U.S. National Parks: Lived, Learned and Noted

It’s no wonder this was a sold out trip; the landscapes, the thrill rides, and the friendships formed during the week made this experience unforgettable! Here are some things I lived, learned and noted from the U.S. National Parks trip.

Always bring extra water (and snacks) on the long hikes; you may not feel thirsty, but preventing dehydration is key!
True story: before this trip I had never had a Gatorade (insert gasp here). But with the constant activity and summer heat, I finally tried it and it was essential for rehydration and staying present and focused. Consider grabbing some at the rest stops along with some water.
Although this will depend on your personal preference, I found it useful to invest in a water bottle with a built in filter. Plus, there are plenty of water bottle filling stations in and around the trails.
PACK LIGHT. With the constant moving around, you do not need to bring a lot. We also had plenty of opportunities to do laundry. Score!
Remember where you are; a lot of the locations we visit are in the middle of nowhere. That means dining options are limited and things you might normally see closer to and in the bigger cities are not as easily found.
Essentials for this trip: a hat, sunglasses, sturdy shoes (plus an extra pair of shoes you don’t mind getting wet), sunscreen and an open mind!
If you have time, stretch a little before and after the hikes and activities. I found myself being quite sore after some of the steeper hikes and stretching out my calves, feet, quads and hips for a few minutes made a big difference. If you have a lax or tennis ball at home, bring it - your body will thank you! If you’re up for it, hop into some yoga moves or pop open a RomWod session at the end of the day.
Take good care of yourself. We had A LOT of early mornings followed by intensive hikes and activities everyday. Make sure to properly rest, hydrate and take care of your own needs so that you are good to go for the next day of awesome activities.
Take a minute. It’s super easy to swipe open the camera on your phone to show off that dope landscape for Instagram. BUT try to remember to unplug for a few minutes and really take in the beauty of the sights. Even as the photographer of the group, I had to remind myself to do the same and it made the whole experience so much more meaningful and special! #UseYourEyesLiveYourLife

This was one of those trips that wakes your soul up to realize just how vast the world is. The landscapes took my breath away in Arizona and I have never in my life seen stars as clear as they were in Utah. If you can make it, sign up and see just how awesome the U.S. really is.
See you there in 2020! And while you’re at it, relive the 2018 trip in the epic video down below.
~ Sasha out!
Shoot me an email for more info about this trip or check out our trip calendar here.