Red Rocks and Starry Nights: Exploring Grand Canyon and Utah's Big 5

Fly into Phoenix Skyharbor and pick up your rental car. While you won't be doing any off-roading, it might be in your best interest to get a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. You just never know what you might get into! Check into the Global Ambassador hotel, located just between Phoenix and Scottsdale. Enjoy the premium pool and world-class restaurants, or pamper yourself at their spa ahead of your week of hiking.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you head north toward Grand Canyon National Park. About halfway, you'll find the fabulous adventure town of Sedona. It's well worth staying a night or two here if you're able to extend your trip to two full weeks. Enjoy lunch surrounded by impressive mountains or make a quick pitstop at one of the famous vortex sites around town. Once you arrive at Grand Canyon, take a walk along the rim trail and take in the insane views — it's truly mindblowing the first time you see it. If you time it right, you could even watch the sunset here. Check into your accommodation for the night — Under Canvas Grand Canyon — and enjoy local food from town.

Wake up early for a magical sunrise at the canyon – Mather Point or Hopi Point have some of the most stunning views as the light dances across the rock formations. Dedicate the day to exploring the canyons depths — the Bright Angel Trail, with its striking views, is a popular choice.

In the morning, travel to Zion National Park, which is approximately a 4.5-hour drive away. Upon arrival, take a leisurely hike on the Riverside Walk, which meanders alongside the Virgin River and offers stunning views of towering cliffs. This easy walk ends where the hike to the popular Narrows hike begins. Check into your hotel in Springdale — choose between standard hotel accommodation like The Lodge at Zion Country, or something more unique like Autocamp Zion. Either way, you're in for a treat of dark skies full of stars. Eat at Oscar's Cafe for dinner.

Immerse yourself in the wonders of Zion for the entire day. You have options like hiking The Narrows, where the river carves through towering slot canyons, or the exhilarating Angels Landing (if you’ve obtained the necessary permits). The Zion Canyon Overlook Trail is an easy and satisfying option, with views of the entire canyon below. I've never felt so small as I did standing here!

Enjoy a leisurely drive to Bryce Canyon, which will take about 1.5 hours. The journey will reward you with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Upon arrival, explore the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail, where you can gaze upon unique hoodoos — tall, thin spires of rock created by erosion that seem to defy gravity. Hike the Navajo Loop to get up close and personal with these crazy sculptures. If you're able, stay for the sunset at Bryce Point, where the colors of the sky blend dramatically with the canyons. Stay at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon for an unforgettable night among the stars.

Prepare for a 2-hour drive to Capitol Reef National Park. Take your time exploring the park’s scenic drives and remarkable trails, like the hike to Hickman Bridge, a stunning natural arch that offers picturesque views. Once you've had your fix, continue driving on to Moab, where you'll stay for the next three nights. Check into Hoodoo Moab, named after the iconic structures you'll have just seen.

In the morning, head straight for the Delicate Arch trail. Here you can hike to not only see one of the park's most famous landmarks but also enjoy spectacular sunset views. At the trailhead, make sure to stop and find the petroglyphs decorating the walls. Take the hike through Devil's Garden to see some more of the park's namesake structures. For dinner, eat like a kid at Moab Diner, where you can order anything from spaghetti to a hot fudge sundae. It's seriously awesome.

Make your way to Canyonlands National Park, where the Island in the Sky viewpoint reveals breathtaking vistas over the Colorado River and dramatic canyons. This park is massive, but the Island of the Sky section is easy to navigate and full of dramatic overlooks. Return to Moab for your last night, taking in a final sunset at Arches.

Drive from Moab to Salt Lake City — about four hours. You can make stops along the way — like at one of Utah's famous soda shops, or at popular ski destination Park City.