travel beyond the obvious
The Apache Trail Historic Road offers one of Arizona’s best road trips. From its start near ghostly reminders of boom towns past, the Apache Trail climbs through the rugged beauty of the Superstition Mountains to Read More …
First-time visitors might be surprised by the amount of development along the Grand Canyon’s south rim. But all that disappears when you see the view from the Grand Canyon’s south rim. Take in the view Read More …
Imagine enjoying drinks with friends as towering canyon walls slip by, eagles soar overhead, and saguaro cacti sprout from rocky ledges. All this and more is part of a day on the Dolly Steamboat, a Read More …
Obviously snowbirds from the Midwest weren’t the first people to land in Arizona. Various people have lived here for thousands of years, but from about 900 to 1350 AD one particular group, known to us Read More …
My cholla cactus encounters continued as we explored Usery Park in the Superstition Mountains — but this time I managed to keep a safe distance between us! Maintaining enough distance from them was a challenge Read More …
Having been told that a herd of wild horses roamed not far from our Airbnb near Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, we headed out early a couple of mornings to see if we could find them. This Read More …
The desert scenery around the Superstition Mountains is ideal for sunset viewing — even if all you have time to do is pull off along the road to watch the evening’s show! All Arizona posts
I discovered a nice patch of cholla cacti while we were out exploring the desert northeast of Phoenix. I love the way they catch the morning sun. I’m not so fond of the way they Read More …
As usual I am heading down to Arizona for a too-brief visit this spring and I am trying very hard to keep my expectations in check. While this has been a phenomenal wildflower season in Read More …
Visitors traveling through Saguaro National Park are advised to share the road with the usual suspects (cars, bikes, and pedestrians), as well as the local armadillos! Arizona 2015 itinerary – a wonderland of rocks, cacti, Read More …
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one of my favorite springtime destinations in Central Arizona. It would be a great destination at any time, as there are always interesting plants and at least a few blossoms; but Read More …
Payson, Arizona, is a land of towering evergreens and mountain vistas. From here every road seems to lead down, down, and still farther down until you reach the edge of the Sonoran Desert where the Read More …
I’m planning to visit Sedona this winter, so thought it was a good time to return to previously unposted photos and thoughts from a September 2009 trip. Note that, this time, I’m having no second Read More …
The day has become clear and beautiful, so I convince my family that we should take a drive along the striking Apache Trail. We go past Canyon Lake and turn around Tortilla Flat to check Read More …
At the edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction, Arizona, keeps the spirit of the old west alive through exhibits, demonstrations, and stories about the mountains and the people Read More …
For years my Dad had four-wheel drive vehicles that never, ever were driven beyond a maintained road, so when I was in Arizona with my girlfriend, we arranged for our Dads to join us for Read More …
Spring finally seems to be arriving here in Minnesota, but I’m glad I went to the California desert last month in search of a preview – there were enough flowers in Palm Spring’s Indian Canyons Read More …
Cactus blossoms are probably my favorite type of flowers, but they always seem rather elusive.Visiting the wonderful international cactus collection at the Moorten Botanical Garden may be cheating, but it does satisfy some of my Read More …
Lane’s choice for hiking this morning is the Coachella Valley Preserve.We leave our favorite coffee shop knowing that the visitor’s center at Coachella will not be open when we arrive. (Have I mentioned that nothing Read More …
We’ve gotten into a lazy pattern – a morning hike and followed by an afternoon spent lazing around. Today we have decided to be more ambitious and to do two hikes. I find a list Read More …
Palm Springs is surrounded by mountains, thus there are stunning canyons all around the city. On this beautiful morning we are visiting the Tahquitz Canyon, where the two-mile trail that begins behind the visitor’s center Read More …
There are lots of incongruous sites in Palm Springs, California, some of which are visible right from the city visitor center. Yes, those are wind turbines in the distance behind the palms. It’s a little Read More …
We intend to take the Indian Canyon Road into Palm Springs, but miss the exit so decide to just take the freeway down. Just before the interchange to take us into Palm Springs, we come Read More …
Someone we met along the way had told us that the streets of Yucca Valley were lined with Joshua Trees in bloom. That turned out to be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are Read More …