Sometimes you really want some splendid photos to show everyone. The Phoenix ZooLights event, which is just finishing for the season, is one such event where you really want to show everyone the array of colors and light that are an annual holiday display.
Evolution of lights
Changing lights
Changing again
And changing yet again
While this is not a worldclass destination in itself, Riverview Park, in Mesa, Arizona is one more place to kick back when you’re visiting Phoenix, Arizona.
Sometimes, it is just a good idea to relax, take a walk and enjoy nature.
If you are visiting the desert, it is surprising to find that there are actually spots with water and ducks.
Ducks, ducks, ducks!
Riverview Park - a small park with water, picnic areas and playground
(Riverview Park is located in Mesa at Dobson Road and 8th Street.)
And, if birds are your thing, head to see another park that has an even greater area and an abundance of birds, the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, Arizona.
See more on my other website,
http://hiking.forthecouchpotato.com/hiking/
(We have had some “technical difficulties” and the website is not quite as complete as we had hoped, but you can check this link and see three great images.)
When Arizonans try to escape the heat, they change climates and altitudes by heading up north to Rim Country. Barely two hours from Phoenix, Arizona are some towns terraced into the mountains. Payson, up the circuitous State Route 87, is the largest town with other towns clustered a few miles away.
Strawberry, charmingly named, has a much smaller population (in 2007 – only 1,000-plus!) and has a few amenities. According to http://www.city-data.com/city/Strawberry-Arizona.html, Strawberry residents are older, richer and have more expensive homes than the median Arizona population.
One tourist magnet with some charm is the Strawberry School, the “oldest standing school in Arizona.” According to a representative of the Pine/Strawberry Archeological and Historical Society, the school was almost razed when a developer bought a large tract in the area. A local informed the crew that was about to raze the school as they were removing the roof, that the building was the old school house. The developer decided to spare the school and the roof was rebuilt.
Strawberry School - the "Oldest Standing School in Arizona "
The original building’s walls were constructed in 1885 with logs that surround a one-room area dominated with a wood-burning stove. The historical society rep commented that the old wooden desks were not the original furnishings. Instead, tables were used.
Closed in 1916, the school is a reminder of what schools were like a century ago. However, the furnishings were considered more opulent than was normal with wainscoting, wallpaper, slate on the wall as a blackboard, a world globe, an organ, a dictionary and a clock. The school was also a meeting location and social center.
Interior of the one-room Strawberry School
For many in the area, the school was part of their heritage, so residents were integral in having it declared a Historical Monument in 1981.
There is no charge to view the school, but a donation is requested.
Another small town with a lot of activity the weekend we visited is Pine. Again, as in Strawberry, the median age and income levels are higher than the median for Arizona. The population tallies just under 2,000. Can we say, “retirement community”?
An arts and crafts fair was sprawled out along the road as well as in a community hall. The variety seemed to be strongly focused on food. However, we enjoyed the crafts and most especially our chat with Bob Gleason, a basket weaver, who was weaving as we spoke.
Bob Gleason weaves baskets right in front of your eyes.
Bob is from Phoenix, but enjoys demonstrating his craft, which he finds relaxing and has recently begun more elaborate baskets. The colors and craftsmanship are top notch. The materials are rattan and can be extremely light, but sturdy. Bob’s business, with the URL of bobsbasketcase.intuitwebsites.com, (602-317-0644), shows he has a sense of humor. He has to with some of the dumb questions that people ask – “Who makes the baskets? –He does – “I’m making one now!” (I’m sure he’d like to tell people to pay attention.)
Another crafter, Ron Lepore with Melted Bottles (928-443-8865), uses recycled bottles to make very attractive serving pieces with knives attached. Great for serving cheese, crackers, fruit and other edibles, the pieces show the whimsy of the bottles he recovers from peoples’ discards.
Ron Lepore exhibited his recycled "Melted Bottles" - great for serving and gifts
Other items sold included emu meat, quilts, and other attractive art.
When we finished, we stopped at the Gingerbread House for some ice cream. At the old-fashioned style soda fountain, the flavors were great (I had black cherry cordial and my husband had cookies and cream).
Gingerbread House - ice cream treats and collectibles
After we ate every bite of the ice cream and waffle cone, we headed to Payson.
Next week… We’ll give you a short tour of Payson, home of rodeos and other pastimes.
Coming soon! We will be launching a new site for all of you Couch Potatoes out there – who want to get up and get going! More soon…
Over the years, we’ve been in many cities, both capitals and smaller cities. Boise, Idaho ranks high in our estimation as one of the most attractive downtowns we’ve seen.
With a population of over 200,000, Boise still seems like an accessible and people-friendly place to live, raise children, work, and enjoy leisure time.
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.
Yellowstone, the first National Park in what later became a National Park System, is an incredible place to explore. Sometimes, just driving can give you amazing views of the wildlife and natural wonders available. The 2.2 million acres of Yellowstone are located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, with some of its land spilling into Idaho and Montana.
Yellowstone National Park southern entrance
Entering Yellowstone from the south via Grand Tetons (more on that park another week) we drove in on Route 89/191/297. We had paid for a park pass at Grand Teton that was good for both parks for seven days. ($25 in our case, an annual pass is $50)
In late May, as we headed past Lewis Lake, the water was still frozen and it was still cold outside, as evidenced by our need to use the car’s defroster. According to the map, the road on which we entered was actually closed until mid-May. Apparently, only the two east and one north entrances are open year round.
Everyone has heard about Old Faithful, (more…)
Just when you thought you’d never see another blog from Travel Tips and Adventures…well, here we are again!
Some other business activities have been keeping me busy – which I’ll share with you all soon. We also had the infamous “technical difficulties.”
In the meanwhile, we’ve been traveling and will, over the weeks to come, be offering our accounts of our visits to Yellowstone National Park, Southern Idaho and travel eats and accommodations along the way.
We’re getting very close to having traveled to every state in the United States – especially my husband – and on this particular trip, we were in five different states – Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
In the Western United States, spaces seem more spacious. Although places may look close on a map, you can drive for many miles before seeing another town or any humans. Other than car occupants, what we saw more of than anything in our travels were buffalo – or bison – at Yellowstone National Park.
We also saw one lone buffalo that had strayed out of Yellowstone and was munching placidly on grass in the small resort town, West Yellowstone, adjacent to the Park. The buffalo was now legendary, as he had been in West Yellowstone for a week. Turning up behind a restaurant, behind someone’s home and in various other parts of town, no one seemed too concerned about their new inhabitant. The theory seemed to be, “let it be.”
Tune in next week and we’ll share more about our trip to the 2.2 million acres!! (we didn’t get to all of them, but many amazing locations) of Yellowstone National Park.
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!
After a long trek around the University of Arizona campus, resting my tired feet while trying out the Old Pueblo Trolley was much anticipated. The Old Pueblo Trolley, billed on their Web site as “an operating transit museum” is a short, evocative experience. (more…)
Once you’ve settled down after your dinner (see previous blog), you’re ready for even more fun. The Blazin’ M offers ”Cowboy music, poetry and tomfoolery.” The Blazin’ M Cowboys are a rollicking, talented musical quartet – not to be missed! (more…)
