Travel for the History Lover
This is the first post in a series about National parks and monuments in the American Southwest. We recently visited Saguaro National Park in Tucson for the fourteenth time and discovered a few amazing facts about the unique species of cactus called Saguaro. They re Really Old It s Illegal to Harm Them The Saguaro cactus [ ]
Petrified Forest National Park captivates visitors with its ancient rocks and stunning landscapes. With two entrances offering unique experiences, highlights include the Painted Desert, Kachina Point, and Kachina Pueblo. Multiple trails enhance exploration, while local attractions like Jim Gray's Petrified Wood Co. offer memorable souvenirs. It's a must-visit park for nature lovers.
The History Recently, we visited a cool little (not really little) place called Slaughter Ranch. Before that trip, ranching history wasn t super interesting to me. Now I know better. My reason for going was to try and track down Arizona s fourth Presidio (Spanish fortress). The other three are: Tucson Presidio, Tubac Presidio, and Santa Cruz [ ]
Long before Dragoon Springs was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route, it was the territory of the Chiricahua Apache. So much history happened here. What we think we know is probably only a fraction of what happened in these mountains. This stagecoach stop started with a 2,700 mile mail route from Missouri to [ ]
Updated 5/18/2023 for a return trip for a routine dental cleaning. Not much has changed. Is Nogales, Mexico safe? Will we get caught up in drug trafficking? How long will it take to cross the border? Is it even worth it? Despite the reputation for drug violence and underground tunnels, we decided to see what [ ]
After reading that the National Park Service (NPS) was partnering with the Southwest Mission Research Center (SMRC) to sponsor a tour for teachers (for free) of the Spanish Missions of the Pimería Alta, I knew I had to go. The three-day, three-night workshop was open to teachers in Arizona, tribal lands, and Sonora, Mexico. This had [ ]
Isla Mujeres The Island of Women. Fifteen minutes by ferry from Cancun and you re there. It s rumored to be one of the most beautiful spots in the Caribbean Sea. While this small Caribbean island is truly beautiful, it s also one of the places that I ve experienced true fear while traveling. The trip to Cancun didn t go well [ ]
This is my sixth year living in Arizona. Every time it feels like it s time to pack up and experience something new, Arizona whispers in my ear, don t go yet, there s still a lot to see. A random and spontaneous road trip last week proved to be no exception. We discovered a ghost town on [ ]
Last Saturday started like all the others during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Coffee, then a check to see exactly where this Saturday falls on the calendar. That s not something I used to do, but after six weeks, time is starting to blur. Everything changed at lunch. I heard Joe exclaim out of nowhere, oh my God [ ]
Fort Bowie. It s a somber place, a little hard to get to, but definitely worth exploring and contemplating the wrongs done to the Apache people by the U.S. Government. One great thing about living in Arizona is all of the history tucked away in the corners. Down in the corner of Cochise County is the [ ]
After more than a decade of stagnating on my travel bucket list, I finally made it to Mesa Verde National Park. This park has been on my bucket list for a long time. If you love history, it s a definite must-visit. We have president Theodore Roosevelt (a favorite president of mine) to thank for establishing [ ]
Why Visit? There s a very special piece of land in southern Arizona. It s a place where people have roamed for ten-thousand years. During the twentieth century famous movie stars hung out here. Although I can t tell you exactly what is so special about this place, it just feels special. Today, this area is a forty-five [ ]
America s Stonehenge. With such an enticing name, it s hard to resist the pull. Chaco Canyon is one of the oldest places of habitation in the United States. A trip there is life-changing.Let s take a look at what it s like to journey to this ancient, mysterious place. A place that is sacred, serene, and filled with [ ]
The weather is beautiful, and the world is calling. Travel will always be a non-negotiable for me, so no matter how busy I am, I will always make time, even if it s just for day-long weekend jaunts. As the weather warms up so does the urge to get out there and explore Arizona. This weekend [ ]
Sedona. Red-Rock Country, yoga, vortexes, recreation and wellness. It s one of the top travel destinations in Arizona. Like every other popular tourist spot, you have to take the good with the bad. Sedona and I have had a love-hate relationship since 2011. The scenery is amazing, the archaeology is cool, but there are things that [ ]