Ginnodo
Joined Apr 10, 2008
Reviews
-
Sedona: Oak Creek Canyon for Scenery and Hiking
Oak Creek Canyon contains Arizona's first officially-designated scenic highway: 15 miles (24.1 km) lined with oak, juniper and pine trees, and rock, starting at 4,500 feet (1,371 meters) elevation just northeast of Uptown, and ending at 6,500 feet (1,981 meters) on the Mogollon Rim. Along the way, you'll see Midgley Bridge (trailheads here), Grasshopper Point (a swimming hole), Slide Rock State Park (a great place for kids to wear out bathing suits sliding down the wet rocks) and the Junipine Cafe (for a great turkey sandwich on the outside deck). You'll find the Call O' the Canyon Recreational Area and West Fork Trail 1-1/2 miles north of the restaurant. This is one of the most popular trails in Arizona: a lovely, boulder-strewn creek cooled by evergreen and deciduous trees and bordered on both sides by towering, multi-colored cliffs, some of which have been dramatically scooped out over the millennia by surging water. At the top of the drive you'll find an overlook, restrooms and jewelry for sale by Native Americans.
- 0 people found this review helpful
-
Yavapai Observation Station: The Best Place to Learn About Grand Canyon
The purpose of this place is to help visitors understand the complicated geology of the canyon. It does so with expansive views of the canyon behind large windows, and exhibits explaining the deposition of multiple rock layers, the uplift of the Colorado Plateau, and the carving of Grand Canyon There are also three-dimensional models, interpretive panels, photographs and videos to educate and entertain the visitor. A large topographic relief map is extremely helpful in comprehending the scale of the canyon. And the observation station has an excellent bookstore. Some ranger-led programs depart from here.
- 0 people found this review helpful
-
Heard Museum: A Great Place to Admire American Indian Artistry
This place is something special. From its classic exterior to its beautiful galleries, remarkable collection and special events, the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art provides a venue in which the American Indian is given deserved credit for artistry, intelligence and cultural integrity. The Heard has 10 excellent galleries and a collection of 39,000 items. The star of the show is "HOME: Native People in the Southwest," the gallery that beautifully displays the best of the Heard's collection--pottery, jewelry, Kachina dolls, baskets, clothing, drums, ceremonial belts, cradle boards, a Navajo hogan and much more. In the "We Are! Arizona's First People" gallery, the stories of 21 Arizona tribes are poignantly told from a first-person perspective, to enable non-Indians to better understand what these cultures face today.
- 0 people found this review helpful
-
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: # 2 Attraction in Arizona
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Grand Canyon are, by themselves, worth the trip to Arizona. This attraction is best described as a natural history museum--mostly an outdoor place that wonderfully displays 21 acres (8.5 hectares) of the Sonoran Desert at its finest. You'll see 300 kinds of desert animals, reptiles and birds, 1,200 kinds of cacti and other desert plants, several different desert environments, a display of the earth's formation and evolution, and many other interesting features. Be sure to join one of the free morning 1-1/2-hour, walking tours to get the benefit of a docent's experience and wealth of knowledge. The museum's Ironwood Terrace Restaurant serves a variety of great-tasting food items.
- 0 people found this review helpful
-
Buca di Beppo: A Happy Accident
Very tasty and hearty Southern Italian cuisine. We happened upon this restaurant accidently and enjoyed it very much. Quite large, with five or six rooms and mementos of Italy on every wall. Lively, fun place. We recommend it highly.
- 0 people found this review helpful