Tarapoto is a gateway city to the Peruvian Amazon, and at 1,000 feet above sea level is blessedly cooler than the rest of the rainforest.
The trouble with western road trips is that you eventually have to cross Nevada, inevitably in a single day.
I’ve been to Zion before, but it’s even more spectacular in winter.
After leaving Sedona, we drove north to the Grand Canyon to see it in winter. There wasn’t much snow at the rim, but the cold air made for clear photographs and a brisk walk on the rim.
Our big present this year was a ballooning trip in Sedona with Ruth’s folks. We got up super early to launch at sunrise, but the still air and the morning light were worth it.