Unless you really like winter sports, this time of year the greatest place to be is Arizona. I know Arizona’s been taking a lot of hits lately, but the weather In January and February is why Arizona has a major tourism influx.
Daytime temperatures get into the 70ºs (Fahrenheit) and the sun is shining. Soon, we’ll have a profusion of flowers – yes, it really can flower in the desert! (more…)
I promised to tell you about the images on my new Website, Hiking for the Couch Potato – http://hiking.forthecouchpotato.com.
So, take a peek at the site and look at the second image near the top. When you do, you’ll see an almost other-worldly location where the rocks have encircled a watery, breathtakingly beautiful lake. If you look really carefully, you’ll even see a mountain with snow on it off in the distance.
Where is it?
The shot is of Granite Dells, just north of Prescott, Arizona at Watson Lake. It’s a park, a picnic place and a fabulous place to hike. There is a small entrance fee, but just sharing the view is worth it!
Take a look at our previous blog on this site that tells you more. http://traveltipsandadventures.com/?p=1687
Enjoy! We certainly have and we’ve been back several times.
Since nature can accomplish amazing results, we decided that a trip to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park in Northern Arizona would make an interesting field trip. And, it did.
A difficult, winding road, State Route 87, from the Phoenix area is a challenge – definitely not for the faint of heart. North of Payson by just a few miles and still on 87, a turn-off leads to another winding access road. Wiggling every which way, when you finally arrive at the bottom, the park is spread out below, but the natural bridge is not immediately noticeable.
Pay your entry fee ($5 per person) and head to a parking lot. There are several trails and viewpoints to visit so you can see the travertine (according to Wikipedia a “sedimentary rock, formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals from solution in ground and surface waters”) bridge, which has a waterfall dripping down.
A picturesque grotto with waterfall awaits the intrepid
Well, really, that’s what the Grand Canyon is: It is a one-mile hole in the ground that is over a mile above sea level that stretches for nearly 300 miles. But it is vast and a testament to what nature can do over the eons of time that the earth has evolved.
Grand Canyon - just a very small part of the vast view
A trip to the Grand Canyon is a “must see” when you travel out West in the USA. Arizona recognizes it as one of its finest attractions by designating itself the “Grand Canyon State” on license plates. (more…)
Sometimes the name says it all – Grand! Grand Teton certainly is large and imposing, majestic and eye-catching. We spent a few hours viewing the mountains as we drove through on our way to Yellowstone, plus we stopped at the very appealing Jenny Lake and the informative and attractive Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.
And the travel winner is…
(Okay, we have not been blogging recently. Our internet connection was very iffy, but now we seem to have resolved those issues.)
After reviewing travel options for our nine-day excursion, we have decided to choose - ta da da da dah da!-
IDAHO!
10. After looking randomly at the Idaho Web site, I was hooked! www.visitidaho.org
More to come as we refine our travel adventure!
NO, we’re not robbing a bank! When it gets to this time of year in Phoenix, people start leaving. The weather begins to be warmer and the snowbirds start flocking up north.
We have thoughts of migrating ourselves. We have a short trip to LA coming up, but we’re also planning a longer stay.
But, where to go? We have nine days and we want a new place –“somewhere where we’ve never been before.”
We had several ideas. First, we’ll stay stateside since we’re not in the mood for customs and dealing with currency conversions.
Also, we don’t want an enormous plane ride. We’re open to the possibility of a drive, but we don’t want to spend most of the vacation getting there.
I voted for open spaces, but I need to see water. My husband also likes open spaces, but he likes mountains.
California? Been there, done a lot of it.
Colorado? Maybe. I keep hearing about Durango and picturesque mountains.
Wyoming? Certainly, it has the open spaces!
Idaho? The scenery looks great in the brochures!
Washington (the state)? We drove through on our way to Vancouver. I’d get my water and my husband his mountains.
We’ve sent for new brochures. Yes, I know, the mountains and natural features don’t change too much in a few years. But, hotels and manmade items do change.
With visions of exploration and open vistas dancing in my head, I will sign off for now.
Come back next week, and we’ll share more about our plans. Out west for sure!
We thought for a long time about whether we wanted to go below to experience what it was like in the mines of Bisbee. The Copper Queen Mine offers tours to recreate a miner’s experience during the over 60 years (1877-1943) the mines were open to find – guess what – copper. (more…)
Time to travel to smaller cities in Arizona! This week, we’re heading to Tombstone and Bisbee, Arizona. Tombstone proclaims itself, “The town too tough to die.” Bisbee claims bragging rights to the first bar and stock exchange in the State of Arizona.
In general, smaller cities in Arizona have a character and individuality that you won’t find in the medium and large-sized cities. You might see some familiar stores, but, for the most part, you don’t feel that you could be dropped down in any one of them and see all the same stores and buildings. There are some unique buildings and a close-knit character to the people who live in these towns.
Leaving the interstate, I10, in Arizona south of Tucson at SR 80, you enter a much different environment than the built up cities in Arizona. About an hour’s drive from Tucson, the terrain becomes more mountainous, with snow visible on the distant peaks. Nothing but open land seems to exist for miles and miles. Traveling with children, they are likely to begin the “Are we there yet?” litany. There are few houses and what seems like an endless amount of nondescript brush.
Things get interesting as you hit the outskirts of Tombstone. Suddenly, you see civilization with signs and buildings. One sign proclaims where the “OK Corral” fight occurred. We’ll visit Tombstone later this week.
Twenty-eight miles down the road from Tombstone is the quirky, artsy town of Bisbee, formerly a city dominated by copper mining. We’ll visit a copper mine and show you the shops and sites.
So, join us this week and next for some fun in the Old West.
Also, take a look at our SHOP – see the “SHOP” button above and check out the images we’ve captured you can wear or use.
Sometimes, you just need a chance to relax. When that need overtakes you, the perfect place to relax is Coyote Trail Bed and Breakfast near Maricopa, Arizona. (more…)
