For my daughter's eighteenth birthday, I wanted to give her something that would leave a lasting impression. We did the shopping spree at her favorite store where she loaded up on cute tops and flirty dresses. She also received some artsy decor for her dorm room. But in ten years the trend will change and the clothes would have been donated to the local thrift store, along with any decor items that made it back out of the dorms.
What she will always have is the trip we took to celebrate her rite of passage. A special time with just the two of us, mother and daughter, bonding over a week full of adventures and discoveries. In ten years, she'll still have these memories...
Day 1
...The gorgeous room at The Iron Horse Inn in the super charming town of Cottonwood. She loved it so much she didn't want to leave the room!
...The trail to Devil's Bridge in Sedona, where the views took her breath away!
Day 2
...Our little walk in the woods in Oak Creek, stopping to enjoy the exact same spot mom and dad did when we were there several years back on our anniversary trip.
...The perfect cup of chai at Brandy's Restaurant & Bakery in the historic town of Flagstaff where we hope to have inspired our waitress to get out and explore more. She walked by and caught a glimpse over our shoulders of a photo of Devil's Bridge. She couldn't believe that it was in Sedona, a town just thirty minutes from her home. She had been living in the area for almost a decade, but had only visited Sedona once. We left her a little extra tip and a note encouraging her to go back soon.
...Taking in the splendor that is the Grand Canyon for the first time.
...And exploring the trails of the South Rim.
Day 4
...Crossing the emerald green Colorado River on Navajo Bridge.
...Finding access to the Colorado River at Lees Ferry to dip our feet!
...Then catching the sunset at one of the most iconic places on Earth: Horseshoe Bend.
Day 5
...Feeling like we were transported into another dimension as we toured Lower Antelope Canyon. She was completely in love with the colors of the canyon walls and proclaimed this activity to be her favorite from the entire trip!
...The incredible landscape of hoodoos and stalagmites in Bryce Canyon.
Day 6
...Our six hour hike in The Narrows in Zion where she managed to keep her clothes completely dry, despite the hike being in the water almost the whole time!
Day 7
...Beautiful and brutal, the infernos of the Valley of Fire!
At the end of the week, we left with memories that will not only last a lifetime, but will inspire her to keep her wonder of the world and to continue exploring and learning. In ten years, she won't have the material things we gave her on her eighteenth birthday, but she will always have the moments we shared on this trip, the humility she felt when she stood on the cliffs of the Grand Canyon, the raw beauty of the sunset at Horseshoe Bend, and the cold, crystal clear water of the Colorado River on her feet.
One day she'll have her own daughter. Perhaps the memories from this adventure will inspire her to teach her daughter to be curious about the world. And perhaps that curiosity will send them on a similar trip where they will build their own memories.
~ Stephanie
One day she'll have her own daughter. Perhaps the memories from this adventure will inspire her to teach her daughter to be curious about the world. And perhaps that curiosity will send them on a similar trip where they will build their own memories.
~ Stephanie
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