The Phoenix Traveler

I’ve been sorting through hundreds of photos that I took while traveling throughout Arizona to research my book. I now have to pick 10 to send to my publisher for cover photo ideas. I’m mentally fatigued and could use your help in deciding which photo to recommend as the final pick. I have nine already in a file.
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 …read more

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Day trips, weekend getaways, best places to visit. That’s what Arizona-based author and freelance writer wrote about in her first book published this year by Countryman Press. Called Great Escapes Arizona, Bitler’s book is available at local bookstores and online.
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 …read more

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In town visiting relatives, or are they visiting with you? Perhaps you’re wondering what you can do with everyone this holiday vacation. If you’ve already seen the lights and finished your shopping, and you still have two more weeks before you can open presents (Or maybe you’re looking for something to do once the unwrapping’s done.), how about a visit south to see a few of Arizona’s ghost towns?
I’m not talking Bisbee or Tombstone. I’m talking about the real ghost towns, the ones where no one, or practically no one, lives anymore. There was once a brochure called “Arizona Ghost …read more

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It’s all lit up in Prescott for the holidays. The Yavapai County Courthouse (pictured above), Whiskey Row behind it, the gift shops, boutiques and restaurants downtown–they all take part in the holiday festivities that have helped turn this former territorial town into Arizona’s official “Christmas City.”
With a heritage dating back to Victorian times and earlier, they know how to do Christmas here. Phoenicians drive the 90 miles north to see what’s been billed as the world’s largest Gingerbread Village. This year, more than 100 gingerbread structures decorate the lobby of the Prescott Resort now through December 28. The resort is …read more

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Imagine your name on this brown piece of paper. It’s the ticket to statewide recreational fun. The Arizona State Parks Annual Pass costs just $50, and it’s good for the entire family–all year-long.
This holiday season, it could be the affordable gift that keeps on giving as it’s the economical way to travel and explore Arizona’s 27 state parks. Pictured above, the Standard Day-Use Entrance Pass is good for the family’s non-camping day-use and includes all the Parks except Colorado River Parks on weekends and holidays.
At Kartchner Caverns State Park, the pass is good for the entrance to …read more

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In a recent post here at The Phoenix Traveler, one person posted a comment about being “too poor to travel.” Boy, do I understand that, which is why it’s good to know that there’s always budget travel options to consider.
For instance, Now that gas prices have dropped below $2.30/gal., how about a road trip? In less than two hours, you can hop in your car, pick east or west, and wind up in small town Arizona where you’ll be able to see the Western lifestyle up close. No need to reserve a room, take the dog to the kennel, or …read more

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If you’re thinking of taking a New England vacation along the coast, here are a few overall recommendations stemming from my recent trip:
_Sign up for the signature facial at the Cliff House in Ogunquit–a resort and spa located on Maine’s south coast, atop Bald Head Cliff. This unique restorative facial incorporates products from both land and sea. It includes a seashell massage, a seaweed cleansing, and a blueberry mask. Blueberries grow wild in Maine and are a staple in various products, including skin care, pancakes and ice cream. I definitely tried the blueberry-spiked facial and thought it was sea-sational. Plus, …read more

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From Boston, Mass., to Bucksport, Maine. That was the destination of choice last week when I left Phoenix with my boyfriend for a cooler climate back East. With 100 degree temperatures still the norm where we live, it was the perfect time to leave the  desert. With the fall colors moving in, it was the perfect time to visit Coastal New England.
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 …read more

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It’s not a neighborhood normally associated with art or community functions of any kind. In fact, Sunnyslope has long been the neighborhood in Phoenix to avoid. Why? It’s run down. Its streets are graced with colorful people of questionable character. And its early 20th century origins are based on the fact that it was once a tuberculosis colony. Not exactly the stuff that fun is made of, unless you’re talking about a joke.
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 …read more

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You can learn a lot about a city by driving through its neighborhoods, especially those that are historic.
Phoenix has 34 of them, according to a publication distributed by The Phoenix Historic Neighborhoods Coalition. “The Historic Neighborhoods of Phoenix Self-Guided Driving Tour” takes you to all of them, pointing out historic landmarks and contemporary cultural centers along the way.
You can find your own copy of the tour map at Visitors Centers in town, but I picked mine up at a local breakfast diner I frequent called The Eye Opener (Read reviews here.) in Sunnyslope–a neighborhood which has its own history that …read more

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