Santa Barbara gets an average of 18 inches of rain per year, and we felt like most of it fell during the one week we visited in March of 2020. Soaked by rain and stuck in LA’s rush hour traffic, our 5 hour drive from Bonita to Cachuma Lake took more than 8 hours. We managed to roll into the peaceful state park in the dark and tried not to make too much noise setting up. All that aside, the fresh spring air was a nice welcome, and we couldn’t wait to explore the beautiful coastal area nearby.
Continue reading “Santa Barbara, California”Category: State Parks
San Diego, California: A Lush Place by the Ocean
We left the desert and headed west, then south to the Pacific coast to sunny San Diego, California. We heard so many things about the city, a coveted weather Paradise. We were ready for a lush green respite and the beach!
Continue reading “San Diego, California: A Lush Place by the Ocean”Beyond Sedona: Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot, and Jerome, Arizona
Evidence of the Sinagua people (from Spanish “sin agua,” meaning “without water”) in the Sedona area dates as far back as 600 A.D. The tribes were involved in agriculture and developed trade routes which lead them to interact with the Hohokam people, who were skilled in irrigation systems. The Sinagua are believed to be related to the Aztec and/or Maya people and were experts in cotton weaving, red clay pottery, and jewelry. They kept dogs and parrots as pets, and wild turkeys as a food source. Throughout the centuries, their dwellings evolved from teepees to intricate adobe structures—some with up to thirty-five rooms, housing hundreds of people—a sign of change from a nomadic lifestyle to a more static one.
Today, there are several Sinaguan sites in the Sedona area: Honanki in the western canyons, Tuzigoot just outside Cottonwood, and Montezuma Castle and Well, located off I-17 in Rimrock and Camp Verde.
Continue reading “Beyond Sedona: Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot, and Jerome, Arizona”Find Your Vibe in Sedona, Arizona
There is definitely a good energy about Sedona! Famous for its red rocks and energy vortices, Sedona offers miles of hiking trails, impressive vistas, natural meditation spots, and local artwork.
Continue reading “Find Your Vibe in Sedona, Arizona”Such a fine sight to see: Winslow, Arizona
“Just find a place to make your stand and take it easy.”—good advice from the Eagles. As we rolled down Route 66 and through the state of Arizona, we made the mandatory stop in Winslow. Two bonus things to visit were La Posada Hotel, a Spanish style architectural gem, and Meteor Crater site near Canyon Diablo.
Continue reading “Such a fine sight to see: Winslow, Arizona”