We are back from our trip out West and to the Southwest. We had such an amazing time visiting family, getting to see wildlife, checking out some amazing national parks, taking in so much of God’s beauty, making memories, and drinking lots and lots of iced coffee. 

We got to go so many amazing places. Here are just a few of the places we got to check out.

Indiana Dunes- IN

We discovered beach glass for the first time while visiting the Indiana Dunes. Macey found a nice piece in the sand.

Henry Doorly Zoo-NE

We’ve had this zoo and aquarium on our bucket list for a few years now and finally got to go. It did not disappoint. We loved our visit here!

Estes Park, CO

We love Estes Park and try to go every year when we visit my parents in Colorado. This year, we saw so much wildlife! The elk were really active!

The Great Sand Dunes National Park- CO

This was so much crazier than we thought it was going to be. It was sooo windy, and the sand just buffets your entire body when you’re on top of the dunes. We found sand in our shoes and bags and clothes for days! But it was so worth it. Sledding down the dunes was an incredible experience and not one we’ll ever forget.

The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park- AZ

We really enjoyed driving through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. There were so many great stops. We got to see petroglyphs that are hundreds to even thousands of years old.

Oklahoma City National Memorial- OK

Our time here was sober, but I’m glad we went.

OKC

We had a great night in OKC. We ate at The Old Spaghetti Factory, which meant something to Matt and me. We ate at a The Spaghetti Factory in Philly the night we got engaged almost twenty years ago. That Spaghetti Factory has since shut down, so it was fun to experience one twenty years later with the kids. We also had a great time doing the Bricktown Canal riverwalk.

Pioneer Woman Mercantile and Lodge- OK

We had such a great time visiting the Mercantile and the Lodge. The food was Ah-mazing! Everything we had was so good, and the lodge was so fun to visit.

Scottsdale, AZ

We got to spend a few days in Scottsdale, AZ~our favorite. The sunsets in Arizona…there’s just nothing like them! We hit Butters, the best breakfast place in the area and a family favorite.

I will never tire of seeing the amazing beauty of God’s creation in all different places. Pictures just don’t do it justice.

We were on the go a lot, but there were a few mornings where we were able to savor a slow morning, drink an extra cup of coffee, and have a long morning time. Those were the best mornings. We didn’t take a photo until the last day…hence the towels in the background.

We are already making plans for our adventures next year! So thankful for this beautiful life!