We started our road trip in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A sleepy town that had little in the way of obstructing the view.
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The climate in the Southwest can be harsh but even what’s dead can be beautiful here.
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The sunsets became all encompassing, literally stretching 360 degrees around us.
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Near Las Cruces is the White Sands National Monument. An ancient lake that dried up and left behind a sea of white sand dunes.
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The white sand on a hot day was actually cool to the touch.
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The terrain was so unfamiliar, we kept asking ourselves: is this Earth or Mars?
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We continued our road trip towards Arizona stopping at this rest stop that boasted the motto: “Keep America Beautiful!”
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Let’s just say that this rest stop had seen better days.
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A typical road in the southwest: two lanes, each extending into far into the landscape.
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As we moved into Arizona, the terrain started to reveal cacti. This one was beside yet another rest stop.
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It’s weird to see cacti-like trees in a forest, dotting hills and scattering peaks.
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Mother Nature was especially bright in Sedona, AZ. The red rocks contrasted beautifully against the blue cloudless sky.
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The canyons were in full bloom with each spiky plant gleaming in the bright sun.
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The smell of Spring is hard to beat.
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During our time in Sedona, we went on hikes alongside plants that were almost Dr. Seuss-ian.
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A closeup of a typical cactus. The plant is built like a fortress with wooden spikes to protect its fleshy interior.
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No place is that more evident than at the Grand Canyon. For size reference, see if you can spot the person.
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Truly a natural creation that is hard to capture. This photo fits about 1/8 of the Grand Canyon’s views.
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At the end of the day, the pure expanse of Mother Nature is what we were left remembering.
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