If you are looking for camping on Lake Powell -- look no further. Just over the border of Utah, there is a campsite which has amazing views of the lake. The campsite is called Lone Rock Beach Campground. It costs $14 per vehicle, per night but it is well worth it. Also be aware that the campsites are on the beach so there are areas of deep sand. Fortunately, I was prepared with a winch and no one got stuck. This is a popular spot so I do recommend getting there early on a weekend to claim your spot right on the water. 

 Moving forward, we took Federal Highway 89 up through Kanab – or, as they self-proclaim themselves, “Little Hollywood.” Abandoned film sets from classic Westerns still reside in town along with signed posters of all the stars that stayed in town for filming. Most famously -- John Wayne, who starred in many western movies which were filmed there. Probably the most well-known being “Stagecoach.” Passing through town and up to Bryce Canyon, there is no shortage of views of the southern Utah landscape. Small quaint towns line Hwy.89 so there are plenty of places for food and gas. Once you reach State Highway 12, you’ll take a right as you are getting closer to spectacular views. These views get even better once you get into Bryce Canyon National Park. Taking a right off of Hwy. 12 and onto Federal Highway 63, you’ll pass through the town of Bryce. Keep on the road and you’ll reach the entrance to the Park. 

The journey to the Park is half the fun. There are a few things you should know though. The Park fee is $35 per car. This is good for seven consecutive days. Also know that, if you are bringing a dog or dogs, they have restrictions on trails. Now for things you shouldn’t miss: Inspiration Point is the GO TO spot if you are looking for the best views in the Park. That is my humble opinion for only spending a day in the Park. We also checked out Bryce Point which had great views as well. If you do spend multiple days, I would recommend hiking on their numerous trails that range from easy to difficult. You really can’t go wrong with any location within the Park. I recommend doing your research and plan out your trip within the Park to get the most out of your trip.

Our next stop was at the most underrated National Park and -- not to mention -- it was completely free! Capitol Reef National Park has magnificent red rock canyons along with rock formations you won’t see anywhere else. There are plenty of activities to do, including hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, road tours and some kid-oriented activities as well. On our trip, we passed through the historic Fruita Historic District and made our way to the north side of the Park called Cathedral Valley District. Our goal was to see the incredible sculptured monoliths called Temple of the Sun and Moon. The road to get there was decently rugged and they do suggest a high clearance vehicle but a two-wheel drive vehicle should have no problem if weather conditions are good. It was roughly 15 miles from Highway 24 but it was well worth the trek in. There are hiking trails when you get there and that is exactly what we did to get the best views of these massive monoliths. This was our last National Park stop for the day and it was well worth the sights. If you are able to take the day to explore, they do have a loop, The Cathedral Valley Driving Loop Tour takes around 6-8 hours to complete.

Moab, Utah is about two hours away from Capitol Reef National Park and that was our final resting spot on a long Saturday adventure. Getting into town a little late hindered any exploration but I could tell there was plenty to do. With two National Parks within an hour of driving distance and a State Park as well, Moab is the town for spectacular outdoor activity. There are OHV trails, hiking trails, rock climbing, golf, horseback riding, etc. You name it; they have it! Unfortunately for us, we didn’t get the chance to take advantage as we had to be on the road early Sunday morning. 

Driving home, I decided to check out the place made famous (even though it was already famous) by Forrest Gump -- Monument Valley Tribal Park. I had never been, so of course I had to be like every tourist. Every type of picture was taken on the famous road where Forrest Gump decided enough was enough. What a sight to see. These sandstone masterpieces stood tall (400 to 1,000 feet, to be exact) within the red rock plateau. General admission is $20 per vehicle up to four people and $10 per individual pass (walk-in, bicycle or motorcycle). They include guided tours (for an additional cost) and backcountry permits (not included in the general admission pass). The backcountry permits allow for hiking and camping within the park. Unfortunately for me, the park was closed at the time I was passing through. That still couldn’t take away from the incredible rock formations seen from the road through town.

After Monument Valley, my weekend trip through southern Utah was coming to an end but what a journey it was! The drive back from Moab, Utah to the Phoenix area took me close to 7.5 hours and that included my stop at the Monument Valley Tribal Park. With all the views taken in the entire way, driving was made easy. I hope this was good, usable information for you all and take what you want from this article but it made me realize the availability to get out and explore some amazing parks we have in our next door neighbor’s backyard. With that being said, the next time I decide to explore southern Utah, I will be taking my time and visiting all the incredible outdoor activities they have to offer. The outdoors are calling so get up… get out… and explore to live.