Day three and four of our road trip saw us driving from Arizona to Utah. The stops along the way were some of the highlights of our trip, with stunning views, wonderful friendly people, and breathtaking views.
I knew we were headed into the Old West, and would be seeing dinosaur tracks, so I did the thrifty travelling momma thing, and stopped at a thrift store and Dollar Store in Flagstaff before hitting the road, and got the girls some hobby horses at the thrift store ($3 each) and cowboy hats, dinosaur toys and other goodies at the Dollar Store. (Some of the best souvenirs for the girls, and literally 1/10th the price of the same goodies at the overpriced gift shops in the middle of nowhere!)
First stop was to the Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks just outside of Tuba City, Utah. This location features real dinosaur tracks that have been viewed and verified by paleontologists all over the world. The sheer number of tracks and bones and fossils here are just mind boggling. There are literally hundreds of dinosaur tracks and that the view is fantastic. You can see the Hamblin Ridge in the distance, and get a glimpse of a preserved barren desert land on the Navajo Reservation.
The majority of tracks came from the dilophosaurus, a crested dinosaur weighing from 750 pounds to 1000 pounds – very large meat eating dinosaurs! Our tour guide was a real sweetie, and she even gave Tessa a piece of fossilized dinosaur poop to take home! (Tessa calls it her big rawr cacaball.)
We stopped for the night at the Monument Valley Tipi Village, a small grouping of hand-hewn and hand crafted tipis built and run by a sweet Navajo family. This stop was simply AMAZING. The immense, still beauty of Monument Valley was just to the east of our tipi, that brought gorgeous views with the rising sun. The Rock Door Mesa was just behind us, and to the west was Tear Drop Arch.
The tipi teepees was carpeted, and included camp beds with linens and blankets, a table and a lamp with electrical outlets. It was the craziest marriage of camping and bed and breakfast style luxury. We had fun sitting around the fire, and then spending a quiet morning of the girls playing in the iconic red sands and hopping around on their hobby horses.
After eating a yummy breakfast of Navajo Tacos at a nearby Chuckwagon, we headed into Monument Valley, the world famous region of the Colorado Plateau that is characterized by a cluster of vast sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1,000 feet above the valley floor. We took the 17 mile scenic loop drive, with frequent stops along the way so I could take a thousandy and one pictures!
Okay, those tipi teepees are so much nicer on the inside than I ever would have guessed. What a truly unique and fun experience. I would love to take a trip like that someday – very different from what I see in New England on a daily basis!
Yeah, those tipis were a trip!!! I am ACHING to go back! <3
Thanks for sharing these amazing pictures and andventure with us! This is insane! Have a great day 🙂
Check out my blog if you want: http://www.theglamandglitter.com
Tamara xxx
Of course! I will stop by and check it out right now! <3
Fantastic photos!
Have a nice week-end!
Gil Zetbase
http://gilzetbase.com/
Thank you Gil!! You too! <3
Sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing!
It was, it was one of the favorite parts of my trip! <3
Thanks for the travelogue Gingi. Love feeling like I am along on the trip with you.
Thanks for stopping by Bill! I love sharing my photos! <3
Great trip! Night in tipi and dinosaurs… Super!
Right?!?!??! It was so fun! <3
What a dream trip! The teepees impressed me a lot, and that’s why it’s nice to read a travel post from a photographer, because we got to see and experience what you did too, in some way.
Love the cheap thrift store hobby horses!
I am so addicted to photography while traveling.. happy you guys are here to share with, or I would explode with all these unshared photos, haha!
Gingi – what a fantastic trip.
Your photo’s are just great and your girls are growing so fast.
What an amazing experience, you’ve all had.
Thanks for sharing
All the best Jan
I know, it is amazing to me how quickly these little munchkins are growing.. where has the time gone?!?!
Such a great post, love these pictures! The teepees look like such a fun experience!
They were, I am pretty sure we MUST go back as a family soon! haha
Amazing photos and thanks for sharing this wonderful adventure with us..
Awww, thank you! I had so much fun taking these photos! <3
Gingi, these views are so beautiful… wow… it sounds like you and family had a wonderful and fun time… I am not much of a camper so I don’t know if I would like staying in a ti pi.. The red sand and rocks are gorgeous xox
Thank you Launna! We did have an amazing time!! <3
Hi Gingi, I have just been so busy with organizing, cleaning and working… I am hoping to find some time this weekend, I have a lot going on … I just need to organize my thoughts xox
Great photos. I love that place! It is the coolest. Glad you and the family had a fabulous time.
Yeah, we NEED to go back.. love our little adventures! <3
Oh my goodness, what gorgeous photos!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Thank you Kelly!! <3
Thank you very much , I love you like !
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<3 <3 <3 <3 Thanks!
This place is so cool!
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
I know right/?!?!?!
These are certainly some cool travel shots, babe! xoxo
Thanks Shirley!!! <3 <3
Ah, this makes me want a road trip!! My family lives near there, so I want to go when I visit in March!
OMG YOU SHOULD!!! Seriously, it doesnt even cost much more than surrounding hotels!!!
Great photos and it must be so exciting to see the dinosaur prints! The tipi looks great!
It was, I was surprise just how impressive and cool they were!!
😉
Amei as fotos!
Ótima segunda!
Beijo! ^^
<3 <3 Thanks for stopping by friend!
I loved dinosaurs when I was a kid, so those tracks are pretty awesome!
Yeah, now Tessa is OBSESSED with dinosaurs, its actually pretty cute!
Oh gorgeous Love the look
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Wow y’all having a great adventure for sure. Great experience and shots. 🙂
http://missymayification.blogspot.co.uk
Yeah, we felt like Indiana Jones, haha
Lovely post.
http://www.thestylegalaxy.com/
Thank you dear! <3 <3
You look amazing as always
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Awwww, thank you dear!!! <3
Aw that place is absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing these photos!
xx
cvetybaby.com
No problem, thank you for stopping by sweetie!! <3
omg, I would LOVE to visit there!
You should!! It was AMAZING!!!
love those pics! those outfits are gorgeous!!
http://www.myhandbagsnshow.com
Thanks!!! I was going for an adventurous look for us, haha
Great shooting!
Have a nice week-end!
Gil Zetbase
http://gilzetbase.com/
Thanks Gil, that means a lot coming from you! <3
What a beautiful place! I’d love to visit one day. You’re girls are so adorable.
I know they are, they are so cutest! Thank you!
Great post love this type,Thanks for sharing!!!
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Thanks for stopping by! <3 <3
It looks amazing!
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Thanks! <3 <3 <3 <3
Wow, you look really stunning, and I really like the outfits !
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Thanks! I always pick outfits out for vacations to make the theme match, haha! <3
I loved it. You really look so pretty.
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Awwwwww, thank you! Made my morning!
Oh wow! Your trip looks so cool. The dinosaur track images are amazing. Glad your little ones get to experience some history at a very young age.
LaToya
http://www.toyastales.blogspot.com
Yeah, they knew exactly what they were too! I was so happy watching them have a blast and learn so much!
Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!
XOXO
Jeanne
http://fashionmusingsdiary.com
Thank you for stopping by! I love taking travel photography! <3
I love those items, thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for stopping by my blog!
This is so cool! I’d love to visit someday!
http://www.jeannechristinemarie.blogspot.com
Oh you should!!! This place was so neat!!!
i love this post 😀 i hope you’re having an amazing day!
mfashionfreak♥blog
I am, you too sweetie! <3
Wow this looks so awesome!
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
It was crazy fun! Cant wait to go another adventure!
Wow! Thax for sharing these cool pics, looks like you guys had a fantastic time.
xox
Lenya
FashionDreams&Lifestyle
Beautiful photos.
http://www.thestylegalaxy.com/
beautiful location and pictures
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Realmente, un lujo de fotos, abrazos, te luciste.
Love the 70’s vibe with this look! Dying over that bag too. Have a great day Vanessa!
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amazing location, very beautiful pics
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