Maximalism to Minimalism
A fountain view at the Bellagio vs. a one room cabin in Utah.
We did it!
We squeezed every last item into the CRV and took off on Sunday, April 24th, to kick off our 5 months of travel around the US & Canada.
Our first stop was a last minute addition- turns out my mom was going to be staying in Vegas at the Bellagio the exact same week Brandon and I would be passing through, and with our first drive to Utah being so long it only made sense to stay a night!
Having spent my fair share of time in casinos since childhood, I’d say I know Vegas pretty well. I also know my mom does Vegas RIGHT. There’s always a nice room, a good meal, maybe a show and casinos that aren’t too crowded or smoky. Brandon and I knew we’d be living large for one last night before plunging into the unknown…
And so we did. The beds were like clouds, the room had a shower large enough to fit 5 people, and we had a direct view of the Bellagio fountains from our window. We enjoyed a delicious meal at Spago, won (and lost) some money on the Game of Thrones slot machine and Roulette, and round out the night with some fancy lavender and rose cocktails.
The next morning we left Sin City behind and drove to Alton, UT. We had found some cabins (Hidden Valley Cabins on AirBnb, FYI) that were directly in the middle of Bryce Canyon & Zion for only $60/night and pet friendly! The cabins were originally located in Bryce Canyon National Park and served as Park Ranger lodging, but were relocated to Alton in the 80s and had their tiny bathrooms added on. Brandon, Buster and I were able to squeeze in and cook some meals on a hot plate. We met a few moth friends and spider enemies, but overall it served its purpose perfectly for visiting the National Parks.
Was it bizarre to go from the sensory overload of Vegas to a quiet and remote cabin? Absolutely.
Would I do it again? Also yes.
In a weird way, I’d recommend doing something like this to anyone spending some time traveling. Doesn’t have to be Vegas and Alton, but going from glitz and glamour to simple & serene (or vice versa) makes you really appreciate certain things about each extreme. I asked Brandon what he felt about the cabin after Vegas and he said “more freedom?” And I think that’s exactly it. Sure, in Vegas we had easy access to any food, drink or entertainment you can imagine. We had luxury and comfort. But in Alton we had the freedom to relax, do things our own way, and manage our own time. We had the space to clear our heads and it was truly refreshing.
We’re off to the next remote location now (just for one night) and then we’ll be in a more populated area again. I think there’s something kind of fabulous about having a little bit of both on this trip, and all while on a budget! There’s nothing wrong with over the top, and there’s nothing wrong with simple.
xxo Kealey
