One of our favorite places to visit this time of year is Arizonaā€™s original State Capital, Prescott. Only about an hour and a half north of Phoenix, Prescott has a cooler climate in the summer and plenty of small town adventure for the whole family. The Prescott National Forest surrounds the historic western town, with beautiful forestland and gorgeous mountain views, perfect for hiking, camping, fishing. Prescott is a great place to visit for a day trip, or a weekend road trip.Continue Reading

One of our favorite activities to do with our family is hiking and, as Arizonans in Phoenix, we hike mainly in the desert. Desert hiking is a great way to get outside into nature, breathe in some fresh air, enjoy the sunshine, learn about the world around us, and step away from the pressures of daily life. In Phoenix, we are very blessed to have one of the best urban park systems in the country. Maricopa County Parks and Recreation is madeContinue Reading

July is Park and Recreation Month, so what a better time to share some of our favorite state parks to visit in Arizona. Our state is a fantastic place to get outside and enjoy the wonders of nature, regardless of the activity you choose. Arizona is not only home to 22 National Parks and Monuments in the National Park Service, we also have one of the best managed state park systems in the United States. The Arizona State Parks & Trails systemContinue Reading

The Mogollon Rim is a fantastic location for hiking, sightseeing, and horseback riding, as well as a great getaway for boating and fishing, camping, hunting, and backcountry skiing in the winter.Continue Reading

The small, rural towns of Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Cornville, Page Springs and Rimrock sit along the banks of the Verde River as charming little slices of Arizona history and western culture.Continue Reading

If youā€™re looking for adventure on the road less traveled, especially during the hot summer months in the Valley, here are a some places you must visit north of I-40 in Arizona.Continue Reading

Summer is the perfect time to cool off and enjoy our almost year-round sunshine by the lake or pond. Whether you love boating, fishing, swimming, water sports, or the beauty of a sparkling water oasis in the desert, there are many large lakes in the Valley of the Sun for you to enjoy with your friends and family. Here is a list of some of the lakes in the area and tips to help you have a have a fun and safeContinue Reading

Apache Trail/Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Traveling the Old West Highway: This historic route between Apache Junction, AZ, and Lordsburg, NM, runs through the Superstition Wilderness on US Highway 60, over the Salt River Canyon between Superior and Miami-Globe, and through the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. It continues east through tiny Arizona towns like Bylas and Safford, moving east on Highway 70 to the tiny town of Duncan, ending in Lordsburg, New Mexico.Continue Reading

[Published in theĀ November 2017 edition of the North Tatum Times} One of our favorite things to do as a family when the weather cools off is to visit the zoo. Any zoo. Every zoo. Itā€™s a great way to get outside, enjoy the weather and see nature and wildlife in action. Arizona has some outstanding zoos wildlife parks. Each of these places has something unique to offer ā€“ they are all much more than just a zoo. And all of them areContinue Reading