Arizona…Ah, Yes…it’s the one place for me…one of the loves of my entire life. That state means so much to me in so many ways. I think I can also speak for my husband to an extent on that one. I couldn’t possibly say everything in one post. So, I will try to point out the main things that come to my mind and sights to see while there.
It all started with an episode of National Geographic or Discovery (can’t remember which one). My husband and I were both kind of feeling the itch for a bit of a get away. We were working hard, long hours and a one week vacation was already simmering on that back burner. We saw that one episode, which was primarily just based on deserts on the West Coast of the US. Neither one of us had really been far from the Northeast part of the country, throughout our lives. It intrigued us as we watched. So, we did our research, made our plane/car/lodging plans, etc., and went on our little journey…1st one as a couple.
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Fond Memories…
I have very fond memories of our first trip to Arizona. We did go through the state a second time around, but only a quick stop.
This first time, however, was just incredible. I conquered fears I never even really knew existed. I climbed my lil’ clumsy tail up to the very top of a tall vortex mountain (to sit and watch the sun go down). Getting back down was harder!
Not only did I stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon Rim (South Side), but I walked trails along the entire stretch of the rim, between several different stop areas, to see stunning views.
We visited the Meteor Crater, and the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ during our trip.
Along the journey at one point, we went from an absolute blizzard in the middle of a forest (Coconino National Forest), and came out the other side a couple of hours later with the sun shining bright over a lush green valley, rainbow in the sky and no sign of bad weather at all.
We happened by a mural on the side of a building downtown Flagstaff, AZ that has remained a photographic memory in my head over the years since.
The Indian Reservation Trading Posts along the way provided very beautiful hand made souvenirs.
We observed nature in ways we hadn’t witnessed before. So many mind numbing, beautiful things about the state of Arizona. Let’s get started!
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, AZ is literally, just perfect as a location to lodge in. There is one motel we stayed at that we went back to (Sleep Inn, Flagstaff), the second time through. Breakfast was awesome, and the local restaurants and artistic aspects of the tiny town were comforting, relaxed. The overall ambiance was nice. The people were nice. The mountains in back of the motel with their snow covered caps, were just breath taking! It’s our Go-To.
Bonus: Flagstaff, AZ is within only a couple of hours away from many of the major landmarks to be seen in the central/northern part of the state. You can fit a handful of different day trips in, if you so desire!
Sedona, Arizona
It’s nearly impossible to put into words, the affect Sedona, Az has on a person. You kind of have to feel it. I know, that sounds weird, and that town, in of itself, is weird. The moment you begin seeing those large, glorious red mountains when you enter the town, you become mesmerized by some unseen force. All stress seems to disappear, and you find yourself in a child’s state of mind again with courage long since forgotten.
That vortex mountain we climbed was not actually a joke. With that one, it was just my husband and I. Had anything gone wrong on that climb, we probably would’ve seen someone happen by within a few hours, I guess! lol!. That was only one, but the others were within more of a group setting. More security, and all!
We did visit some of the art galleries, shops along the major routes around Sedona’s town center. You can easily find a parking area within town limits, so you can get out, take a leisurely stroll, and window shop along the way. It is truly amazing, all of the different perspectives you come across when it comes to art as well as personality.
Thrilling Adventures…
The Pink Jeep Tours are a Must if you are Not the faint of heart! Is Adventure what you’re looking for? Oh, you will get that! You know those handles above the seat along the ceiling, fondly known as the “Oh Shit” bars? Yeah…become best friends with it immediately after you seat belt yourself in, if you go on that adventure.
However, I promise you, you will realize things about yourself, you never had a clue about. I, personally loved it, as did my husband. It’s almost like a scary roller coaster going up and down mountains in that jeep, but without any rails keeping your car secured to the track. It is Absolutely Thrilling!
You get to one of the mountain tops on the list you will be climbing in the jeep, you get out, give a silent prayer for remaining alive, and proceed to not give a rats a$$ about what happens next. You are standing on top of the world! You’ve made it this far! Why not handle a potentially dangerous snake just put into your hands by the Crocodile Dundee driver in charge of keeping you alive (yeah, that happened).
It was Scary, but soooo glad we had that experience.
Earth And Sky…
Meteor Crater National Landmark – Winslow, AZ . We really enjoyed this one as well. I still have a few unique rocks I found while walking along that rim. When you see the men at the bottom, or large tractors keeping up with maintenance, and they almost look like ants, you certainly gain perspective in that moment. What’s even more enlightening is if you do even the minimal amount of research on the crater and know certain scientific facts and/or theories surrounding that crater.
Lowell Observatory was one we spent quite some time at the one day and almost went back to, for a viewing of the planets that had been scheduled for that evening. The tours are quite educational if you’re into the planets, stars, astronomy in any fashion. There are so many exhibits to view that a few hours really isn’t quite enough. Alas, we had other things to discover, so time was a bit of a factor for us.
Winslow, AZ…”Such a fine sight to see…”. Yes, it really is like the movies portray. Tumble weeds on long stretches of absolutely nothing. It was leaving the fair, warm, “flat plains” sort of scene that we headed into a beautiful, lush forest (Coconino National Forest)…only to run into a full on blizzard within minutes. We could barely see out of the windshield on roads we had never been on. We took our sweet ol’ Northeast a$$ time in getting through.
A couple of hours later, on the way back toward home base (Flagstaff), we came upon that gorgeous valley way that seemed to go on forever. You couldn’t have painted a lovelier photo if you tried. It was worth the short visit with the blizzard.
Amazing Natural Wonder…
The Grand Canyon. There’s just nothing like it. We did the South Rim, because it was closer to Flagstaff and visiting in April, meant the North Rim would still be perhaps a little tricky with the roads, paths, etc. As I said, there is nothing like it. The best way to describe it is…you don’t know just how small you are in the whole scheme of things until you stand on the edge of an enormous hole created by nature.
It’s not just that though. There is a peace about it. There is just this natural wonder in front of you, that even though you understand the scientific reasons why this phenomenon has developed over the years, you still can’t quite digest it.
It is stunning from every angle. You see the hawks, eagles, ravens come through overhead from time to time to remind you this is their home…You see a glimmer from above, of what you know is actually a river up close if you were at the bottom, You see ant sized trees you know are very large, towering trees up close. If you sit still and just observe for a moment, you start to feel like you’ve discovered the deeper mysteries of the universe. It really is that Extraordinary!
Other Quick Side Stops To Note…
The Indian Reservation Trading Posts are not to be ignored. We stopped at a few throughout a week long trip. The owners were always polite. The hand made jewelry they offered, was of excellent quality, with unique designs. The leather goods were superior, as were most of the other hand crafted items for sale. It was funny, the first shop we stopped at, drew us in with their sign in front of the building.
“Friendly Indians,” it read…big billboard of a sign, hand made..it did it’s job. We couldn’t just pass by such a sign. We either figured these folks must have a sense of humor, or they just don’t get enough shoppers…I dunno… In any event, we didn’t leave empty handed…too many small treasures for sale. Hope that’s what you guys were hoping for! Needless to say, a lesson to be learned…some of the side of the road types of trading posts might not look like much, but you’d be surprised by what you might find.
Mars Hill Rail Road Tracks – Flagstaff, AZ...again, just some natural historic beauty. Grab a pamphlet, take a leisurely stroll to inspect the old architecture, and take in a nice overall view of the surrounding landscape. Maybe even pack a picnic lunch for the occasion!
Whatever the case may be, I strongly encourage all to try to make a trip to this special area of our country, at some point in time. These were just a few of the many sites we discovered…there are plenty more within driving distance.
Flagstaff, by itself, will always hold a special place in our hearts. The delicious food you can get within town limits, to the lovely art within and outside of some of the buildings, to the overall feeling of “anything goes” while there, that part of Arizona certainly has a magic of it’s own.
Note: If any of my readers would like to share their own story about that great state, please feel free to leave a comment below. Hearing travel stories from others, is an addiction of mine! Photos are even better!
