With Kelsi living and working the past year in Arizona, we enjoyed exploring the beautiful sunny state. Here is a collection of our hikes in the Grand Canyon, Phoenix, Sedona, and Prescott.
Grand Canyon National Park
At the Grand Canyon, stand on the rim and you’ll see a vast, river-carved landscape, stretching into the horizon. It is one of the most incredible views in the world. Few places can leave you speechless, but this is one of them. From some viewpoints, you can just make out the ribbon of blue that is the Colorado River one mile below. This mighty river carved out the canyon. We hiked along the South Rim trail, in awe of the unparalleled beauty of the buttes, mesas, and pinnacles. A mule deer grazed on grass beside the road entrance, greeting us.
Desert Botanical Gardens
In Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Gardens showcases the beauty of the desert. The garden has more than 50,000 plants, with one-third native to the area. We have enjoyed the gardens in all seasons, during summer in full bloom. In December, the nights are lit by luminarias (candles inside small bags) during Las Noches de las Luminarias.
Ballet Arizona held a fabulous special performance of The Four Seasons at dusk in May. The ballet dancers soared through Vivaldi’s iconic score of the seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with the backdrop of the matchless desert landscape and setting sun.
We are standing in front of the towering cardons, a specimen that is the tallest living cactus in the world. The tallest cardon specimen with a recorded height reaches 63 ft! Unlike the Sonoran saguaro, the cardon can grow in different types of soil and is hardy and can withstand a minimum of 15 degrees F. It grows much faster than the saguaro, up to a foot a year.
Chihuly neon green glass cacti at the Desert Botanical Garden’s entrance combines art and architecture to inspire a memorable experience at the gardens. Our good friend, Kathy, made our time in the gardens and in Phoenix especially fun and special.
We especially enjoyed the voluminous sculptures of Fernando Botero, the master Columbian artist, intertwined with the garden’s own large-scale, magnificent saguaros and cardons.
Papago Park offers hiking, including one of the most visited attractions, the Hole in the Rock trail, featuring a hole in the butte. The ponds provide beautiful reflections.
We loved exploring Scottsdale including the Waterfront and Old Town, which had great cafes and restaurants. Our favorites were Press, the best local coffee shop, for our daily Americano (espresso with hot water), and Buzzed Bull Creamery for liquid nitrogen ice cream sundaes. Each ice cream is made to order! Some of our favorites: Honey with Snickers and chocolate chips, Buzzed Bull with caramel, espresso, peanuts, whipped cream, and Gingerbread with graham crackers during Christmas. Morning runs along the canal were a great way to start the day!
Sedona
Sedona has beautiful red-rock buttes that rise up to the cerulean skies. Each evening at sunset, the rocks glow rosy bands of light. The red-rock country has some of the best trail access.
Prescott
Kelsi lived in Prescott from August 2023 to May 2024. She taught communication courses at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. At 5,319 feet high, Prescott is located in a semi-desert mountain range. Prescott has the four seasons and constant winds. Our favorite hikes were Thumb Butte, the Granite Dells, Watson Lake, Lynx Lake, and Constellation Trail.
Prescott’s historic downtown was built around a grand Courthouse square. Whiskey Row featured saloons, ice cream shops, and barbecue restaurants.
