A Southwest Wish‑List Adventure: If I Hit the Road Today

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Setting Out With a Sense of Possibility

Every now and then, I feel that familiar tug — the one that whispers it might be time to wander again. Not in a rushed, suitcase‑bursting, itinerary‑packed way, but in the soft, dreamy style of a wish‑list adventure. The kind where you point the car toward the horizon and let the landscape decide the pace.

If I were heading out today, I know exactly where I’d go: southwest toward Colorado and Utah, where steam trains still echo through mountain canyons, ancient cliff dwellings cling to stone walls, and red‑rock cathedrals glow under endless skies.

This isn’t a trip I’ve booked. It’s one I’m savoring in my imagination — and sometimes those are the sweetest journeys of all.

Durango: Where the Journey Begins

Two nights

I’d start in Durango, settling into one of its historic hotels — the kind with wooden staircases polished by a century of footsteps and a lobby that feels like a warm handshake. From here, I’d wander out for dinner, camera in hand, letting the town’s old‑west charm set the tone.

 

 

The next morning, I’d board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a living piece of history that still breathes steam and nostalgia. As the train chugs along the Animas River, the canyon walls rise like guardians on either side. It’s a ride made for photography and quiet awe — no hiking boots required, just open eyes and a willingness to be carried through time.

 

 

 

 

Mesa Verde: Echoes of an Ancient World

One night in Cortez or Mancos

After the train, I’d drift west to Mesa Verde National Park, spending the night in Cortez or Mancos — simple, comfortable towns where the mesas glow gold at sunset.

Mesa Verde is a place that humbles you. Even without climbing ladders or squeezing through cliff dwellings, the overlooks alone tell a powerful story. Standing at Cliff Palace Overlook, I’d imagine fires flickering in the alcoves, families moving through the stone rooms, voices echoing across the canyon. The air feels ancient here, as if it remembers everything.

Moab: Gateway to Red‑Rock Wonder

Three nights

From Mesa Verde, the road would pull me into Utah and into Moab, a town that feels like the doorstep to another planet. I’d choose a place with a balcony or a big window — somewhere I could watch the cliffs catch the morning light.

Arches National Park

Arches is a photographer’s playground, even for those of us who prefer minimal walking. Balanced Rock, the Windows, Double Arch — each one a masterpiece carved by wind and time. You can see so much right from the overlooks.

Canyonlands: Island in the Sky

Canyonlands is all about vastness. I’d drive the rim, stopping at overlooks that make you feel like you’re standing at the edge of creation. Mesa Arch at sunrise would be the dream shot — that golden glow lighting up the canyon like a stage.

Torrey & Capitol Reef: A Quiet Pause

One night

From Moab, I’d follow Scenic Byway 24 — one of Utah’s most photogenic roads — into Torrey, a tiny town tucked against red cliffs. It’s the kind of place where the sky feels bigger and the evenings quieter.

Capitol Reef is gentle and generous. The orchards of Fruita, the historic barns, the petroglyphs, the sweeping overlooks — all easy to reach, all deeply photogenic. I’d savor a slice of pie from the Gifford House and let the day unfold slowly.

Bryce Canyon: A Forest of Stone

Two nights

Next, I’d move on to Bryce Canyon, where the hoodoos rise like a frozen forest of flame. Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point — each overlook offers a different angle on the amphitheater below, and none require more than a gentle stroll.

In the soft light of morning or evening, the stone spires glow pink, orange, and gold. It’s impossible not to take too many photos.

 

 

Springdale & Zion: A Canyon of Giants

Two nights

My final stop would be Springdale, the gateway to Zion National Park, where the canyon walls rise like cathedral pillars right behind the buildings. Even from the shuttle or the roadside pullouts, Zion overwhelms in the best way.

I’d stroll the flat Pa’rus Trail, sit by the river, and watch the cliffs shift color as the sun moves across the sky. No strenuous trails needed — the beauty comes to you.

Returning Home With a Full Heart

And then, as all journeys do — even the imaginary ones — the road would lead me home again. My camera would be full, my mind even fuller. That’s the magic of a wish‑list trip: it reminds me that adventure doesn’t always require a packed suitcase. Sometimes it just needs a spark of curiosity and the willingness to follow where the road might lead.

If I ever do take this trip, I already know it will feel familiar — because I’ve traveled it once already, right here in my imagination.

If You Go: Gentle Tips for a Southwest Dream Trip

Even though this journey lives mostly in the realm of imagination, it’s always nice to tuck a few practical notes into your back pocket — just in case the road starts calling a little louder.

Best Time to Travel

  • Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures.
  • Summer can be hot, but mornings and evenings are still beautiful for photography.

Pacing for Minimal Walking

  • All the parks mentioned have drive‑up viewpoints perfect for travelers who prefer gentle movement.
  • Shuttle systems in Zion and Bryce make sightseeing easy.
  • The Durango & Silverton train and Mesa Verde’s overlooks offer rich experiences without strenuous activity.

Lodging Overview

  • Durango: Stay downtown for easy access to the train.
  • Cortez or Mancos: Quiet bases for Mesa Verde.
  • Moab: Ideal for Arches, Canyonlands, and Dead Horse Point.
  • Torrey: A peaceful overnight stop for Capitol Reef.
  • Bryce Canyon area: Close to sunrise and sunset viewpoints.
  • Springdale: Perfect for Zion, with canyon walls rising behind the hotels.

Driving Notes

  • Roads are well‑maintained and incredibly scenic.
  • Distances are long but relaxing — perfect for a slow, photography‑friendly pace.
  • Gas stations can be far apart in Utah, so topping off the tank is wise.

Photography Tips

  • Golden hour is your best friend in the Southwest.
  • Bring extra memory cards — the landscapes are irresistible.
  • Many overlooks have railings or flat paths, making them easy to access.

Accessibility

  • National parks offer accessible viewpoints, shuttles, and level paths.
  • Each park’s accessibility page provides helpful details.

Mindset to Pack

  • Curiosity
  • Flexibility
  • A sense of wonder
  • And a camera ready for magic

 

Marvels of the Ancients and Wonders Closer to Home

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The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

Dreaming of Distant Civilizations

Every now and then, I find myself drifting into another trip down memory lane—this time not to places I’ve been, but to the astonishing achievements of ancient civilizations. I watch those TV specials all the time, the ones that showcase the impossible feats of early engineers and builders. It’s hard not to marvel at Egypt’s colossal monuments, from the timeless pyramids to the Avenue of Sphinxes stretching toward Karnak.

Then there’s Angkor Wat in Cambodia, a temple complex so vast and intricate it feels like something out of a dream. And China’s Great Wall—recent discoveries reveal it spans an incredible 13,171 miles, far more than we once believed. These are the kinds of wonders that make you stop and shake your head in disbelief.

Chances of me ever visiting any of these sites are slim to none, at least in this lifetime. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t found marvels of my own, closer to home.

A Surprise in the Arizona Desert

One such wonder was Montezuma’s Castle in Arizona. I hadn’t planned the visit; it was simply something to do on vacation. But sometimes the unplanned moments become the most memorable.

Montezuma’s Castle

Walking along the curving path, I had no idea what awaited me. Then I rounded a bend—and there it was. A five‑story cliff dwelling tucked into a limestone alcove, impossibly high and impossibly well‑preserved. It may not have the heart‑stopping grandeur of the Grand Canyon, but as a man‑made marvel, it holds its own.

Built by the ancient Sinagua people, the structure’s rooms, balconies, and stonework speak to a level of ingenuity that still inspires awe. Visitors can no longer climb the ladders to explore the interior, but standing at the base was enough for me. It was a moment of quiet appreciation for the people who carved out a home in the cliffs long before our modern world existed.

 

A Glimpse of Ancient Mexico

Leaving the Southwest behind, I think back to one of my rare trips outside the U.S.—a short cruise to Mexico with my friend and fellow explorer, JR. We docked in Cozumel and were quickly herded onto a tour bus bound for Tulum.

We weren’t in Mexico long enough to soak in the full flavor of the country, but Tulum made every minute count. Ancient structures perched above the turquoise sea, their weathered stones whispering stories of the Aztec world. The combination of age, beauty, and mystery was almost too much to take in at once.

The Joy of Remembering

I may never stand beneath the pyramids or wander the halls of Angkor Wat, but revisiting these memories—both near and far—reminds me that wonder doesn’t always require a passport. Sometimes it’s waiting around a corner on a desert trail. Sometimes it’s a day trip from a cruise ship. And sometimes it’s simply found in remembering where we’ve been and imagining where we might go next.

 

When Travel Feels Like Imagination Come to Life

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Yesterday I shared my thoughts on imagination — that wonderful, boundless world we carry in our minds. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized something surprising. Those same feelings of wonder, disbelief, and pure childlike awe show up in another part of my life too: when I’m traveling and exploring the world.

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when reality feels too extraordinary to be real. It’s the same spark I felt as a child pretending to see fairies in the woods, only now it comes from standing in front of places so breathtaking they feel like they were dreamed into existence.

🌄 The Grand Canyon: A Vision Too Vast to Believe

I still remember the first time I laid eyes on the Grand Canyon. The wonder of it was overwhelming — a dizzying spectacle of color, depth, and silence. People say it “takes your breath away,” and for once that wasn’t an exaggeration. I literally forgot to breathe.

It felt like a projection, a backdrop, something painted by a giant with an overactive imagination. How could anything so massive, so intricate, so impossibly beautiful be real? And yet there it was, stretching out before me, daring me to believe my own eyes.

Grand Canyon

🌋 Hawaii’s Chain of Craters Road: Fire Meeting the Sea

Another moment etched into my memory forever happened on Hawaii’s Chain of Craters Road. I had nothing but a disposable camera with me, but honestly, no photograph could have captured what I saw.

Plumes of brilliant white vog rose where molten lava met the ocean. The sky was a vivid, endless blue. The contrast was surreal — like watching the earth breathe. It was raw, elemental, and unforgettable.

🦌 Wyoming’s Elk Migration: Wildness in Motion

In Wyoming, I watched elk herds migrate across the landscape. There were fences, roads, and signs of human life all around, but none of it mattered. In that moment, those animals were exactly what they had always been — wild, free, and following ancient paths to their wintering grounds.

Elk Migration

It felt like witnessing a story older than memory.

🌡️ Yellowstone’s Geysers: A Step Back in TimeOld Faithful Erupts

Yellowstone added its own chapter to my collection of wonders. The primal energy of the geysers, the hiss of steam, the earth rumbling beneath my feet — it all felt like stepping into a prehistoric world.

Buffalo wandered through clouds of steam along the Firehole River as if they had been doing it for centuries. Maybe they had. Time seemed to fold in on itself there.

snuba at Turtletown 2020

🌊 Encounters Beneath the Waves

Some of my most magical travel moments happened underwater. I’ve snorkeled with manta rays and scuba‑dived with sea turtles, drifting through a world so peaceful and alien it felt like a dream.

I’ve watched humpback whales breach with breathtaking power, and I’ve been surrounded by dolphins spinning and leaping like acrobats putting on a private show.

And then there are the tiny wonders — like the little octopus I spotted off Maui, curious and delicate, reminding me that magic exists at every scale.

✨ Wonder That Stays With You

When I think of the places I’ve been, I hardly have the words to describe the wonder. How do you put experiences like that into sentences? How do you capture the feeling of being so small and so alive at the same time?

Maybe you don’t. Maybe you just carry those moments with you — treasures you can revisit anytime your mind needs a spark of joy or a reminder that the world is far bigger and more beautiful than we often remember.

These memories are my own living daydreams, the real‑world magic I get to enjoy over and over again. And in their own way, they’re every bit as powerful as imagination itself.

 

The Wonder of Imagination

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A World That Grows With Us

🌲 Childhood Worlds That Never Truly Leave

Some people say imagination fades as we grow older, but I’ve never believed that. When I was a child, I could spend entire days wandering the woods near my home, slipping into roles as easily as breathing. One moment I was a wild horse racing through the trees, the next a woodland creature listening for the whisper of fairies. Those woods weren’t just a place — they were a portal.

And while I no longer spend my afternoons pretending to gallop between pine trees, that sense of wonder never really left. It simply changed shape.

📚 Reading as a Doorway to New Worlds

Today, my imagination shows up most vividly when I read. I don’t just follow the words on the page — I step into them. Characters take on faces, voices, gestures. Settings bloom into full landscapes. I can smell the rain, hear the crunch of gravel, feel the tension in a room before anyone speaks.

Sometimes I even “cast” the story in my mind, choosing real actors who match the energy of the characters. It’s a little like directing a movie only I get to watch. And honestly, it makes reading feel like a private cinematic experience.

✨ Even the Greats Started With a Spark

When I think about imagination, I can’t help but think of Walt Disney — a man who built entire worlds from a single idea and a pencil sketch. He once said that curiosity leads us down new paths, and I’ve always loved that reminder. Imagination isn’t just for children or artists or dreamers. It’s for anyone willing to follow a spark and see where it leads.

Disney didn’t just create characters; he created feelings, memories, and places we return to again and again. And in a quieter, more personal way, imagination does the same for us. It gives us a place to wander, to wonder, and to reconnect with the parts of ourselves that still believe in magic.

🎨 Imagination Isn’t Childish — It’s Creative Fuel

Adults often talk about imagination as if it’s something we’re supposed to outgrow, but I think it’s one of the most powerful tools we carry with us. It helps us dream, problem‑solve, create, and connect. Imagination colors the ordinary. It lets us see possibilities where others see limits.

Whether we’re reading, writing, crafting, decorating, or simply daydreaming on a quiet afternoon, imagination gives us permission to explore worlds that don’t yet exist — and revisit the ones that shaped us.

🌟 A Reminder for National Imagination Day

So on this National Imagination Day, I’m celebrating the part of us that still believes in fairies in the woods and heroes on the page. The part that casts actors in our favorite books, that colors the world in brighter shades, that dares to dream a little bigger.

If Walt Disney taught us anything, it’s that imagination doesn’t just shape stories — it shapes lives. And it’s never too late to let yours lead you somewhere new.

Cinderella’s Castle in “Ice”, Walt Disney World, Orlando FL

The Mystery of the Keepers of Eilean Mòr

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Flannan Isle

Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Though three men dwell on Flannan Isle
To keep the lamp alight,
As we steered under the lee, we caught
No glimmer through the night.

…

Aye: though we hunted high and low,
And hunted everywhere,
Of the three men’s fate we found no trace,
Of any kind in any place,
But a door ajar, and an untouched meal,
And an overtoppled chair.

The Vanishing Keepers of Eilean Mòr

After writing about some of history’s most haunting disappearances, I stumbled onto another case that fits right in with the Mary Celeste and the Sodder children—a mystery wrapped in fog, salt spray, and superstition. The disappearance of the three lighthouse keepers of Flannan Isle (also known as Eilean Mòr) remains one of the most unsettling maritime puzzles ever recorded.

In December 1900, a relief ship arrived at the remote lighthouse in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. From the deck, the crew expected to see the usual welcome: a wave, a signal flag, or at least the steady sweep of the lamp. Instead, the lighthouse stood dark and silent. When the landing party reached the island, they found the place eerily undisturbed—coats missing, a meal left untouched, a chair knocked over as if someone had risen suddenly. But of the three men—James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald MacArthur—there was no sign at all.

Theories: From the Practical to the Paranormal

A Rogue Wave or Sudden Storm

The most widely accepted explanation is that a violent wave swept the men off the cliffs while they were securing equipment during bad weather. The western side of the island is notorious for unpredictable surges that can rise dozens of feet without warning.

A Fight or Accident Gone Wrong

Some speculate that tempers flared in the isolation, leading to an accident or struggle. But with no bodies, no blood, and no signs of conflict inside the lighthouse, this theory feels thin.

Abduction or Foul Play

A passing ship, a criminal act, or even a staged disappearance has been suggested. Yet nothing in the logbooks or supply records hints at outside interference.

The Sea Monster Theory

And then there’s the theory that refuses to die—something ancient and enormous rising from the depths. The waters around the Flannan Isles have long been tied to Celtic sea lore: kelpies, serpents, and creatures said to drag sailors beneath the waves. The overturned chair and the half‑eaten meal have inspired storytellers to imagine a sudden terror—a shadow at the window, a roar from the cliffs, something so shocking that all three men rushed outside at once. It’s dramatic, improbable, and yet somehow perfectly suited to a lighthouse perched on the edge of the world.

A Mystery That Still Echoes

More than a century later, the Flannan Isle disappearance remains unsolved. No bodies ever washed ashore, no equipment was found, and no definitive explanation has emerged. Like the Mary Celeste, it lingers in that strange space between history and legend—a reminder that even in our modern age, the sea still keeps its secrets.

If you enjoy mysteries that refuse to sit quietly, this one belongs on the list.