A Smidgen of Heaven: Arches

When after I had been married about a year, I asked my husband where we should go for our summer family vacation. I think he looked at me like I was either an alien or speaking a foreign language. a Family WHAT!?! We had both been raised in very similar styles in many ways, but this was not one of them. While I was growing up we went on a family vacation every year, when he was a kid he never had gone further than Grandma's house (in the neighboring city) with is entire family. Granted, his maternal grandparents lived in England, and so his mother took each of her sons once with her to England when they were 16, and this is further than I ever went as a child. But annual family vacations were not something he had ever experienced. I was determined not to let this tradition die. So since we were married we have gone on at least one family vacation a year, sometimes they are further than others. But I really think Family Vacations are a big part of what holds families together (yes there little things do too, but family vacations build so many good memories, that help overshadow the daily annoyances we find in each other).

This past spring we decided to head to Southern Utah to check out some of the National Parks down there. We spent three days in Arches, this was plenty. We went in early May. Which was perfect, the weather was nice and it wasn't too crowded because most people are still not quite to the summer vacation period. We did every hike except those in the Devil's Garden Loop (we went to Land scape Arch and then turned around and went back. My kids were exhausted!!!! But they were able to do it all and they loved it.

Balance Rock

The first place we went hiking/walking/climbing was Balance Rock. This is a very impressive feature that is an easy walk around the feature. It was fun to be able to walk right up to all the features in the park.

Windows

We then headed to the Windows area. This I believe is the most concentration of Arches in the park. We went and saw the North and South Windows, and then over to Turret Arch.

The North Window you can go right up in and down the other side a bit. The south window is a bit more difficult to get as close to, I didn't get any picture of it because my husband was convinced that it was really just the back side of the North Window. Later I found a spot that you could barely see both of them. I should have taken a picture of that. But I didn't. Then we went off to Turret Arch, It looks like a door with a window to me.

We then went back to our campsite and went to bed. The next morning we decided we better hike to Delicate Arch first before it got hot, and before everyone was too tired. So off we went.

Delicate Arch

Delicate arch is very popular and there are a ton of people. My kids really conquered this hike, and along the whole thing people would give me updates on where my kids were because people would stop and talk to my kids and they would explain that their mom was behind with the indepedant two year old who insisted on hiking on her own.

It was a pretty good hike along slick rock, there was one short steep part, but nothing my two year old didn't think she could do.

I had no idea that you could just walk right out to this arch, I always imagined you would have to do some rock climbing to get to it. I wouldn't want to send my kids out by themselves, as it sheer cliffs on either side, but it was REALLY AWESOME!

On the way back down we noticed there was an arch we missed on the way up. Naturally my kids had to climb up to explore it.

I was very impressed by this single flower growing in the rock Talk about blooming where your planted.

Sand Dune Arch

This was my kids favorite. so much so we had to go twice to it. Bring your Sand Castle making supplies.

After playing in the sand for a long time, I took my two year old back to the car for a nap, while my husband and the kids went on to broken arch. It was a flat walk to the arch. Not bad, but they also said nothing really note worthy.

Devil's Garden Loop

We didn't do most of the loop. We went to Landscape arch and then back. As you approach Landscape arch it really blends in with the background. In fact it wasn't until after I had said, "hey stand there so I can take a picture" that my husband realized the arch was right there.

You keep walking and then all of a sudden it is boom right there. No way you can miss it.

On the way back we stopped to see Pine Tree arch, it has a grove of pine trees growing under it.

That was enough for one day. so we went back to camp.

Double Arch

Double Arch was incredible. Back by the Windows, it probably be easiest to see it at the same time that you see the Windows, the parking is a little intense here, so if you can find a parking spot I say keep it. Easy hike to the arch, a bit of climb to get in the arch.