When COVID-19 got in the way, we rerouted our entire trip and have a weeks-worth of memories to share!
Last summer Aaron and I had great big city plans with our three kids. We were planning ahead because a week in Chicago, even with a free place to stay, was not going to be cheap. Our trip was filled with our families (who happen to live less than a mile apart), pierogi, humidity, aquariums, deep-dish pizza, and big loud city traffic.
And then COVID graced us with its presence and we had to shift gears. We debated sticking it out in Phoenix, but being in hot Arizona in July was something we wanted nothing to do with.
Our airplane ride turned into a sexy rental in the form of a Honda Odyssey. Not gonna lie, I was impressed by all the amenities a minivan had to offer! The storage compartments had me giddy.
The five of us packed up the family mobile and took off on a hot summer morning toward Moab, Utah.
MOAB, UT
The kids and even us adults did pretty well on the 460-mile and 7.5 your drive there. With tablets in one hand and snacks in the other, we survived day one of our adventure. The Moab KOA graced us with its dirt-covered ground and red rock views. Even with COVID, there were people everywhere. We kept to ourselves, something that probably was hard for Aaron to do as he is a people magnet.
That evening we took off on an amazing 1.8-mile hike to Mill Creek. With a handful of people walking back as we were just heading out, we walked for an hour when we came to a waterfall. Winter, of course, was first to dive right in like a happy little fish while my boys squirmed alongside me cause for us, it was too cold.
Our hike back showed us different critters and beautiful star-covered skies. The kids, exhausted from a long day, crashed out in the tent, with me right beside them.
The next morning we packed up and visited the Corona Arch (fitting for 2020) on our way to Denver. We climbed rocks and ladders to get to the top. The boys and I almost made it to the top before turning back while Winter and Aaron kept going, reaching the arch.
Back in the car, we drove for 4 hours from Moab to Glenwood Springs, stopping for a quick bite to eat at the family-friendly Rivers Restaurant. The food was great, the patio even better and the view of the water below us stunning! The kids on day two moved onto workbooks and coloring books to preserve their brains. With full bellies, we made our stretch toward a suburb of Denver where Aaron's cousin Craig lived with his wife, a new baby, a giant white dog, and a few chickens.
Wheat Ridge, CO
The next three days were filled with backyard camping, snuggling babies and dogs, and lots of laughs and fun. Family means a lot to Aaron and I, so making time for our loved ones is a no brainer.
We kept it low key in Denver by taking the kids to catch frogs in creeks, scrape knees at skate parks, and overload their tiny bodies with s`mores, pizza and all the treats only allowed on a vacation. We hiked to St. Mary's Glacier where the kids got to play with icy snow. On Damian's wish list for 2020 was to visit a beach, so we found a small one at Chatfield State Park and cooled off on one hot day.
Our three days came and went too fast. Before we knew it, we were back in our minivan heading toward unexpected rain in Durango. We had planned to camp at Haviland Lake Campground, but when we arrived we had enough time to eat our lunch amongst big green trees before the downpour began. Not feeling motivated enough to deal with this type of weather, we shifted our plans and stayed overnight at the Hampton Inn.
The next morning we hopped around town, packed up the kids and souvenirs in the van and made our way toward Sutcliffe Vineyards where Aaron's friend greeted us with a tour, some friendly livestock and wine. The wine was delicious and the views stunning.
With 260-miles to Flagstaff and our last stop the rain from Durango followed us. This was our only planned hotel stay of the trip. All exhausted from the travel we finished off with Netflix and pizza.
On our final morning, we got a couple of hours of rain-free weather so we squeeze in a hike at Buffalo Park. And 2.5 hours later we were home, with some amazing summer memories ingrained in our hearts.
What did you do last summer? What do you hope to do this summer with your family, or alone! Let us know.
Miles Traveled: Approximately 1,621
Days in a Minivan: 7
Days in a tent: 5
Memories Made: In Bradaigh's words "Infinity!"
**This map is designed for city stops, instead of specific addresses to protect our privacy and those in our lives**
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