Arizona – M. Sullivan Photography

September 16, 2017September 16, 2017 M. Sullivan Photography Photography, Vacation

Summer Vacation | Day 6

On day six of our summer vacation, we drove north from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon. Along the way, we made a quick pit stop. We noticed more than a dozen of these guys checking us out at our roadside rest stop. They were looking for some handouts. Sophia and I fed them strawberries until a large bird flew overhead and they scattered.

The Grand Canyon | South Rim

Rain clouds along with thunder and lightning moved into the area. I tried to photograph the lightning, but was too slow.

Sophia and Mike found the “50 Years Ago” medallion along the path of the South Rim and had to take a picture. Perfect timing since Mike’s 50th birthday would be the following day.

The ride home was beautiful…

Up Next: Day Seven– Another gorgeous day in Sedona, Smokey Bear and a 50th Birthday celebration.

August 26, 2017 M. Sullivan Photography Family, Photography, Photos, Vacation

Summer Vacation | Day 3

On the third day of our vacation, we drove north to Page, Arizona. We visited Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon Dam, dropped into Utah and took in the beauty of Horseshoe Bend on our way back to Flagstaff. It was quite a day.

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in the American Southwest. It is on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. A slot canyon is a narrow canyon, formed by the wear of water rushing through rock. A slot canyon is significantly deeper than it is wide.

Here’s what we saw when we arrived at Antelope Canyon X.

Then we made our way down the canyon.

And this is what we saw once we got inside.

Off to the next part of the tour.

And into the dark cave opening.

A bit of music from the acoustic guitar echoing through the canyon.

Off to our next stop. Here’s a photo from the backseat on our drive.

Glen Canyon Dam

Utah!

Lone Rock

Back into Arizona.

Lake Powell

Next stop, Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River located near the town of Page, Arizona, in the United States.

We didn’t do this. See below. But we saw many people doing it. Yikes!

This is as close as we got.

One last look. Next time I’ll bring a wide(r) angle lens.

Up Next: Day Four – Sedona and Slide Rock State Park

August 20, 2017 M. Sullivan Photography Photography, Photos, Vacation

Summer Vacation | Day 2

After a long day of travel on day one of our vacation, we opted to stay close to Flagstaff on our second day. Just a quick drive north brought us to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

The colors at the volcano’s rim are the dusky red, yellow, and orange of sunset, but the crater is only part of the story. Around 1085 CE the ground here began to shake, and a fiery crack spewed the earth’s insides high into the air. When the eruption finished, it had changed both the landscape and the people who lived here. Today, it teaches how nature and humans are linked to each other.

Can you find Sophia in the photo below?

Below is the view we had on our drive north to our next destination.

Next stop on our day trip, Wupatki National Monument.

Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki is a landscape of legacies. Ancient pueblos dot red-rock outcroppings across miles of prairie. Where food and water seem impossible to find, people built pueblos, raised families, farmed, traded, and thrived. Today, if you linger and listen, earth and artifacts whisper their stories to us still.

The view on our way back to Flagstaff.

All that hiking made everyone hungry, so we stopped by Proper Meats + Provisions in Flagstaff to pick up steaks for the grill. One filet, one New York strip and one ribeye. Mike grilled them to perfection.