Arizona and Utah 2011

Visiting the South Western portion of the United States is like traveling to another dimension in the space time continuum.   I apologize in advance for this and possibly many future nerdy references, after six+ years of marriage, my sci-fi loving husband has indelibly etched his influence on my word repertoire, but I digress.

As is customary near or after our anniversary, the hubs and I decided to plan a romantic little getaway, a budget-friendly winter escapade. Unlike what is customary however, this time we hopped a five-and-a-half  hour flight not across the Big Pond or to another country, but right here to the good ol' US of A.

The State of Arizona and it's neighbor to the North, Utah, are vast wonderlands of natural, raw and rustic beauty within themselves. No need to venture further.

We relished leaving the cold and relatively cuckoo climate of the North East for the hot, dry, arid desert of Phoenix....

To the glorious red-rock village that is Sedona, and where we made our home-base for a few days renting our own little studio complete with kitchen and all the amenities of home.  (Bell Rock Inn a division of Diamond Resorts, if anyone is interested.) We were able to save quite a few pennies buying groceries and cooking and packing our meals this way. Not to mention how fun it was to play house away from our house;)

Coincidentally our best meal in Sedona was at Ken's Creekside Bistro: Fresh, Gourmet, Organic and delectable fare. Highly recommend the goat cheese, sun-dried tomato and olive bruschetta it is absolutely  brilliant.

And then how do I even begin to describe the 2-Billion year in the making Magnificence that is the Grand Canyon?  I honestly find it nearly impossible to document with words. What I can say, is that this is one place in the world I believe everyone living in the States (and out of it) should visit once in their lifetime. It is worth every single penny, effort, challenge it takes to get there. Your eyes, mind and soul will thank you. Trust me.

We then drove our way up to Utah, through the desert, the Painted Desert the area where the Navajo and Hopi Indian tribes have called home for hundreds of years.... those mounds are naturally formed by erosion and natural elements like clay. Spectacular is an understatement.

The rest of the our stay was predominantly in the mountainous paradise that is Zion National Park. A rustic wonderland... We stayed at the Best Western Zion Inn. It was clean, central and relatively affordable but does not have any special charm. There are plenty more lodge/cabin like facilities (if that is what your looking for) in and around the Canyon.

We hiked and hiked, and explored and hiked some more....and were prized with a few rare,  but beautiful sightings....

Had Pioneer Breakfasts at a Good Old Fashion Country Saloon....

And then found our way to more hiking through naturally formed Coral Sand Dunes....

and even spotted "Where the Buffalo Roam." 

We also stopped by Lake Powell Arizona on our return road-trip from Zion,Utah to Phoenix, AZ before hopping a plane home...

This romantic winter escape created two very happy campers, our last night in Scottsdale we went out for delicious Tapas at Irunia. Delicious food, nice ambiance:

(this pic taken the day right after we returned at a good friend's wedding. refreshed and relaxed:)

Till next adventure....

P.S. Have you checked out my Fine Art Photography Shop C'est La Vie Art yet? If not, I encourage you to do so. I am hosting a spectacular 25% off sale through December 28 to make room for more inventory, take a look, you might find something that tickles your fancy or is sure to make a loved one smile:) Thank you friends.