My husband and I attended a friend’s wedding in Arizona and we took this opportunity to go on a road trip, a mini vacation before the impending months of sleepless nights and diaper- changing. According to what I have read online, the 2nd trimester was the best time to go on a vacation because morning sickness is less severe and you have this new found surge of energy. Nevertheless, I got advise from my OB/GYN before embarking on this and she gave the OK.
Our trip began in Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona and ended in Las Vegas, Nevada then from there we flew back to Georgia. Some websites I found helpful in creating our itinerary included caravantours.com, trip advisor forums and roadtrippers.com. I also borrowed some travel guide books from the library. These resources were crucial. Since we planned to hike, I had to find out which trails were safe for me to do and that means doing research and reading about the different characteristics of each trail. I thought the tripadvsior forums gave the most helpful info regarding this.
So to anyone interested on our itinerary, here is a day by day guide of what we did.
Day 1: Saturday
Arrived in Phoenix, Arizona around 12:30 pm and rented a car. Checked- in at an Airbnb which was convenient so we can prepare snacks for our trip. This would have been a perfect time to do some sightseeing in Phoenix. There is the botanical garden, a number of hiking trails, downtown Phoenix and a variety of museums. We ended up going to In and Out for dinner…lol
Day 2: Sunday
Woke up early and had breakfast at TC Eggington’s, highly recommended breakfast/brunch place. Went grocery shopping for snacks at Sprouts. We had some time to kill before the wedding so hubby and I went to Old town Scottsdale where stores lined the streets.
We walked around the art district and went inside one gallery which featured RC Gorman’s work. He was a Navajo artist who was referred to as the Picasso of American Indian Artists.
I love how women are portrayed in his art and his use of color so we bought some small reproductions of his artwork.
Day 3: Monday
Woke up early and had breakfast in the car. Our first stop was the Montezuma Castle National Monument.
We then drove through the red rock scenic byway in Sedona. We stopped at Tlaquepaque for some sightseeing and had lunch at the Secret Garden. We arrived at Flagstaff around 3 pm. Visited the Museum of Northern Arizona
where I learned about the different Native American tribes inhabiting the Colorado plateau and how each one had its own unique culture. Had dinner at Lumberyard Brewing Company. We left Flagstaff via 89 then 64 route which was said to be a scenic route going to the Grand Canyon. Since we started driving late, it got dark pretty quickly and we did not get to fully appreciate the scenery. Checked in at Yavapai Lodge. There are other lodges inside the Grand Canyon but all were fully booked except for this one. It was comfortable and clean and had a cafeteria and grocery store in walking distance.
Day 4: Tuesday
Explored the Grand Canyon. We first went to the Visitor Center via their free shuttle bus and from there walked the rim trail. It is an easy, paved trail with alot of areas to rest. Stopped at Hopi House, a store selling Hopi crafts and souvenirs. Also stopped at the Lookout studio. We then hiked the Bright Angel trail which is the hightlight of the day. It is fairly steep and had a number of switchbacks.
There are rest houses and water stations at certain points. We only did about 2 mi as I did not feel comfortable with the steepness of the dirt trail.
Day 5: Wednesday
Left Grand Canyon for Page, Az. On the way, we spotted a Navajo trading post called Little Colorado River Gorge
It is a must see. You have a closer view of the Colorado River and there are stalls to buy some souvenirs at a cheaper price straight from Navajo sellers. Trading posts like this are still common and are a source of income for Navajos. We drove about 3 hours to Monument Valley tribal park which is my favorite part of the trip that day.
It is a self-guided tour through a dirt road in a Navajo reservation where you have a scenic view of red sandstone buttes and mesas. Checked-in at our Airbnb in Page where we had a great view of the city. Ate at Into the Grand, a family owned restaurant where every night they have live performances of traditional Navajo dances.
Day 6: Thursday
Did the Upper Antelope Canyon Tour via the Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours. There is also a lower antelope canyon that is in a different location and like the upper antelope canyon, you will need to be on a tour to experience it…It’s just the law! It is not advisable to tour the lower antelope canyon if you are pregnant since it is strenuous and has steep climbs but the upper antelope canyon was really easy.
You need to reserve your spot online and pay in person. I found their price to be the cheapest among the tours available. Also, it is $60 per adult but you need to pay the $8 in cash…not really sure why. Our tour was so enjoyable because we had a great tour guide and also my husband and I got to be in a group of Chinese-Americans from Atlanta.
They were part of a bridge club and they were all retired. I love their energy, humor and just how they have kind of adopted us into their group. After the tour, we went to see the Horseshoe Bend which entailed a short hike which was made somewhat challenging by the sun bearing down on you. 
In the afternoon we went to the Navajo Village Heritage Center where they toured us around a recreated authentic Navajo homesite and talked about Navajo culture. The one pictured below is a sweat lodge were the Navajos perform purification ceremonies and impart spiritual wisdom to their young.
Rug weaving is also a big part of Navajo culture that is taught to mostly women at a very young age. They are also taught how to gather the wool and refine it to make yarn suitable for weaving. The weaving loom is usually hand-made by the husbands. 
Above is a picture of a handmade oven made by our tour guide. To cap of our tour, we had the pleasure of watching another performance of the Hoop dance which is my favorite Navajo dance. Joe, the one pictured below competed at an international hoop dance competition held in Arizona and he placed 6th. 
Day 7: Friday
Left Page for Bryce Canyon. Since it was the monsoon season, by the time we arrived at the entrance of Bryce, it was raining so we decided to go straight to Zion and check in at our Bed and Breakfast called Under the Eaves.
Driving inside Zion was breath-taking and the weather was perfect. We had to leave the park to go to the other side to get to our B&B which was located in Springdale. Lodges in Zion get booked so fast that you have to reserve them months in advance but I think a great alternative is to stay at a B&B or lodge/inn in Springdale because they are cheaper and plus there is a free shuttle service from there to the park which only takes a few minutes.
Day 8: Saturday
After our complimentary breakfast, we took the shuttle to Zion. Found out that the some of the hiking trails like the Emerald pools and Kayenta trails were closed. From the research I have gathered, the lower emerald pool and part of the Kayenta is ok for pregnant women. Angel Landing is not advisable. Apparently there was a recent landslide causing the trail closures. Me and hubby hiked the Grotto trail which was super easy and then out of sheer arrogance and stubbornness, we hiked Observation point.
It is a very difficult trail, 8 mi total, elevation of at least 2100 ft with alot of switchbacks and climbing (although not that steep). I cannot overemphasize enough how strenuous this trail is for pregnant women so I do not recommend it. I think the only reason I survived this hike is because I have no medical condition and that I have been working out 2-3x/week even before my pregnancy and for more than a couple of years so I am not terribly deconditioned.
Day 9: Sunday
Left for Las Vegas. When we arrived, I was surprised by the heat which seemed to emanate from everywhere. Looking forward to see my animals.
So that was our vacation! Just some advise for pregnant women who are thinking of doing this trip….
- Consult your doctor. Please be open to them about what you plan to do so they can assess and give you sound advise.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Aside from not having enough water, having blisters would kill the fun out of your hike.
- Bring plenty of water. It is good to know the trail, how many miles, difficulty level etc and to know how far water stations are. A lot of people die from dehydration than anything else when hiking!
- Bring a walking stick. I was really grateful I had one because it helped me with balance and made the climbs easier.
- Do not be arrogant and listen to your body. If you are tired, take as many rest breaks as you need. If you do not finish the trail, it is not the end of the world. You and your baby’s safety are the priority.
- Have your loving husband carry your pack.
Traveling The Little Way 