The Trip of a Lifetime

Two summers ago, I traveled to Park City, Utah. My younger sister plays for a competitive Travel Softball team. This summer trip was her trip to ASA Nationals and I distinctly remember my reluctance to go: Why should I go support my sister, while I am bored to tears?  Regardless, I had no better way to spend my summer thus I decided to tag along.

We embarked on our journey to Las Vegas, Nevada (about 5 hours away from home) to rest for a night. We stayed at Mandalay Bay for our one-night-stay, and I felt so at peace! I hung out at the pool all day and truly enjoyed myself. Again, as we had to leave, I became so resentful at my parents for making us leave. The subsequent trip from Vegas to Park City could take up to 7 hours driving! I constantly questioned my parents, “Why couldn’t we fly there?” They simply replied: It’s a greater experience traveling by car! Well, I chose to listen to music the whole way there, blocking out any chance of dialogue with my family. I was exhausted after sitting in the same position for such a long period of time, but I could not deny the simple beauty of the background that passed me as we trekked through Utah.

Driving through Salt Lake City felt like any other city in any other state. When we arrived, I asked, “This is it?” I remember my parents glancing at each other, completely aggravated with me, and just shaking their heads in disbelief. From that moment on, I fell into utter silence.We soon were on a narrower freeway passing between mountains and eventually, my father read our exit aloud as we slowly entered Park City. Oh. My. Goodness. The scenery that lay before my eyes was breathtaking; I couldn’t even express how gorgeous this diminutive town was in words, whereas my family was filling the air with their “Ooh(s)” and “Aah(s).” It was then that I was informed of my privilege to be staying in the very town that hosted the Winter Olympics in years past. As we inched closer to our resort, the mountains looked covered in lush green trees. We pulled up to The Canyons and only imagined how the lodge would look during a winter wonderland.  We immediately spotted 2 ski-lifts/gondola rides, and promised ourselves right then and there, that we would ride them before the end of our vacation! An entire week in this peaceful paradise seemed unreal. I no longer yearned to go back to Las Vegas as this location did not compare with any other place I had traveled before.

Over our vacation, we visited Main Street, where the famous Sundance Film Festival is held.  We had lots of fun swimming in the resort pool, playing tennis at their courts, and most of all exploring the resort. I was eternally grateful to my sister for allowing us the opportunity to visit this magical place. After having a blast, I had no idea how I was going to leave. The resort was a sort of sanctuary hidden in the side of the mountains, shielded from the hustle and bustle of Salt Lake City. Last, but not least, on our last day, we rode the gondolas both ways, over 25 times! 

On our way home, I reflected on how terrible I had conducted myself prior to traveling and I realized how quick we are to judge places, before we have even visited them beforehand. This amazing trip proved me wrong and I hope to travel abroad one day.