If Tulum was a lady, she’d be a flower child dancing with outstretched arms on the sand. This is the bohemian feeling we conjure as we breathe in the balmy air, watch palm trees swaying and listen to waves crashing. Our hotel, The Panamera, lies behind us, and thousands of miles back, all the pandemic fears. We’ve taken three weeks out of time before we have to plunge back into our reality: isolation and mask wearing. For now, we are savoring the freedom of being here.

Two months in isolation—that’s what it’s been since we went shelter-in-place in Santa Fe. With states opening up this month, we decided it was high time to get out of the house and see America. Roxy and I have been all over the world, from Mongolia to Marrakesh, but for self-proclaimed world travelers, we have seen very little of our beloved backyard—the southwest. It only took a little googling to discover that The “Mighty Five” parks of Utah are in driving distance, more or less operational, and a great way to be in nature. So, that’s where we set our sites for a 10-day trip.