In the middle of our trip, as we were driving 20 minutes down a dirt road for something that looked mildly interesting, I wondered if people were enjoying themselves. Not everyone is up for finding hidden treasures in remote areas, but my extended family is usually up for the adventure. This trip was a perfect campout for us.

Day 1: We arrived in Green River and camped at the state park. It has a very nice campground and group area. Peter went golfing with his aunt and uncle, and we set up camp and had a nice dinner around the campfire.

Day 2: We woke early, grabbed some food, and went out to Goblin Valley. Four hours of exploring, hiking, and playing. Goblin Valley is the best place in the state for children of all ages. I went out and got a little lost with my sisters, finding new places I hadn’t been to yet. The kids climbed up cliffs that are not as dangerous as they look, played hide and seek games, threw a football, dug in the sand, and had an all-around good time.

We had lunch there, and then went over and hiked Little Wildhorse Canyon. Due to recent rains, part of the canyon was knee-deep in water. We didn’t go up very far, but it is still an amazing hike. A pair of Zack’s shoes is basically ruined from wading through muddy water. More chill time at camp that evening.

Day 3: We went over to the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, which was a normal small town museum, but also with a very excellent traveling exhibit. We drove up the Green River and picnicked at Swaseys Beach. Then drive back down the river to check out Crystal Geyser. It did not erupt while we visited, but it was a beautiful spot to check out and walk around. We finished the day with a hike to Petroglyph Canyon and Spirit Arch. This would be a horrible summer hike, but was beautiful on a nice fall day.