living abroad, from the charm of small villages where you get to know all your neighbors, to long walks at sunset on pristine beaches or hikes up to active volcanos, spotting sloths and scarlet macaws, and of course all the adventure excursions you can dream up. Imagine my surprise to be reminded that we don’t have to “go abroad” to find all that wonder. I am now convinced that the key to finding paradise resides in your mindset. If your head is in the right place, even the simplest trip can bring magical memories to last a lifetime. It’s as much about looking within as looking outside yourself. Granted getting my head in the game took 2 years living abroad, but now I’m experiencing first hand that anywhere I go I’m finding beauty that captivates and keeps me coming back for more.
II recently rediscovered paradise right here in the U.S. with breathtaking natural beauty, majestic mountains, small charming towns and more adventure - extreme and soft - than a normal person can experience in a lifetime. Welcome to the funky little old west town of Kanab, in Southern Utah, my jumping off point for day trips to exotic desert adventures. Yes, exotic, and once you see the photos you’ll know why. Kanab is blessed with coral pink sand dunes and cliffs, lava flows from volcanic craters, majestic mountains, and wide open plains. And because this is the high desert, the weather is pretty pleasant year round. Often called, “Little Hollywood” because of the numerous old Western movies that were filmed here over the years, you can still find abandoned movie sets and get that western sense of style from the architecture, Hickory BBQ and cowboy hats on every other passerby. Kanab is a perfect base to see much of what draws the tens of thousands of tourists to this region every year. A little about my favorites...
Zion National Park - The most popular of the national parks, Zion has a rich Native American history with evidence of human presence dating back 8,000 years. From the highest summit of 8,726-foot Horse Ranch Mountain and the lowest point 3,666-foot at Coal Pits Wash, there are dramatic canyon views throughout the entire park. This park is popular for hiking and climbing, but also great if you don’t even want to leave your car. There is a free shuttle through the 6 mile main road offering a taste of all the park has to offer. For a peak and brief history of Zion, check out this short video from The Travel Channel.