I turned in my photos today to my publisher for my upcoming travel guide book. With your help, I chose for my tenth photo suggestion the Prescott trail shot. It was taken at Lynx Lake. I wrote about it earlier in the year.

If you went up there today, you’d have to dress warmly. It’s cold enough, in fact, that one news report I read mentioned the city may get snow in time for Christmas.

Can you imagine this trail lined with snow? Wouldn’t that make an even better cover shot?

(Photo used with permission by Jackie Dishner.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Of the three photos I’ve copied below, which would you think represents an Arizona backroads guidebook? Keep in mind that I’m writing about places you won’t see in Arizona, unless you get on some back roads to get there.

If you’ll help me pick this final choice, I’ll put your name in a drawing to win a free bottle of aromatherapy pillow spray from The Westin Kierland Resort. The lavender scent comes in a little blue bottle with a copper satin pouch.

To respond, post your comment as follows (photos are in a-b-c order):

a) Aravaipa Canyon Trail

b) Prescott Lake Trail

c) Young Windmill 

Thanks for your help.

(Photos used with permission by Jackie Dishner.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

I wanted to talk to Bitler about her travels during the research of her book, because if there was ever a time to think about escape, it’s now. I met up with Bitler at a recent art fair, where I purchased her book, and she agreed to e-mail me with a few suggestions on where you might want to take your next Arizona escape.

Rather than run the whole series of questions I asked, along with her answers, here are the highlights.

In bullet format, you can quickly scan them for ideas:

• Her favorite place: Kitt Peak National Observatory.
• A place she loves: Grand Canyon.
• The place where she’d love to return: Canyon de Chelly.
• Her favorite Arizona activity: Horseback or trail ride at one of

Arizona’s dude ranches.

• Two things she finally get around to doing because of the book: See fireworks over Lake Havasu and the Civil War re-enactments at Picacho Peak.
• Three places she writes about in her book that she thinks you shouldn’t miss: Gallery in the Sun (the late Ted DeGrazia’s art studio/gallery in Tucson); Cochise Stronghold (pictured above); and the Olive Mill and Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek
• Trips she’d like to take now because of what she learned during her research: Take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon; and spend a week on a houseboat at Lake Powell.
• If you want to experience the diversity Arizona offers, she suggests an “escape” to the White Mountains.

To learn more from other Arizona authors who specialize in travel, click on the names below:

_Christine Bailey.

_Michael Engelhard.

_Sam Lowe.

If you’ve visited any of the above named places and would like to share your experiences, good or bad, please post a comment.

(Photo of Cochise Stronghold used with permission by the Cochise County Tourism Council.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Mill Avenue in Tempe hustles and bustles with pedestrian traffic year-round. It’s not the place to go if you want peace and quiet. And though I’d say the majority of the people you’ll see milling around are Arizona State University students, urbanites from all over the Valley of the Sun head over on evenings and weekends to shop, dine at the many restaurants, hang out in the taverns, and walk, ride bikes or rollerblade over to Tempe Town Lake.

This coming weekend, however, pedestrians will flock to Mill Avenue–one of America’s “ten great streets” (American Planning Association, 2008)–for one of the city’s most popular attractions: Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts.

Since the Beatles had its #1 hit, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” on the radio 40 years ago, this festival has been the event holiday shoppers love to attend. I’ve been several times and still recall the gift I purchased for my sister the first time I went in 1988 (the 20th anniversary year). It was a hand-crafted Christmas Elf.

I don’t know if that booth’s still around, but here’s a sample of what I know you’ll experience while there this year:

_250,000 visitors, more or less, with lots of them pushing strollers, so watch out.

_more than 400 juried artists’ booths (woodwork, jewelry, paintings, ceramics, fountains, photography, textiles and more), so you know you’ll see quality work.

_food and beverages to purchase at the Food Court on 6th Street near Mill.

_street performers (stilt walkers and mimes, for instance).

_live entertainment (past performers have been local bands, including Gin Blossoms, Margo Reed, Walt Richardson and others).

_hands-on crafts and activities for kids, thank goodness.

_Arizona Wine Festival with tastings from several Arizona wine growers.

If you attend on Friday, stick around after hours for an added treat this year: the Anniversary Beatles Tribute. It takes place at the Arizona Wine Festival Jazz Stage, with Beatles tribute music played by cover band Apple.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: 40th ANNIVERSARY FALL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

WHEN: December 5-7, 10 a.m. to Dusk

WHERE: Mill Avenue in Tempe

ADMISSION: Free

PARKING: Free at Rio Salado Parkway & Hardy Drive, just east of Priest Drive on the north side of Rio Salado Parkway. A free shuttle runs every 15 minutes. (map it)

If you don’t want to hassle with that, nine paid parking garages or lots surround the downtown area, closer to the festival. But still, plan for a lot of walking and wear comfortable shoes.

(Photo of Mill Avenue Festival courtesy of Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

A few travel writers, including Christine K. Bailey, author of Destinations: A Complete Guide to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona and Central Arizona, and Teresa Bitler, whose Great Escapes Arizona was just released are scheduled to appear.

Also plan to see arts & crafts booths, food and live music at the festival on both days.

If you go:

What: ArtFest of Scottsdale                                                               When: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23        Where: Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, 7380 E. 2nd St.                          Cost: Free

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Visit the Desert Botanical Garden from November 22 until May 31, 2009, for the chance to see the works of renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. The art exhibition–his first in a desert setting–will feature new and unique works of glass sculpture along the garden’s trails.

Chihuly is known for his innovative glass sculptures and use of vibrant colors. Perhaps you’ve seen his work and didn’t know it; one of his more prominent displays is on the ceiling of the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. His work is also found in more than 200 museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Garden exhibitions of his work have been mounted at the New York Botanical Garden, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

Expecting large crowds for this exhibit, the Garden has introduced timed ticketing to help control the flow of guests, ensure adequate parking and improve the viewing experience. Timed ticketing sessions are as follows:

8 a.m. – noon / noon – 4 p.m. / 4p.m. – 8 p.m.

Ticket prices are: Adults $15, Seniors $13.50, Students (13-18 and college with ID) $7.50, Children (3 -12) $ 5, Children under 3 admitted free.

To purchase your tickets, call 480-481-8188, or visit www.dbg.org. Advanced purchase is recommended during this time.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

It rained while we were there. It was definitely cooler. I even had to don gloves and a scarf one night. And nothing could be better than the smell of chimney smoke. For me, that’s the first sign of fall. It means it’s time for soup. In New England, that means clam chowder. That creamy sauce with bits of potatoes, clam meat and onions. I ate it almost every day.

When in the Boston area, I recommend a stay in Cambridge. You can find a hotel, an inn or a B&B that’s much cheaper than in the city. And it costs just a few bucks to take the train into Boston a few minutes away. Plus, you’re right there where Harvard is, and it’s worth a walk-through just to see what this prestigious school is all about. Let me tell you, it’s pretty amazing architecturally. We must have walked in and out of at least five red brick or stone and iron gates. Huge, at least 10 feet tall! Very imposing. Made me want to immediately sign up for a class, though.

We walked a lot on this  trip. We walked around Harvard Square. We walked in the neighborhood near our hotel. We walked along the Freedom Trail–all the way across the Charles River to climb up and down the nearly 300 steps at the monument at Bunker Hill. We experienced history on many levels, and it was all so refreshing to get a taste of life as it was before the American Revolution. Such a difference from my home state, Arizona, which won’t even be celebrating its centennial until 2012. That’s still four years away!

Oh, and then there’s Maine–Coastal Maine. I don’t t hink there’s anything more lovely to see in this country than a highway that sweeps past so many seaports. The tall white steeples, the Victorian-era homes, the village streetscapes with their bookstores, lobster shacks and pastry shops ready to serve you with open hospitality, the ships in the harbor.

They may speak funny (Lobstas and Beeyas, says my souvenir t-shirt) but Mainers have to be just about the nicest folks you’ll ever meet. Every time my boyfriend and I looked lost–It happened several times–we were approached by a local who told us how to get to our destination. We never felt out of place, not even when all we had to wear was “urban safari” for the “business casual” dinner we attended. Okay, well, maybe we felt a bit odd about that, but we did follow orders and leave the blue jeans behind. No one said anything about all those pockets on our pants, nor made mention of our muddy Merrells.

Check in tomorrow, and I’ll give you specific travel recommendations.

(Photos taken by and used with permission from Jackie Dishner.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

But that’s changing. Restaurants are moving in. There’s a wine bar and coffee shop. Houses are being renovated. The community is pulling together to rid itself of the blight. And now, there’s even an art gallery. Better yet, that art gallery has spawned something else–Sunnyslope’s very own art walk.

Art is not just for Phoenix and Scottsdale anymore. The creative outdoor fun is now in Sunnyslope, too.

Just look for the big white “S” on the mountain at the top of Central Avenue, and you’ll know you’re there.

To be sure, plan to show up on the evening of October 11. That’s when you’ll get to mix and mingle with more than 100 artists and six different live bands. They’ll set up shop along the east side of Central Avenue, from Dunlap Avenue, south all the way the Canal at Ruth Street. 1,000 Valley residents showed up for the first Sunnyslope Art Walk last April, and this one could draw more.

If you’ve not been to the area in a while–or if you’ve never been–you might want to stop in a littler earlier to check out the coffee shop called Grinder’s, Bombero’s wine bar, Nielsen Galleries, or Corbin’s Bar & Grill–all within easy walking distance of each other. Local businesses are looking forward to it, and I hope to see you there.

What: Sunnyslope Art Walk.

Where: Dunlap and Central Ave., Phoenix.

When: Saturday, Oct. 11, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Parking: The Cowden Center, 9202 N. 2nd St., between Dunlap and Hatcher; Food City parking lot at Dunlap and Central; Sunnyslope High School, 35 W. Dunlap.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Also known as the prickly pear, its magenta colored fruit has been used for centuries as a food source. The subtle but sweet tasting fruit is harvested throughout Arizona. At various restaurants, bars and gift shops throughout the state, including in Phoenix, you may see a prickly pear margarita on the menu or candy and jelly made from this cactus fruit on store shelves. At this class, you’ll learn about its nutritional value and get to sample prickly pear punch. Jean will also share recipes from her book.

Because it’s not easy to squeeze the juice out of the cactus, this informal, hour-long class is offered every year at the end of summer when the prickly pear fruit ripen to teach you. The prickly pear’s outer skin is covered in glochids and cactus spines that can be very painful to your hands if you don’t know what you’re doing.

No pre-registration required, and there is no extra charge to take the class. It’s open to all ages.

Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit Class

WHEN: Sept. 1 (Labor Day), 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior. Call 520-689-2811 for the recorded information line.

REGULAR HOURS: Open daily May, June, July & August, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.; Open daily September through April, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day.

ADMISSION: $7.50, adults; $3, children ages 5-12; children under 5 are free.

Directions: Located off of Highway 60 at Milepost 223, the Arboretum makes a great stop on the way to Globe. You’ll pass the historic copper mining town of Superior first, about an hour east of Phoenix on the Superstition Freeway.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

It’s a pretty common day trip for folks who fly in to Phoenix and want to stay a few extra days. They often decide to go to Sedona to see the red rocks. They want to find a vortex and see what all the fuss is about. Go ahead. Just Google Sedona, and you’ll see what I mean. These photos illustrate a bit of what you’ll see when you get there.

The top two photos were taken while on a yoga hike to the top of Cathedral Rock. The photo on the left is the park at Red Rock Crossing. From the gazebo in the background, you can probably tell a lot of weddings take place there. The photo on the right was taken by my boyfriend on a guided imagery hike we took with Dennis Andres (pictured with me), also known as Mr. Sedona. He’s the author of several books, including What is a Vortex? and Sedona’s Top 10 Hikes. He’d be a great guide to hire if you want to really see what Sedona’s like from the inside out.

Visit the Sedona Chamber of Commerce for more information.

(Photos used with permission by Jackie Dishner.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler