bugsy running on lone rock beach with the airstream and f-150 in the background

Tag: arizona

  • Two nights at Lost Dutchman State Park, AZ–Winter Warmth trip

    Two nights at Lost Dutchman State Park, AZ–Winter Warmth trip

    We were in Lost Dutchman in February 2021, as part of our Winter Warmth Trip. Lucky us: we left one absurdly beautiful Arizona state park and headed to another. From Catalina State Park just north of Tucson it’s a 1.5-hour drive up to Lost Dutchman State Park, east of Apache Junction, a suburb of Phoenix.…

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  • Two nights in Catalina State Park, AZ–Winter Warmth trip

    Two nights in Catalina State Park, AZ–Winter Warmth trip

    We were in Catalina in February 2021, as part of our Winter Warmth Trip. Read about our second visit in 2023 here. If you’re anywhere near Tucson, just go to Catalina State Park. Just go! Only about 20 minutes north of Tucson, Catalina is insanely gorgeous, the hikes are (mostly) dog-friendly, and the campground is…

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  • Four nights in Tucson, AZ (visit #2)–Winter Warmth trip

    Four nights in Tucson, AZ (visit #2)–Winter Warmth trip

    We were in Tucson in early February 2021, as part of our Winter Warmth Trip. Read about our first visit in 2019 here, our third in 2022 here, and our fourth in 2023 here. And I finally wrote a Tucson Favorites post! It’s a long drive from Marfa to Tucson! We don’t normally like to…

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  • Trip Planning: Go somewhere warm in February

    Trip Planning: Go somewhere warm in February

    Cold weather is for the birds. Especially during the pandemic when all our activities are outdoors. So why not go to a place where the outdoors is more pleasant? Here’s the plan (and here’s what we actually ended up doing): After parking the Airstream in the driveway of family in NC and GA, we’ll shoot…

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  • Tarantulas!

    Tarantulas!

    All through my formative years, my aunt and uncle had a pet tarantula. A strange choice of pet, no doubt, but Uncle Jim loves the Desert Southwest more than just about anyone else I know, so I guess it made an odd sort of sense. My first tarantula-cousin was a male named Fred who came…

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  • Four days in Tucson, AZ (visit #1)–Big Trip #2

    Four days in Tucson, AZ (visit #1)–Big Trip #2

    We were in Tucson at the very end of November 2018, as part of Big Trip #2. Read about our second visit in 2021 here, our third in 2022 here, and our fourth (and fifth?) in 2023/4 here. And I finally wrote a Tucson Favorites post! J and I have a past relationship with Tucson:…

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  • Saguaro National Park

    Saguaro National Park

    We visited Saguaro National Park in November 2018 while staying in Tucson during Big Trip #2. Close your eyes and picture a cactus standing in the desert. I’m going to guess your imaginary cactus friend is a saguaro! Am I right? Saguaro (pronounced “sah-WAR-oh”) cacti, standing tall with cartoon arms, are all over pop culture,…

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  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

    Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

    We visited Organ Pipe in November 2018, during Big Trip #2. This magical land of desert delights is an International Biosphere Reserve, home to virtually all the organ pipe cacti in the US. The organ pipe cactus, with is cluster of upright stems growing from a single low trunk, is named for its resemblance to…

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  • Four days in Flagstaff, AZ (visit #2)

    Four days in Flagstaff, AZ (visit #2)

    We visited Flagstaff in late November 2018, as part of Big Trip #2. Read about our first visit in 2016 here during Big Trip #1, and our third in 2023 here during our Tucson for Christmas trip. Flagstaff was one of our favorite cities on Big Trip #1, and we were excited to return for…

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  • Grand Canyon National Park – South Rim

    Grand Canyon National Park – South Rim

    [FOR GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM, SEE HERE!] [This is the original GCNP post from Big Trip #1 in 2016, updated with details from our 2018 visit on Big Trip #2.] If you’re planning a visit to the Grand Canyon, GET THERE EARLY! Even in late March and mid-November, outside tourist season, the park got crowded quickly.…

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