Our Lake Powell Road Trip!

Our Lake Powell Road Trip Itinerary

_{Day 1: Palm Springs, CA to Flagstaff, AZ}

_{On the first day, we drove from Palm Springs to Flagstaff, a 6-hour drive. We rented a house thru VRBO for two nights (totally fine house, nothing designy or cool, but comfy) so we could just take it easy and enjoy some cooler weather for a few days. Flagstaff is in the mountains, at about 7000-ft elevation. Even though that’s not super high, after driving in 115-degree temperatures for several hours combined with the elevation, I did get altitude sickness on the first night. That was a surprise and a bummer (it feels like a hangover without the fun of having had a few drinks!), but it’s a good reminder to always ease into a trip if you can. Which brings me to the next day…}

_{Day 2: Flagstaff / Bearizona}

_{All we had planned for Day 2 was to go back to Bearizona. What is Bearizona, you ask? A drive-thru wildlife park, whose main attraction is bears! We had gone a few years earlier and loved it. I mean, these bears just happily wander around and you just drive at your own pace. We took tons of pics (sorry I didn’t share any here yet), but it’s fun for all ages. Other than Bearizona, we just had some nice meals at “home” and watched cheesey movies, resting up for the next day’s drive to Lake Powell. BTW, we thought our first trip to Bearizona couldn’t be topped but we wrong. First, we were there on a Tuesday around noon and were practically the only people there. Second, we lucked out being there at feeding time, which was SO cute to see. All of the bears lined up and got their huge servings of apples and corn.} 

_{Day 3: Lake Powell / Lone Rock Beach}

_{The drive from Flagstaff to Lake Powell is only about 2 hours. Lake Powell straddles both Arizona and Utah. We rented a house for the night (it was totally fine, but I wouldn’t recommend it). If we did this trip again, we’d try to plan it further in advance because there are some really nice houses in the Lake Powell area that you can rent, but none were available on short notice. We checked into the house and then decided to drive to the beach at Lake Powell for a late lunch/early dinner. It was so nice just hanging in our Sprinter Van on the beach. This is the first time there were other people around, and up until this point we’d been SUPER cautious during all of COVID (we hadn’t even been IN a grocery store since March), so we were feeling out how we felt about it. People were very spaced out though, so we felt okay… However, on the drive out, we did get stuck in the sand — ooops! – but some very nice guys came to help dig us out. Adventures! They were so nice and after we put our masks on, they thanked us for being considerate and then put their masks on.}

_{Tip: It can be awkward to put your mask on in front of someone who doesn’t have their mask on, almost like you’re offending them, although that’s clearly not the intention. We always just say “We’re from a high Covid area, so want to be sure we keep you safe.”}

_{Day 4: Lake Powell Boat Day/BaseCamp 37 Glamping in Kanab, UT}

_{The next morning, we were excited to get up and go to the Wahweap Marina to pick up the boat we had rented for the day. There are three kinds of boats you can rent: 1) a speedboat, 2) a pontoon and 3) a houseboat. Again, we booked online ahead of time and highly recommend doing the same. We were there on a Thursday and it was very busy. This was the first time we felt uncomfortable – Covid-wise—on the trip. Since we had a reservation, we thought it would be a quick and easy and uncrowded process, but everyone else had a reservation too, so that wasn’t the case. They had a man outside who took your name  and he was wearing a mask. But the people waiting in line for their boats – it was about 50/50. Some people were great about it, and some people acted like What pandemic? Anyway, it wasn’t too long before we were being escorted to our boat (maybe 20 mins), but the guy who gave us our boat tour didn’t wear a mask. Which is really strange to me because the co-worker checking us in was wearing one. Maybe it’s because the check-in guy was 50+ and the boat tour guide was about 20. We had booked a pontoon boat, mostly because it reminded me most of the boat from Overboard (haha) and it was perfect for us. FYI, these things aren’t cheap. I think we paid $800 for the boat for the day. But our rationale was we’re not exactly spending much on travel this year.}  

_{As someone who isn’t a boat person or lake person, I LOVED our boat day on the water. Fred Baby was the captain of our ship (are you surprised?) and said it was really easy to drive the pontoon. We could easily pull up to a beach and have it all to ourselves. We all loved swimming – yes, Odee too! The water temperature was perfect.}

_{Tip: Bring EVERYTHING you want on the boat. I assumed since our boat had a bar and kitchen (and bathroom), that they would probably have plates, utensils and glasses, but that’s not the case. You literally have to bring everything, even ice. They have wheelbarrows in the parking lot, so grab one to transport all of your things (towels, dishes food, sunscreen, hats, etc.).}

_{We were lucky that we grabbed just enough to get by and all was good, but I would have wanted to know that ahead of time.} 

 _{It would be very fun to go back in the future with a few friends or family and rent a house boat, where you stay the night on the boat. I also think a speedboat could be fun for a day because you can see a lot more of the slot canyons (and if you’re looking to water ski or something like that, that would be a good pick). We were just looking to cruise and swim, so the pontoon was perfect. Our boat also had a second level, which was great because it meant we had shade on the first level, which is where we spent all of our time (except when we snapped these pics). BTW, you only need your bathing suit and a hat and sunnies, no fancy dresses!}

_{When the day is over, they ask you to fuel up the boat and that was the other time we felt uncomfortable Covid-wise. The people working there didn’t wear masks either and kept reaching over us to check things. I had my mask on, of course, but just know before you go. All that said, we had a great time.}

_{Fred Baby says to do it better next time, he would try to rent a boat via a private person or elsewhere, if possible.} 

 _{More boat rental options I found from googling “Lake Powell boat rentals” worth investigating:}

Renegade Boat Rentals

Powell Adventure Rentals

Canyon Boat Rentals

Dreamkatchers

All-In Boat Rentals

Note: Be sure to look at a map and make sure you choose a marina/town closest to where you’re staying overnight, as there are  a few.

_{That evening, we drove to Kanab, UT, less than an hour from the marina to stay at BaseCamp37. BaseCamp37 is a glamping spot, where five safari-style tents are outfitted with comfy King beds and luxury linens. You can see more pics on their website here. We stayed in the Katie Lee tent and loved it. In fact, it was our favorite place we stayed during our trip — and by far the least inexpensive. That said, the tents don’t have their own bathrooms or kitchens – they have communal accommodations. But since we have our own kitchen and bathroom in Sally Tomatwo (our Sprinter Van), we were fine with that. It was great to fall asleep under the stars, after a wonderful day on the lake.} 

_{Tip: If you’re looking for more glamping accommodations, check out Under Canvas. We haven’t stayed with them yet (the have multiple locations), but they have their own private bathrooms and look luxurious! Their Lake Powell location opens in April 2021.}

_{Day 5: Kanab, UT to Palm Springs}

_{We woke up the next morning, having slept better than any other night of the trip. After breakfast, we hit the road back for Palm Springs, about a 7-hour drive. As always, we were so happy we went, but even happier to be home sweet home.}

_{Would We Do It Again?}

 _{We both had a cold or allergies as soon as we got back home, which lasted for about a week. To be safe, we got Covid tests. Since we tested negative, the answer is: We would absolutely  do it again. Obviously, if we had gotten Covid, it would be a different story. But I hope the tips above can help you decide the safest way to travel for you. And I REALLY hope that if you’re reading this post in the future or for a trip next year, that Covid is behind us. Covid or not, we would definitely take another Lake Powell road trip!}

_{The Best Part} 

_{It was so good for the soul and for our mental health to get out of town for a little bit. And it seems I love doing things that prove myself wrong.}

_{A few years ago, I came up with the idea to rent the Minnie Winnie for a roadtrip to Arcosanti, despite not being an “RV person.” That then led to us loving it and getting our Sprinter Van. This time, even though I’m not a lake or boat person, I thought Let’s go to a lake and rent a boat! Again, I proved myself wrong, and Fred Baby has already been investigating buying a boat. Haha. While I think we’ll put that idea on hold for now (I hear it’s a terrible investment), I love that traveling opens your eyes to new experiences and teaches you more about yourself.}

_{What I Learned}

_{Don’t put yourself in a box. You can love the French Riviera AND lake life. Even if it’s not Lake Como and George Clooney is nowhere in sight.}

_{So tell me: Have you traveled anywhere since Covid? Anywhere we should add to The Great American Road Trip list?}

p.s. What’s your Spirit Place?