#47 - Take a trip with my sister (72/101).

This past week I took a trip with my sister (and dad) to Nevada and Arizona. Last year when my sister graduated from UGA, I gifted her a sisters trip to somewhere of her choice. When I realized I had some free time between my old and new jobs, I asked her if she had a few days to go on a trip with me and she happily agreed. After we decided on the trip, my dad called and asked if he could join. Of course we wanted him to so he joined in on the fun. Here is a break down of our short and wonderful trip:

Day 1

• Flew into Las Vegas
• Drove to Page, Arizona, driving through Nevada, Utah and Arizona on the route
• Toured Antelope Canyon, a Navajo owned and operated slot canyon that yields incredible photography 
• Ate awesome burgers at Slackers
• Drove and stayed in a hotel close to the Grand Canyon South Rim

Day 2

• Packed our day packs and drove in to the Grand Canyon National Park
• Hiked 9+ miles on the Bright Angel Trail
• Enjoyed a carb loaded dinner at We Cook Pizza and Pasta 

Day 3

• Walked part of the Rim Trail to enjoy gorgeous views of the canyon 
• Drove to and visited the Hoover Dam (so huge!)
• Strolled along the Las Vegas Strip, enjoying mojitos and fountain shows
• Ate dinner at Jaleo, a delicious tapas restaurant inside the Cosmopolitan 

We had a great trip and I loved spending time with my sister and dad. I look forward to continuing to explore new places with my family! 

#42 - Visit the Grand Canyon (71/101).

With two weeks between my old and new job (#funemployement), I have been making the most of it by moving cities, spending time with friends/family and going on a short trip out west with my dad and sister. We visited the Grand Canyon this past week and it was incredible. One day, we hiked the Bright Angel Trail down to Indian Garden. It was about a 9.2 mile hike round trip down into the canyon and it was beautiful and very hot. Thankfully a decent amount of the path was shaded by the canyon walls so we were able to seek refuge in the shade as we walked. The trail is very well maintained with stops every 1.5 miles that include toilets, water and rest houses. While we were exhausted afterwards, we were so glad to have had the opportunity to hike in the Grand Canyon. It is such an incredible sight and to be able to explore the different elevations and viewpoints as we hiked was awesome. The following day we walked along the South Rim and could see many other trails down into the canyon. I wish we had more time to hike on some more trails but we will have to return to explore more trails at a later time. Enjoy a few more pictures of our time in the Grand Canyon below.

If you decide to hike the Bright Angel Trail or other trails down into the Canyon, here are a few tips:

• H2O + Trail Fuel: Having enough water and food (mix of sweet, salty and substantial foods) is essential. While there are places to fill up your water on the trail, you will want to make sure to bring a couple of liters of water with you. I suggest having a cold drink waiting in the cooler for you when you get back as well (I usually have a blue gatorade)! 
• Appropriate Gear: Many times the trail can be chilly in the morning but rise to high temperatures throughout the day. Layers are key and make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself against all the rays. Good shoes/hiking boots are important, especially if you are hiking a decent amount of way into the canyon. I would also recommend hiking poles as coming back up is a lot more work than descending down into the canyon.
• Down is Optional, Up is Mandatory: We saw signs with this saying posted a few times on the trail and it is so true. The beginning of the hike is deceiving as you basically hike downhill until you turn around. Before going to far, make sure to ask yourself and those with you if they are ok to keep on going and keep in mind that going back up is much more difficult than descending down into the canyon. For most hikers, it takes 1.5-2 times as long to go back up than to go down and there is also a substantial elevation change. Make sure to take adequate breaks and stay hydrated on the return to the top! 

#40 - Run a 5k (70/101).

This morning we ran the Movin' and Shakin' 5K benefitting the Parkinson's & Movement Disorders Center. Our friend's father has Parkinson's so we ran in honor of him and I also ran in memory of my step-grandfather who passed away in November and battled Parkinson's for many years. It was a fun morning and we both ended up medaling - I got fifth place for females and Clark got second place overall. The route passed the area where I did gymnastics for many years growing up, it will be fun continuing to re-explore my hometown now that I am back in Richmond. 

#23 - Sell something on a site like Craigslist (69/101).

I am moving from Atlanta, Georgia to Richmond, Virginia to be closer to my family and boyfriend and start a new job. I have interpreted number twenty three on my list as use a site like Craigslist to sell anything so I used Craigslist and Zillow for the first time to find a new tenant for my apartment. Since I was breaking my lease early, my landlord let me out of the lease with the stipulation that I find someone to start a new lease when I vacate the apartment.

I have found and bought things on sites like Craigslist and eBay before but I had never been on the "sellers" side. I was surprised by the amount of people who reached out initially but did not follow, whether not answering what time they were available to view the apartment or not showing up at a set time. I did successfully find someone to take over my apartment and am glad there are sites like Craigslist and Zillow set up to help make these things happen!