My parents stay on the west coast for the summer and come back to the east coast during the winter and this year, they suggested that we meet in the middle during their transition and have a family vacation. My parents wanted to go to Arizona and visit national parks which, if we had done that, we might have run into some issues with the government shutdown, but really, we visited Tucson and Flagstaff and only one national park on the itinerary, the Grand Canyon, which was mainly open.
Baseline – it was a really nice vacation – we were all healthy, there were no real travel snafus, the airbnbs I booked were lovely and it wasn’t too hot in Tucson, nor was it too cold in Flagstaff. I planned the vacation with everyone’s needs in mind – 1. my mother’s love of plants, 2. my father’s love of naps and one fancy dinner, 3. Edda’s love of a first floor bedroom and 4. Jeremy’s love of biking – and my own need which is that I like everyone happy! Hahaha. I know – sometimes this is difficult, but I try and I think I mostly succeeded.
We flew into Phoenix and drove to Tucson and had a simple dinner from the grocery store. Sunday morning we had a Jeep tour of a private ranch which borders Saguaro National Park. Kurt was our (authentic cowboy) driver and we bumped along bumpy roads and saw lots of plants.
And some animals.
Monday, Jeremy rode around Tucson and we went to a botanical garden and saw more plants and then we went to the university to take a tour of the facility which makes mirrors for telescopes.
Tuesday, we hit the road to go to Flagstaff – we went to another botanical garden for breakfast and walked around. I loved these barrel cacti.
On the way to Flagstaff, we stopped by the main strip of Sedona where there was 1. lots of ice cream and 2. lots of crystal stores.
Wed, we drove from Flagstaff to Williams to take a train to the grand canyon. They have a little play before everyone gets on the train and my dad got thrown into cowboy jail.
They have a very impressive lift for Edda’s wheelchair.
We were serenaded on the way there. (on the way home, there was a “robbery”)
We had a bus tour of the grand canyon – a little bit like the grand canyon in ten minutes, but that’s how we roll.
I love this guy – thank you for going on this craziness with me. My love for you is deeper than the grand canyon – though I don’t think it is as old as the grand canyon.
Thursday, we drove up Snowbowl mountain to pick up Jeremy who biked up the mountain and saw the most beautiful leaf-peeping I’ve ever seen – the aspens were so brilliantly yellow!!
Thursday night, we were lucky enough to catch Andy and Rita just before they left town and eat a lovely dinner together.
Friday – we left Flagstaff and headed towards Phoenix for our flights out on Saturday. We needed to kill some time, so we stopped at a casino to have lunch. My mom loves a casino – she won $9.
In the afternoon, we had a tour of the Wrigley mansion in Phoenix (of the gum fame) and we had dinner in the mansion – this was our fancy dinner and it was lovingly fancy – it seemed like we had 18 waiters. With a sunset and everything!
The next morning, while the boys checked bags at the airport, the ladies went to yet another botanical garden – this time in Phoenix and this was very fancy. I loved it.
And now we are home! I love to travel because it reminds me so much how much I love being home.
