Green River, Utah
Moab, Utah
Goblin Valley State Park
If pictures of the bizarre rock formations aren't appealing enough to persuade a visit, this fun fact will surely blow your mind: If you visit twice, once right now and another later on in your life, the park will have transformed completely. These mushroom-shaped sandstone rocks are constantly wearing away and rebuilding themselves, creating shapes that are "goblin-like."
The drive into the park is long and desolate, and it isn't until you drive up to the observation point overlooking the valley of goblins, that you are able to understand the hype about this state park.
Walking through them had me feeling like I was in a very intense laser tag game or in a maze. Either way, I wished I was a child still so I could run through them without getting the concerned looks.
Although the goblins are the main attraction, the park gives travelers the option of three trails that lead through the canyons surrounding the
Arches National Park
One of Utah's most famous national parks, Arches attracts over one million tourists every year. But after venturing through the park, I'm left wondering why it's as popular as it is.
Although there are over 2,000 arches recorded over 76 thousand miles, this park had no more scenery than driving through the state of Utah. Red rocky cliffs cover the desolate land that line the road, and a few arches are accessible as well. In fact, on the stretch from Arches to downtown Moab, there is one arch with zero tourists, no fine and a great picture opportunity.
If interested in seeing the attraction, be sure to go early in the morning to avoid the heat and the swarm of tourists that infest the park.
After finishing the self-guided tour, I made my way to downtown Moab for lunch. Home to Utah State University, Moab has a great college town.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Gilgal Sculpture Garden
In search of an escape from the negativity I was finding in the Utahns, I decided to do something slightly unusual-- I went to a sculpture garden. The Gilgal Sculpture Garden, located in the middle of a neighborhood, through a fence, and into a backyard, is a small, free garden, scattered with sculptures, poems, and philosophy created by a Mormon, Thomas Child Jr. This garden was symbolic of his life experiences and beliefs. His purpose wasn't to force his beliefs, but to inspire others to seek out the answers to
life.
Along with the thought inducing sculptures, the garden was blooming with huge, beautiful pink roses that seemed to resemble the mind as Child’s inspirational quotes opened the minds of each individual fortunate enough to walk through.
This garden is considered to be "off the beaten path," and has pamphlets for a self-guided tour, therefore it only took about 20 minutes to pass through. Perfect for a road trip quick stop!
valley. Unfortunately, three separate storms heading towards the valley washed out anyone who entered the canyon.
But as I stood in the playground-like valley, avoiding the wind at the top that pierced me with dust particles, I watched the storm continue on and leave behind a rainbow that made the whole journey worthwhile.
To end my day, I went into the town of Green River and ate at a restaurant overlooking the Green River (more like creek) called Tamarisk. The staff wasn’t too friendly, and the taco salad was just alright, but because I was lucky enough to get a seat overlooking the water at one of the few non-fast-food restaurants in town, I felt content with my decision. The restaurant has a lot of potential, so with the right staff it could receive at least a four star rating.
Starting and ending my day with great views, I was satisfied with the course of my trip.
The streets are lined with colorful boutiques, bars and restaurants, with a slight western vibe, and surrounded by the famous red mountains of Utah.
A restaurant called Eddie McStiff's offered great outdoor seating under mist tents, separated from the busy street by a parking lot. Despite the expected lack of enthusiasm and enjoyment in the locals, the staff was very friendly. Each member worked together to respond efficiently to my requests, and served me a delicious Santa Fe pizza with green chile sauce, avocado, olives, jalapenos, tomatoes, and cheese.
Despite the disappointment of the park, Moab’s delicious food and collegiate feel made an impression that will have me coming back in the future.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Malachi
The Sphinx
Courthouse Towers Viewpoint
Turret Arch
South Window
Molly's Castle
Goblin's Lair
Goblins
Salt Lake City
The drive into Salt Lake City from Wyoming gave me a strange feeling because the change in scenery was sudden, as if there was a boundary line that only allowed trees to grow on one side and the formation of red, rocky mountains on the other side.
The feeling didn't pass as I left the desert and entered the built up city. Things were odd and unusual. The best comparison in regards to the physical characteristics is Austin, Texas. Uniqueness was an obvious trend amongst the citizens, and they stood out against the boring backdrop of grey skyscrapers and streetlights. But what was different, and this was a recurring observation throughout Utah, was the attitudes of the people. It's not that the workers that I encountered were rude, but they seemed unhappy or unsatisfied. Their voices were all very monotone and their walk was zombie-like.
The perfect restaurant to summarize my experience in Salt Lake City is a
sandwich shop called Even Stevens. The restaurant's hippie vibes are very relatable to those found in Austin. It was attractive from the ping pong table on the porch, to the delicious Baked Mahi Mahi sandwich, to the generous cause behind the shop. But instead of an easy-going-hippie-cashier, I was greeted by an unwelcoming hello and the infamous personality of a Utahn who, although the business was slow, still seemed rushed to get through my order.
The good thing about Even Stevens, is that their original goal was to feed those who aren't as fortunate to eat three meals a day, or even one. But as the business took off, they began to do more for those in need, including resume building, shelters and even legal assistance. So although my interactions made me feel isolated and unwanted, it's comforting to know that the missing kindness has been invested in something larger than Salt Lake City.
Malachi