Beautiful Phoenix. The mythical bird “phoenix” symbolizes the sun, burning, and being born again. Ironically, this feeling of being refreshed and born again is exactly how I feel when I’m there. It’s super hot, like being on fire….but I love it, and then I come home completely refreshed! It is a place you go when you want to feel warm and loved by the mountains. There are places in Arizona that literally seem to re-set your entire being.
Arizona has a very special place in my heart and I finally got to share it with Nate. He himself is now officially hooked! We recently went for a few days and had the most wonderful, sun-filled, warm and breezy adventure! We traveled to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Payson, and Sedona. But for this blog, I’ll focus on Phoenix.
What stands out in my mind when I think of Phoenix is the cactus, or, as we learned, the Saguaro cactus. It is the icon for cactus and one we all recognize. It is a thing of beauty…it grows about 70 years before it can grow its first arm and can hold up to 200 gallons of water for safe-keeping. It is so resilient, it can survive in the hottest of temperatures with absolutely no rainfall and thrive! Its defense against the harsh desert includes the prickly needles to keep it safe from predators, and when birds do manage to poke a hole in it to make a nest, it grows a thick black scab that becomes a steel door. It.is.fascinating.
The best way to see the beautiful cactus all over Phoenix is to hike one of the deserts close by, and for us, it was the Sonoran Desert. I booked a tour with Mad Desert Trekking and it was EXCEPTIONAL. We had a Friday evening available and saw that they offered a sunset hike through the Sonoran and I jumped at the chance. It did not disappoint! Matt, our guide, was a rock star.
Not only did he take us on a gorgeous, wildlife-filled 5 mile hike, he was also a wealth of knowledge. I love it when you get history and fun facts when you are touring a new place. He explained the various plants we encountered on our journey and told stories about his experiences (which have been all over the world). The Sonoran is also covered in the lovable (not-so-lovable) Teddy Bear cactus, or Cholla cactus. It almost looks fluffy, translating to harmless…but it is NOT. They actually call it the Teddy Bear of Death!
He also paused at great locations and took pictures for us! Which, of course, we are thankful 🙂
We saw a pack of coyotes emerging from their den as the sun started to set, it was time for hunting. These pictures really don’t do it justice, it needs to be experienced. If you are looking for that true Arizona experience, and looking to maybe reset your mind and soul, go on a sunset hike 🙂 It’s incredible.
Our home away from home was a lovely VRBO, 2-bedroom condo, that was perfectly placed close to the airport and the surrounding towns. It was such a deal, too! I have honestly done both, stayed at a 5-star resort and paid a treasure chest full of gold to do it (it’s expensive)… I prefer the VRBO experience much better. Ours was a steal at $56/a night. I told Nate, at that price, it’s cheaper to be somewhere else than in our own home! VRBO’s are great…Not just because some are reasonably priced, but because you get so much space and a kitchen and have all the amenities you would have at a resort without the hefty price tag.
In closing, do make the most of your Phoenix experience, and I hope you go there! There’s so much to see in drivable proximity to Phoenix that the trip has the potential to be action-packed. It really depends on your idea of a great vacation. Do your research and fill your days with the local culture and outdoor activities…or, go to a spa (a must-do on my Arizona travel list) and relax by the pool.
We encourage you to get out of your bubble (we all have one) and see the world!
-Heather & Nate
Welcome to our Book of Adventures 