Last weekend we had a phenomenal first trip to Arches National Park. It's strange to think how long we've lived in Utah as adults and this was our first time to Arches. We went to Zion and Bryce about 10 years ago, but this was an excellent visit.

We opened our trip bright and early on Saturday morning with a hike on the Park Avenue trail. I found a perfect painting spot, while avoiding the delicate cryptobiotic soil, facing the Tower of Babel monument. I started painting only to be mobbed by foreign tourists less than 10 minutes in. Fortunately, my husband whisked me away to a spot farther down the trail, and slightly further off the trail so it was more protected from hovering visitors. I enjoyed every minute of this plein air sketch, and there was a cute lizard near my feet who enjoyed having me around for a while too. We hiked Delicate Arch, napped near Balanced Rock, and did the Devils Garden loop as well.