Arizona: The Petrified Forest National Park & Heading Home

Our time in Arizona has come to end, and none of us were ready to leave - like ever leave.  We wanted to just stay forever and ever.

Our plan for going home was pretty much the same as heading there, sleep over in Albuquerque, and explore a few things in the way out.

In good old monsoon season fashion, our plans to visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.  We did make it to each spot through the rain, but it was kind of dangerous to get out and explore (hello lighting)  - so I took a couple of pictures from the car, and we totally missed out on some more awesome hikes.  Reason #101 for moving here....

The black sharp rocks is actual lava flow from then the volcano erupted, and we were kind of bummed that we missed out on hiking the lava trail.

 We decided to just head out of Flagstaff (the rain would not let up) and go to The Petrified Forest National Park.  

It also worked out perfectly, because we were so intrigued by this place that we actually spend hours here.

I wasn't really sure what to expect, it just popped up during my research for this trip, and thought well since we literally drive by there, why not stop?

Before we entered the park we stop at this little store at the entrance, and it was way cool, and so nerdy.  It was a rock shop, and my kids loved loved loved it.

My tripod actually became really handy on this trip - yes I am nerdy like that - and pretty much turning into my dad.

All the family pictures on this trip was taken by using it - just little fact!

The visitor center was amazing, with so much information, so many hands on activities for the kids.  Also if you ever go with kids, you should totally sign up for the junior ranger program - it is free, and after completing this little work book (age appropriate) they get sworn in as a Junior Ranger, and they get a badge. The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever.

So you basically drive through the park, and then there are stops, that you can get out at and walk these little trails to see all the petrified wood.

Basically trees turned to stone.  You can read more about petrified wood here.

It is actually surprisingly awesome, and the different colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes were super fun to look at.

These sections of petrified wood logs stretches for miles and miles at a time.  It is really intriguing and quite amazing.

I also loved how it is kind of flat and then there are these mountains of clay, in all different shapes, sized, and colors. It was more beautiful then I ever expected.

We had to rush through some of the park (that rain storm from Flagstaff was chasing us,) and I really wanted to make it to the painted desert part before it would be unsafe to get out of the car again.

It was perfect timing, because as we stopped at the visitor center to hand in the kid's work books, it started to pour down again.

We didn't make it to Albuquerque until like eleven o' clock that night, but it was worth it.  We went to bed that night (straight to bed) and got up the next morning, getting around to head home.

Of course we had to stop at the first cafe again for breakfast.  I tried something new, and then took one of those green chili jam biscuits in the car - I still think about how delicious it was.

This has truly been one of our all time travel experiences, everything was more amazing then we even expected before hand.

It was much needed family time, to just relax and be together, and so much good has come from that.

We can't wait to a.) go back and b.) spend some time researching a little more of the area, and possibly making a move.  We know we want more, and better for our family, but it will have to planned and "perfectly" curated.

***

Tomorrow we are heading out for another little trip for Ian's birthday, and once back, we will fall back into the rhythm of our school schedule, and life in general.

Happy Sunday... and thank you for following along on our adventure.

You can read about other parts of this trip here, here, here, here, here, and here.