Monument Valley, the Valley of Rocks, Navajo Territory in Utah & Arizona, the sunrise between the East & West Mitten Buttes.
When we planned a vacation to Park City, Utah, to escape the heat of Texas, it had to include a road trip to Monument Valley as well! Utah has been on my bucket list, one of the Four Corner States. I’ve been to Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico many times, so Utah here we come! More than 50 years ago, I visited the Four Corners Monument, the only place where four states come together! Seeing that and many other sites on our past family trips…was when I knew the Southwest had a place in my heart forever! 💙
Laura & my hubby Howard on the historical Main Street of Park City, Utah.
My late Grandmommie & late Dad with me and my brother, thanks Mom for taking the picture and my Aunt was on the trip too in the 1970s!
After a week of Park City life on Main Street, which included a Museum plus Old West Shops filled with art, jewelry and souvenirs, I was in Southwest shopping heaven! We also branched out to the Olympic Tour venue and another trip up the ski slope on a gondola for a taco dinner at the top. We enjoyed the sites of Park City, also known for the Sundance Film Festival! 🤠
At last, it was time to drive South about 7 hours to the Navajo Nation. We booked The View Hotel and I would highly recommend it for the views and Native American hospitality! We visited the infamous Goulding’s Lodge too, known for film maker John Ford & actor John Wayne for Wild West movie history. 🐴
The next morning we were ready for our tour of Monument Valley, known as the valley of rocks! The desert sun was blazing on this warm July day, so we needed to beat the heat of the afternoon. Our Navajo tour guide picked us up in his 4-wheel drive open-air truck and off we went. We were able to see up close what we had seen from our hotel balcony, we were in Arizona now! First stop looking South were gigantic rocks, named “mittens”, the East Mitten Butte & West Mitten Butte. Also, the third wonder that completes the triangle, Merrick Butte in all its statuesque glory! 🏜️
We also visited a Navajo round house, a symbol of the Sun, known as Hogan. There we met a Navajo woman, who was so informative about living in the valley of rocks. No running water, no electricity except for generators. In fact, The View Hotel states that they don’t have a swimming pool out of respect for those that must travel for water. She taught us about weaving a Navajo rug and basket. How they brushed their hair with the ends of gathered weeds! How the chimney is always open, no matter the weather. I purchased a Corn Maiden sand painting from her and you will see it at the end, in my picture with our tour guide. ☀️
We have traveled to many places that have a Three Sisters tribute, and Monument Valley has one as well. Also see the tiny village and open-air shops. I was so excited to find a tiny turquoise heart ring there. It was perfect to add it to my collection of AWJ Turquoise
It reminds me of the ring I found on my first trip many moons ago. 🌚
I’ll wrap this blog up with these amazing gifts of the Gods and flowers from Mother Nature. If only you could hear the sound of the flute playing during our adventure! The landscape is so beautiful with petroglyphs in the red rocks that open up and are known as the Ear & Eye of the Great Spirits. Images of the past tell a story from ancient times. 🦎
Happy Trails, Laura ~Your Personal Shopper Stylist
PS: We enjoyed a Navajo Fry Bread 🌮
And, everywhere on our journey, everyone complimented me on my American West Jewelry!
