Places of Interest - Take a Hike!

Moss can be found year-round in the forests of the Pacific northwest. 

The Shelton View Forest, near a mid-century grade school, shows a beautiful display of summertime moss. Look closely, there's a little house someone placed in the crook of the tree. 

Recently, the trails have been revitalized and even though this is near a neighborhood and school, you feel as if you are in a deep wood. Cozy.

Watson Lake charges $3.00 per vehicle to park and the cost is well with it. 

A trail winds along a small beach and then into the amazing rock formations. I considered the trail easy to moderate. 

After your hike, journey west down Gurley Street to downtown Prescott, AZ. 

If you like nostalgia, visit The Palace for lunch, topped off by dessert at Gramma's bakery, just around the corner.

I believe you'll find this mile-high western town with the World's oldest rodeo simply charming.

Jerome, Arizona is a quirky old mining town that came to rest some 200 feet from where it started after sliding down the hill following a series of copper mine explosions.

The town features ghost tours and historical sites - like the old jail - and funky former brothels.

Grapes are grown in the green rolling hills and dips of the surrounding Verde Valley, and there are several wine-tasting venues in the town.

About 1.5 hours north of Phoenix, you'll find cooler temps all year round and a dusting of snow in the winter. 

Stop for lunch at the Haunted Hamburger - and opt for a view table - if possible. It's worth it!

For a windy road adventure, drive the back way from Jerome to Prescott through the Mingus Mountains.  

You may also want to continue northeast to the red rocks of Sedona and rim country. 

The photo above of the rim in the distance was captured while hiking the narrow streets at the top of Jerome above our cozy Inn - The Ghost City Inn.

While visiting Santa Fe a few years back, it was suggested we take the Aspen Vista Trail for amazing clear skies and views. 

You can head up to the ski area from here or simply take the generously wide trail for a refreshing trek amongst Aspen and Fir. 

It's six miles to the top of the Ski area, but we only walked a couple miles and enjoyed the simple trail almost exclusively to ourselves. 

Head back to Santa Fe and the charming square for shopping, dinner and outdoor music. The town has a funky, friendly vibe.

Sedona, AZ features a combination of green ponderosa pine and amazing red rock scenery making this a favorite hiking spot. 

The temps are cooler than Phoenix in the summer and usually warmer than the PNW in the winter. If Sedona makes your list of places to see, check out the Sky Ranch Lodge. Views are amazing, and if you'd like to save a bit, the garden view rooms are lovely. The grounds are filled with amazing plants, unique trees, little creeks and cozy bridges.  https://skyranchlodge.com/   

From Sky Ranch Lodge, you can walk to the Mesa Grill for breakfast and watch the planes take off while tasting something amazing from the menu such as Lemon Ricotta French Toast, Breakfast Tacos or the Sedona scramble. https://mesagrillsedona.com 

Bartlett Lake has a ton of Spring flowers if you head there in April. The flowers start as early as March and typically last through May. 

This is a fantastic day trip with a fairly easy trail and awesome views. Rattlesnake cove lived up to it's name. Yes, we did see a rattlesnake sunning itself on the trail. 

Don't wander into tall grass, stay on the trail and watch where you're going. It was so beautiful we still braved the trails the following year, sans rattlesnakes.