ARIZONA: Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is an iconic location, made famous thanks to countless Instagram posts. We hadn't originally planned on stopping at Horseshoe Bend, but we are glad that we did. It was nearing the end of a very long day: we drove from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon (where we hiked), and then we were making our way on a long drive to Utah, in order to spend the night near Zion National Park. We had been up since sunrise and now the sun was setting, and we still had hours to go. But it's impossible to resist a beautiful landscape during the "golden hour" and so we trekked the 1.5 miles on sore legs to the cliff overlooking the Colorado River.

The view was quite stunning. There were, unfortunately, crowds of others jockeying for the prime photography position - not all of whom were polite about it (we framed our photos very carefully to crop out most of the other spectators!). We made the best of our short time there. Throughout this trip we absolutely fell in love with the South West, and we can't wait to return.

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NOLA: St. Roch's Campo Santo

It would be easy to spend an entire weekend in NOLA just visiting cemeteries. There are many, and they are all full of fascinating history. St. Roch is a neighborhood in New Orleans, about 10 minutes away from the French Quarter. We were drawn here by the chapel and cemetery for which the neighborhood is named.

Saint Roch is the patron saint of good health, and it was to him that New Orleans Reverend Peter Leonard Thevis prayed to in 1867 during a violent scourge of yellow fever. He vowed that were his parish spared, he would build a chapel in Saint Roch's name. Over 3000 New Orleanians died from the outbreak in that year alone, although yellow fever had claimed over 40,000 from 1817 - 1905. Incredibly, every member of his parish survived the epidemic, and so, true to his word, he set out to erect the chapel and surrounding cemetery in celebration.

For years, locals have visited the chapel and left behind a thank you for their good health upon healing. Among these offerings are a variety of prosthetic legs, eyes, dentures, medical braces, crutches, canes, and other instruments. Unfortunately, the chapel has been closed for some time for restoration, so at the time of our visit we could only view these offerings through a small, barred, window. Fortunately there are some excellent photos from previous visitors online, two of which I am sharing below from atlas obscura (one of my favorite resources!).

source: atlas obscura/joanna ebenstein

source: atlas obscura/michael brownlee

The surrounding cemetery (campo santo) is beautiful and worth a visit. It is a unique and fascinating spot, whether you are fortunate enough to enter the chapel or not. The cemetery is, perhaps oddly, bright and colorful (gorgeous blue alcoves and bright white marble) for a place of mourning (this is true of much of New Orleans in comparison to those deliciously spooky New England cemeteries), and beautifully maintained.

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NOLA: A Walk Around the Garden District

One of our favorite things about our trip to New Orleans was aimlessly wandering around the Garden District. This district is a beautiful neighborhood of extravagant, historic, homes. While named the garden district, the primary stand out in the area is the Victorian architecture. The area was developed between 1832 - 1900, and much of the homes have been preserved since that time. We stayed within this district, right around the corner from the beautiful Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. 

New Orleans is known for it's rich and haunted history, and this area is no exception.  There are tons of famous and infamous homes within this region (including the one we stayed in, which is rumored to be haunted!). The area was once a smaller neighborhood of plantations, but has since expanded into a closer-knit community of mansions. The Garden District was formed by wealthy (white) locals that wanted to live further from the French Quarter - an area primarily populated by Creole people. The origins of this neighborhood are therefore steeped in xenophobia and slavery, a very dark chapter in American history, despite the beautiful facades.

Pictured below is the Buckner Mansion, which was featured in American Horror Story: Coven.

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ICELAND: Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon

Visiting the Blue Lagoon was the only thing on our itinerary for our last day in Iceland. It's a highly hyped destination, and it seems that anyone who has spent any time in Iceland has visited this spot. We were no exception. This was by far the most luxurious experience of our trip.

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa, about 12 miles away from the airport. The water is hot (around 98-102 F), and rich in minerals. The primary minerals present are silica (responsible for the milky blue coloring - just like with the blue waterfall!) and sulfur, which supposedly hold healing properties for skin conditions. The lagoon is not natural, and in fact the warm waters come from the nearby geothermal power plant.

Here are some tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon:

• BOOK EARLY! When planning your Iceland trip, purchase your entrance to the blue lagoon in advance. If you wait, you may miss out. The spa does not accept walk-ins. Prices vary based on availability and notice. Booking in advance offers you the lowest price. 
• When booking, choose an early time slot. We chose one of the earliest available time slots to arrive at the spa - around 8am. It was pretty busy, but it was crazy by the time we were leaving (around 11am)! Trust me, if you want a truly tranquil experience - make an effort to get there in the early hours! 
• If you're visiting over summer - you can choose a late time slot (after 9pm) and enjoy the midnight sun. 
• There are several levels of "experiences" you can choose from when booking. We chose the most basic - entrance to the lagoon, plus a mud mask and towel. If you want to make a day of it, look into the pricier options. We found that the basic experience was perfect for our budgets and travel style. 
• You will be provided with an electronic wristband when you enter. This will allow you access to a private locker for your belongings, and be used to create a tab if you purchase drinks or masks. 
• There are mask and drink bars within the spa that you can swim up to. 
• Note: You are not permitted to enter the lagoon without showering, in order to keep the spa hygienic. There is shampoo and soap provided in the locker room showers. 
• I would advise keeping your hair up and out of the water, as the silica and sulfur can make your hair stiff and quite uncomfortable! Of course, you can always wash it out afterwards. 
• There is accessibility for disabled travelers at the spa. 
• The spa is not suited for children under 2 years old, but is free for children 2 - 13 years of age. 

In our opinion, is the Blue Lagoon worth a stop?

Yes, but with a small caveat. There are other spas and pools that can be visited in Iceland for cheaper. For us, it was a fun, popular destination that we could experience for ourselves. The spa is a bit pricey, but it was worth it for us for the convenient location and much needed relaxation. It was a great way to wind down before our flight, and to rest after a nonstop week of hiking and driving. 

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

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