December 19, 2011
It’s a big canyon, but that’s only part of what makes it so grand for families. So what does make this such a wonderful destination, other than the fact that it’s a magnificent spectacle of nature? It’s easy to drive in and out of, even from the remote North Rim. Hold onto your children’s hands, ...
November 13, 2011
Dad and I love ghost tours. It might have something to do with having lived in New Orleans, where it is said that the veil between this world and the next is a bit thinner than it is in most places. Or maybe it’s just an extension of our love for Halloween. Regardless of the ...
November 12, 2011
When Dad and I headed to the American Southwest this summer, we had very different ideas on what we would see. My vision of the West was filled with the organ pipe cactus, an imposing species that can grow more than 20 feet tall. Dad is a huge fan of old Westerns, particularly Bat Masterson ...
October 11, 2011
While exploring the national parks of Utah, Dad and I decided to base camp at an RV resort in Hurricane, just over the Utah border in the extreme southwest corner of the state. We had a few extra days in Hurricane, so we decided to explore the area. On the advice of a friendly local ...
September 26, 2011
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. Although you would never know it to look at me, I would have been a great child of the 1950s. I love poodle skirts and saddle shoes, malt shops and car hops, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. But nothing retro makes me happier than ...
August 26, 2011
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is served by one major highway–US 64 from Williams, Arizona, an hour to the south. Although the road is well maintained and served by several tiny towns with gas and food, it can get quite crowded during the major tourist seasons. While we made the drive later in ...
August 21, 2011
Sedona, Arizona is well-known for its stunning red sandstone, plethora of spas and New Age centers, and thriving arts community. As a booming tourist town, Sedona can be slightly overwhelming for first-time visitors. Dad and I love guided tours, so we signed up for the Sedona Trolley. About Sedona Trolley Sedona Trolley got its start ...
August 19, 2011
Jerome, Arizona is a largely preserved historic mining town turned hippie enclave. In the heart of the Verde Valley, an easy drive from both Prescott and Sedona, Jerome is particularly notable for its location on the side of a mountain. The 30 degree incline has earned Jerome the moniker “America’s Most Vertical City.” With a ...
August 17, 2011
Dad had one basic request for this cross-country adventure. He wanted to experience a real, honest-to-goodness, cowboy-style chuckwagon supper. I’m sure he thought he meant out under the stars, after a good hard ride on horseback. And maybe we’ll still do it before this trip is over. But in the meantime, we discovered something just ...
August 16, 2011
Arizona’s Verde Valley region was settled in the late 1800s and early 1900s to support copper mining in the local mountains. By the 1940s, however, the copper boom was over and the region was nearly deserted. Today the area is an interesting mix of retirees and artists, many of whom settled in the region during ...
