Located in the McDowell Mountains in the upper Sonoran Desert, right outside of Scottsdale, Arizona, sits the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy; an independent, nonprofit conservation. Created in 1991, it’s a massive area of around 30,580-acres, making it the largest urban preserve in the entire United States. The conservancy was birthed in 1990 by 13 preservationists and …
Continue reading Tom’s Thumb Trail at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.
Officially the oldest bar and business still operating within the state of Arizona, the Palace Restaurant and Saloon does everything in its power to firmly hold onto its Wild West roots. It sits on Whiskey Row, in the heart of downtown Prescott (Prescott, Arizona: “Everybody’s Hometown”.) and is considered to be the most historic bar …
Continue reading The Palace Restaurant and Saloon: Step into a Wild West Time Machine.
A small, desert city (current population: 9,192) located in the Little Colorado Valley, Winslow’s main claim to fame is being mentioned in an Eagles song. It is quite isolated, located within Navajo County in northeastern Arizona, right off I-40. It’s around 57 miles east of Flagstaff, which is the closest large city in Arizona. The …
Continue reading Standin’ on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona.
Perched high within the Black Hills, inside the Prescott National Forest, sits a town famous among both ghost hunters and “Wild West” enthusiasts. Located approximately 2 hours north of Phoenix, and 1 hour, 20 minutes south of Flagstaff, there are many things to do and see in Jerome, Arizona. Established in 1876, it was once …
At the beginning of the trail, near the top and parking lot area. Located approximately only 15 minutes outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, the Sandy's Canyon Trail is a hidden gem within the Coconino National Forest, offering an ideal day hike for those seeking an escape from the usual tourist attractions. It could easily be overlooked …
Continue reading Sandy’s Canyon: A Picturesque Portion of the Arizona Trail.
The Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert is somewhere I had been wanting to visit for a very long time. This is an extraordinarily vast national park, where you must drive from point to point (hiking along the road is possible, but not something I’d recommend, especially during summertime). It’s open daily from 8am …
Continue reading The Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert.
Bright Angel Trail. Visiting the Grand Canyon has always been a life-long bucket-list destination for me. It’s one of those iconic natural wonders you read about, hear stories of, and see in countless pictures and videos while growing up. I've been fortunate enough to visit this magnificent place three times: once in 2017, again in …
Continue reading Grand Canyon National Park (it’s really grand).
One of the most beautiful natural sights I’ve ever seen, and a true marvel of nature’s power, Horseshoe Bend is one of my all-time favorite places, ever 😍. While there is not much to do other than gaze at the insane product of millions of years of nature’s ingenuity, it’s well worth a trip. The …
Continue reading Horseshoe Bend: “The East Rim of the Grand Canyon”.
Prescott, Arizona’s three most popular lakes - Watson, Lynx, and Goldwater - could not be any more different from one another. Watson is a geographical wonder, with rocks that make you feel as if you were transported to another planet. Lynx and Goldwater are much more typical lakes, serene and relaxing, but nothing jaw dropping. …
Continue reading Lakes of Prescott, Arizona: Watson, Lynx, & Goldwater.
Tucked away into a deserty corner of central Arizona is a mountain range that is small but very mighty. Located inside the Lost Dutchman State Park, near Apache Junction, and within three different counties (Maricopa, Pinal, and Gila), sits the Superstition Mountains. About 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix, it’s an easy day trip. It’s a …
Continue reading The Superstitions: The Most Haunted Mountain Range in America.