In February, I quit my job, put all of my shoebox cash into my checking account like an adult, stuffed some clothes into a backpack and climbed into a Toyota Yaris with two of my best friends.

Then we drove. For five months.

2016 marked the 100th year of the National Parks Service and we decided to celebrate. Trying to figure out which park to visit, when to visit and what trails to follow can be a very daunting task. Guidebooks are fine, but we got a lot of our information the old fashioned way. You know, from random people walking up to our campsites and telling us what their favorite spot is.

So imagine, if you will, that I'm approaching with this post while you sit on your picnic bench making a peanut butter and jelly or washing your sports bra in a spigot. It's more authentic that way.

Dead Horse Point State Park - Moab, Utah

If you're exclusively visiting national parks you're missing out on one of the most untouched and unbelievable parks in Utah. Dead Horse Point is a state park that has been open to the public since 1959. It's situated 2,000 feet above the mighty Colorado River. If you can get over the gruesome name (according to legend, cowboys used to leave unwanted horses corralled up on the edge of these cliffs without water because, I don't know, humans are the worst?) you will be rewarded with some stunning views. A man in our campground, who I'm assuming was the unofficial mayor of Moab, urged us to visit Dead Horse Point rather than Canyonlands National Park for a more intimate experience and he was right. We did not come across a single other person on our hike. It was glorious.

Recommended Trails: West Rim Trail

Arches National Park - Moab, Utah

I know what you're thinking, "Two different posts on Moab? If you love Moab so much why don't you just marry it?" And to you I say, I would if I could. Seriously. On our second day here, which happened to be my 23rd birthday, we decided to visit the golden child of the National Parks in Utah, Arches National Park. If you're in to National Parks at all, you've probably heard of Arches. And if you've heard of Arches, you've probably heard of the star attraction, Delicate Arch. And if you've heard of Delicate Arch, you're bound to want some milk. For your cookie. Cause you're a mouse. If you give a mouse a—never mind. I'm a huge proponent of hidden gem parks, but in the case of Arches and the Delicate Arch trail, believe the hype. Though this park was certainly more crowded than Dead Horse Point, hiking through it still felt like slipping into an alien planet of your own. The trails were clearly and unassumingly marked and the diversity of the landscape was baffling and awe-inspiring. And totally Instagram worthy.

Reccomended Trails: Double Arch Trail, Delicate Arch Trail (go at sunrise. Seriously.)

Red Cliffs Recreation Area

Recommended Trails: Red Reef Trail