The White Dove of the Desert, San Xavier del Bac Arizona May 2021 Preserving San Xavier del Bac Every disadvantage has its advantage. While we didn’t complete the trail in Saguaro NP, the extra time allowed us to visit the Mission San Xavier del Bac, a stunning example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United […]
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Saguaro West, The Volcanic Oven of the Tucson Mountains Arizona May 2021 XX A few days later, we explored the West Side of Saguaro National Park. This part of the park is located in the Tucson Mountains, on the opposite side of the city from where we had hiked before. We started up the Hugh
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The Crown Jewel of the Anza National Historic Trail Arizona May 2021 The Anza Corridor After our visit to the ruins of Mission Tumacácori, we followed part of the 1,210-mile Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. This route commemorates the 1775–1776 expedition led by Anza, who guided more than 240 settlers from New Spain
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Exploring the Pimería Alta at Tumacácori Mission Arizona May 2021 Preserving the Unfinished, Tumacácori Mission Instead of hiking in nature, we went to explore Tumacácori National Historical Park, near the Mexican border. The story of Tumacácori Mission goes back to January 1691, when the Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived in the area. Tumacácori was
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Bloom in the Rincon Mountains at Saguaro NP East Arizona May 2021 The Desert in Full Pride We picked the perfect day to visit Saguaro National Park because, in May, the majestic saguaro is in full bloom. We explored the Rincon Mountain District, the park’s eastern section. A century ago, grazing and development threatened the
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Our Stay in Payson, AZ Arizona May 2021 Borders, Bridges, and Beautiful Views May 9, 2021 329 miles ~ 6.5 hrs As always, we left just before check-out, with only five minutes to spare. We grabbed Hemmes from underneath the bed after loading the car. He, of course, knew this was going to happen! While
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A Farewell to Tonto National Forest at the Mogollon Rim Arizona May 2021 The Mogollon and the Lake Saturday, May 22, 2021 1.02 mi 23:50 min 64 °F Our last activity in the Payson area was just a 30-minute drive away. We went to the Mogollon Rim for a few hikes, starting first at Woods
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Exploring Central Arizona’s Interesting Towns Arizona May 2021 From 15,000 to 50, The History of Jerome, AZ Thursday, May 13, 2021 0.58 mi 14:17 min 84 °F After visiting Tuzigoot National Monument, we drove to Jerome, a former copper-mining town perched on the 30-degree slope of Cleopatra Hill. During its peak in the 1920s, the
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An Adventure at Tonto Natural Bridge Arizona May 2021 Boulders, Bridges, and Coatis at Tonto Natural Bridge Following a local recommendation, we spent the afternoon at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, one of Arizona’s hidden gems. The natural bridge is considered the world’s largest travertine bridge. It is enormous, with a height of 183 feet,
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An Otherworldly Day At Petrified Forest National Park Arizona May 2021 The Painted Desert, Vistas, Ravens, and Route 66 Monday, May 17, 2021 61 °F – 64 °F We entered through the North Entrance off I-40 and began exploring Petrified Forest NP by following Petrified Forest Road. After a quick photo at the entrance, we
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