From The Pumpkin Patch

My husband and I visited Utah for the second time last April, and I’ve been meaning to document our trip ever since.

I don’t have social media, but it seems like such a waste to keep these beautiful memories hidden away on my phone. I’m planning to create physical photo albums of all my travels at some point, but this is the next best thing for now.

We also visited a few other states during this trip, and I posted about our adventures in Arizona.

I could write an entire novel on everything I experienced during those two months. It’s hard to capture the smaller things, like getting snacks at our favourite American grocery store (Harmons!) or strolling around the neighbourhood watching the lizards dart across the pavement. There’s a specific feeling I always get in Utah, and I wish I could translate it here for you.

Just know, it’s a really special place. Here are just a few of the highlights!

I’m a big fan of dinosaurs, and it’s amazing to see their tracks preserved in the desert for anyone to find.

Bryce Canyon never fails to deliver the most stunning views. We hiked here for an entire day, and I’m still not over it.

We came face-to-face with a rattlesnake in Bryce Canyon when we strayed from the path. Traumatised for life.

The Narrows is one of the most unique and beautiful places I’ve ever hiked. This was my favourite day of the entire trip.

Our transportation to The Narrows! It was so fun (and a little scary) to zoom around the desert in one of these things. 10/10, would recommend.

We hiked to Mossy Cave in Bryce Canyon on a sunny morning. What a view!

The Natural History Museum of Utah had the most incredible dinosaur exhibit I’ve ever seen (and the prettiest views!)

It wouldn’t be a trip to St. George, Utah without a visit to Angelicas for the best street tacos in town.

One of my goals for this trip was to finally try Crumbl Cookies. They lived up to the hype!

Of course we had to watch the Utah Jazz play basketball in Salt Lake City. I miss the old team, but the atmosphere in the arena was as electric as ever.

I just love those big American thrift stores. They’re full of treasures!

Technically not in Utah, but I had to include proof that we visited the Hoover Dam on the Arizona/Nevada border.

Salty, alcohol-free margaritas and fresh tacos at Ernesto’s.

We drove a little way out of Salt Lake City to visit the Salt Flats. Incredible!

In-N-Out is a quintessentially American drive-thru, with surprisingly fresh and tasty burgers. I had to try it on a day-trip to Las Vegas!

We attended a mule auction out in the desert with a bunch of cowboys. Yee-haw!

I’m basic, I know. But I am obsessed with The Cheesecake Factory. Their avocado egg rolls are incredible, and the peanut butter chocolate cheesecake can’t be beat.

Hiking around St. George never gets old. It’s one of my favourite cities in the world.

These Anasazi petroglyphs were carved into the rock thousands of years ago.

Looking back at all our wonderful memories almost a year later has filled me with so much joy and nostalgia. I’m so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend two full months travelling through Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California, and I’ll never forget those times.

None of it would have been possible without our amazing friend Koye. She was kind enough to open up her home to us, take us to all the best places and even drive us across multiple states! Words can’t express how grateful I am to know such a lovely person, and I’m so excited for our future travels.

Now, where’s my passport?