Grand Staircase-Escalante is absolutely worth exploring. Although you'll find plenty of scenic drives, be sure to get out of the car for a hike. My favorite is the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls. If you're visiting during the busy tourist season, go early in the day. A dip in the pool of the falls is the reward on a hot, summer day.
Landscape Arch is the second longest sandstone arch in the world. It's an easy hike along a paved trail to reach the arch. Stop here or keep on hiking the 7-mile primitive trail loop to see many other arches. If you decide on the shorter version, it's possible to include Landscape with several other must-see arches on a day of touring Arches National Park. I show you how.
Travel photographers will want to save the Delicate Arch hike for the late afternoon to capture a sunset. Bring water and snacks on this 3-mile roundtrip hike. Bring a flashlight for the return trip down the trail after the sun sets.
Besides being a great location for night photography in Arches National Park, Turret Arch also makes a good sunrise location, glowing orange from the rising sun. It's part of my recommended one-day tour of Arches in this beautiful national park near Moab, Utah.
If you only have one day in Arches, here's what to see and do. But I recommend slowing down and spending more time in this corner of Utah. Book a tour with the National Park Service to explore the Fiery Furnace. Hike to Delicate Arch for a sunset photography shoot. Take some of the four-wheel-drive backroads to go off-the-beaten-path and don't miss a stroll down Park Avenue.
Canyonland National Park's Mesa Arch is an iconic sunrise photography destination for traveler, amateur and professional photographers. No matter when you arrive to capture a sunrise at Mesa Arch, you will not be alone. My advice is to avoid peak travel times, if you can. Get there early to stake out your spot and look for alternatives to the typical Mesa Arch sunrise. Remember, you'll be traipsing on a short trail in the dark so bring a flashlight and your patience. Mesa Arch is located in the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands. It's an easy drive from Moab. And even though you'll run into a crowd of photographers, watching the sun light up Mesa Arch is worth it.
The drive to South Point, where Papakolea Beach is located, is an adventure in itself. Be sure to bring water because it's a hot, 2-mile hike to reach the beautiful green sand. And if scrambling down the rough hillside is more than you care to do, the view is just as beautiful from the top of the trail. Read more about my hike to Papakolea Beach.
You don't have to be an expert to go kayaking with Big Pine Key Kayaking Adventures. Captain Bill Keogh led my group on a 3-hour beginners tour of mangroves where we pulled ourselves through the maze of mangroves. It was steamy, quiet, a little spooky and oh so much fun!
After swimming in the blue hole, taking photos and exploring Ichetucknee Springs, hop in a kayak (okay, you'll probably need to rent one) for a paddle down the river. I did.
The Sunset Celebration in Mallory Square is worth braving the mobs of tourists. It's Key West quirkiness at its best. And oh that sunset!