Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon is beautiful. I think I may head up there when the leaves start changing color.

Pondering the Canyon

I like this photo of my husband looking out over the Grand Canyon because it puts the size of the Grand Canyon into perspective (somewhat) and because it shows him sitting on the side of it. There are places you can actually come right up to the edge, which is actually kind of scary, and I like that this photo shows that (but I don't like the idea of him sitting on the edge and possibly slipping--don't misunderstand that!). Every year, several people are either hurt or die as a result of falling into the canyon.

Bears and More

Caitlin Court in Glendale has beautiful historic homes, many of which have been turned into boutiques and restaurants. Who can resist the big teddy bear on the porch of Bears and More?

Beads anyone?

The Bead Museum in Glendale has more than 100,000 beads and beaded artifacts, like this beaded jaguar's head from South America.

Yes, they bite!

About an hour south of Queen Creek, near Piccacho Peak, there's an ostrich farm/petting zoo. If you've never been up close and personal with an ostrich before (or if you have kids), it's worth the stop. You'll be able to feed the ostrich, deer, and birds. I think there's also a "big truck" ride that takes you out into the desert. You can also purchase ostrich souvenirs like dusters made from ostrich feathers and ostrich egg shells.

Big Nose Kate's

Anyone who has seen the movies Tombstone or Wyatt Earp knows about Big Nose Kate, Doc Holliday's girlfriend. Her name graces this restaurant in Tombstone.

Biosphere 2

In 1991, four men and four women sealed themselves into a $150 million science project called Biosphere 2. (Biosphere 1 is the Earth.) Their goal was to spend two years in an airtight, self-contained environment, growing their own food and recycling their air and water. The experiment didn't go exactly as planned--an unusually cloudy year resulted in reduced photosynthesis, and oxygen from outside needed to be pumped in. Still, the Biosphere 2 is considered a modern engineering wonder.

Montezuma Castle

I'm going through some of my favorite travel photos. This is one from Montezuma Castle, ruins left by the ancient Sinqua people. Apparently, soldiers from nearby Fort Verde thought (wrongly so) that these cliff dwellings were part of Montezuma's empire, and hence the name "Montezuma Castle" stuck.

Arizona Sugar Company

During my visit to Glendale on Friday, I learned that the giant brick building at 51st and Glendale avenues is an old sugar beet factory. W.J. Murphy organized the Arizona Sugar Company to raise sugar beets and built this factory in 1906 to process them. The factory closed in 1913. Since, the building has served as a production facility for Squirt soda concentrate and soy sauce, but has remained vacant since 1986. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Oatman

I love Oatman, so much so that friends tease me about it. But, what's not to love? The adorable burros pictured here were abandoned when the mine closed. Today, they have the right of way in this town along Route 66 in Arizona. You can have your picture taken with them and even feed them, but beware: they are wild and do kick and bite!

Sunset

I took this last night at the base of the San Tan Mountains in Queen Creek.

Kitt Peak

I wrote a blog post (http://www.arizonatravelandadventure.com/) about Kitt Peak National Observatory today. It's one of my favorite things to do in Arizona although I can't really put my finger on why.

Hot Air

I love the balloons from Hot Air Expeditions with their cactus design! I took this photo a few years ago when I got to ride in one of the two that went up that morning.

White Dove of the Desert

I took this photo a few years ago of Mission San Xavier del Bac, but I doubt it's changed much. The mission, also referred to as "The White Dove of the Desert," has been undergoing renovations for years now. Unfortunately, though, I believe there's funding problems, and this portion of it still needs repairs.

San Xavier is located just south of Tucson. It is one of the missions founded by Father Kino.

Thanks for the Rain

I was going through some old photos, and this one struck a chord. Thanks for the Rain by Joe Beeler is located in downtown Wickenburg. Ironically, we haven't had much rain this monsoon season, but maybe if a little thanks in advance might do the trick. There's a slight chance of storms tonight.

Hotel Vendome

Here's another Prescott photo. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, Hotel Vendome was built in 1917. At the time, it was advertised as an "attractive small hotel with 30 rooms and 16 baths, wide verandas upstairs and down, attractive lobby, hot and cold water in all rooms, night and day phone services with buzzers in all rooms..."

The Vendome has an interesting past. Sometime around 1920, a woman sick with consumption either owned or managed the hotel. One day, she sent her husband out to get medication and he never returned. Distraught, she locked herself and her cat in Room 16 and refused to eat, drink or come out. Today, Abby reportedly haunts Hotel Vendome. She and her cat are reportedly friendly, and Room 16 is the most popular room with visitors.

Masons in Prescott

Just to mix things up a bit, I thought I'd post this photo of the Masonic Temple in Prescott. After we visited Arcosanti a few weeks ago, we spent some time in Prescott. Masonic buildings have such interesting architecture, I think.

Fenders

This is part of the Fender guitar display at the Musical Instrument Museum.

Zydeco

This is a frottoir or scrapper from the zydeco display at the Musical Instrument Museum. I really enjoyed watching and listening to these performers. In fact, I lingered here longer than many of the other displays. I think it was the lively, upbeat music that did it.

See and Hear

The technology they use at the Musical Instrument Museum makes visiting worthwhile. You get headphones and a receiver as you enter, so when you approach a display, like this one, you can see and hear an instrument being played. Same goes for distinct styles of music or geographical regions. So, if you approach a jazz display, you'll see video of jazz performances and, of course, hear the accompanying music. If you approach a display on the music of Tibet, you'll see and hear Tibetan musicians.

For more information on the museum, check out the Arizona Travel and Adventure blog I maintain with two other writers. We'll be blogging about the Musical Instrument Museum throughout the week: http://arizonatravelandadventure.com/?p=623.

Trumpet

I have more Arcosanti photos, but I'm going to break it up a little with some photos from the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. I went for the first time yesterday and had a blast. Way more than you can possibly see in a day!

For Stargazers

I know...Arcosanti is getting a bit old, but I had to include this photo. Architect Paolo Soleri planted the tall cypress trees in the background to remind him of his native Italy. I'm not sure what the purpose of the column is, but note how the stairs are NOT at 90 degree angles. They actually recline so you can sit on them after dark and watch the stars.

Architecture at Arcosanti

I love the lines and architecture of Arcosanti. That, plus the gorgeous blue sky had me a bit camera crazy that day. Wish I had more time on the tour for photographs...

Above is a picture of the common area roof, two semi-circle concrete structures. I've included a picture below to give you a better idea of how it looks.

Sleds

During our tour of Arcosanti, I noticed these sleds on the stairway. The irony? Not only was there no snow, but it was over 100 degree that day!

Figs

Arcosanti grows much of their own produce onsite. On our tour, we saw apricots, olives, grapes and tomatoes.

Bronze shop dome

This is the dome roof of the bronze shop, where workers create bronze Soleria Windbells.

Ceramics Dome

Yesterday, we visited Arcosanti, an "experiment in urban living," about 50 miles north of Phoenix. Designed by Paolo Soleri, this urban development demonstrates how people can reduce human impact on the environment by living in a compact, highly-integrated community. Although it was meant to be the home of 5,000, Arcosanti has rarely had more than 100 inhabitants.

This photo shows the dome where inhabitants make ceramic bells. Soleri is known worldwide for his ceramic and bronze Windbells.

Houseboat at Sunset

An experienced skier

Learning to Ski

Kids' skis and a shovel for the sand

Quads

Parker Dam

Not too exciting but Parker Dam created Lake Havasu...

Water tube fun

London Bridge

Boats going through the channel under the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. (Yes, it's the "real" London Bridge, moved bring by bring to Arizona in the 70s.)

Antelope Canyon 2

I've included people in this photo to get a little perspective. In some parts of the canyon, you can stretch out your hands and touch both sides.

Antelope Canyon

You need a Navajo guide to get to Antelope Canyon, just a few miles from Lake Powell. The good news is the guides are very easy to find in nearby Page or at the entrance to the canyon.

Water slide

I wish I had taken this photo a split second faster, but it's still kind of fun. He's flying off the slide on the back of the houseboat.

Lake Powell Houseboat

Horseshoe Bend Overlook

If you've paged through any Arizona guidebook, you've seen this exact shot of the Colorado River. I hiked to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook on Friday to take this one. Horseshoe Bend is located just south of Lake Powell, near the Arizona-Utah border.

Flowers of the Palo Verde

Cardboard box destroyer!

My dog, Charlie, loves to rip apart cardboard boxes, especially soda boxes. As soon as he hears you unloading soda or trying to break down one of the boxes, he'll run up, steal the box out of your hand, and run around trying to keep it from you. When he gets tired, he rips it apart and leaves the mess, of course!

Phoenix from the Superstitions

In the foreground, you see pools of water along a trail leading from Gold Canyon Ranch into the Superstition Mountains. In the background is Phoenix.

Almost pool weather

It's almost time to jump in the pool again, so I brought this photo from last year out to celebrate the upcoming season!

Our Lady, Part 2

Our Lady of Guadalupe

A few months ago, I posted a photo of the old Catholic Church on Ocotillo. I don't think I ever published a picture of it's newer counterpart, Our Lady of Guadalupe, located across the street. I tried to find some history about the congregation, but on their Website, it is said they were still in the process of writing the history of the parish. I'm not sure if that means a book or just something for the Website.

Rabbits

These rabbits came to nibble on the grass in the shade of my yard yesterday. I was very curious about what happened to the one rabbit, his ears are so tattered. (I wish the lighting had been better.)

Quads

Nothing too exciting today....just two quads after our ride through Bull Dog Canyon.

Bull Dog Canyon

Bull Dog Canyon is located north of Queen Creek, just south of the Salt River. It's great for four wheeling, riding ORVs, horseback riding, hiking or biking, but you need a permit from the local ranger station.

Some treasure hunters believe that the Lost Dutchman's Mine is actually located here, in Bull Dog Canyon, not in the Superstitions.