Earlier this year I had the chance to visit Phoenix, Arizona for the first time, and I had an absolute blast.
It was late Spring, so the weather was warm, but not too hot. Anecdotally, as someone who lives in the desert, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of dry heat. False. Arizona dry heat is not the same. However, the weather during the trip was really quite nice, and I didn’t mind the heat at all.
Floating the Salt River was one of the highlights of the itinerary on this trip, so I was really looking forward to that. The check-in and launch points for floating the river are out in the middle of the desert and the drive to get there was beautiful. Along the road there were signs warning about wild horses. I didn’t think that much of it, because the chance of seeing wild horses, especially along the road, when they have miles and miles of desert to roam seemed slim. I mean, what are the chances, right?
Wrong.
Driving over a rise, directly ahead on the road, was a herd of horses crossing the road. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe that right as my tiny car happened to be passing through this little stretch of road in the middle of nowhere that those horses happened to be passing through, too. I didn’t mind waiting and watching as they crossed to the other side. They were so beautiful to see.
Once at the float drop-off point, I was ready for an adventure.
Now, I’ve never claimed to be any sort of cool, but I don’t know that I’ve ever been as un-cool as I was on this particular day. I came prepared with my SPF, hat, buff, water shoes, waterproof backpack/camelback, trail mix; you name it, I was prepared. Walking up to the line, I couldn’t help but notice how everyone else seemed to be in bikinis and have beverage coolers and speakers with them. I’m sure that most of them were around my age or younger, but I looked like I could be any one of their moms! I looked so uncool!
Rather than feeling embarrassed, I really found it rather humorous. I would rather be overly prepared than cool anyway, wouldn’t I? It’s just more my speed.
I’ll spare you even more of the uncool-ness that was me trying to be graceful while navigating my tube…
After a few hours making the way down the river, I was glad this activity had made it onto the itinerary.
Another highlight of the trip was a stop at the Phoenix Theatre to see the show Little Shop of Horrors. I have loved this show and have known it’s songs since I was young, and I was so excited to see it on stage again. The cast, in particular the dentist, did an incredible job of bringing this story to life.
And, you know me, I can’t not talk about the food on this trip. It was incredible! One of the very first stops was at Tia Rosa’s, and let me tell you, that will knock your socks off anytime. The Duce, in downtown Phoenix, is an experience all of it’s own. It’s a multi-use space with food, drinks, a boxing ring, goods for sale, and some things I’m sure I’ve forgotten. I’ve never been to anyplace like it, and it certainly charmed me.
When I think back on this trip, I think of walking around art galleries and having ice cream in old town Scottsdale, enjoying the warm desert, and soaking up the beautiful city of Phoenix. I can’t wait to go back, as this city surely charmed me. Only a few weeks ago, putting together a puzzle of a portrait of Scottsdale I couldn’t help but muse about the next time I’ll have the chance to visit the Southwest; my next trip can’t come soon enough!