Los Angeles to Denver: A 16 Hour Road Trip testing our new Engagement
What does a three-day road trip from Los Angeles to Denver look like exactly? Well, it’s not all bleak desert landscape like you might expect. For us, it featured stops at 3 National Parks, 2 National Forests, wild bison and antelope, dozens of bizarre and unique shops, 12 tacos and hours of music courtesy of Spotify. It also was the first big test of our new life as an engaged couple.
I’m not sure how or why I was able to convince Bob that a three-day, 16 hour, road trip was the best way for us to attend TBEX. I think I asked him after I feed him something delicious or after I attended a 24 hour improv festival. Whatever it was, he must have been in a very happy mood because he didn’t question my motive or the long drive once. Well, that was until we were pulling into Vegas at midnight on Tuesday and he realized we still had a three states to go through until we’d be in Denver.
Saying “three states” sounds like a lot… I’ll admit. But really the drive was going to be broken up in several stages, each stage filled with a different National Park where we’d get out of the car, hike around and feel inspired by the natural beauty of our country. We were going to get back to nature- forget the stresses that were in our daily lives and just be together- without our iPhones or computers to distract us.
It sounds so romantic right?!
The thing is, it’s still a 16 hour drive. No matter how you break it up, it’s a long freakin’ time in the car. And to add a small, tiny complication to it, we brought the dogs.
:: nervous grin ::
Thankfully, Bob and I work together really well when traveling. It’s like we have these “traveling hats” that allow us to communicate better, solve problems more smoothly and make decisions quicker. This week, though, those hats were seriously put to the test.
For example, National Parks are NOT dog friendly. Even though I looked each one of them up online before we left for the trip and they all said there was at least one trail that dogs could go on, that wasn’t exactly true when we arrived. My whole lovely plan of escaping to the great outdoors ended up being more like escaping to the parking lot at the trail head. Even if they could have gone on a trail, it was so hot and they were panting so much, that I think they might have died, and I’m not kidding. It was frustrating and sad because we weren’t able to explore as much as I had envisioned.
We love road trips, and while our trip from LA to Denver tested our relationship, I think it made us stronger too. The trip wasn’t perfect- in fact, those fancy traveling hats are a little faded and frayed right about now (hour 9 of our return trip) and even after 10 years of knowing each other, each trip teaches us something new.
There were many other tests, but here’s some of the sights we saw along our way:
Zion National Park: Bob & the dogs on the one hike they were allowed to go on
Bob filming at Bryce Canyon National Park
Our view from our room in Keystone, Colorado
What kind of traveler are you? Are you better at traveling as a couple or solo?
you guys get along no matter what the situation is.
It looks like you had a “beautiful” time.
I understand why national parks prohibit dogs, but it’s a let-down at the same time since Lola loves to be out in the wilderness. Frustrating that the websites gave you the wrong information. Good luck with the next 7 hours of the drive home
I tend to travel solo, and when I travel with other people (usually friends or family), I am very clear about expectations and communicate more than I probably need to in order to make the trip a success. My last trip to Maui was with a good friend who I go backpacking with and we spent a lot of time preparing and talking about the trip. We had a few bumps here and there but overall it was a great trip and we are still friends.
Airfares kept me from TBEX this year. Could have done a road trip from Washington State but your post reminded me of the hours — no matter how interesting the sites — involved in being in the car. Sorry I missed meeting so many of you face to face. Maybe next year.
Firstly congratulations. You’ve got some exciting times ahead. There’ll be plenty of tests over the years and it’s the ability to be flexible that will make those tests go a whole lot smoother. It sounds to me like this was a pretty awesome trip all in all – and you got some great photos.
Sounds like you had a really good time. I would want to have a road trip too, esp with someone I love. That will really test your compatibility…or commitment to each other
I have been in Zion park, but don’t remember tunnel. On which road you were driving?
Hey look, there’s my condo across the lake from yours
And you brought the dogs! I never got to say hi to them. They are adorable. And congrats again on your engagement. Could not be happier for two crazy travelers who found each other. Safe (and sane!) travels back to LA. I will say, couple travel made me and the hubby better travelers, we definitely saw more, even if we bickered about it along the way a bit. Now that we have kids along for the ride it’s even more insane…um, i mean fun.
It looks like it was a beautiful road trip even if the conditions were trying – Bryce Canyon looks amazing! 16 hours together in a car is a good test of compatibility and you passed! Congratulations on your engagement – may you have many happy years and successful road trips together!
Congrats on the engagement! And very cool road trip.
But why on earth aren’t dogs allowed in national parks?
Wild bison? Where did you see those? Marco and I definitely travel better as a couple. Kind of like you guys I think, we each have our roles down the moment we hit the road
What beautiful country! I enjoy my solo travel, but also like traveling with friends as well. What I prefer is having part of my time solo, and meeting up after the trip has started. I’m a month in Prague beginning Monday, and I’ll be traveling around with a friend for about 11 days, and the rest solo. Perfect for me!
Do you know that your G+ button doesn’t work? I keep meaning to tell you:)
Congratulations again and great job on the pictures and surviving the drive. We’re planning to do part of this drive next month from San Diego to Bryce so this was a good preview. I travel better with my hubby as a couple. it does test your relationship but makes it all better too.
Beautiful pictures
We love road trips when we’re in the US. And your route is definitely an exciting one. We’ve done that too and we hope to do it again.
Ah, the dogs — that does add a whole new dimension, doesn’t it? I’m a big road trip fan and your itinerary was a great one. Love the pics. Glad your engagement survived the journey!
Traveling tests a relationship but a road trip is the ultimate test – so glad you guys survived it.
Family road trips are my favorite way to travel! It’s such a good time to talk and share the whole experience. We drove eight hours from Salt Lake City to TBEX in one day and while most of it was great, that last hour or two when everyone just wants to get there can be difficult.
I think that’s a brilliant idea. I’d do 16 hours in a car anytime (I would do it here in Australia, but I don’t have a car yet). I have done 16 hours on a plan and THAT wasn’t pleasant….it was, in fact, torture!