In Arizona you can see something of everything. Phoenix offers dining and great city amenities. Flagstaff has cool getaways. Wickenburg was a twisted true cowboy. Sonoita pours the wine. And the back roads beckon with romance-igniting adventures.
Rise in Wickenburg
Wickenburg is a quick and painless drive from the Phoenix area – hop on US 60 and head for the dance floor. In fact, it is the perfect destination for a morning sunrise hike. Preserve the Hassayampa River, which is the happiest river oasis. I also enjoyed the hiking eagle peak trail. It has a nice and easy hike. The trail is filled with interesting rock formations, plus Saguaro, Cholla, Palo Verde, Mesquite, Ocotillo, and Jojoba. The sunrise from both places must be splendid.
After your sunrise, have lunch at one of the many cafes in the town of Wickenburg. Just choose one — I have yet to stumble upon a bad one. From here, walk to the desert Caballeros Museum or a dude ranch like Rancho de Los Caballeros. Wickenburg has more dude ranches than any other city in the US.
Arizona Jeep Tours
This idea extends to day trips. Technically, it’s expensive, but it’s the best option for a day trip where neither of you have to drive. Instead, let’s take a backseat and let Arizona Jeep Touring Fred Amator do the work. Spend the day learning about Arizona history, geology, and wilderness wildlife. Pick from five different tours – personally, I took the Hotilium camp and learned a lot about the area. . The two of you will have a new appreciation for Arizona, and you won’t have to worry about the arguments of who drove out or why they lost. Leave the maps and GPS to Fred. All the trips with the good boy were born with the charm of a true Arizona native. You can arrange a meeting with Fred in his part of town or yours.
Sledding and Viburnum Fighting
It may seem strange to my friends on the East Coast, but sometimes, you want to feel the cold, which is why we only take a short trip to northern Arizona. Just as Northern California is completely different from Southern California, so it is true in Arizona. There have been years on record where Flagstaff was the snowiest city in the country. It was also the snowiest city in Arizona! Wing Rocky Mountain Play Area is an easy spot to find and filled with good spotted fever. You can split almost any general supply on the road. Truth be told, if you’re heading to the Snow Globe Ski Resort from Flagstaff City, there are many good spots to stop, snow have a fist, then build a snowman.
Picnic in Little Arizona
The rolling grassy hills of Elgin and Sonoita are something to behold and easily un-Arizona. I-10 rolls into the Creosote Desert, but once you get out of Sonoita, everything suddenly changes. I smile and feel a bit like I’ve been transported to Etruria every time I take the exit. Speaking of Italy, I aimed a bottle at the Back of the Night Cell. We specialize in Italian-style wines and craft red earthy that scream good food, especially Montepulciano. Then head to one of Arizona’s original winemakers, Sonoita Vineyards, for a picnic. Resting beautifully on a hill, it would be a great place to pop the big question or even stage your wedding. Meanwhile, they sell picnic or you can bring your own. Throw a rug, or use one of the tables.
Horses, Hiking and Hohokam
Simply put, chicks dig horses. So a day of riding at White Tanks Riding Stables is an easy way to keep a woman in a happy relationship. But let’s imagine that maybe one of you is allergic to horses (sorry about that). Well, the White Tank Mountains offer a variety of trails and excellent wildlife viewing. Enjoy a mild Arizona winter and feel fit. Watch out for elk, deer, coyotes, mountain lions, Gila monsters, and more. Also, the White Tank Library offers a regional supply of books on the Southwest. The library has huge windows and a view of the entire valley. It would be a great spot to hit a rare rainy day. You’ll just find a corner seat and curl up with a good book on Hohokam or Arizona native cactus.
