There is a reason so many movies are filmed in Monument Valley–it is absolutely breathtaking. The sandstone buttes towering over the desert are awe-inspiring. Part of the Navajo Nation Reservation, this is a special place to visit.
Where We Stayed
Monument Valley has a hotel: The View at Monument Valley. The hotel offers traditional hotel rooms and private cabins–all with spectacular views of the natural wonders.
Our family opted for a Valley Rim Cabin with a Queen Bed and Bunk beds. There are larger cabins that include sleeper sofas, but that wasn’t necessary for our little family. A note for EV owners: they don’t have EV chargers, but there are many convenient places to plug in!
If available, book a Premium View. These cabins have a front row seat for the beautiful sunrises over the Mitten Buttes.
The cabins also had Wifi, which enabled John to get some work done.
Not a bad office for a couple of days
We stayed for two nights but, truthfully, you only need one. It was a slow couple of days which was necessary on an extended road trip. It gave the kids a chance to run around and John a chance to focus on a few work items. And the porch was large enough to create a small play space for our one-year-old. The set-up really worked for us.
What We Ate
The cabins have kitchenettes with refrigerators and microwaves. This enabled us to make simple meals to enjoy on our balcony!
Due to COVID, the restaurant at the hotel was closed during our stay. Instead of a restaurant breakfast, a “to-go” option was offered, which we enjoyed as a 2nd breakfast on the hotel’s lovely viewing platform!
For dinner one evening, we ventured off the Reservation to Goulding’s Stagecoach Restaurant–about a 10 minute drive. It was fairly standard restaurant fare–burgers and the like. The highlight was the Navajo taco. It’s basically chili con carne (or a vegetarian version) topped with taco fixings like shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, etc. It’s served on top of Navajo Fry Bread–a flat piece of bread that has been fried. It’s pretty tasty and extremely filling! Honestly, fry almost anything and I will love it!
What We Saw: Valley Drive
The best way to see Monument Valley is to complete the 17-mile drive on a dirt road through the park. There are also some hikes and guided tours available, but these were limited during our time there. My words will never adequately describe how beautiful this place is. These pictures only attempt to do it justice. Truly, this place is a must-see.
Our time in Monument Valley was pretty wonderful. We’d definitely like to return in a post-COVID restrictions world when are able to interact with more people to learn more about the Valley and the Navajo culture. For now, Happy Trails!
