Tim and Anne’s AMA Danube River Cruise (August 2021)
by Tim Larison, CLIA Certified Master Cruise Counselor
with comments by Anne Larison, Family Travel Gurus Travel Consultant
Arizona Series: Scenic Mt Lemmon Drive with a Cookie on Top!
Recently we took a drive up Mt Lemmon, located near Tucson, Arizona. What diverse scenery! Cactus covered terrain at the start of our drive then higher up we saw pine trees and mountain scenery that reminded us of Colorado. There were frequent pull-outs and scenic overlooks along the way to take pictures from.
Arizona Series: A Cool 4th of July Celebration
A 4th of July celebration in the Phoenix area will be a hot one, right? Not necessarily! We attended a public “cool” 4th of July party in Scottsdale this year.
Arizona Series: Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park
We recently visited the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park in Tempe. This is an excellent museum for newcomers like us to learn about Arizona’s history and geology. The exhibits were very detailed, including a world war II section, an old time slot machine, various historical photos, and more. The museum was uncrowded on the weekday morning we were there. A staff member told us many long time Arizona residents don’t even know about this museum! For more information visit the museum’s website here.
Arizona Series: Wallace Desert Garden
If you think the desert is barren without color you will be surprised when visiting the Wallace Desert Garden at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum! This place has over 5,000 desert plants on display from Arizona and other parts of the World. We recommend taking a tour as your guide will explain the rich history of the collection as well as share interesting facts about the vegetation in the garden. For more information visit the Arboretum website here.
Arizona Series: Saguaro National Park
We recently visited Saguaro National Park – I’ve never seen so many saguaro cacti in my life! This variety of cactus only grows in the Sonoran Desert. The saguaro cactus is precious to Arizonians. According to the Arizona Republic newspaper, “On federal land such as Saguaro National Park, it’s illegal to remove any plant, including saguaros, according to the National Park Service. As for state, tribal or private land, removal or destruction of saguaros in Arizona is illegal without the landowner’s permission and a permit.”
Arizona Series: Baseball Spring Training
If you are a baseball fan, a great getaway to escape the cold March temperatures up North is to attend spring training baseball games in Arizona!
Arizona Series: Castles N Coasters
If you are looking for some theme park fun while visiting the Phoenix area we recommend the Castles N Coasters amusement park. We thought the park had the feel of an old time amusement park (we later found out it was opened in 1977). Kids will enjoy the huge arcade area. Most of the rides weren’t open yet when we had an early morning visit but we did play one of four miniature golf courses they had – it was a good one! (reminded me of Adventure golf in other parts of the USA). The amusement park also featured roller coasters, a go cart track, bumper boats, and more. See the Castles N Coasters website for admission prices and additional information.
Arizona Series: Biosphere 2
Originally designed as a self contained facility for scientists to live in, now an environmental research facility for the University of Arizona, we found Biosphere 2 an interesting place to visit. Located near Tucson, Biosphere 2 features huge greenhouses which include among other things a rain forest and a simulated ocean used in planetary research. If you have been to The Land pavilion in Disney World’s Epcot this was like The Land on a much much larger scale. Those interested in nature & science would enjoy a visit here (we did!). For more information see the Biosphere 2 website.
Arizona Series: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum outside of Tucson is another excellent attraction we visited recently! It was a combination of desert garden (showing a variety of Arizona plants) and a zoo. We saw the elusive Javelina for the first time, as well as a coyote, beaver, humming birds, deer, and more. Also great views from its location near Saguaro National Park. Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website for more information.