Good Evenin’

I think we’re all in a pretty good mood… 4% because today is Travelin’ Thursday, and 95% because tomorrow is Friday! What’s the other 1%? I don’t know. Magic.

Tonight, I thought I would share some of the research I’ve been doing about our upcoming trip to Arizona. Although there are lots of fun things we’ve done in the past, there is always something new to try!

Brand Spanking New Attractions:

• Tucson: Tohono Chul Park
• Phoenix Zoo
• Mogollon Rim 
• source
• Horse back riding. Not that you can’t do this in Minnesota, but it sounds more fun in the southwest… Perhaps in Papago Park (see below) after the Phoenix Zoo! (see above).
• Picacho Peak State Park. It sounds a little like Pikachu, after all…
• Tempe: Well, for longer than just lunch this time. Perhaps to Tempe Town Lake?
• Kartchner Caverns. Spooooky!
• Hot air balloon ride. Its a pipe dream.
• Bisbee. I know nothing about it, just that I like to say the name
• Colorado River. It just sounds epic, like the Oregon Trail game…
• Papago Park/ Hole in the Rock. It was closed last time from too much dilly dallying. Not next time though! I’ll be PREPARED!

Tried and True Attractions:

• Desert Botanical Gardens
• Camelback Mountain (without maiming myself this time)
• Sedona/ Oak Creek Always a crowd pleaser 
• Heard Museum. Because we barely scratched the surface.
• Grand Canyon. This is, however, a trip in itself
• Jerome. A city falling off the side of a mountain? I might have to go back to make sure its still standing!
• Hiking the White Tank Mountains. Because its a damn tradition by now.

Once was enough:

• Downtown Scottsdale. Not for me- too many Hummers and the like.
• Piestewa Peak. Although I’m not averse to EVER going back, it will have to be on a much less crowded day.
• Montezuma’s Castle/ Montezuma’s Well. They were both awesome, but might be overkill to visit twice.
• Carefree/ Cave Creek. Too much fake western charm and commerce, not enough to actually DO.

Have you visited any of these places? Any tips from Arizonans or Arizona visitors out there? Do you like to do new things if you make a repeat trip somewhere or do you like to revisit old favorites?

Meri