the top of your National Park list because it is unlike any other park I’ve visited and maybe one of the most underrated.

Day 6: Time to leave Utah and head to Page, Arizona! Page is a little gem in what feels like the middle of nowhere. Be aware of the different timezones around Lake Powell. Make sure to spend your first evening in Page watching the sunset at Horseshoe Bend! I was lucky enough to shoot an engagement shoot there and it was incredible.

Day 7: Kayaking on Lake Powell to Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon was closed down when we visited so the only way to enter the canyon was by kayaking through it! We rented our gear from Lake Powell Paddle boards and Kayaks. They drop off and pick up the kayaks at your drop in point and the trip is an out and back so there’s not a lot of navigating you’ll have to do. This is a half day trip but SO worth it!

Day 8: Drive to Flagstaff, AZ. We left Page a little early to be able to enjoy a late afternoon horseback riding trip in Flagstaff. We had a great experience with High Mountain Trail Rides. They had horses for all level riders!

Day 9: The day that probably had the most anticipation: The Grand Canyon. My mom and sister had never seen the Grand Canyon before and it was such a treat to be able to be there for their first experience. It never gets old looking at the natural wonder. We went a little later in the afternoon to avoid the long entrance lines and to be able to catch sunset at Ooh Ah Point. Being able to watch the colors change is a must if you are going to visit the Grand Canyon.

Day 10: Drive to Phoenix! I would highly recommend taking the scenic route through Sedona on your way to Phoenix. We preferred to spend our day in Sedona then head to Phoenix to stay the night before we flew out the next morning.

I hope this post inspires you to explore more of our beautiful country! I would highly recommend getting the America The Beautiful Pass to save you lots of money and time getting into the National Parks. If you are leaving soon and don’t have time to get it in the mail you can always buy them at the entrance points at the first park you visit. Happy Travels!

Hugs,

Liv

In an instant—everything changed.
 

I wasn’t supposed to be this way. I had just graduated with my degree from Indiana University where I had spent the last 5 years preparing to be a doctor, or so I thought. I was sitting in our living room talking to my husband, Nathan, and I broke down. “I’m miserable. I’ve hated my life for the past 5 years and I don’t want to be a doctor but I have no idea what I want to do”. His response changed everything for me. He said, “Babe, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone”. Such a simple concept that I already knew but hearing him say those words gave me the freedom that I was searching for.

So, here I am. I’m here to tell you, You don’t have anything to prove to anyone. Stop letting what others think of you hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Don’t allow your self-doubt keep you from attaining your God-given potential. If I wouldn’t have tossed the opinions of others out the window that day, I would never have accomplished all that I have for myself and my business these past 2 and 1/2 years. Don’t be afraid to dream big and let others in on that dream. It’s definitely not the easiest road to travel down and it comes with a lot of sacrifices but if you have that gut feeling or voice in your head that keeps telling you to go for it, DO IT!

Maybe you’re like me, feeling unfulfilled in your work but have no idea which step to take next but you are ready for change! This is my encouragement to you; don’t let society tell you that what you do is more important than who you are. Find the things that bring you joy, make you better, challenge you to serve others and you WILL find that fulfillment no matter what you are doing.

I hope my story encourages you to not only make the changes in your life that you have been wanting to do but also reminds you that you are SO much more than a job title.

Hugs,

Liv

We spent the evening hiking to the beach at the beautiful  Grand Mere State Park  in Michigan. We brought a picnic for them to enjoy while enjoying the sunset, walking the beach, and ended the night with sparklers just for fun!

I always say how important it is to pair your engagement session with a fun place or activity because it gives you gorgeous photos + a date night.

Planning an Elopement in the Blue Ridge Mountains

If you’ve ever visited the east coast in the fall then you know how magical it can be. The changing colors in the leaves, the romantic bed and breakfasts, the fog-filled mornings that turn into beautiful days and sunsets that follow. Helping Drew and Leanna plan their Virginia elopement was such a fun task and a dream location for November!

First, we picked the time of year. We chose the second weekend of November so that there would still be plenty of fall colors but not as big of crowds. You can check out the fall colors calendar here (Shenandoah Fall Colors). Next, we decided on Shenandoah National Park as their location. It’s only about 4 hours from where they lived so they could do an easy weekend getaway. Virginia has so many amazing Bed and Breakfasts that are historic, romantic, and elegant. You really can’t ever go wrong with staying in a small B&B verses a large hotel. 

I found an amazing lookout spot that was only a 3 mile hike. We started early evening so the couple would have enough time to get ready, exchange vows, and enjoy a nice picnic to end the evening. If you are wanting to elope but not sure where to start, I got you. My 100 page elopement guide gives you all the resources you’ll need to plan your day exactly how you want it! 

Vendors:

Florals: Deeply Rooted Floral Co

Stationary: Maddie Laidig

Hair & Makeup: Katlyn Sainz

Dress: Reclamation Dress

Rentals: AAYS Rentals

Your Narrative blog will appear here, click preview to see it live.
For any issues click here