As we search for our “new normal” in life with COVID-19, we most likely have a lot of free time on our hands. Spending time with family (and pets) is super special and it is not lost on this Mom. I now have two sons home from college during this pandemic. But when the boys are working online or playing with PlayStation and the husband
Located in the Sonoran Desert just north of the USA-Mexico border, Tucson is the oldest continuously inhabited and cultivated area in the United States. From native tribes like the Tohono Oʼodham to Spanish missionaries to American and Mexican settlers, the region has hosted a wide variety of peoples since its founding. They all have contributed to the diversity of rich history and culture in what
Overshadowed by its geological neighbors, Horseshoe Bend does not receive the attention it deserves as a nature lover’s dream. Less than two hours away is the magnificent Grand Canyon while just 15 minutes away is the world’s most famous slot canyon, Antelope Canyon. If you are in the area, don’t stop your visit to Arizona at these locations. Take a trip to Horseshoe Bend, the
Photo by: Kendra Lee Photography Sometimes you just need to get away. So why not make it a local event? Here in Arizona, we call those “Staycations”. We have such an array of resorts and hotels in Phoenix and Scottsdale that it is worth it to just give yourself a break and do a “Staycation AZ”. Recently I had a chance to get
There is really nothing quite like it, as I squeal with glee in the back seat of an open-air, 4-wheel drive pink jeep! Just being out on the open road in the desert landscape made all the difference in the world for me, as I am a city-dwelling gal. The smell of dirt and yet, fresh grass mixed with the cool breeze against my skin,
The United States is home to some of the most beautiful places on earth. If you go looking, you may discover that some states are even more beautiful than you could ever imagine. Today I am going to be taking a look at five of the most beautiful states in the U.S. and precisely what makes them so glorious. They are in no particular order
5 Places You Must See on a Southwest USA Roadtrip There is a lot to see this summer in the great American Southwest. You can take a road trip to some amazing American attractions in the Southwest and West Coast of the USA with ease. The places I highlight here have a lot of history to offer, some as many as 40 million years! The
Upper Antelope Canyon should be named the best canyon to visit in Arizona (OK, maybe second best)! You certainly know of the Grand Canyon in Arizona because of its grandeur. But don’t stop your visit in Arizona at the Grand Canyon. Take a trip to Upper Antelope Canyon, the most popular slot canyon in the world! It is merely a few hour's drive from the
In what has become a worldwide phenomenon, Havasu Falls is the place to be if you love hiking, camping, and nature. The birth of the internet has also helped to boost its popularity (almost too much but we will discuss that later) making it one of the most famous hiking destinations in the United States. Located in northwestern Arizona, Havasu Falls is a part of
Sedona Jeep Tours ✦ Sedona Jeep Tours What better way to see Cathedral Rock and explore the red rocks of Sedona than to take a ride in the famous Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona? Sedona Jeep Tours is a tour operator in the American Southwest that offers off-road excursions in the red rocks and beyond in their famous pink jeeps. They have been around
She flies over long distances in a precise migratory pattern and is known as ‘the wanderer’ in Australia. But here in the United States, we call her the Monarch butterfly. Flying overhead in search of nectar plants and basking in the sun, this week I felt like a butterfly as I explored the City of Scottsdale, AZ calling it the Scottsdale Invasion! Invasion of the
How many times in your life have you been WOW’ed? WOW! That is what they call it here at the W Scottsdale. When I say that word, sometimes I say it with almost a silent whisper. WOW! (this is me whispering!). My brain gets overwhelmed by my enthusiasm for what my visual senses can’t quite get wrapped around and my words, even as a storyteller, are
Sedona’s cinematic red rocks had been flashing across our windshield for almost an hour. It was hard for the driver to keep her hands on the steering wheel due to the beauty at each turn in the road. My iPhone camera was going off every few minutes, regardless if it was a good shot or not here at Cathedral Rock Sedona. There is no denying that
Four Seasons Scottsdale – Deep in the Heart Nestled in the foothills of the High Sonoran Desert, yet tucked up near the trails of the Pinnacle Peak Mountain lies the Four Seasons Scottsdale, which is "deep in the heart" of Scottsdale. During the drive up to the Seasons, you realize that the environment has slowly changed. The elevation begins to increase, the
Living in a resort town, I know that when I am home I sure enjoy a “staycation” to relax from all the traveling that I do. I am lucky in that I have so many great choices to choose from here in the Scottsdale/Phoenix metroplex. Recently, I had a chance to try out one of the most amazing spa’s here in town, the Spa Avania.
If there is one thing you need to know about Arizona, it's that it is beautiful. Not Italy beautiful, but desert beautiful… beauty in its own way. The purple hue of the mountains against the colors of the desert makes for a landscape all its own, one that reminds you of the past, the beauty of the people of the desert who lived here long before
Becoming a real cowboy is a boyhood dream and Lon Megargee, who was born in 1883, was no exception. In 1886, at the tender age of 13, when his father was killed in Cuba, he made his way to the Arizona desert to start the long path that would take him there. He spent several years working, doing chores on his uncle’s ranch, and over
By Cacinda Maloney Western Destinations, Phoenix AZ She steadied as I tried to balance myself on her back. She took one step and I shifted, then she took another and I shifted again. Riding her was like magic. Out in the Sonoran Desert, so peaceful and still, this city gal was riding horses in the quiet calm of the Bradshaw Mountains with views
"Who is Dale Chihuly? And why is he so fascinating?" Those were my thoughts as I first entered into the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, AZ to view the Chihuly Exhibit. Desert Botanical Gardens, Chihuly Exhibit Dale Chihuly's Mesmerizing Art The exhibit was world-famous by now and I couldn't wait to get in there and start looking around. What I have come to
Shhh! I need to let you in on a little secret! Even though I travel around the world at the drop of a hat, I know about a place that is so spectacular that even I thought about canceling my travel plans when I received the invitation to try out the newly transformed Jade Bar at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa. It is
