It was time for the final leg of our road-trip and quite possibly the most adventure packed portion of it! Even though we would be going a little out of the way, it still felt like we would be “in the area” enough to route us through the middle sections of Arizona and New Mexico so we could see the Grand Canyon and Roswell “on the way home.” We ended up packing in so much more and it was amazing.

We started at 6am Friday morning departing Minden, NV where Nathan would be finishing his class that day and then flying back home early Saturday morning. We had a lofty goal of reaching the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park before sunset after picking up a special guest in Las Vegas that day. Our drive to Las Vegas was pretty much back roads through small towns and lake areas before hitting a stretch of desert highway. We drove past Death Valley National Park to the north and wished we could’ve stopped in there, but the time of year and our priorities were not conducive to that. Hopefully, we can make it back! Near that National Park, we’re pretty sure we also passed a test driving location commonly seen in car commercials. You know, the ones where they’re doing donuts in the sand? We also passed by THE Area 51 military base and stopped to use the bathroom in quite a touristy and entertaining alien themed gas station.

By 2pm, we were in Vegas and picked my dad up from the casino he arrived at the night before. I took a break then and he gave us the grand driving tour of The Strip. The kids and I were in awe of the shear size of the casinos/hotels and theming that go into them. I was able to get a picture of the famous Mirage before it’s demolition as well!

After refueling, I jumped back in the driver’s seat and we tore off for the Grand Canyon excited that we would be driving across the front of the Hoover Dam before hand! Now, I took great pride in my planning and research for this trip; but I’ve got to say, I dropped the ball on this particular attraction. I THOUGHT you get a view while driving across the bridge in front of the dam and deemed the stop at the lookout point unnecessary. I didn’t account for the fact the bridge is designed to keep traffic safely moving with 10 foot (guessing) concrete walls in all sides. Maybe 18 wheelers could see? At any rate, we blew right by the Hoover Dam and didn’t. see. a. single. bit. Gonna need a redo on that one.

That disappointment soon lifted once we made the turn North for the Grand Canyon National Park entrance. The scenery was quickly changing to hills and towering trees, we were gaining elevation and were watching the temperature drop on the dash of the car. But the sun was also dropping! By the time we reached the admissions gates, they were already unmanned and people were paying via kiosk. Not sure if it was against the rules or not, but we bypassed that process since we had a season pass and drove right in. Then we had to dodge the people standing and cars parked in the middle of the road staring at Mule Deer *facepalm.* We FINALLY reached a parking lot near the South Rim look out point and the kids took off running!

And we made it! Not only did we catch sunset over the Grand Canyon, Mother Nature decided to show off when a thunderstorm started to trace through the canyon creating constant changing colors in the horizon and canyon walls. We even witnessed lightening strike deep into the canyon. We were completely awestruck and know for a fact no matter how many times we may come back in the future, we will never see it like that again.

It was nightfall by the time we got back to the car and we had to drive another hour through the incredibly dark roads looking out for mule deer before we got to Flagstaff where we picked up dinner and hit our hotel quite exhausted but very accomplished.

Our second day across Arizona started around 8am and about an hour of driving later, we found ourselves, “standing on a corner in Winslow, Az.” If you didn’t immediately hear the chorus of the song in your head, we can’t be friends haha! We had excellent coffee and heard some great music while there as well.

Next stop that day on our way to Roswell, NM was Petrified Forest National Park. We entered on the north end of the park off of I-40 and managed to drive through the entire park pitstopping at POIs along the way before exiting on the south end on highway 180 that we needed to continue our route. The Painted Desert is stunning with its colors and ever changing landscape. We explored ruins of a 10,000+ year old village and pictographs. Then the grand finale of the petrified wood itself and the inconceivable reality that a forest once existed in the now barren landscape.

I feel this park is so underrated. It is so dynamic and other worldly. I would prioritize going back there before the Grand Canyon, honestly.
We kind of dilly dallied longer in the Petrified Forest longer than anticipated and didn’t make it to Roswell till after 7 when most of the shops and restaurants were closing. We grabbed a bite at Whataburger, took some photo ops outside the McDonalds and called it a night.

The next day, we got to enjoy the “theme” of Roswell a little more. We grabbed coffee at Stellar Coffee Company, bought merch at the Alien Invasion Store and had fun with more props.

10 hours later, we were home! Nathan and I returned the minivan that night 3600 miles heavier than before and the next day, I dropped Dad off at the airport to head home before I went into work. Back to reality just like that! This trip was surreal and epic. When we started road-tripping state parks with the kids, I would say, “and maybe one day, we’ll road-trip out of state with them!” And then one day happened. I’m so proud of us and am already thinking up more epic road-trips in a rented minivan.

-Lindsay