Katie sits atop the Zion Canyon Overlook
Katie Arenas grew up with an appreciation for the outdoors through immersive travel with family, friends, and as a solo traveler. She let her passion for active outdoor adventure lead her all the way to her role at Off the Beaten Path, where she helps like-minded adventurers explore the world. Katie and her husband had the opportunity to travel with OBP so she could connect with what the true travel experience is like for one of our travelers. In this interview, Katie recounts her unforgettable exploration of unique landscapes in Utah on a Small Group Adventure to the Desert Southwest, offering a glimpse into the transformative power of guided travel. Here is what she has to say:
Katie: “I’ve been an avid traveler all my life – from childhood trips with my family to venturing on my own in my early twenties, starting with a memorable trip to Iceland! For the past year, I’ve been fortunate to combine my passion for travel with my work at OBP as a travel planner. I joined a Small Group Adventure “Zion and Beyond”** in September, experiencing an Off the Beaten Path journey firsthand.”
**Zion and Beyond is a retired trip. We have since adapted this trip itinerary, and created “Utah’s Mighty Five“. This journey is even more cohesive and immerses our travelers more deeply in the Desert Southwest.
Hiking in the Willis Narrows, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM
Katie: “We get to go to new places, connect with new people, and experience completely different cultures and ways of life. We compare them with our lives back home – what’s unique, and what’s the same. I think travel shows us both the rich diversity of the world while reminding us that we’re all just humans, with more in common than we might think.”
Katie: “Utah was an exciting destination for me, as it was a place I’d never been before but had always been drawn to. The landscape is vast and unique. Our Utah’s Mighty Five trip itinerary brings that bigness down to an intimate scale and offers a unique way to explore less-traveled areas!”
The Virgin River, which sculpts the Narrows in Zion NP
Katie: “Bryce Canyon was so special, with adorable cabins perched cliffside within the park. Witnessing the magical sunrise and sunset at the canyon’s edge was truly special. The colors on the hoodoos – wow! Another highlight was visiting a slot canyon in Grand Staircase – just our small group, surrounded by towering stone walls with Native American pictographs, and a waterfall waiting at the end. Our guide also led us to what he called a “playground for adults” – massive boulders inviting us to climb and hop around. It brought out the kid in all of us. It’s so important to have experiences as an adult that make us feel like kids again, especially in our fast-paced world – to remember to play!”
Thors Hammer, Bryce Canyon NP.
Katie’s husband and travel companion on the rocks at the Devils Garden
Katie: “This was the first time! I’m very independent, typically, and I love doing my own thing. But having a guide was such a great experience. And with everything meticulously planned and organized for us, I got to shift my focus from planning logistics to enjoying the ride! Your guide knows just where to go, and when to go, making the trip both relaxing and adventurous. Every single day, you get to wake up knowing there’s something new and exciting ahead of you. And with a good guide, you might go to the same place as someone else, but you’ll have a completely different experience from them. We learned so much about tribal history, plant life, and unique geology. Everywhere in Utah offers something different, and we got to go so much deeper than surface level!”
Fairyland Trail, Bryce Canyon NP
Katie: “I’ve always loved experiencing the natural world. But when you’re by yourself, you might just reach the end of a hike, snap a picture, and head back to the trailhead. With a guide, you don’t just move through the landscape – you engage with it. Pay attention to the details. Get curious. Ask questions. With a deeper understanding comes a deeper appreciation. You really enjoy every second.”
Katie is back in the office and ready to help make your trip the best it can be! Let’s get ready to plan your Desert Southwest Adventure!
About the Author – Lauren Burgess:
Lauren weaves poetry into marketing to help good people and businesses connect with their communities and elevate their impact. From Ecuadorian volcanoes to Alaskan rivers, entrepreneurship to art, she believes in taking the leap, falling in love, and embracing life’s wild, animate magic – an ethos she lives out alongside her partner of 12 years and their adopted barncat.
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