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
I am hoping we get to go this year. I had some fun plans in mind and I am so nostalgic for the White Tanks it is out of hand! I haven’t made it to the Botanical Gardens or Camelback yet and can’t wait. We also had planned to do a hot air balloon ride the year I was prego but we didn’t even make it to AZ and the company said they wouldn’t take me anyway… boo, but I understand. I will be so jealous if you get to go on one. It is going to be awhile for us since I don’t think Sylvia is old enough for such an activity. She would try to jump for sure 😉
I also agree that downtown Scottsdale was enough once. Yikes that drive sucked too. Do you remember when Mom forgot to turn her lights on the entire way home and people kept honking at us at stuff. Yikes! Was Kate with us, or was it just us two? I am losing my mind!
The first time I went there it was just you and me visiting Mom and Dad. I remember it being really fun! We went out for drinks and appetizers in scottsdale and on the way home was hte horrific drive you mentioned hahaha. We’ll have to overlap our trips again some time!
gorgeous pictures!! I love Arizona…I’ve driven through it twice and both times stopped at the grand canyon, which never gets old! Is the petrified forest in AZ? I always wanted to go their but never stopped. Thought it would be cool to see. All your ideas sound fun, especially the balloon ride!
yeah- the petrified forest is as well as the painted desert, which also sounds pretty awesome. I don’t know if the balloon ride will happen this year, but I’ve always wanted to!
I’ve never been out that way, but I want to so badly!! Can’t wait to hear all about your trip! 😉
well I can’t wait to go so I can blog about it haha!
Canyon de Cheilley is a must see! When I saw it we hired an Indian guide for the day–absolutely worth it.
Oooh I’ve heard of that but we haven’t gotten that far yet! Maybe this time?
The only time I went to arizona was a layover at Phoenix airport, boo. I would love to go to the Grand Canyon!
Oregon Trail IS Epic!! 😉
I wish there was a new version of Oregon trail, I would so get sucked back into it!
I am really small, and I know for a fact that I can fit inside suitcases. Maybe you could sneak me along on your trip? … Just sayin’.
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I know it would be fun!
Too many Hummers can surely ruin a place. Barf.
Your upcoming trip looks great! I really need to get to Arizona! No hurting yourself, though! Or shooting too much bison that it spoils in the wagon, and you’ve just wasted all those bullets.
Wait, its 2012?
haha, I hope I don’t get cholera or have to ford the river!
I wouldn’t mind trying Tucson again–it seemed more western and I think has some nice attractions–we were just not there long enough last time–get an early start is the lesson! I think many of your other ideas sound great. The hot air balloon–not so sure! Chicken, I know! Oh and Bisbee is pretty far but Bill K has ancestors who lived there. Cool, huh? I think it was a mining town.
Well I’ll keep doing my research so we have plenty of options!