Last December in Arizona, we experienced the best of this traveling life—we met up with old and new friends, stayed in gorgeous campgrounds, enjoyed spectacular hikes, and celebrated Christmas day with a tamale feast.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Phoenix
In mid-December, we pulled into our campsite at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, northeast of Phoenix. Our site looked like a zen desert garden, including artfully raked gravel. I immediately wanted to stay for two weeks, but alas, we only had five nights. Next time.
Our zen garden campsite at McDowell Mountain Regional Park
With more than 40 miles of multi-use trails, you can hike or bike to your heart’s content in the park. The biking is an absolute blast, with mostly gentle hills weaving through the cacti-studded landscape.
My photo opportunities for action shots on the beautiful trails were limited by 1) being on my bike, 2) Eric not AT ALL being interested in stopping so that I could take photos of him, and 3) not wanting to end up sprawled in the cacti attempting to take photos while biking. So this is it, my one action photo, and it doesn’t show the coolest, curviest, cacti-studded trails.
Biking the trails at McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Hiking At McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Although the biking trails at the regional park are fantastic, we found the trails at nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve more beautiful and interesting for hiking. We met up with our friend Leah, a fellow full-time adventurer we last saw on San Juan Island in September. We enjoyed great conversation and a perfect day on the six-mile Granite Mountain Loop Trail, with a bonus sighting of two Harris’s Hawks hunting in the saguaro forest below as we relaxed during lunch.
Harris’s Hawks hunting
Nearby Cultural Experiences
We took a break from biking and hiking to visit the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, which our friends MonaLiza and Steve highly recommended. The museum is a mind-boggling collection of instruments, with fascinating (and some really wild!) videos of traditional musical performances from more than 200 countries. In retrospect, we should have allowed for a full day in the museum, it’s that engaging.
Pacific Northwest First Nations exhibit
On the way to the Musical Instrument Museum, we made a brief detour to check out Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home. Two museums in a day are one too many for us, but I wanted to just to walk the grounds, peek at the house from a distance, and enjoy mid-morning tea at the lovely outdoor tea cafe.
Entrance to Taliesin West
Lost Dutchman State Park, Phoenix
Moving on just 40 miles south and east, we arrived at Lost Dutchman State Park and settled into our site with an exceptional view of the Superstition Mountains. I try really hard to book good sites (not being next to a dumpster is high on my list) but it’s pure luck to get one of the best sites in a campground.
Campsite #53 with a great view at Lost Dutchman State Park
Lost Dutchman is an excellent park for hiking. Trails lead from the campground into the Superstition Mountains and range from easy-moderate (the 2.5 mile Treasure Loop Trail) to glad-we-did-it-but-wouldn’t-do-it-again (Siphon Draw Trail).
Nature Trail at Lost Dutchman State Park
Challenging And Beautiful Hikes
The Siphon Draw Trail is beautiful and interesting and only four miles round-trip to the basin and back, but the terrain is obnoxious. It’s one of those trails where you have to look down most of the time to keep from tripping over rocks.
Friends and fellow travelers Pat and Shelly came by for dinner and a campfire—she was nursing a broken wrist and black eye from a bad fall she took on the trail a week earlier. After hiking the Siphon Draw Trail, I can see how it would be easy to catch a boot beneath a rock.
Our favorite of the hikes we did in the Superstitions is 10 miles from Lost Dutchman along the scenic Apache Trail. (Even if you don’t hike, it’s worth driving this road.) The Boulder Canyon Trail starts off with a steep uphill climb that immediately provides outstanding views of the lake and the surrounding Superstition Mountains.
The trail goes on for at least 8 miles; we hiked in about 2.5 miles to a panoramic viewpoint for lunch and turned around. From what I’ve read, the first 2.5 miles is the best part of the hike so that worked out just right (meaning I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything). If you do this hike, go early and grab a free parking spot across the road at Canyon Lake.
Panoramic viewpoint and turnaround point
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
While at Lost Dutchman, we took a day trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, the largest botanical garden in Arizona. Originally the estate of a mining magnate turned conservationist, it’s a beautiful collection of native plants, with miles of hiking trails to explore. It’s a peaceful place to wander.
Moving On To Catalina State Park, Tucson
We love Tucson, and we love Catalina State Park. We were looking forward to returning to the park, and what made it even better was knowing that we were going to be meeting up with old and new friends.
Which brings me back to my thoughts about the wonderful people that we meet in this full-time RVing life. Seven years ago, I started our blog as a record of our travels and as a way of keeping in touch with our family and hometown friends.
As it turns out, most of the people who read and comment on our blog are fellow travelers, and those virtual friendships develop into real-life friendships more often than you would imagine. Just like in real life, sometimes the relationships are casual, “happy to see each other when our paths happen to cross,” while other friendships evolve into deeper connections where we stay in touch through texts, emails, and phone calls, and go out of our way to meet up in our journeys.
Fun With Friends And A Southwestern Christmas
Our little rig at Catalina State Park:
Holiday celebration: Clockwise: Mark, Joodie, us, Opie the black lab, Shawn, Mike, Kathie, Kevin, Laura, Andrea, and Elvis (Thanks to Shawn and Andrea for the photo!)
Amazing how our slide-out gives us so much more space, isn’t it? Just kidding! We love the versatility and layout of our little 27′ trailer, but it is woefully inadequate for hosting more than four people for dinner. Mike and Kathie, whom we first met at Lake Powell several years ago, were staying at Catalina in their gorgeous big rig. They invited all of us over to share their space for a potluck holiday dinner. Ten people, a couple of dogs, and room to spare!
We had Christmas day dinner in the Southwestern tradition, with tamales, refried black beans, a Mexican salad with avocado and roasted corn, pumpkin cheesecake, and so much more. Best of all was the conversation and camaraderie. It’s always a good time when full-timers get together to share stories of the wonderful and challenging moments of this lifestyle.
Our few days in Tucson flew by all too quickly, but we managed a terrific evening with Laura and Kevin at Vivace, our favorite Tucson restaurant. Laura and I have been following each other’s blogs for a couple of years, and with a mutual appreciation for finding great food in our travels and her knowing exactly when I desperately need to see videos of goats in pajamas, we figured we would get along splendidly. And we did.
We were also delighted to reconnect with our long-time friends Fred and Jo, who traveled for 10 years before settling down to call Tucson home several years ago. Their blog was one of the first I read many years ago when we were considering traveling fulltime.
Hiking In And Around Tucson
We did our usual hikes on the beautiful trails in Catalina State Park and knocked another one off our bucket list that we’ve been wanting to do for several years—the Seven Falls Trail in Sabino Canyon. We found the perfect hiking companions in Joodie and Mark, whom we recently connected with through our respective blogs and met in person for the first time at the Tucson festivities.
The Seven Falls Trail is beautiful, but what made the day exceptional was their great company. The eight-mile hike wasn’t nearly long enough for all that we had to talk about! We’ve been busy plotting how we can next meet up.
And Now, On To The Next Adventure
You think this post was long? Just wait. I’m on a roll to catch up, and I’m seriously considering one big postcard from Texas. Then again, there were some really cool adventures we had in Texas that I don’t want to leave out, just in case anyone is interested. And so that I can remember what we’ve done. :-)
Oh! How happy I am when the email chime sounds heralding a new blog post of yours! Especially one with me in it 😃 Catalina S.P. will always hold a special place in my heart since that is where we met all of you extraordinary fellow vagabonds.
Your photos are marvelous. Those Phoenix-area hikes look great ( on my list!) I laughed at Eric cycling away from you. TBG never minds a cycling shot, but has been known to resist the trail-sign “duty” occasionally. Boys!
You won’t believe this, except you will, I was just last night watching videos of baby goats in pajamas. Kismet!
Super-long Texas post? Yes, please! Lots of shorter posts? Also great! Just as long as you keep it coming💜
Joodie, I had a hard time choosing photos of our Seven Falls hike—we had such a blast with you two, and the photos bring it all back. You and Mark will love the Phoenix area hikes and the campgrounds. I just wish we were going to be there next winter to explore more trails with you!
Meeting up with you guys was a highlight of our time in Tucson. You haven’t seen the last of us, LOL!! (And no, it doesn’t surprise me at all that you were watching videos of baby goats in pajamas…just one more thing we have in common.) :-) 💜
There are so many beautiful parks and places around Phoenix and Tucson – one would never think such remoteness exists near a large city. RV blogging has lead us to meeting and making wonderful friendships. Love it!
Ingrid, it really is surprising how many gorgeous parks surround Phoenix. We’re looking forward to returning to explore more of them. And yes, RV blogging is a great way to meet friends on the road. :-)
Looks like a blast! We love tamales for xmas dinner. In fact that’s what we had last xmas. We’re thinking of going to Arizona this coming winter for a spell and see if we like it or not. Some other friends we know are thinking the same thing. The rain was a bit much, again. Take care you two.
Brenda, a trip to the Arizona desert sounds like the perfect winter escape from the rainy Oregon winters. You might have chilly weather (this past winter they had snow!) but that’s kind of unusual. It’s such a beautiful landscape—I think you’ll love it! And you can get great tamales. :-)
You hit so many of our favorites but the Christmas potluck sounded perfect. Your post wasn’t too long. It is yours and you get to do it anyway you want. It is always fun to read.
Thanks, Deb! I’m always glad to know that you’re following along with us. We had a good time meeting up with so many fellow travelers in Arizona. Hope we can meet up with you two one of these days!
We loved Catalina State Park, and never managed the Sabine Canyon hike because of the crowds and the tram, I guess, can’t remember exactly why. Looks wonderful! And the botanical garden?!! I am always drawn to those backlit photos of barrel cactus in the sun, I have sooooo many of them, can’t resist. We are going to head south next winter, but not sure just how far south, but thinking we might have to get at least as far as Tucson, maybe Why and Ajo and maybe Organ Pipe again. Loved it so much. No desire to head farther east, except I am bugged that we didn’t do that canyon in Texas that was somewhere along the way when we were on a bee run toward home. One of our most favorite Christmas days was in Austin, just the two of us, when we bought the MoHo, and went to Midnight Mass in downtown Austin. Still not a tamale fan, and I keep wondering what I am missing with them being so popular! Hearing from you again is a treat, and of course, seeing you talk about food reminds me of that pink gulf blackened shrimp that I don’t suppose I can get anywhere else in the world except right there in the Gulf. Sigh.
Sue, I know what you mean about not wanting to miss out on anything in your travels. I feel the same way…so I guess that’s a good thing about us making so many trips around the country even though it’s such a long way to go every year!
Returning to the Phoenix area parks and Tucson for an extended time is definitely on our list in the next couple of years. As is a return to Organ Pipe Cactus NM. Arizona really isn’t all that far from Oregon!
We stocked up on that beautiful Gulf shrimp before we left Apalachicola, and just had some last night. You’re right, it’s the best shrimp of all!
Please know that if the goats in pajamas videos ever get boring, I have an entire supply of cats knocking things over, puppies snuggling with babies, and amazing performances from America’s Got Talent ready to send at a moment’s notice. You need cheering up? I got ya covered! :)
The friends we’ve met along the way have truly been the best part of this whole experience. And as much as we’ve met folks through social media, really, it’s these blogs that have allowed us to find our favorite people. I never would have expected these friendships to grow the way they have, and now I realize how different this whole lifestyle would be if not for having found my way into this community. (Remind me of all this next time I tell you how sick of blogging I am. :)
Christmas in Tucson was fantastic – so cool to hang out with a group of people we’d met individually, but who also knew each other, and also keep expanding the circle. Can’t wait to see you guys again…
Haha, I know I can count on you, Laura! I tell you, those goat videos ALWAYS make me laugh, even in the midst of life’s wildest challenges (aging parents, for example). You’ve also offered up some solid advice and encouragement along with the videos (like, “No, you are NOT going to stay in Apalachicola without a break!”).
I don’t know how we discovered each other’s blogs, but I sure am glad we did (and no, you are never allowed to give up blogging). I’m really happy that we finally met up in person. We can’t wait to see you guys this winter! Meanwhile, will you send me a crazy cat video? 😻
What beautiful hiking trails and campsites!! You are so right…it’s the people you meet and the friends you make that truly adds to this lifestyle!! Jo and Fred look great!! So glad you got to visit with them..true icons of full-timing!!
Gerri, I agree that the people we meet along the way have added enormously to our travels. We first met up with Jo and Fred while they were still fulltiming, and it was great to catch up with them in Tucson. They’re loving living there.
It sounds like you two had the perfect adventure traveling through Arizona. I have not been blogging (obviously), nor reading many blogs. A recent family issue and a move has kept me busy. Although I haven’t announced it to any of our RVing friends yet (until now), we have now moved from Jojoba Hills after having sold our rig, which was accomplished in two days. Living in an RV resort makes it much easier to sell a rig as someone is always looking to park a 5th-wheel on their site to live in, and have a travel rig for getting away. We have settled into Fountain Hills, renting for a year to see how we like it. We know that we will still need to get away in the summers as I cannot tolerate the heat as well as I once did. So, although it makes to sad to say, we are not longer part of the RVing community. On to other adventures! We love McDowell Regional Park and the Superstitions, but have not been to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Thanks for the many wonderful tips! Sending big hugs to you and Eric!
Wow, this is exciting news, LuAnn! Fountain Hills is such a beautiful place, with so many wonderful hiking and cultural opportunities. I could easily live there.
Although you are no longer traveling fulltime, I’m looking forward to continuing to follow your travel adventures (I hope you’ll continue blogging!). We’re so glad we connected with you and Terry through our mutual blogs and have had grand adventures together over the past few years…we count you among our “forever friends.” Big hugs and love to you both from both of us! We’ll see you in Arizona. :-))
Hate that we just missed you at McDowell Mtn. Next time for sure! Glad you enjoyed it there as much as we do.
Gayle, we were bummed that we missed you guys, too. And just by a couple of days! We’ll be back, and we’ll make sure our paths cross when we do. I can understand why you enjoy spending extended time at McDowell Mountain.
You really have me thinking about next winter. I am so missing the saguaro so we have decided to return to Tucson for the month of January. I am thinking that maybe I should see if I can’t get some week visits to a few parks we haven’t stay in such as McDowell, Lost Dutchman, and Usery. I’ll try to be on top of the reservation thins but I do know how popular Feb is. Your post has me truly thinking we need to see these places. Lovely, lovely photos of the trails, rocks, and most important…my beloved saguaro!! You can skip Texas…we won’t mind! Haha!
Pam, you will love the Phoenix parks! We want to return to spend extended time there and to visit all of the parks. Plenty of your beloved saguaro around! I’m so glad the photos inspired you—we thought of you guys on those hikes and how much you would enjoy them. We’d like to hike those trails with you!
You know I can’t skip Texas, haha! You are so bad! We did some things there that you would love. Well, maybe just one thing…a hike at Seminole Canyon, LOL!
I love the Maricopa County Parks around Phoenix and stay at them as often as we can. They are notoriously hard to get into and that is a real pain. Usually parks like that only let you stay 14 days at a time but Maricopa County tweeks that rule a bit and that makes it hard for others to get a site. You can only stay 14 days in ONE site, but can move from site to site in the parks as often as you like so one could stay in McDowell, for instance, for the entire winter just by moving every two weeks. Since they don’t have sewer hook-ups, moving is necessary anyway so…..end of rant.
In all the years we’ve been visiting the Phoenix area we’ve never been to Boyce Thompson, something we’ll have to rectify next year.
I loved this post with all the beautiful scenery and great folks met along the way. What a special and unexpected gift of this mobile lifestyle.
Sue, we’re hoping to spend more time in the Maricopa County Parks one of these winters soon—I hope it’s not as crazy trying to get in as it is in some of the Florida State Parks. It does seem like it would make it more challenging since there isn’t a limit for how long you can stay in a park (as long as you move sites every two weeks).
You and Dave will love Boyce Thompson Arboretum! It’s a gorgeous place to spend a day wandering the trails and to take a picnic. I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos and post. This is a wonderful life, in so many ways. Well, all except that reservation thing…
What fun you guys had before you got to Texas. I love the tamales for Christmas, we love tamales!!! Really enjoyed reading about y’alls adventures & look forward to Texas! Say hi to Eric for Stacie & I!
Tom, we do have fun all along the way in our travels! So glad we met up with you and Stacie in Galveston and that you’re following along with us. We always have such a great time in Texas—I’m working on the next post right now, trying to figure out if I can fit everything in so that I can get us up to date. But Texas is BIG, as you know! :-))
Love this post, you have captured everything that draws us to the state parks in the Phoenix area and of course Tucson. And most especially the friends that keep our lifestyle more interesting. I’m so glad you finally made it to the Music Museum and I just hoped there was no class field trip then.
I noticed that with all the rain then you did not have to remove your shoes when crossing those creeks!
It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas in the desert!
Looking forward to your Seminole Canyon adventures, that was where I first heard the Canyon Wren which is now my ringtone :)
MonaLiza, we always get the best tips from you and Steve! We loved the music museum and want to return to spend more time there. We lucked out—no class field trips that day. I can imagine that would have been a bit wild!
You’re very observant, even with the creeks and waterfalls running, we were able to hop from rock to rock on the Seven Falls Trail and keep our feet dry. We would have frozen on that day if we had to wade across the streams! It was really cold.
Canyon Wrens are one of my favorites. So sweet to know that is your ringtone. :-)
Those hawks are incredible!! Arizona parks are so beautiful and your photos capture their wonderful diversity. Of course I agree that enjoying the friendship of fellow nomads is one of the very best things about this life. Can’t believe we won’t see you this year :-(
Definitely more room for ten in that rig than we had in ours last night!! Looks like a great gathering for the holidays.
I’m so glad you noticed the Harris’s Hawks, Jodee! We were thrilled with our sighting. We had such a good time in Arizona and would love to return to spend most of a winter there. It’s a prime gathering place in winter for nomads, as you know.
I can’t believe we aren’t going to be seeing you this year, either! Glad we at least got to see you in January in Marfa. :-)
Yet another great post! Thanks so much for all of the great ideas for our next trip to Arizona. Your photo of the hawks was breath taking. What a gift to us all. We are winding our way east and I find myself feeling a bit claustrophobic as a the vistas shrink and the air fills with moisture. I need to refocus my lense to the macroscopic. It’s all good.
I recently subscribed to a poem a day service. I was dumfounded by today’s poem and thought you might enjoy the post.
http://academyofamericanpoets.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/y/5119B80CA1868D36/DE6BF1D19AC9DD2B2438807772DD75D1
Susan, we are often struck by how much the landscape changes in our travels. It helps us adjust when we can travel slowly! I like what you said about refocusing, and appreciating what surrounds us in the moment. Thank you for the poetry link. :-)
Gorgeous pictures and thoughts as always and truly special to make new friends on the road. I must say, feeling a little like a ‘rock star’ as I danced around the Airbnb exclaiming “I made Laurel’s blog”! What a perfect unforgettable day, thxs.
Leah, that was such a beautiful hike, and spending the day with you made it all the better! I think you brought us good luck with the Harris’s Hawks. :-) I’m looking forward to the next time we meet up. Until then, wishing you glorious adventures in your upcoming travels!
Oh, NOW I know where we should stay when we visit friends in Scottsdale (which we recently did). Mc Dowell and Lost Dutchman both look wonderful. I didn’t cast a wide enough net in my search when we were there. I so much enjoy reading about the hiking and biking. And I really got a kick out of the comment about how big the slide out can make the trailer. Looking forward to Texas.
Nancy, you will love the beautiful Phoenix parks, and the great biking and hiking. So close to the city, and yet so far away in nature. Isn’t it amazing how much extra space our Arctic Fox slide-outs provide, LOL!
I did not know you were friends with Fred and Jo. They are our ‘besties’. We always make it a special point to stop in for a visit with them whenever we travel east to west or west to east. They are just the BEST! We do miss them out here on the road, but we are glad to see how happy they are in their new lifestyle.
BTW, we believe we are headed up to the Northwest this year, probably in the fall. We hope to cross paths with you guys and finally meet.
— jc&bev
JC, we were delighted to meet Fred and Jo on the road, and it’s been fun to reconnect with them in Tucson. You’re right, they really do seem happy in their new lifestyle with all of their furry companions.
We would love to finally meet up with you and Bev. We’re spending this year on the east coast—heading up to the Maritimes for the summer and then back to Florida for the winter. I can’t believe we’re going to miss you on the west coast!!
Speaking of spectacular, the Raven and Chickadee header on your home page is fabulous. I’m not sure how I’ve never seen it before. Is it your art work? Your entire blog is such a work of art. I wish you two would give me the secrets of using the SX60, I don’t like it nearly as well as the 50 and the clarity of my pictures with it does not compare to yours.
Can’t tell you how much I wish I were just following you around to both Lost Dutchman, McDowell Mountain and Catalina. These parks have been on my “go to” list forever it seems
A labyrinth, a labyrinth – oh lucky you!! What a wonderful Christmas you had. SO many friends. And SO many comments. You are one popular pair.
Thanks for your sweet comment about the Raven and Chickadee header, Sherry. I made it with the help of my friend Diana when we were in Ashland a couple of years ago. It’s hanging in our bedroom in our trailer.
We loved the Phoenix parks, and I know you will, too, when you’re ready to head west. Maybe we can meet up there! But I’m thinking we’ll be meeting up with you in Florida first next winter. :-)
As far as photography, I just take a lot of photos, pay attention to the lighting and composition, and hope for the best, LOL! It took me a while to adjust to the SX60 after using the SX50, too. We can practice together.
Your timing in Arizona could not have been better. Not only did you have the chance to meet up with plenty of awesome fellow travelers, but it looks like you got out of Dodge before the nasty winter weather arrived. We have found that full-time travel can sometimes be frustrating when trying to coordinate meet ups with friends on the road, but at times when things just work out beautifully it is truly a special experience.
Shannon, we were definitely in the right place for a holiday meetup in Tucson. So much fun! I think Tucson, Phoenix, and San Diego are pretty sure bets for gathering with other fulltime travelers in winter. And Florida, of course.
As you said, we were also lucky to get out of town before the crazy winter weather hit! Although it found us in the Davis Mountains in Texas. :-)