The most beautiful place in America: Part 1

Granted, I haven’t been everywhere in America, but of the places I have been thus far, Utah takes the crown for most beautiful. Looking for a quick getaway to escape our hectic lives in Vegas, Alex and I recently traveled to the small town of Ivins, near St. George. When we were looking for a place to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, we focused on finding locations that were within a few hours’ drive and would provide a calm, serene setting where we could just relax. The last few weeks have been tumultuous for us, and we couldn’t wait to put Vegas in the rear view if only for a few days.

Finding peace in Utah

I Googled endlessly looking for a place where we could relax, and finally stumbled upon the Kayenta community in Ivins. This community is home to a small art village, a restaurant, a sculpture garden with a labyrinth, and a wonderfully quiet place to stay: The Crescent Moon Inn. It’s less than a two-hour drive from Vegas, and it looked like it was int he middle of nowhere. Perfect.

Our stay there was so relaxed and peace-filled that we were reluctant to drive away. If you’re looking for a place to get away from it all, this inn is the place for you. However, if you want nightlife or greater interaction with people, this place is definitely not for you. Alex and I basically wanted to commune with nature for a while, so this was the perfect choice.

I want to make it clear that Alex and I were in no way compensated for our stay at the inn–we really are just this enthusiastic about our stay!–and we paid for our own travel and accommodation.

Kayenta in Photos

It’s difficult to put the beauty of the place into words, so I’ll show you with a photo essay below. (The second part of this series will feature a photo essay on Snow Canyon State Park, where we hiked on the second day of our stay.)

The gorgeous view from the roof of The Crescent Moon Inn.

I am standing atop the roof--it looks like I'm not, but I am! The inn was down a steep hill from the lake.

This is the most relaxed Alex has been in about 17 years!

Ducks!

The Crescent Moon Inn in the Kayenta community of Ivins, Utah

This looks like a painting on the wall, but it's a window!

After walking the labyrinth, thinking deeply along the way, Alex and I met in the center and couldn't resist an overly cute photo opp.

This was my favorite statue in the sculpture garden. It's called "Mother's Hands." Sculptures line the path to the labyrinth.

Sunset from the roof of the Crescent Moon Inn.

Stay tuned for part 2, which will feature photos of the jaw-dropping beauty of Snow Canyon State Park.

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.