BK Olson, Travel Blogger

Category: Arizona

  • At Home in Phoenix

    At Home in Phoenix

    In a city the size of Phoenix, I should have more than one post for a three-week stay. The truth is, we relaxed at home a lot and enjoyed our resort. We also had friends and family as tour guides, dinner dates and drinking buddies… but those visits are better left off the internet!

    I do have to say however, that although this is the only post, it’s a really good one – especially if you like quilts, fiber art, musical instruments, and hot-air balloons.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Return to the Red Rocks 2024.

    The End to an Impressive First Season ❤️

    On our way north we made a stop at our friend’s retirement community. We did a lot in our two days in Florence with live music, craft shopping, beers, and Fish and Chips at the Irish Cowboy. Our first afternoon at the Windmill Winery will not be our last, and the Pinal County Historical Museum was a lengthy visit. It was loaded with displays about the area’s history.

    Fortunately for us, it was the Canadians’ turn to put on the monthly festivities in the main activities center which included a very funny slideshow, a rendition of Oh Canada with the words so we could all sing along, and a fantastic dinner with lots of Canadian specialties. Luckily we brought along our bottle of wine from the Windmill to accompany our meal!

    Unfortunately our fun came to an end with a Packer loss to San Francisco that evening. Not that we expected them to even get as far as they did with a nearly all-rookie team, but we can dream can’t we? Hats off to a great season and I imagine next year will be a lot of fun!

    Again unfortunately, Sunday we watched one of only four losses by the Lady Hawkeyes, so I’m not sure we should be watching sports with our friends anymore! As you may know, Iowa’s women went all the way to the finals, so the Packers’ loss hurt a lot more.

    Home Again

    We had the exact same unit configuration as last time we were here at Cibola Vista Resort & Spa, except we had a great view of the pool instead of the busy road out front. Last time we also had to deal with the setting sun blinding us each time we dared to glance that way.

    I’m still not a fan of the adobe patios that render any views futile when we’re seated, but we leaned over the edge several times a day to check out the activity at the pool and hot tub and sat by the pool when we wanted outside time. We even had an owl visit on several evenings, although we only heard and never saw it. Our stay was all pretty tough to take!

    Quilts that Tell a Story

    We were out exploring with a friend and he suggested a quilt exhibit at City Hall. Going with the flow and expecting quilts similar to ones on grandma’s bed, the “Quilts that Tell a Story” exhibit was truly amazing!! The West Valley Art Museum operates at Peoria City Hall Art Gallery with an annual juried show, collection showcases, and new exhibits year round. We didn’t go into the museum, but hope to on our next visit.

    When I realized that all of the photos I took had somehow disappeared, I went looking on the Museum website. There was no trace of that exhibit since a new exhibit has taken its place. Luckily one of the artists came to the rescue! Betty Hahn has a LOT (maybe all?) of the pieces from the exhibit on her Facebook page. Even if you’re not a fan of quilting, you will LOVE these. Here is a link to just Betty Hahn’s Fiberart website.

    Music is the Language of the Soul

    It pays to know the locals – or at least the snowbirds who are around longer than a couple weeks every other year! The same friend who suggested the quilt show recommended the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM). This museum was loaded with 10,000 musical instruments from all over the world and over all time periods.

    The Octobasse

    In case you’re curious about that rather large (12-foot tall!) violin pictured above, click on the link to see a video from a curator of the museum about The Octobasse. “Invented by the French violin maker and entrepreneur Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, the octobasse debuted at the 1849 French Industrial Exposition in Paris.” Two still exist of only three that were created, and MIM has one of only two playable replicas.

    Demonstrations, Curator Talks, and Live Music!

    There was another exhibit that we could have added on called “Acoustic America” which was described as “instruments played by heroes of folk, blues, and bluegrass music”. All of those sounded good to us, but we opted to skip it this time, and thank goodness we did, because we couldn’t even see everything in the main package. Too bad we didn’t have another day!

    The event even mixed in a little live entertainment! Jim watched one, but wanted to continue to see as much as he could of the displays. I opted to see both blues bands who played half-hour sets. It’s hard to beat live music! We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon, and I would recommend multiple days to see it all. If you’re totally obsessed with music, you might consider a membership!

    The King of Instruments

    “The pipe organ is considered the “king of instruments,” and its capacity for producing a stunning variety of sounds has inspired composers, performers, and audiences for centuries. The earliest organ was invented in Alexandria in the third century BCE, and the idea later spread throughout the Byzantine Empire and into western and northern Europe. Smaller organs can fit into a home, while grand examples have been musical centerpieces of European cathedrals since the Middle Ages.

    Pipes of different materials, sizes, and shapes can produce a vast spectrum of tone colors, including emulations of other instruments. Large organs have multiple manuals (keyboards) and a pedalboard controlling the flow of air to many different ranks of pipes. A lifelong organist, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was one of many famous composers inspired by the sound and range of the pipe organ.” ~ from a sign near the organ below

    Nearing the end of our visit, another exhibit had a sign that spoke about the largest cathedral pipe organ in Europe. This caught Jim’s eye because we actually saw this one! The third photo below is my photo of the massive pipe organ in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau, Germany! If you’d like to see more photos of this magnificent cathedral, visit my blog: Passau, Germany.

    Very Well Organized

    Each station had examples of instruments and a detailed explanation of what we were looking at – since some were very different from the instruments we see here in the U.S. I added a few captions, but not all. I want to finish this blog sometime soon – and I want you to visit the MIM on your next trip to Arizona!

    A flat screen television was on, but muted. Several artists were playing a sampling of instruments in the station and as we came within range, our headsets would pick up the audio. It was fun to walk by folks who would be tapping or swaying or outright singing along with the music that was playing only in their ears.

    Pick and Choose

    If you live in or around the Valley of the Sun, you can look at the whole year and select the events you want to see. Since we were nearing the end of our three weeks here, we lucked out when the “Celebrate the Blues” exhibition was going on during our visit since we both love the blues (a lot)!

    We listened to a gallery talk by one of the curators and he explained the process of deciding which instruments will be added to the museum collection. Obviously space is limited, so they can’t take every grand piano that someone is willing to donate. He explained that if you see something in this museum, it was either played (or worn) by a certain artist, or is the exact model and year that a certain artist would have played. Authenticity is key at the MIM.

    Examples

    The first photo below shows the Steinway & Sons Model M grand piano from New York, NY circa 1956. “This piano was hand-selected by Thelonious Monk and played by countless jazz legends in the famous New Jersey home of “the Jazz Baroness” Pannonica de Koenigswarter for decades.”

    The second photo shows Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Fender Stratocaster (and his guitar strap), his jacket and signature wide-brimmed hat. Of course there was a segment on the flat screen of Stevie and Double Trouble playing “Texas Flood“. The video also scrolled through Otis Spann on piano and singing “Blues Don’t Like Nobody“, Muddy Waters playing guitar and singing “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man“, and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band playing “Juke“. It was worth the price of admission just to see these blues legends alive and well and doing what they do best!

    Be Sure to Watch the Orientation Film

    When we circled back around to the beginning of our tour, a marvelous orientation film gave a lot of examples of their motto: “Music is the Language of the Soul.” I wish I would have taken a video of it because it was really beautiful!

    The Wild Horse: our First Stop and My Last!

    Although I had hoped to have one more lunch with my cousins, we opted for dessert instead at Mary’s retirement home. After a great chat and some yummy (and beautiful) Fry’s cupcakes, I headed back home to finish packing up for our departure tomorrow morning.

    As I’m driving up North Lake Pleasant Parkway, I see a hot-air balloon, and then another. And another! Since it was getting close to sunset and a few more were getting pretty low in the sky not far ahead, I bypassed our condo and hauled ass to The Wild Horse (our favorite burger joint!). I was amazed at my timing, and the beautiful lighting of this fabulous sunset on my last day in Phoenix! Too bad I didn’t have time for one last cheeseburger.

    What a Great Sendoff!

    Up next: A Postcard Around Every Corner

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • All Around Tucson

    All Around Tucson

    As our stay in Tucson winds down, this post covers a few nice walks in the desert, an otter-copter, a night out in the downtown district, a mission renovation that’s finally complete, and another beautiful sunset.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Return to the Red Rocks 2024.

    Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

    While most of our Tucson outings have been relatively close to home, today we ventured out a little further. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was about an hour away, but there were several other things we could see and do between here and there.

    This museum has been on my list for years, but when a friend suggested the Raptor Demonstration, we decided to make a day of it. Unfortunately we missed the raptor’s 10am showtime, but enjoyed everything else there on this gorgeous day. Now the raptor demonstration will give us a good reason to return on our next Tucson visit.

    If just watching the raptors isn’t enough, Avian Adventures is available. “After a quick glove training, you will watch the majestic Eurasian Eagle Owl fly to your very own glove and experience what it is like to hold a four pound owl!” There is a hefty fee involved for that experience, but it sounds amazing!

    “The Desert Museum is a fusion experience: zoo, botanical garden, art gallery & classes, natural history museum, and aquarium.”

    Riparian Corridor

    This lively river otter was going nowhere fast, but certainly provided lots of entertainment! Turn up the volume to hear a young boy’s excitement at the otter’s speed and agility, and with coming up with its new name – the otter-copter!

    “This exhibit is a burbling, shady respite near the middle of the Desert Museum grounds. It serves as a reminder that a stream is one of the most precious things you can find in a desert.”

    Earth Sciences Center

    So many interesting areas to discover including, wait, what? A cave in the desert?

    “Bright sunlight fades as you descend the gentle incline into ASDM’s utterly convincing artificial cave. A yielding wall of cool air parts to let you inside, and the blackness seems total at first, until your eyes adapt and you begin to make out the dim silhouettes of arches and side chambers. Along this passage, the mechanisms and residents of a rarely seen environment are revealed within pools of light that lead you from each display to the next. One charts the development of a limestone cave and the formation of stalagmites and stalactites, another shows the animals that frequent the twilight zones of cave entrances: bobcats, pack rats, ringtails, and barn owls.” ~ READ MORE

    Desert Museum Gardens

    If you’ve read many of my blogs, you know how much I love gardens (and the desert). During this time of year (mid-January) there were only a few flowers blooming, but in a couple of months the colors should start popping!

    Annual wildflower blooms are almost impossible to predict, but since cactus store water, they aren’t as dependent on the rain occurring at the right time of year. They bloom nearly every year, though the wetter the better for more flowers. The biggest variety of spring-blooming cactus flower in April, with prickly pears following in early May, and saguaros showing off in mid-May to June. I guess that’s a downside of being a snowbird versus a full-timer.

    Even with very few flowers, our visit was wonderful with benches to enjoy the sunshine and pergolas when we’d had enough, sculptures of creatures who reside here, and great views out over the vast desert landscape.

    The Scenic Route

    On our return trip, we drove through the western side of Saguaro National Park just to see it one more time, to stop at several of the most memorable overlooks, and to get a stamp in my National Parks Passport. Last trip through I left mine at home.

    “West of the city of Tucson, the Tucson Mountain District is the smaller of the two sections of Saguaro National Park, which are separated by Tucson’s one million residents. As you enter Tucson Mountain Park, it starts out very steep and curvy, but levels out to a magnificent desert floor.” ~ READ MORE and see more photos from our last visit

    A Stressful Dinner

    The hosts at our Airbnb suggested Rocco’s Little Chicago for excellent deep dish pizza. It was quite a ways away, but luckily on our way home today! Let me start by saying that the pizza was really amazing and we had plenty left over for dinner tomorrow night. We would definitely come back here – even though this time was, well, nerve-wracking!

    We could have taken a table outside, but no! It had started to cool off, so we sat inside. We were two tables from two screaming babies which the parents just couldn’t make happy. The volume in the restaurant started to increase to compensate for the screaming babies. The babies may have been screaming because of the headbanger music that was blaring over the speakers (which they may have turned up to drown out the screaming babies).

    The phones were ringing, a car alarm was going off. AND the sun was setting directly in the gap between the patio roof and the buildings to one side. I was blinded and my head was ready to explode! When we sat down I didn’t order a drink, which was my first big mistake, really big, HUGE! When we left we sat in silence for the first ten minutes.

    “A Taste of the Windy City. Rocco’s Little Chicago has been serving up Authentic Chicago-Style Stuffed Pizza in Tucson since 1998. Our buttery crust is filled with quality and tasty ingredients to create a pizza marvel. Everything at Rocco’s is Made Fresh Daily using only the finest ingredients.”

    I’m sure the screaming babies have left by now, so be sure to stop by! It really was delicious!

    Next Day

    The next day we took a few short hikes back at SNP east, to wear off the pizza and make room for more! Several gin and tonics and a great sunset in the pergola rounded out another glorious day in the desert.

    Lazy Day, Great Night Out

    Parking can be tricky in the Downtown District sometimes, but we found a spot that was in-between our dinner/brewery spot and our entertainment for the evening. We enjoyed Borderlands Brewing two times on our last visit here – once just for beers and once for awesome tacos from their food truck (and beers). Of course last time we were about five minutes away from home and tonight we’re about thirty. Tonight we returned for awesome tacos (and beers) before our Evening with Marc Cohn at Fox Tucson Theatre. It was a great evening and the Fox was a fabulous venue!

    “We make memories. We make connections. We make Tucson proud. We enliven Tucson, fostering community growth and connections by shaping exceptional, live arts experiences in a celebrated setting.” ~ READ MORE

    A Return to the Mission

    Today we made the ninety-minute round trip to see Mission San Xavier Del Bac… again. Known as the “white dove in the desert,” this place is amazing! I have been here several times over the years, but I think on every visit there was a project in the works. Two years ago the entire right-hand white tower was shrouded in scaffolding and plastic, and inside the sanctuary was roped off. It was a pleasant surprise today to see no signs of construction!

    Today I got a great distant photo of most of the buildings that make up this beautiful complex. I don’t remember seeing the design in the gravel in front of the buildings last time, but most times there are more visitors milling around. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen fewer people here, so it was quite a treat.

    Click on this link to see some pictures from our last visit, as well as some history of this place and its founder in 1692. Although there’s clearly construction going on in those pictures, the clouds and rain gave this beautiful place an ominous (almost spooky) feel that I just love.

    “The great news is that the renovation has largely returned the church, considered the finest example of Spanish mission architecture in the United States, to its original splendor, with beautiful white walls that call to you on the drive up and colorful murals inside reflecting the collision of culture and traditions that has happened here for centuries. Whether you take one of the free docent-led tours or simply walk around the grounds by yourself, once you enter the giant carved doors of San Xavier, you’ll understand why this place is so special to the Tohono O’odham Nation, Tucsonans in general, and is such a wildly popular destination for visitors.” ~ READ MORE

    Another Great Stop

    The READ MORE link just above also calls out Tumacácori National Historic Park, which is also fantastic! We stopped there on our last trip to Arizona and you can see photos near the bottom of my post entitled The Wild West.

    We ❤️ Tucson!

    After our outing today, we finished packing up for our departure in the morning. Florence and Phoenix here we come!

    Next up: At Home in Phoenix

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Our Casita in the Desert

    Our Casita in the Desert

    We begin our Arizona stay in Tucson, which is a little trickier to get into with our timeshare. Although two years ago we stayed in a pretty nice hotel downtown using our timeshare points, this time we set our sights on a place where we could feel more at home. We found an Airbnb out in the desert which was close – and yet so far from the madness of the city.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Return to the Red Rocks 2024.

    Our Home Away from Home

    While searching our options for another stay in Tucson, we found this beautiful spot in the desert. Although the owners lived in the larger portion of the house, our private guest suite had two bedrooms, a spacious bathroom and a small kitchenette – just big enough for simple breakfasts, snacks, or leftovers.

    When we arrived, our fridge was stocked with a few beverages and snacks, and there was plenty of coffee for our stay, Our very friendly and helpful hosts offered suggestions for nearby restaurants, and we learned how they ended up in Tucson from their hometown in upstate New York. They even replaced our dirty dishes while we were out and about, but our favorite aspect of this place was its beautiful patio, with an endless supply of birds. Yes, we are just that old!

    On our first day we got settled in, had a selection of charcuterie with fresh fruit for dinner, and only ventured as far as the high ground of the pergola for a gorgeous sunset. Wow, did we hit the jackpot with this reservation!

    Saguaro National Park

    Saguaros are only found in the Sonoran Desert and are protected at Saguaro National Park. The park is divided into two sections which are separated by Tucson’s one-million residents. Both sections are definitely worth seeing, so I’d recommend spending a fair amount of time in Tucson. If time is short and you can only see one, this website may help you decide which side to save for next time.

    On our last visit to Tucson two years ago, we spent a day at each of the two sections of the park, so rather than reinvent the wheel, click the link and you can read more about each section there.

    Today we revisited the Rincon Mountain District (the eastern side), since the entrance was only six minutes from home. Although the scenic loop is only eight miles long, it takes a while at 25-mph with lots of stops for views and a trail or two. We walked the Desert Ecology Trail and thoroughly enjoyed the Visitor Center which we didn’t see last time. We learned more about the cacti and the critters that inhabit this prickly place.

    Ewww!

    An exhibit about the Regal Horned Lizard was quite fascinating. The fourth photo below shows two of the handsome crowned creatures created for this exhibit. Click on the link for a great video that shows two defense mechanisms utilized when the lizard (or its eggs) are in danger. A third line of defense is shown in this video. Yes, it squirts blood from its eyes into the mouth of its predator! The nasty taste will usually scare it off. Ewww is right!

    After our park visit, the Saguaro Corners Restaurant offered a great place for an early dinner (and a beer). We also wanted to check it out for Packer-game-watching possibilities since it was so close to home! Although we would definitely return for both the food and the beer, it probably wasn’t the place for the game. Now back to our patio!

    Coffee and Birdwatching

    Every morning started with a trip to the patio. The mornings were cool, but we could move our chairs into the sun to solve that problem. Winter was upon our family back home, so I was just happy to be chilly in my robe and slippers in the sunshine. Not much variety in the birds this morning, but the cardinals were beautiful. There were two hummingbird feeders on the overhangs, so occasionally I’d experience a fly-by that was pretty close. They didn’t stick around long even though I stayed as still as possible.

    This is a wonderful setting to listen to the music of nature. One morning my Merlin app identified seven birds, including this Gambel’s Quail who was just sitting on the fence enjoying the morning sun – like me. Sometimes he brought his buddies and they walked in a straight line along the top, rounded edge of the adobe gate to the left.

    A Packer Win against the Cowboys!

    When we googled Packer bars, several came up but Hops Sports Grill sounded the most promising. When we walked in the door, the Packer jerseys outnumbered the Cowboys, so we took two stools at the bar. We had an appetizer before and after the game started and another later on, along with a couple of Moose Drool Brown Ales and Kilt Lifters (brewed in Tempe). All in all it was great fun and we felt like we were home again! Even better was the commanding performance that our almost all-rookie Packers gave!  J❤️10!!

    Next up: All Around Tucson

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • So Long Snow Recap

    So Long Snow Recap

    Blogposts from our 2022 Southwest Winter road trip are finally complete. This post provides an outline of where we went, what we saw and links to posts associated with each stop. 

    If you haven’t seen any of the posts, you may want to start at the beginning. Near the bottom of each post, there is a green link that will take you to what’s “Up next: Enjoy!”

    Our itinerary:

    So Long Snow 2022
    Slidell, LA (2 nights). Dubbed “End of the Road Part One”, the first stop of our getaway was a visit with my cousin near New Orleans, where most of our tours were along the Mighty Mississippi. During our stay we tried King Cake, visited Oak Alley and Laura Plantations, had a great visit at a Parish Visitor Center, and went on a somber walk through the Chalmette National Cemetery. Turns out Darlene is an awesome tour guide!

    End of the Road Part Two
    New Orleans, LA (5 nights) The Marquee. This post continues along the Mississippi River. Our walks to Jackson Square and back provided happy hours and oysters on a half-shell. We loved the riverfront with its iconic views and a Steamboat Lunch Cruise offered some toe-tapping music and great views of the shoreline and the skyline. On another day we headed for Venice, LA to the literal end of the road, which was pretty disappointing.

    Some Time in N’awlins
    Our stay in New Orleans continues with some pics of our condo. A tour of the city included an excellent cemetery tour and beignets at Café Dumonde. The coldest day of our trip was the day of our Swamp Tour with Elvis (pictured left). Drinks on a carousel at the gorgeous Monteleone Hotel will definitely be a redo. A month before Mardi Gras the city was already decked out in the colors of the season.

    Alamo City
    San Antonio, TX (5 nights) Élian Resort & Spa. This post has lots of photos in and around our resort and a visit to the Pearl District. We enjoyed a self-guided snoop and “restorative cocktail” at (the fabulous) Hotel Emma. The meandering Museum Reach section of the River Walk had art installations along the way, with a walk through Elsewhere, by the Museum of Art, and old brewery buildings that were really cool.

    On a Mission x4
    Our stay in San Antonio continues with a visit a little south of the Alamo. We spent the day on self-guided tours at the four missions in this area: Mission Concepción (most well-preserved), Mission San José (Queen of the Missions), Mission San Juan (great little museum), and Mission Espada (most beautiful grounds). Each were unique, with very different background stories.

    The Wild West
    After an overnight in Deming, NM (1 night), we spent the afternoon in Tombstone to see what we missed on previous trips. It was a quick drive to Sierra Vista, AZ (2 nights) Comfort Inn & Suites. Next day we went to Bisbee for a Queen Mine Tour and a little window shopping. Next morning we spent several hours at my favorite of all the missions – Tumacácori National Historical Park on the way to our next home base.

    The Old Pueblo
    Tucson, AZ (7 nights) Hotel Tucson City Center. This post has pics of our new digs and our beautiful and curvy, yet low-stress mountain drive to Mount Lemmon via the Catalina Highway (Sky Island Parkway). With plenty of pullouts for amazing overlooks, we took our time and enjoyed every minute. As we approached Mount Lemmon, there were remnants of a snowfall – just enough for a (very) little snowman!

    Saguaro National Park
    Our stay in Tucson continues with visits to both sections of Saguaro National Park. Since the sections are separated by the city of Tucson, we visited each on a separate day. With a whole park named after them, there were thousands of Saguaros, along with other cacti of varying shapes and sizes. Narrow and winding roads made this another day to take it easy and we thoroughly enjoyed the scenery.

    How About a Nice Game of Chess?
    Our stay in Tucson continues with a stop at the Titan Missile Museum. Once one of America’s most top secret places, this well-preserved missile site is now a National Historic Landmark, offering tours to millions of visitors. Although the technology looks antiquated by today’s standards, from 1963 to 1987 it was one of 54 sites on high alert across the United States to deter nuclear war.

    San Xavier del Bac Mission
    Our stay in Tucson continues with a stop at ABC. Dubbed the “white dove in the desert,” the ornate and detailed artwork is absolutely gorgeous and with today’s clouds, my pictures turned out fantastic. I have been here several times, and sections are always under “careful preservation.” It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Tucson.

    In Search of Owls
    Our stay in Tucson continues with some urban beauty! Although they are quite impressive, Tucson is more than just desert and saguaros. We enjoyed great restaurants, craft breweries, a dimly-lit bar in a former funeral home, and a band shell made out of flowers. And recently, a bunch of tree-huggers (meant in a good way) expanded their offices into an historic building once used by Owls!

    Movin’ on Up
    Florence, AZ (3 nights). As we head north to Peoria, we’ll make a stop in Florence to see some friends. In this post you’ll hear about things to watch out for in Arizona and there’s a great story about redemption. Also glamping in the Boulders, an ancestral Sonoran Desert People’s farming community with a “Great House”, and a Dwarf Car Museum. Sounds like something for everyone!

    Gardens of Glass
    Peoria, AZ (17 nights) Cibola Vista Resort & Spa. Here we are – back in Peoria for our longest stay of the trip. We know the area pretty well, and it doesn’t take long to feel at home at one of our favorite timeshares. A few of my favorite things converged on one lovely evening while we were here – the transition from day to night (with a full moon), a fabulous botanical garden, a stunning blown glass expedition, and family.

    Day Trips x4
    Our stay in Peoria continues with a chilly visit to Montezuma Castle (one of our first National Monuments) and Montezuma Well with views of the expansive desert. Another day took us to Wickenburg for a tour of the town and a Western Museum. Our longest day trip of the entire trip was two hours to Roosevelt Lake. There we visited friends and relaxed on the back of a large boat to enjoy the calm blue lake and some old friends.

    Phoenix Finale
    Our last few days in Phoenix included a two-night stay with friends. We did a self-guided tour of one of the classiest wigwams I’ve ever been in, a little shopping in one of the biggest antique stores I’ve ever been in, the beautiful Sahuaro Ranch Park with a peacock parade, and an historic candy company. One last night in our condo included a fabulous sunset cruise on Lake Pleasant, where great music and several beers offered a grand finale to our stay in Arizona.

    In Transition
    Gallup, NM (2 nights) The Historic El Rancho Hotel. Located right on Route 66, this hotel had an “old west” vibe – although clean and comfortable. Outings included a matinee at the Historic El Morro Theatre, hunting for murals, a visit to Red Rock Park with beautiful red rocks and an arena for rodeos, bull riding and other events. After Red Rock we were lured down the road by beautiful rock formations. We attempted a visit to Chaco Canyon on the way to our next stop in Grants, NM (1 night) Best Western Grants Inn.

    Santa Fe, NM (2 nights) Historic Adobe Casita. Learning from a mistake on a previous trip, we scored a small casita within walking distance of the Plaza. One walk about town took us into ABC with a park next door, a little shopping, and some gawking at another fabulous hotel. We only did a drive-by of Museum Hill when we decided to check out early to shorten the 13-hour drive to our next resort stay. Turns out we grossly miscalculated its fantasticness and will have to return for a third time.

    Ridgedale, MO (7 5 nights) Wilderness Club at Big Cedar. Our stay in a two-bedroom cabin was cut short when lots of sleeping and a Covid diagnosis brought about an abrupt end to this otherwise fabulous winter road trip.

    Another great road trip is officially in the books!

    Up Next: Bay State Getaway 2022

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • In Transition

    In Transition

    Yes, I know. By definition, together the words road and trip imply transition. Whenever we can, we like to arrange longer stays – like the one we just finished up near Phoenix. But from this point on, we have short stops in New Mexico and Texas, to get to our last whole week in Missouri. Oops, strike that. This road trip comes to an abrupt and disappointing end in Ridgedale – making that a short stop too.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit So Long Snow 2022.

    “First Road trip in North America

    (Picture at left): Jackson driving the Vermont on the 1903 Cross-Country Drive

    The first successful North American transcontinental trip by automobile took place in 1903 and was piloted by H. Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker, accompanied by a dog named Bud. The trip was completed using a 1903 Winton Touring Car, dubbed “Vermont” by Jackson. The trip took a total of 63 days between San Francisco and New York, costing US$8,000. The total cost included items such as food, gasoline, lodging, tires, parts, other supplies, and the cost of the Winton.” ~ READ MORE

    On the Road Again

    We left Cibola Vista this morning and headed in a northeasterly direction for the first time in just over six weeks. Once we get to this point in our longer trips I start getting a little homesick and part of me just wants to go home. At this point in the trip I have to pull myself together and remember that there is at least one more month (probably more) of cold (maybe snow and ice) back there. Besides, we still have good stuff to see, so shake it off Olson!

    Although it’s pretty unusual for us, we took the direct route to our hotel for the next two nights, right up I17 and east on I40. It ended up being perfect timing for a stop in Winslow to stand on the corner one more time, get Jim a new t-shirt, and grab some lunch. We remembered from previous visits the lack of restaurants to choose from, so when we noticed the awesome OTG (Olde Town Grill) we immediately pulled over. Jim had a great Rueben and I had the Mango Habenaro Chicken Wrap which was OMG! fabulous. We will be stopping there again!

    The Mother Road

    < Read a few pages from my book, The Natural Beauty of Arizona, by clicking on the pdf on the left. There’s a little background on Route 66, and references to a few of the once-thriving towns that were bypassed when Interstate 40 was completed in the mid-80s.

    When we needed a stopover that was about a day’s drive from Peoria, we settled in on Gallup, NM at The Historic El Rancho Hotel. It seemed to be the most well-preserved and most interesting hotel – and it was right on Route 66. We ordered up a Deluxe Double and was booked into The John Wayne Room, which definitely had an “old west” vibe – although it was very clean and comfortable. A picture of The Duke hung front and center when we entered our room.

    A Blast from the Past

    Entering this hotel was like walking into a time capsule, with hundreds of old photos of celebrities displayed throughout. A fabulous wood-burning fireplace was the centerpiece of the lobby, with a cozy sitting area for guests to gather, or relax with a cup of coffee and reminisce about days gone by. The El Rancho opened in 1937 as a base for movie productions, and is one of the most authentic places in the area.

    “The historic El Rancho Hotel provides a unique Southwest Experience and was the home of movie stars throughout the 1930s to 1940s who filmed Westerns in the area. But the hotel is not just about movie stars. You’ll be following in the footsteps of Americans who have traveled West in hopes of a better life. The El Rancho is one of the cornerstones of that Westward Journey.” ~ READ MORE

    So Much History

    Beautiful southwestern art was painted on the walls in the hallway to our room, and others are interspersed throughout the lobby. Displays about famous old stars – like John Wayne (of course) – are all over the lobby, and the photos were fascinating (and plentiful) and some were signed!

    A Great Discovery

    Since our goal was to check out Gallup, we did just that! The Historic El Morro Theatre looked interesting, so we took in an afternoon showing of “Uncharted”. Although the outside was definitely historic, the inside was very much updated with a fabulous sound system and very comfortable seats. Built in 1928, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

    On our way to the movie, we noticed a few murals on buildings around town. As you can imagine, that sparked a scavenger hunt to find more. I just can’t help myself, and Jim is my enabler!

    “Telling Gallup’s Story Through Art. Over 20 colorful murals are within walking distance of each other in the downtown area. These works of art vary in style and size, working together to share Gallup’s rich and romantic history, patriotism and Native American culture. A short walk through downtown will reveal murals that depict scenes from mining, rodeos and western life, with others commemorating the Long Walk or showcasing Native American trading. ~ READ MORE

    Red Rock Park

    About 15 minutes straight east of our hotel was Red Rock Park. If we would have been in more of a hiking mood, the trail from the parking lot was about three miles, but we just enjoyed the scenery from here on this lovely day.

    “Red Rock Park is the crown jewel of Gallup’s parks and recreation system. Cradled by spectacular red cliffs formed over 200 million years ago in the Age of the Dinosaurs, the park combines a glimpse into past civilizations with modern amenities to serve the needs of contemporary residents and guests.” ~ READ MORE

    “Located next to the Convention Center is a Museum filled with Native American art, jewelry, rugs and pottery.

    Red Rock Park is home to events such as Wild Thing Championship Bull Riding, Best of the Best Rodeo, Lions Club Rodeo and the world famous Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Our arena seats 5,000 people and is well suited for outdoor performances such as rodeos, motocross events and more. The lighted arena can be configured for rough stock and timed event performances as well as motocross tracks and other types of events. There are also permanent horse stalls located in 4 areas of the park.” ~ READ MORE

    Interesting Rock Formations

    After Red Rock Park, we went on a little wild goose chase. We kept following more and more beautiful formations, but we finally had to call it off when we were up the road about a half an hour. The last two photos were taken on our way out of town en route to Grants, NM. I’m not sure which was prettier – the beautiful blue sky, or the fabulous red plateau!

    A Road Less Traveled

    Taking Route 66 wherever we could, our goal for the day was to see Chaco Canyon on our way to our next stop in Grants. That goal was thwarted when we seemed to be getting nowhere fast (I should say slow). The road was dry and desolate, in some spots washboardy, and in some spots washed out down to rock.

    We got a little creeped out being way the hell out there – all by ourselves – and we listened to our inner voices saying that it was time to pull the plug. Although I got a few good pictures of unique subjects, I was glad when we finally returned to the main highway.

    An Oasis in the Desert

    After we were checked into our hotel in Grants, we went in search of a happy hour or two and a little dinner. After a little stress during part of our journey today, The Junkyard on 66 Brewery was just the ticket! Not many repair shops include a brewery in their work area!

    Although the tappers for the beers we ordered were located in the garage, the bar was in what may have been a reception area. A rusty old pickup served as our server’s station and a bar was built around the bed of the truck. We sat in a front area that had more comfortable chairs.

    We made a toast to Oscar (Jim’s dad) when we noticed his license plate above the front-end of the truck-bar. This was a very unique place with good beer and fabulous pulled pork sandwiches. There was obviously a junkyard too, but I forgot to take pictures after a couple of their IPAs.

    Oldest Capital City in the U.S.

    Last time we were in Santa Fe we stayed at a hotel that was just too far away from where we really wanted to be. Besides looking like a war zone because of extensive construction, we had to travel through Santa Fe traffic whenever we went anywhere! Since we (sometimes) learn from our mistakes – a Historic Casita just steps from the historic district (VRBO) would be our home for the next three nights.

    “Santa Fe nicknamed itself The City Different in the early 1900s, fully aware and proud of its uniqueness, but its story stretches back to the 1600s, giving this Southwestern hub multiple centuries to grow into its imaginative, artistic self.

    Today, The City Different continues to be proud – of its numerous historic sites and museums, its hundreds of art galleries, and perhaps the most colorful culinary scene in the country. To celebrate the New Mexican capital, consider some of the most surprising facts about Santa Fe – and how you can best experience them.” ~ READ MORE

    Saint Francis Cathedral

    Since our casita got us close enough to walk, when we set out to find the Plaza, we found so much more!! Our first stop of the day, was the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. We lucked out that it was actually open because today was Ash Wednesday. Turns out mass would be ending soon and we could get a peak inside.

    “The crowning achievement of Archbishop Lamy’s church construction in New Mexico, the Saint Francis Cathedral was built between 1869 and 1886 and designed in the French Romanesque Revival style. Although its design contrasts the surrounding adobe buildings, the cathedral remains one of Santa Fe’s most celebrated landmarks.” ~ READ MORE

    Beautiful Day for a Walkabout

    Just outside the cathedral was Cathedral Park, which would have been substantially more beautiful with leaves on the trees. We’ve already decided that third time might be a charm with a trip here (and San Antonio) during April or May, so flowers and trees will be in bloom, but before the throngs of tourists arrive. Damn tourists!

    Although a stop at the Plaza put Jim in terrible danger, it offered a little retail therapy along with lunch at The Burrito Company – al fresco! There are not many times we can eat outside on the 2nd of March! And Jim is OK, by the way. Thanks for asking.

    The Inn of the Five Graces

    After checking out two more chapels that I talked about on our last visit, we had a great time snooping around The Inn of the Five Graces. We wandered thru the courtyards and would have loved to check out a room, but some work was being done and it was closed, or possibly not open yet for the season. Although very expensive, the pictures may sell you on a reason to celebrate something special (really special) here in Santa Fe!

    Museum Hill

    After a quick visit to the Visitor Info Center, we returned to our casita to relax and have some leftovers for dinner. In the morning we were already starting to dread the next day’s thirteen-hour drive, so Jim suggested a new plan. We would pack up this morning, check out a day early, and do a drive-by at our last planned visit in Santa Fe. How great could a bunch of museums be anyway, right? WRONG!

    We immediately regretted our decision to leave early, because Museum Hill was GORGEOUS! With four museums and a botanical garden, it turns out third time WILL be a charm – since we are definitely coming back here! I took a few pictures and we headed on down the road to Amarillo. As sorry as we were to leave, this decision would knock a good four hours off of an already long-enough drive to Ridgedale, MO, and that’s significant for these older road-trippers.

    Not Much to Look At

    You know it’s a slow news day when wind turbines are the only photos I take, although with the clouds and setting sun it’s kinda beautiful. While I sit on my butt for nine hours, it was great to see these turbines hard at work.

    The Beginning of the End

    We arrived safe and sound at our condo at Wilderness Club at Big Cedar. We scored TWO WEEKS in a two-bedroom cabin there, which is among the most fantastic type of units to stay in, especially for two weeks! Before we even left for this road trip (mid-January), we ended up trading our two-week stay for our friends’ one-week stay. Turns out our grandson’s Arrow of Light Ceremony for Boy Scouts is more important than any silly road trip finale. See, we do have our priorities straight!

    Several days after our arrival, I was just so tired! Napping is just not something I do. First I contributed it to this long road trip, but soon after, I knew it was something else. Yep. Covid. Pack it in Olsons, we’re going home early.

    Next up: So Long Snow Recap

    Happy trails,
    Barb