Adulting is hard; parenting is harder. My 11 year old son would play Minecraft until the end of the world if I let him. He’d be entirely content to live in the basement, playing Minecraft while his Mom and I cook & clean, for the rest of his life. As an outdoor adventure lover, this is painful. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good video game, but I’ve never conquered any video game except Duck Hunt, and Mario, but to be honest, I totally used cheat codes in Mario. I just wasn’t that interested. As a kid, and still today, I’d much rather be outside. I have to do something about my 11 year old’s thirst for adventure. But what? Timing is everything. I offered him the spring break of a lifetime. Lets drive across the country I say. The offer falls flat. Then as if a magical gift from the universe, a couple days later a commercial for Utah’s Mighty 5 airs, and he looks at me and grins. “That’s it!” he exclaims. “I want to go there Dad! Utah!” So thats exactly what we did. We drove through 16 states and nearly 5,000 miles to take in all that Utah’s Big 5 have to offer. Bryce Canyon, Zion, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches. We spent a good bit of time in Moab, as well, and his eyes were opened as if he’d just been born. His thirst for adventure came alive. His favorite spot was Double Arches, because of the Indiana Jones connection. I had no idea he even knew that connection. I feel like I’m getting to know a whole new kid. Amazing memories were made, and Utah has cemented a new bond between me and my son. A bond that is built on shared adventure. We’ll be coming back often. Next time we return, we’ll be rock climbing & mountain-biking around Moab. I can’t wait. Here’s to the adventure of parenting, and the thirst for adventure adventure that Utah gave birth to in my son.
Written by: Dan Boles
This is amazing! Such incredible pics.
Thank you!!!
Such a great trip. 🙂
Yep!
Great story!
Thanks Steven!
really appreciate the comments!
No problem man
Great job Dan! I too have shown my nine year old the light of Utah. It is a very special place to build strong bonds! Keep it up!
Thanks Scott!
Although I cherish the time while he is still young I cannot wait until my son is old enough to do adventures like this with. Great story Dan!
Thanks Wesley.
The pics are great as is the blog. Had to have been an awesome trip!
Thanks Gail and welcome to our site!
Thank you!!!
Fantastic! captures the beauty that is uniquely Utah.
Thank you Susie!
Excellent my friend!
Thanks Jesse. Hope you’re doing great.
Love it – so glad you got to experience this with him.
Me too. 🙂
That looks a lot more fun than the time I got lost in Canyonlands alone for 8 hours with one quart of water … in July.
yikes. that’s scary! glad to know you made it out alive. 🙂
Oh wow, that must have been rough
Great! Love this story!
Thank you!!! It was a blast.
Sounds like an amazing trip. Hope to do something like this with my kids one day! Love y’all!
Love you too. 🙂
Adulting is definitely hard! So great you had such a wonderful time. Great pictures!!
Yay
This rocks! #ImSoPunny
dork
Awesome pic! You deserve to win!
Thanks Jeff! 🙂
Love the pics. Sara, David (my brother), Rachel (my sis in law), and I will be hiking all throughout Zion in October. Looking forward to the trip. Dan’s pics make me want to be out there right now and not in 4months.
That’s going to be an amazing trip! I can’t wait to see your pics.
Great pics, wow what a view, nice shots man!!
Thanks bro.
These are awesome!
You’re AWESOME! 🙂
Great job- thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much.
Was just in Colorado, wish we would have stopped in Utah too! Awesome pics
Thanks Kecin! Colorado is just as amazing.
Great story Dan! I’m also a huge outdoor buff and can only hope that my kids would rather be outside rather than on their devices (phone, tablet, etc…). Utah is an amazing place and where I hope to end up one day!
Do it!
Great parenting.
Thanks. That’s a huge compliment.
Inspirational
very nice. thanks.
Very nice! You made me want to go to Utah, too!
You should! It’s awesome.
Awesome story and adventure with your son, Dan! You also have me now motivated to go adventuring!!
Go XPLOR!
What an incredible story. I can only hope my future children will enjoy adventures with me in this way!
Thanks!!! I have no doubt… your kids will. 🙂
I love the one of your son in the palm of your hand!
totally his idea too. 🙂
Fantastic way to connect!!
disconnect in order to connect. 🙂
Awesome story!
Appreciate that Cheryl. 🙂
Adulting IS hard and so is parenting! So glad you two got to go together on a wonderful journey. 🙂 My daughter and I got to go on a trip last week – our first together – and she’s 28!! Great, great times! 🙂
Absolutely wonderful. Hope y’all had a great time!!!
Dan, it’s exciting to see that change in your son. Good luck with all of your future adventures together.
indeed it is Jim. thx
BEAUTIFUL story! Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you Mimi. It is an honor. 🙂
Good stuff brother Dan!
Appreciate that brother!
I hope I have kids as cool as yours one day! I’m not quite there yet tho…
haha. take your time bud. Take. your. time.
Looks awesome!
Thanks Jason! Have a great day.
Family memories are the best.
Indeed. 🙂
Super awesome..great to get out and,show them a world beyond the computer
Yes it is!
Awesome pictures. What a bonding experience with your son. You realize you are going to have to step it up now, rafting the Colorado River, zip lining adventure in Lincoln, NH or canoeing in Boundary Waters in Minnesota. Whatever it might be have a blast!
Thanks Dan! I do realize the bar has been raised. Challenge gladly accepted. Hope you’re well. 🙂
Grea story and photos!
Thanks Travis. Have a great weekend, and please share!!!
Making memories is always awesome, great pics!
Thanks Staci! It is, isn’t it!!!
Great pictures! Looks like a great time was had by all!
Thanks CY!
What was your favorite place on your trip?
My favorite place was Canyonlands. I thoroughly enjoyed driving through Shaefer’s Trail, and Long Canyon Road.
My favorite place was Arches! I got to see where Indiana Jones came out! So cool.
Where was that pic of you holding your son? That looks neat.
The first pic is at Canyonlands National Park, at the start of the Shaefer Trail.
The second pic is Goblin Valley State Park (Utah State Park).
Great pics. Looks like a fun trip.
Thanks Sean. It was a blast.
Awesome pics, Dan. I have not been to Utah and definitely want to go there.
You should definitely go! Maybe we can ride out there together. 🙂
Great motivational story. Good to hear it! Hope there are many more trips in your future.
You needed cheat codes to get through Mario? C’mon man. Oh yeah, the trip thing looks great too. Good luck!
Bravo Dan! You have won the greatest contest of our times. The parenting contest we shall call the “Breakout.” Your a lucky man!
Nice photos and story!
Love these photos!