Sedona, Arizona

A vacation to Lake Havasu, Sedona, and Vegas was the break from reality and COVID that I needed in order to reset. It gave me the urge to explore and travel to new places and experience new things with people that I love to be around.

When I graduated college in May I moved home and being that COVID was in full force, I had nothing to do but apply to jobs that I would not get. My mom gave me the notion to visit Jack, my brother, in Arizona because why not. My cousin and I booked a cheap flight to Las Vegas and it was the beginning of my post-grad travel experience that I have now fallen in love with.

Lake Havasu, Arizona

Our journey began trekking from Kingman, Arizona to Lake Havasu for a beach day.

There is something so intriguing to me about mountains being explicitly everywhere you look when you are out west.

Lake Havasu was no different, the mountainous region behind the clear blue lake was stunning.

Of course like any day trip, something is always forgotten. Jack had pre-packed all of the beach accessories and forgot all of it when we left in the morning, most importantly the umbrella. We stopped at a store and bought an umbrella and set-up camp on the beach. We spent the rest of the day standing in the water drinking seltzers and munching on homemade sandwiches that Mackenzie, Jack’s girlfriend, made for us. While taking sips of our refreshing drinks, our umbrella vanished in the wind across the beach. There’s something so comical about watching a giant umbrella fly inside out in the wind while a little boy chases it down and tackles it. Needless to say, Lake Havasu was the best way to begin the trip filled with laughs and good vibes.

Sedona, Arizona

Our next destination was Sedona, Arizona. The long-ish car ride was worth it solely because we stopped to get Chick Fila and I tasted the mac and cheese for the first time – thank you, Mackenzie. Once we got closer to Sedona, the drive was incredibly beautiful. Driving up and through the mountains was mesmerizing and unlike anything I had ever seen before.

A big bucket list item for Ryan, my cousin, and I was to see Devil’s Bridge. The four of us woke up early the next morning and hiked to the tourist attraction and waiting for hours to get to walk on Devil’s Bridge. For someone who doesn't deal with heights well, I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be, and I was definitely in better shape on the bridge than Jack was. Just the view looking at the bridge was impeccable and when you were on it, it was such a different perspective.

After hiking back down to our car we decided to grab food and a margarita and then traveled to Cathedral Rock and hiked, or rather climbed, up the rock. Once again, the views at the top were striking and we sat up there for probably about an hour just looking at everything. There weren’t that many people who climbed up to the top, so it was pleasant to just sit there and enjoy the views. The climb down was a great amount harder than going up, but after an ~almost tumble, we made it safe and sound.

We watched the sunset at the most populated, but most beautiful spot in Sedona. There’s something about watching the sunset in front of the mountains that is different than anything I had seen before. We got dinner with wine flights and Crème Brulee made at the table and called it a night watching Free Solo for inspiration for the next day.

The next day, our last day in Sedona, was my favorite.

We began the day exploring the Chapel of the Holy Cross that was such a picturesque chapel to visit. Our next hike was Bell Rock where there were many times that I thought we were getting a bit too ahead of ourselves after watching free climbing movies, but I went with it which was so worthwhile. With Ryan leading the way, we climbed up to the top of the rock with absolutely no one there and just sat on the top of a rock and admired everything around us. It was so freeing to sit on top of a mountain with no responsibilities or the need to move whatsoever. Of course, climbing down was a bit harder than going up, but we all made it and were ready to head back to Kingman.

We spent the night at Jack’s house watching Holes, The Greatest Showman, and High School Musical recovering from the hiking from the days before. The next day we got up and drove to Vegas for our final day of vacation.

Vegas during COVID might be one of the saddest things I have experienced.

We went to the pool and drank $40 margaritas and spent the day in the sun. We got ready for dinner and FINALLY, I was able to experience Vanderpump Garden in Caesar’s Palace. Jack, Ryan, and I enjoyed the Vanderpump cocktails, and I was so thankful that they let me have my moment of stardom there. We got dinner at the Palm and after drinking all day I wasted a delicious filet mignon. Dinner was phenomenal and we took our night to the BlackJack tables. I lost $100 so fast and spent my night watching Jack and Ryan play and their face masks break every 3 minutes.

Needless to say, the trip to Havasu, Sedona, and Vegas was the break from reality and COVID that I needed in order to reset. It gave me the urge to explore and travel to new places and experience new things with people that I love to be around.