Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

In typical Audrey fashion, I convinced Dom I needed some driving "fuel" before the Bronco was headed out to Bryce Canyon. So, I grabbed another cinnamon and honey iced oat milk latte from Canyon Coffee Co outside of Zion - so delicious, highly recommend. Dom slept as I called my mom for "proof of life" but before we knew it we arrived at Bryce Canyon Village. The single highway into Bryce was littered with billboards trying to grab our attention.  

“COUNTRY RODEO 4 NIGHTS A WEEK” and “LIVE COUNTRY MUSIC - DINNER AND A SHOW” hmmmmm very enticing to two road trippers with no agenda! 

Now, my dad proudly raised me to pursue any roadside adventure that piques our interest and that is ultimately how we enjoyed our time in Bryce. 

Day 1: Ebenezer's Barn & Grill - Country Dinner and a Show 

Dom and I are suckers for live music. We love all genres and share many good memories around live music-centered date nights. Ebenezer's dinner and a show were no exception. We purchased 1 viewing ticket and 1 steak dinner ticket with the intention of sharing as a result of eating too big of a lunch. We arrived at the event hall... or barn... and sat at a table with the sweetest elderly women who excitedly told us they were having a 50-year high school reunion. These nice ladies meet 3 times a year! What amazing friends. They then asked what we were celebrating or traveling for and we both politely said we were on a Graduation Roadtrip. "Oh, from where?" said the ladies. Then Dom stated "West Point." The immediate response was, "OH WOW! Wait? The both of you!! You go, girl! *high five*." Haha, it never gets old. So fun when they can believe Dom but get big eyes when they hear Dom say we're BOTH West Point graduates. 

We split our wonderful country dinner and sipped on some IPA and House Rose as the Bryce Canyon Wranglers began their country show taking the audience through a timeline of country music. It was the perfect first night in Bryce.

Songs included: Lovesick Blues, Good Hearted Women, Walkin After Midnight, Texas When I Die, On The Road Again, Folsom Prison Blues, 9 to 5, etc. 

Day 2: Figure 8 Loop and a Quintessential Rodeo 

Our day started off right with the Cowboy Buffet. We cleaned our plates! It was so nice to have a bottomless meal while on a road trip! Then it was off to the park. We walked from the Bryce Visitor Center along the rim to Sunrise Point, then began the Figure 8 Loop trail which navigates through Queens Garden, Peek-a-boo Loop, and Navajo Loop finishing up at Sunset Point. The hike was roughly 10 miles of endless beauty. You begin at the top of the rim looking out over the amphitheater and then cozzy yourself down into the hoodoo formation and canyon walls. The Figure 8 Loop allowed us to hike the entire amphitheater. At the conclusion of the hike, there were some switchbacks (☹️) up to Sunset Point. We then followed the rim back to Sunrise Point and retraced our steps to the visitor center. Of course, no long hike is complete without a celebratory beer! Thanks to Dom's Cousin Meli, we were able to enjoy two cold ones alongside some dried apricots to take in the moment and feel accomplished in our long hike endeavor. 

We grabbed a few microwave meals to heat up in the hotel and then headed out to the Rodeo! We secured two of the last seats in the bleachers and watched in awe as the country rodeo began. Dom had never really seen a rodeo and I only have an amazing memory of watching PBR (Professional Bull Riding) with my Dad, Eman, Sierra, and Skye. So clearly we are on two different spectrums of expectations for this rodeo. 

It was hilarious, awesome, and extremely impressive. Now Dom wants to be a bull rider! 

Day 3: Mystic Hot Springs

We packed up and headed out to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Southeast Utah. But, to stay on trend, we of course took a detour to soak in some natural hot springs along the way! How could you pass up this therapeutic roadside attraction? My cousin Ashton recommended this stop and it did not disappoint! These natural hot springs are positioned alongside a mountain and the higher we climbed up the hotter the water was! Dom and I will definitely go back but we hope to visit at night time to enjoy the stars and hot water without the sun also beating down on us.