The Kleine family of Wildhorse turned Spring Break into an epic Southwest adventure, journeying through the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Phoenix, all in one action-packed week. What began as a long-discussed college friend reunion in Phoenix quickly morphed into “the trip that finally made it out of the group chat,” as one of the kids put it.

Jessica, Jeff, Cora (9), Emily (7) kicked off their vacation with a stay inside Grand Canyon National Park, convenient and jaw-droppingly beautiful. A surprise snowstorm meant they traded hiking gear for hats and gloves, but the chilly temps didn’t stop them. They even had a close-up encounter with elk strolling across their trail like locals. A side trip to Horseshoe Bend gave them a whole new perspective on the canyon’s scale, while the girls loved hopping on and off the scenic rim shuttle like it was their own personal sightseeing bus.

Next stop: Sedona, where red rock views stole the show. Their basecamp, Sky Ranch Lodge perched atop Airport Mesa, delivered sunset views they’ll never forget. Secret Slickrock Trail was a hiking highlight, easy enough for all, but with postcard-worthy vistas of Cathedral Rock. The Pink Jeep off-road tour added a dose of adrenaline, and nighttime stargazing brought the perfect wind-down.

The Kleines wrapped things up in Phoenix with a Cubs spring training game, where the kids got to run the bases, ending their journey in the sunshine with sandals and smiles.

While weather swung wildly from snowflakes to 90-degree heat, the memories stayed warm throughout. With the help of ChatGPT to plan it all, the Kleines are already dreaming up their next adventure.