Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Drive To Arches
A day spent mostly driving from Heber City toward Arches National Park, stopping at Tie Fork Rest Area, reading the landscape of Carbon County, and noticing what remains along the old rail and mining corridor. With fewer photos than usual, the day unfolded through observation, history, and a quiet BLM stop as the sun dropped.
Driving South from Ogden
Most of the day was spent driving, choosing quieter roads over interstates, and taking in parts of Utah that don’t demand attention but reward it. From Ogden and Pineview Reservoir to Rockport, Coalville, Park City, and finally a quiet stop along the Provo River, it was a day defined by movement, observation, and finding calm at the edges of the map.
Golden Spike / Spiral Jetty
A sluggish morning at the Sun Tunnels turned into a long, careful drive across Utah’s back roads—past sheep herders on horseback, trailers arranged like small inward-facing communities, and miles of washboard dirt—ending with quiet reflection at Golden Spike and a solitary sunset arrival at Spiral Jetty.
Sun Tunnels Day 2
I spent an unhurried day alone at the Sun Tunnels, reviewing star trail images, wrestling with technical mistakes, and watching the desert light change from afternoon through blue hour. Between small human moments, failed attempts, and quiet successes, the day became less about getting the shot and more about learning, patience, and knowing when to stop.
Salt Lake City to the Sun Tunnels
An early morning escape from Salt Lake City led me west through fog, improvised roadside art, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and long, empty highways. What should have been a short drive stretched into a full day of watching the landscape change before I finally reached the Sun Tunnels—alone, unhurried, and ready to photograph light, darkness, and everything in between.
Library Day
After an incredible day on the slopes, a heater failure in the middle of the night forced an unexpected pause. A fuel scare, a system lockout, and very little sleep led to a slower day at the library, quiet reflection, and a reset before heading back into the Utah desert.
Brighton Ski Resort
An early morning arrival at Brighton Resort turned into a day where everything clicked: good snow, easy lift conversations, steep runs, and a growing sense of comfort at altitude. Between skiing, reflections on the Great Salt Lake, and a final evening in Salt Lake City, the day felt both grounded and forward-looking, setting the stage for the road ahead toward the Sun Tunnels and the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Solitude Ski Resort
An early morning drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon led to a calm, midweek ski day at Solitude Mountain Resort. From empty parking lots and smooth, rhythmic turns to dehydration lessons, forgotten boot buckles, ski lodge fries, and a quiet return to the city, the day unfolded without spectacle—just solid skiing and a mountain that doesn’t try too hard.
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Today was one of those get-ready-for-what’s-ahead days. After a workout, coffee, and lunch, I spent the afternoon hiking the muddy winter trails at Red Butte Garden, photographing snow-covered plants and lingering color, before turning in early for a ski day at Solitude.
Snow Bird and Alta Ski Resorts
My first two ski days in Utah delivered everything I hoped for—fresh snow at Snowbird, deeper powder and longer runs at Alta, and the kind of mountain moments that remind you why skiing never gets old. Back near the Utah State Capitol that night, the UConn–Providence rivalry game turned into a late-night classic, draining whatever energy I had left in the best possible way.
Salt Lake Museums
I spent a full day moving between the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum of Utah, drifting from modern abstraction to deep time. From Sol LeWitt wall drawings and recycled-tire sculpture to human evolution, dinosaurs, and the rock cycle, the day unfolded as a quiet conversation between art, science, and place—ending downtown over dinner with a friend visiting Salt Lake City on business.
Utah State Capitol
A detailed visit to the Utah State Capitol, exploring its history, architecture, materials, and symbolism, followed by time photographing the interior, grounds, and downtown Salt Lake City after dark. From neoclassical design choices and Chief Washakie’s statue to trams, winter lights, and quiet streets, the city revealed itself slowly, unevenly, and without spectacle.
Great Salt Lake State Park
Avoiding I-15, I drove through empty stretches of rural Utah, followed signs for the Creekstone Energy project, and spent hours at Great Salt Lake State Park confronting the reality of a lake that was once hundreds of feet deep and now survives on the edge. Wind, industry, and shifting shorelines shaped the day—and changed my plans for the night.
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere
From a quiet morning coffee to walking the perimeter of Allegiant Stadium, the day unfolded at a measured pace. Sphere delivered one of the most immersive entertainment experiences I’ve seen, pushing spectacle into something physical and unforgettable. Dinner at Nora’s grounded the evening with familiar flavors before a final walk through the hotel revealed a strange, perfectly Vegas detail overhead.
Vegas 2026
I hadn’t been on Fremont Street since nineteen eighty-three. Walking it again—under the LED canopy, past old neon, Indiana fans celebrating, and familiar landmarks like the Golden Nugget—made it clear how much Las Vegas has changed. Some things remain recognizable, but they now exist inside a much louder, brighter version of the city.
Vegas New Years Eve
New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas was soaked in rain, flooded with light, and wrapped in noise. From a quiet morning coffee in southern Utah to fireworks echoing off the Strip and a one-hundred-dollar Uber back to the van, it was an experience worth having once—just to know.
Capitol Reef National Park and Butch Cassidy
A slow morning in Capitol Reef National Park turned into a day shaped by history. From the working orchards of Fruita and the massive Fremont cottonwoods known as the Silent Sentinels, to roadside petroglyphs and a humble stop at Butch Cassidy’s childhood home, the drive west became a reminder that this landscape has been lived in, marked, and worked for centuries.
Goosenecks to Capitol Reef
What should have been a short drive from Goosenecks State Park to Capitol Reef National Park became a slow, deliberate journey across southern Utah. By skipping the Moki Dugway and following Utah State Route 95 through Fry Canyon and Hite Crossing, the road stretched into a day defined by quiet highways, towering rock walls, and long moments of stillness that made the destination feel earned.
Lone Rock to Gooseneck State Park Utah
I woke alone near Lone Rock in Glen Canyon and drove a looping route through Arizona to reach southern Utah. Along the way were unexpected stops: Glen Canyon Dam, the Navajo Nation’s solar fields near Kayenta, Monument Valley, Forrest Gump Point, and Mexican Hat. The day ended at Goosenecks State Park, camped on the rim above the San Juan River, surrounded by silence and fading light.
Hurricane, Utah to Lone Rock
I left Hurricane after Christmas, trading uncertain ski conditions for a drive across southern Utah and northern Arizona. The route climbed onto the Kaibab Plateau, dropped into Lee’s Ferry, crossed the Colorado River, passed the Vermilion Cliffs, and ended at Lone Rock, where the exposed shoreline made the absence of Lake Powell impossible to ignore.