Arizona

There are two types of people in this world. Those who wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for a sunrise hike, and those of us who need three eggs, a mountain…

By the time August rolls around, my kids are feral, my vacation budget is weeping, and I am surviving entirely on iced coffee and denial. To rescue what was left…

This Arizona adventures one starts with animals deciding you look interesting. Just outside the bustle of Scottsdale, a working ranch hides a walk-in petting zoo where visitors can meet farm…

Arizona summer has a talent for making a swimming pool look like the greatest invention in human history. Add an adults-only rule, and suddenly the idea gets even better. This…

We all know waterslides give you a gentle push and a few seconds to settle in. This Arizona ride has a different idea. You step into a capsule, stand over…

Buying one plant sounds like a perfectly reasonable weekend activity. The problem begins when the garden center behind that plant has acres and acres of growing fields feeding your imagination….

Some bookstores are made for a quick stop. These Arizona shops are the kind that can quietly steal an entire afternoon. I always tell myself I am going in for…

Some grocery stores are built for speed. These Arizona markets seem determined to make you forget what decade you are in. Think creaky floors, handwritten signs, old-fashioned counters, shelves packed…

My road trip planning usually revolves around one important question: where am I stopping for snacks? But a drive along Historic Route 66 in Arizona delivered something far more memorable…

My husband knows the rule: never take me grocery shopping when I’m hungry, and never, under any circumstances, hide the pastries. I have a massive soft spot for old-school bakeries,…

My wife recently threatened to ban me from the backyard because my rock collection has officially started competing with the flower beds. In Arizona, that is an easy problem to…

I used to think my hometown was a well-kept secret, the kind of lakeside paradise where you could actually hear yourself think over a cold drink. Then summer arrived. If…

I’ll be honest, my bank account and my wanderlust rarely get along. Every time I see a picture of a breathtaking canyon or a lush green forest, I hear my…

My friends know I’m a bit obsessed with finding the ultimate roadside diner. So, when a buddy whispered about a tiny, family-run spot in northern Arizona that apparently serves pancakes…

High on a rugged mountainside, a 75-foot Celtic cross rises above the landscape and commands attention from miles away. Beside it, a 31-foot statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands…

Let’s be honest, my fridge has seen some sad-looking steaks in its day. I’m usually the kind of shopper who just grabs whatever meat is on sale and crosses my…

If you had told my eight-year-old self that I’d someday find a place where giant model train layouts could fit inside a cozy shop, I probably would have fainted with…

My doctor recently told me I need to “add more color” to my diet. I am pretty sure she meant broccoli, but I took it as a challenge to find…

I knew my dorm room was in trouble when I unpacked one sad lamp and a blanket with zero personality. My budget was wheezing, so buying brand-new décor was not…

Growing up miles away from the nearest ocean, people always laughed when I said I was hunting for the best seafood in town. They told me to stick to steak…

I thought I had comfort food figured out until one Arizona bakery reset the standard completely. The place stays busy, the display cases move fast, and the prices look almost…

I’ll admit it, I have a serious problem when it comes to wandering down brightly lit aisles in search of weird snacks. So, when I heard a certain local Asian…

My doctor always tells me to eat a balanced diet, but I’m pretty sure holding a sandwich in each hand counts as balanced, right? At least, that was my excuse…

Midnight snack attacks are serious business, and my latest late-night epiphany happened over a steaming cardboard takeout box. Picture this: me, sitting in my parked car under a flickering streetlamp,…

my sewing machine and I have a complicated relationship. Sometimes we make magic; other times, it feels like we’re plotting each other’s demise. But my crafty mood got a major…

Every now and then, a place comes along that makes you feel genuinely small in the best possible way. Oracle State Park, in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains…

By now you know that my absolute favorite hobby is time traveling, and by that, I mean sitting in a squeaky booth and eating my weight in historic comfort food….

My flannel collection has never been happier, and honestly, neither has my caffeine addiction. Ever since I made Arizona my home base, my weekend mission has been simple: track down…

Yes, I judge every restaurant on earth by its fish taco. It’s a heavy burden, but someone has to do it! So, when I heard whispers about an incredible seafood…

My friends always look at me like I’ve lost my mind when I suggest a weekend road trip to a spooky old graveyard. “Why can’t we go get brunch like…

There I was, standing in the middle of nowhere with a bucket in one hand and an overly optimistic grin on my face. My friends thought I was losing it…

Raise your hand if you’ve ever tried to cool down in Arizona by standing dramatically in front of your open freezer. Yeah, me too. Desperate times called for desperate measures,…

My friends always tease me for having my head in the clouds, but today I took it to a whole new level, literally beneath the 50-yard line. Yep, I spent…

My absolute superpower is getting lost, which is how I somehow ended up face-to-face with a badger that looked like it was judging my entire life path. I was taking…

There I was, floating on a pool noodle for six hours straight, questioning every life choice that led me to willingly bake myself like a potato on the water. Summer…

My relationship with Arizona summers is complicated, usually involving me hiding indoors like a vampire until October. But this year, I decided to brave the heat for a legendary local…

Let me tell you a secret: my tent has seen things. Mostly me wrestling with rogue poles while whispering sweet nothings to my stubborn camping stove. But when you’re driving…

My husband thinks I have a grocery-shopping problem, but I call it a high-stakes adventure. My latest expedition? A magical wonderland of markdowns hidden in the Arizona desert that has…

I still remember when my favorite riverfront spot in Arizona was my little secret. You could pull right up to the sandy shore, drop your anchor, and enjoy the sun…

I was cruising along Highway 260 when a 32-foot golden figure suddenly rose above the roadside, flute pointed toward the Arizona sky. Camp Verde had apparently been keeping a giant…

I thought I was ready for the Double Dare slide until I reached the top and looked down. Seven stories suddenly felt much higher with a trapdoor sitting directly beneath…

My porch used to be a sad, forgotten wasteland until the day I discovered an enchanted little garden market hidden high up in the Arizona mountains. I remember walking in,…

My dog froze, his ears perked forward, and that low, vibrating rattle sliced through the quiet desert air. Panic set in instantly, but thankfully we backed away slowly with no…

The absolute best meals in life are the ones you have to hunt for. Growing up, my weekends usually involved a dusty truck, a handwritten map, and a craving for…

Some travelers bring home magnets, postcards, or souvenir mugs. I prefer a plate piled with nostalgia and a milkshake thick enough to slow down the entire afternoon. That search led…

Phoenix, Arizona, may be known for blazing sunsets and endless sunshine, but its healthcare scene deserves just as much attention. The city has grown into a major medical hub, attracting…

I watched The Polar Express way too many times as an adult, which is probably why I lost my absolute mind when I discovered a vintage train car you can…

If you had told me five years ago that I’d willingly pay money to step out onto a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge dangling 4,000 feet above nothingness, I would have laughed…

My spouse has a strict rule: “No more wood until you finish the projects you already started.” Well, rules were meant to be broken, especially when you step foot inside…

My doctor told me I need to eat more colors, so naturally, I took that as a challenge to buy out half of this incredible Arizona market. Guys, the late…