3 Day Adventure at Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend

After journeying in to the Page, Arizona area, you'll first check in to your hotel and get settled in. Once you feel refreshed, it is time to head out to the first of your three adventures for the weekend: a golden hour horseback ride!

Soak up the beauty of the surrounding landscape from horseback as you make your way across Navajo land with a knowledgeable and friendly guide. Along the way, you will see panoramic views of Lake Powell and the majestic Navajo Mountain, until you finally arrive to Tower Butte.

Once you have made your way back to your starting point, drive to nearby Page, Arizona to enjoy a casual but delicious dinner at a local establishment. Here are some of my suggestions for a relaxed dinner on your first night:

• For those who appreciate a creative but casual menu, check out Sunset 89 which features sunset views and Pacific Rim cuisine (think: Chicken Katsu sandwiches and Island BBQ street food bowls).

• For something unique, load up a bowl of your favorite ingredients from a buffet and hand it over to the chefs at Mongolian BBQ Grill for an approachable but interactive culinary experience.

• Finally, Gone West Family Restaurant offers tasty but simple American fare that will please all ages in a fun Western atmosphere. Enjoy dinner and a show here, with live country music on deck most Friday and Saturday nights

After an early wake-up call, start your day by first eating breakfast at the hotel (hopefully breakfast is free if you've booked through a FORA advisor like me!) and head to downtown Page for your Half Day Horseshoe Bend Rafting Tour. I recommend completing this tour with Wilderness River Adventures. This half day rafting tour is a leisurely experience open to ages four and up.

Wilderness River Adventures is my recommended outfitter for this tour as their guides are knowledgeable, and they are one of the few tour outfitters that have permission to depart from Glen Canyon Dam, which is otherwise guarded by security forces due to the fact that the dam is a crucially-important hydroelectric asset. Because of this, you will have the opportunity to view the dam up close, and learn more about the area's fascinating history.

From Page, you will first transfer by bus to the Dam area where you will board your raft. You and your raftmates will gently float down the river, as you learn about the unique geological features and wildlife, including feral horses (they are considered feral because they were once domesticated but are now nearly wild), that live in the area. You will disembark from the raft to explore Petroglyph Beach, take a short optional hike at the base of the canyon, and take a dip if you are brave. You will make your way around Horseshoe Bend, and shortly after that your journey will be complete. I recommend that you drive to the Horseshoe Bend viewpoint to witness the incredible formation from above as well before heading back to your hotel to freshen up for dinner.

For dinner on the second and final evening, I recommend enjoying an elevated meal at Amangiri Restaurant. With floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen, and local ingredients, the Amangiri Restaurant establishes its sense of place; further, it "pays gastronomic tribute" to the Native American tribes in the region through a set tasting menu with wine pairings. A dinner at the Amangiri Restaurant is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

On your final day in the area, it is time to explore the unmistakable Antelope Canyon. It is important to note that it is unsafe and impossible to visit the Canyon without a guide. You will need to select a tour that suits your needs and interests. For example, if you are a photographer hoping to get shots of the canyon from the inside, the tour that will suit you will be different from the tour a family of four should take. As we visited Antelope Canyon as a couple, we selected a General Tour with Ken's Tours.

With a Navajo guide, you will descend steps and some ladders into the slot canyon, and learn about the history of this geological wonder. There are plenty of photo opportunities along the way, and you will learn some incredible facts about tour operations in the canyon, including the precautions taken to keep tourists safe from flash flooding and the maintenance and upkeep required of the local Navajo people to ensure the canyon is safe for exploration. When we walked through the canyon, we felt like we were on another planet!

After emerging from the Canyon in the late morning, you will be ready to eat one last meal in the area. For breakfast, you cannot go wrong with a sweet or savory crepe from Canyon Crepes Cafe or one of the legendary breakfast burritos from Hot and Sweet Coffee and Donut Shop. If lunch is in order, grab some comfort food at BirdHouse, a modern fried chicken shop in Page.

With Antelope Canyon finally checked off your bucket list, you will leave the region feeling inspired as you journey onwards to your next destination!