When I was little, we moved into a house with a collection of Arizona Highways magazines that was left behind by the previous owners. My siblings and I used to look through them on rainy days, and cut out pictures for school projects. I never saw myself living in this area. It looked so hot and dry. But I remember all the desert colors!

We left the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab pine forest behind as we continued on our cross-country journey.  Driving north and east through Monument Valley toward Colorado,  we were surrounded by more incredible rock formations and amazing colors. Next stop: Mesa Verde National Park!