Family Road Trip…Priceless Memories

Gayla and I grew up with fond memories of taking road trips and we continued to hit the road traveling as our kids grew up. Over the years, most of the road trips were traveling to visit family across the country. While we did enjoy the scenery along the way, the pressure to “get there” often prevented us from taking side trips to see some of the most amazing places this country offers.

A photographer in Breckenridge inspired me to learn landscape photography and Gayla was gracious enough to buy me a new camera for Christmas in 2009. I began studying everything I could find on how to take a picture that captured what I saw…and decided it might be a good idea to actually read the owner’s manual for the new Canon 50D. With a desire to get out and take pictures and vacation days to burn before retiring, I started looking at road trip options. With all the demands of life, Gayla was not able to make a trip that year unfortunately. In May 2010, the kids and I threw the tent in the Suburban and headed west for a 10-day loop through Arizona, Utah and Colorado.

In planning the trip, I was focused on going to see amazing places. Certainly, from a selfish perspective in wanting to get some great photos but also hoping to share the experience of seeing these places with the kids. They were both in college and I realized this was probably the last road trip opportunity I would have with them before the reality of their adulthood set in. The plan included several national parks including; Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde and Carlsbad Caverns. In addition to the parks, we planned to pass through Monument Valley, Utah and several destinations in Western Colorado including Telluride and a spectacular drive down the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Durango. An aggressive plan to say the least but it did allow time to take in the sights. The timing in May worked well in that the kids just finished the semester in school but the summer crowds had not arrived yet.

I have heard it said that camping is one of the most memorable things families can do together. It is not the luxuries offered in the finest resorts but rather those moments when you wonder if the tent is going to survive the howling winds and really hoping the trees we are camped under don’t blow down. I also learned that if you snore, don’t sleep between two light-sleeper kids…they have fully functioning elbows. But one very subtle aspect of camping that creates those special memories is being immersed in the outdoor environment greatly increases the chances of experiencing those amazing outdoor moments that may be bypassed in the comfort of a luxury hotel.

I must admit, the desire to get amazing photographs meant getting up early to catch the sunrise and I wasn’t the most popular person in the campsite when it was time to get up. But to their full credit, Rachel and Tyler were good sports and didn’t complain, too much anyway. What I wouldn’t trade, however, is experiencing the sun rise over the Grand Canyon with my kids for a couple hours sleep…that’s what naps are for.

…or the same sunset light that creates an amazing glow on the red rocks of Arches NP light up the smiles on their faces

…or sharing the glow of the morning sun reflecting off the cliff face to light up the underside of Mesa Arch in Canyonlands

…or watching the playful sibling interaction backlit by the morning sun

…or seeing first-hand the amazing cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and watch them marvel at these incredible treasures

…or climbing with them on their first rock climbing experience near Moab, UT (guided of course)

…or the smiles that road trips bring

Yes, we did take a few pictures and I realized they both have an eye for photography when we set the photo challenge in motion. They did point out my rookie status as a photographer because I didn’t have knee pads like the other photographers they saw! 😊

What road trip would be complete if there wasn’t something to collect. For this trip, road sign pictures. We did turn around if we passed one to make sure it was captured!! We saw some spectacular scenery, laughed a lot and enjoyed the experience of a lifetime. As a dad, I got to see first-hand their amazing talents and those things I always hoped they might learn growing up:

· An appreciation for the awesome world around us and a desire to experience it

· A zest for life combined with a wonderful sense of humor

· A willingness to take risks and the wisdom to approach them smartly

You never know the impact of road trips. I feel safe in saying, based on both Rachel and Tyler saying years later how they wanted to take their families to these places that it worked much better than I could have ever hoped. Only regret is that Gayla wasn’t able to make the trip…hope to make it up many times over in the future.