Bridging both Phoenix and Tempe, Papago Park is one of my favorite spots to add. It’s a little piece of the Sonoran Desert just a few minutes from downtown, making it one of the best ways to enjoy the southwestern environment without having to carve out a major commitment. Now, if you’re picturing any old …
Things to Do in Papago Park, a Phoenix Essential Read More »
Three years ago, I thought we were moving to Tempe, Arizona. My husband traveled there frequently for work, and after 12 or 15 trips, someone in corporate decided it might be smarter for him to live there than commute in from the east coast. As you might imagine, that led to a lot of conversations …
Before I went to Phoenix, I thought of it as a pass-through city on the way to “better” attractions like the Grand Canyon or Sedona. That’s a shame because there are plenty of fun things to do in Phoenix itself. This metropolitan area is an incredible destination for sightDOING: there’s active travel, soft adventure, and …
I’ve been to Arizona four times in six years and I’m not sick of it yet. Admittedly, it’s a big state with varied regions, but I’ve repeated cities and don’t mind one bit. Do I keep returning because I love Arizona? Or do I love Arizona because I my return visits allow me to discover …
For tourists, there’s one key difference between national parks and national monuments: there are generally far fewer visitors at national monuments than at “full-fledged” national parks. National monuments can be just as beautiful, offer just as many hiking and camping opportunities, and you still get in free with an America the Beautiful Pass. Actually, side …
Chiricahua National Monument: A Perfect Day Hike Read More »
I always imagined that my first trip to the Grand Canyon would be my only trip there. Of course, I had assumed this trip would take advantage of the Grand Canyon to the fullest, exploring the North Rim, South Rim, inner canyon (via a rim-to-rim hike), and Havasu Falls over the course of more than a …
I’ve definitely been known in the past to over-plan, making sure we hit all the best places and eat at all the best restaurants on a relatively tight schedule. It doesn’t work. Inevitably, you get stuck in traffic, you end up exhausted because you woke up early too many days in a row, and you …
While I’d love to travel for free every time using my miles and points, every once in a while I have to earn miles on my travels rather than burning them. When the opportunity came up to head to Arizona for a weekend getaway, I knew paying cash for everything was in my future. Thank goodness it’s still …
A Perfect Getaway to Arizona: Traveling on a Budget Read More »
