OUR COLORFUL AND EUPHORIC ROAD TRIP THROUGH ARIZONA AND JOHUA TREE
WHEN THE SF EAST BAY SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER ROAD TRIPS THROUGH THE ARIZONA DESERT
Spring break had my husband, son, and me visiting old friends, exploring the state of Arizona with what I thought would be a barren desert landscape. However, I was wholly unprepared for the resplendent color that blanketed the landscape with this year‘s super bloom. Who knew the desert could be so rife with beauty during spring? I will admit that I am not a desert fan and nor was I anticipating to find so much color or intricate natural beauty. The ground was thick with green verdant grasses while pops of color from the wildflowers created a delicate lacework pattern. Nope, didn’t expect ANY of this!
NEVER A DULL MOMENT ON THE ROAD!
Our first night we would stay in the Route 66 Mecca of Kingman, Arizona. But fate has a way of creating its own unique reality and 155 miles down the road the radiator blew on my husband’s car. Nothing like a plume of smoke coming out the back of your car to potentially derail a trip! This was not the start to spring break that I had envisioned. Being the consummate optimist I looked for some silver linings during this unfortunate snafu. They were: we were able to pull off the freeway and safely find a spot while we waited for AAA (it may have been across the road from a cattle stockyard and the smell of manure may have become in bedded in my sinuses for several hours, but it was safe lol!), some every kind people offered to help us, and the weather was not terribly hot. Also, if you are a road trip it’s probably a good idea to have the top-tier AAA roadside service package. We did not and those last 47 of our 155 mile trek home cost us $742. Oof, starting our trip with the worlds most expensive Uber ride was also not on my road trip bingo card. We swapped out cars and hit the road again; this time maybe with a little more trepidation. Our eight hour drive had turned into twelve, but with a weary sigh of relief we pulled into our Kingman hotel at 11:15 PM.
LIVERMORE, CA SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER VISITS ROUTE 66
After a goodnight’s sleep we woke up feeling refreshed and cautiously optimistic. The drive to Sedona was short and allowed us to take our time while soaking up some of the Route 66 nostalgia. While Kingman has many of the decaying neon signs that served as a beacon to Route 66 travelers, the town of Seligman is loaded with kitsch. I am partial to old roadside attractions like this because they offer so much in the way of photo ops and unique history. It’s my metaphorical candy store.
The road from Kingman to Seligman is also full of road hazards in the form of potholes. These aren’t just any typical pothole, these are so big and jarring that I am sure your soul would momentarily leave your body if you hit one hard enough. The service station attendant in Seligman said they get on average of ten tire repairs PER DAY due to this stretch of highway. Consider yourself warned.
SEDONA, AZ ROAD TRIP WONDERS
Having no idea what to expect from Sedona, my jaw dropped as we descended deep into the canyon and only to surrounded on all sides with towering red rock. It left me wondering if this Pixar‘s inspiration for Cars. Our time in Sedona was limited to two nights and our weather was less than ideal with freezing temperatures and 55 mph winds, but we were determined to make the most of it. We ate amazing food, soaked up some of the landscape while on a scenic drive, visited a Buddhist peace park, visited Tlaquepaque, and did a bit of shopping for our souvenir stash. Our go-to souvenir list is: a Christmas ornament, travel sticker(s), a patch, and a magnet. If you’re interested in where we ate and stayed all links will be listed below or you can check out my reviews on Tripadvisor HERE.
Due to the weather we didn’t even scratch the surface of things to do in Sedona and I would love to return at some point to savor all more it’s natural features and dip my toes into a little woo woo with the vortex experience. I’m thinking September or October would be a gorgeous time of year. Hopefully it will be a little less crowded, the trees will have fully leafed out, and the weather will be less extreme.
What I loved about our time in Sedona:
- our hotel (it had a private viewpoint of Airport Mesa)
- the natural beauty
- Mariposa Grill
- Amitabha Stupa Peace Park
What was just OK:
- Tlaquepaque, the shops cater to very distinct style (think southwest) and there is not much else. However, we enjoyed the architecture and attention to detail of the shopping center and found a fun brewery to spend some time.
- The crowds. Be prepared for lots of people. The tourism of this area has really taken off and it has created a stretch of your long stretch typical tacky tourist shops. Unfortunately that can kill the authenticity of a city.
What we missed:
- Devil's Bridge Trail
- Slide Rock State Park
- Boynton Canyon Trail (the wind was just so bad that it was not conducive to hiking which was a huge disappointment)
The main purpose of our trip was to visit some friends who had moved there a year ago. I can’t even begin to tell you how great it was to see them or how much fun we had. It was one of those moments when you don’t even realize how much you desperately missed your friends until you have embraced them. Sitting in their company felt like a cool glass of water on a stifling hot day. Our friends, Tom and Becky, had had a year to explore their surroundings and were able to share some of the highlights with us. Like me, Becky loves a good hike and to spend time in nature. She knew how much I wanted to see the ancient Saguaros and my love of national parks so she created the perfect itinerary for us
Day one began with a boat ride on Saguaro Lake where we were treated to glimpses of bald eagles, a blanket of wildflowers, and more saguaros than I could have ever hoped for. It was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon after the busyness and car stress of the last few days. Because she knows my love of kitsch so well they brought us to the Hitching Post for lunch. All I can say is this place is a vibe, and I loved every minute of it! There is an actual hitching post for horses outside, the backyard hosts rodeos, and the inside is an absolute feast for the eyes. Dollar bills cover most of the walls and what space was left was filled in with taxidermy animals, anything that screamed old west, and a unique assortment of bric-a-brac. Although it is an Instagramer’s dream, it has not been ruined by them yet. The wings were to die for. I followed Becky’s suggestion and ordered Mo’s Crack. All I can say is Mo’s Crack is pretty damn addictive! These are the authentic local jewels I live for while traveling.
MY CACTI EDUCATION
Day, two of our visit brought warmer weather and the perfect opportunity for a hike along the Petroglyph Trail. I got my fill of more wildflowers and saguaros. This is an out and back hike that takes you to a tiny waterfall and some ancient petroglyphs. The walk, while a solid climb that will get your heart pumping, is gentle incline. However, it is easy enough that you can still carry on a conversation. Also, I can’t stress this enough: bring plenty of water. We saw people with no water on this trail, and it was warm enough that we were building up a steady sweat. It is so easy to get dehydrated on trails like this. Becky was incredibly patient as I stopped every 20 feet or so to take photos, gasp at the scenery, and just try to cram as much as possible into my memory so I could savor it long after we left. She also was educated me in different types of cacti. I wasn’t much of a fan until this trip and I have found a deep respect for any plant that can survive this harsh climate. The saguaro fatten up in the rainy season, developing ripples of water under their tough skin, the ocotillo leafs out in the spring after being dormant over winter, the cholla will “throw” its spines at you if you get too close, and the prickly pear often have stems in the shape of a heart
TONTO NATIONAL MONUMENT
After a refreshing icy shower we headed to Tonto National Monument. This a national monument to preserve ancient cliff dwellings from the native population of the 1300s. The hike up, while only half a mile has a 500 foot elevation gain so it is fairly intense. The vista and the superbloom gave us ample moments to stop, catch our breath, and just gasp at the resplendent that beauty stretched before us. Even my son, who isn’t always eager for these types of adventures now that he’s a teen, loved this excursion. Finding opportunities to experience history in a hands-on way like this is one of the reasons I am passionate about road tripping. I live to share these experiences with my kids and feel a deep sadness knowing that this window of time is becoming more shorted as they become older and more involved in activities. We rewarded ourselves with a stop in the tiny hamlet of Superior for some retail therapy and to restore all the calories we burned with platter of fried food and drinks at a local saloon. While it was no Hitching Post, it was still an entertaining stop.
During our visit, we laughed until our stomachs ached, created countless inside jokes, soaked up that insanely good conversation you only get with certain friends, and created some very cherished memories. We were sad to leave our friends and begin our journey back to California. Lucas had been so spoiled by Tom and Becky that he was grief stricken to not have a few more days of their company. As a mom, it brought me a quiet pleasure to see him let his teen guard down and feel free to be his authentic self with them. That can be a tall order with kids his age and to watch it happen reminded me yet again of what cherished friends Tom and Becky are.
PLEASANTON, CA PHOTOGRAPHER IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
We had a two night layover in Twentynine Palms to explore Joshua Tree National Park and its surrounding areas. I think of this locale more as a region rather than just a national park. It is a challenge for me to put into words what it is like to experience Joshua Tree. Like the Hitching Post, this place is a vibe. The national park is an easy one to explore, and really, you only need one day to see some of the highlights. The Joshua Trees remind me of Dr. Seuss’ truffala trees with their spiny floofs. Many of the trees were in bloom and these interesting flowers looked like a cluster of popcorn. My husband and son were not huge fans of the park or the area and would be content to never return. In his words it was, “depressing”. The landscape is so desolate and barren and I too felt that way on my first visit in 2019. While I don’t find the park or the desert to be this spiritual experience that others do, I find the area intriguing. There is a a mid-century modern hotel that I adore. I would be content to just spend my days there under its blanket of calming serenity while curled up with a good book next to its natural oasis while I read and watch the turtles sun themselves. For me there’s just a lot to explore in this area outside of the park. I find these sites quirky and fascinating with a splash of The Hills Have Eyes. #IYKYK. The town gets a solid A+ when it comes to people watching. There is an eclectic mixture: LA transplants, families wanting explore the park, Gen Z kids who are seeking out their next Instagram post and/or TikTok content, desert rats, and then the people who just want to be left the fuck alone.
I had my Joshua Tree highlight reel from previous road trips that I wanted to share with my husband and son. This included our hotel, the park, Pioneertown, and Pappy and Harriet’s. Pioneertown is not only a tiny “town” in the heart of the California desert, but it also used to be an active movie set where actors, their family and friends, and other Hollywood employees could stay at while filming. There is everything from mock old western gun fights to artist shops. Take the opportunity to kick up some dust and wander while waiting the customary one to three hours for a table at Pappy and Harriet’s.
One quick detour that ,was much maligned by my husband was a stop at the art installation, Transmission by Daniel Popper. The man often is pretty patient and will oblige me to a point, but driving down a sandy dirt road was not really one of them lol. The installation is on private property, but the owners have kindly created a walking path and detailed sign so the general public also has an opportunity to savor this unique work. I found it to be worth a stop. My husband and son did not. But I loved the idea that someone would not only commission a sculpture, but would kindly share it with the general public in a thoughtful way. Maybe it's because I always look for the silver linings, but it's things like this that continue to remind me that there is still good in this world.
Minus the car issue, I loved our spring break adventure so much more than I thought I would. Of course I knew I would enjoy time with our friends, but I had not anticipated how much we would enjoy our time in the desert. I still refuse to move there because I love my cool, coastal weather, towering trees, and beach far too much, but I would 100% return for a trip during the shoulder season. Arizona has far more beauty than I anticipated, especially once you get off the main highways. And while it felt good to return home to our dogs and the sweet emotional pull of our loving home, the memories and smiles on our faces from a time well spent will continue to linger.
LINKS:
Sedona:
- Mariposa Grill click HERE
- Sky Ranch Lodge click HERE
- Oak Creek Brewery and Grill click HERE
- Tlaquepaque click HERE
Outside the Phoenix area:
- Hitching Post Saloon click HERE
- Boating on Saguaro Lake cruise click HERE
- Tonto National Monument click HERE
- Porter's Cafe and Spirits in Superior, AZ click HERE
- The cutest little boutique in Superior, AZ click HERE
Joshua Tree area:
- Joshua Tree National Park click HERE
- Twentynine Palms Inn click HERE
- Pappy and Harriet's click HERE
- Pioneertown click HERE
- Transmission by Daniel Pope click HERE
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