Casey’s Family Trip

Arches at the Grand Canyon concept

Estate planning and administration is all about helping your family honor your memory. Creating those family memories is just as important. Here at Harrison Estate Law, P.A., we value time spent with our loved ones, and want to invite you along with us on our journeys. Recently, Probate Attorney Casey Harrison shared his family’s tour of many of the Southwest’s most memorable national and state parks.

Making Family Memories in Utah’s National Parks

Casey, his wife, and three children (ages 7, 5, and 7 months) arrived in Salt Lake City ready to see all the beauty and natural intrigue the American Southwest has to offer. They spent their first five days in Moab, Utah, touring many of the national parks nearby. Casey and the family took in the unique sandstone structures and trails of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. They rented ATVs and went on an off-road adventure on the “Hell’s Revenge” ATV trail. Then the family got their feet wet (and maybe a little more than their feet) river rafting on the Colorado river. Nearby, the children found joy in seeing dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs, indulging their curiosity, and maybe learning a little prehistoric history along the way.

Sand Dunes concept Arches (1) concept

As the family began their trek south, they stopped off at Goblin Valley State Park. The Mars-like landscape and sandstone “goblins” offered another chance to see something unique and otherworldly. As they later found out, the park was the setting for several movies, and they had narrowly escaped being eaten by a rock monster from the movie “Galaxy Quest.”

Antelope Canyon Concept

That night and the next found the Harrison family in the small town of Teasdale, Utah. The kids got to explore Capitol Reef National Park’s “geological wrinkle,” diving into some earth science while stretching their legs scrambling over the cliffs, canyons, and bridges of the Waterpocket Fold.

Then the Harrisons were on the road again, diving further south, through the Dixie National Forest to the famous Bryce Canyon National Park. The castle-like Hoodoos (columns of rock) provided a great backdrop as they descended–with relatively minimal complaint–the roughly 700 feet down into the canyon and back up again.

Bryce Canyon concept Zion

After a hot day and another long drive, the family crashed in Kanab, Utah, their homebase for the next few days. The first stop in Kanab was Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where they rented a sled and took turns sliding down–and barely climbing back up–the giant sand dunes. Then it was on to Zion National Park, where they hiked upriver into “the Narrows” and then drove to a separate part of the park to take in panoramic views of the canyon.

Diving into History in Arizona and the Grand Canyon

As they left Kanab and crossed the border into Arizona, the Harrison family stopped off in the Navajo Nation to explore Lower Antelope Canyon. Walking along the slot canyon with a guide, the children caught glimpses of the blue sky above while squeezing through the windswept red and orange rock of the canyon itself.

Of course, no trip to the national parks of the Southwest is complete without a stop at the Grand Canyon. The Harrison family approached this national wonder from Sedona, Arizona, before taking a heritage train through the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the canyon itself. The railway itself isn’t long, only 64 miles, in fact, but in the time it took to travel to the rim, Casey’s children got to learn about the history of the western railway systems, and see some fantastic views along the way.

Grand Canyon Railway concept

After spending some time hiking around Sedona, Arizona, the Harrison family made one more stop at Slide Rock State Park. There, the kids got to slide down a natural waterslide formed by the Oak Creek, and hike and climb around the riverbed and nearby trails. Finally, on the way from Sedona to Phoenix and while waiting for their flight home, the family packed in two more sights–Montezuma Castle National Monument and Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum.

After 14 days of fun, adventure, and family time–and a combined 14 “Junior Ranger” badges later–the Harrison family dragged themselves to the airport, dropped off a very dusty and well-used rental car, and boarded a red-eye flight back home to Florida for some much needed rest (and humidity).

Prepare Your Estate Plan Now to Protect Your Family Memories in the Future

At Harrison Estate Law, P.A., our experienced estate planning team knows how important your family is to you. We want to help you protect and provide for them, should anything happen to you. We can help you ensure your affairs are in order before you set off on your adventure. If you have not created your estate plan or it is time to review and update your documents, we are here to help. Contact us here or call (352) 559-9828 to plan today.

Categories: Our Family