In September and October 2018, my mom and I took a 10-day trip to Arizona, Utah and Colorado. In order to give you a different perspective, she’s been kind enough to answer some questions.
1. Why did you pick the places on this trip?
Joni: Although I’ve been to every state on the East Coast and major cities in the West, I had yet to see the Grand Canyon and the landscape out West.
2. How did you plan – did you have a travel agent, go on a tour, go in with a specific plan or play it by ear?
Joni: My daughter, Steph Purk! She is excellent at planning day, week, and a few week excursions. Travel time, as well as, hitting the sights at peak interest times are taken into consideration when she plans trips.
3. Did you have any difficulty coordinating your schedules to plan the trip?
Joni: I own an online art gallery and I am able to work remote at times.
4. What were your specific goals?
Joni: I love to see wildlife, hike, and photograph on location. On this trip the goal was to see the Grand Canyon, however, we saw so much more!
5. Did you have any snags or issues traveling to or from your destination?
Joni: No snags. It was fantastic!
6. How did you get around while on your trip?
Joni: We flew into Phoenix and rented a car for the trip. We visited three states and this was the way to see the countryside.
7. What did you pack?
Joni: I had Steph help me on that. She hikes and travels a lot so she knows what to bring and what not to bring. I don’t remember being without anything. Of course, I packed too many clothes – room I could have used to bring back more mementos.
8. What did you pack but didn’t use?
Joni: Too much clothing. It was mentioned that I wouldn’t need much – but of course I needed to learn.
9. What do you wish you had packed but didn’t?
Joni: An airplane neck rest and hand sanitizer.
10. What were your favorite foods or meals from the trip?
Joni: Mexican food at La Casita de Cortez and water infused with lemon and cucumber at a restaurant in Colorado Springs, CO. They had a dispenser at the door while you waited for a table. It was so refreshing!
11. What was your favorite experience?
Joni: I cannot choose just one!
- Grand Canyon – For its majestic splendor
- Wupatki Citadel Trail – specifically Nalakihu (800-year-old house outside the village) – Very spiritual and brought me to tears
- Antelope Canyon – For its pure beauty
- Balcony House Tour – We both went out of our comfort zone, it was empowering
12. What was your least favorite experience?
Joni: I caught the flu from the person sitting next to me in the plane on way home – at least it was on the way home.
13. Is there anything you wish you’d done?
Joni: No, not really. The trip was exhilarating and just enough to not be exhausted. Couldn’t have planned it better.
14. Who took longer to get ready?
Joni: Me, of course.
15. What souvenirs did you buy?
Joni: A sandstone sculpture at Monument Valley and earrings at Antelope Canyon Marina
16. Where would you like to travel next?
Joni: National parks in Montana
17. Where have you traveled in the United States?
Joni: I’ve traveled to every state east of the Mississippi. Out West, I’ve traveled to Missouri, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii.
18. Where have you traveled internationally?
Joni: Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Canada