Traveling with Purpose

05/05/2026

Enjoying Mexican Food at in Sun City!

05/01/2026

Thanks for the tip !
I love lemons, and many folks in our neighborhood have lemon trees, so they give them away by the dozen. I like to freeze the juice in ice cube trays and the zest in liploc bags for when they're out of season. I'm looking forward to trying some of the lemon-forward recipes in this month's magazine.

04/29/2026

If you love to learn about Arizona and Indigenous people, check out these upcoming demonstrations about Indigenous culture at and
There's something for every interest.

04/29/2026

Are you looking to learn more about the Indigenous culture of Arizona? Check out these upcoming demonstrations at Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument.

Join us for a spring lineup of cultural demonstrators at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments! A full list of events can be found at https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/calendar.htm and https://www.nps.gov/tuzi/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

04/28/2026

We just got back from seeing place #2 and it was gorgeous! How many from this list have you had a chance to visit and which was your favorite?

From lunar-like landscapes to European-style castles.

04/27/2026

We always look forward to our first baby quail sighting. We had seen a family with just one lone little one, but I'm thrilled to report another sighting with 4 babies. We're hoping to see more families as the days go by. Have you seen any new quail families in AZ this spring?

04/22/2026

Are you planning a road trip in the Rocky Mountains this summer? Consider a stop in Durango, Colorado for this vintage train ride.

Your complete Durango Silverton Train guide with insider tips for Colorado's historic narrow gauge railroad epic experience.

04/22/2026

This is one of the most beautiful places on the planet and it's right here in Arizona. I've hiked it more than once. It's worth the effort.

This is the most expensive hike in America, and it still sells out in hours.

Havasupai Falls isn’t something you casually decide to do. Permits open once a year, and if you’re not ready the moment they drop, you’re not getting one. Once you do, you’re committing to a 3 night stay in the canyon.

The hike starts at Hualapai Hilltop and drops about 10 miles into the Grand Canyon. You lose over 2,000 feet before you even reach camp, and everything you need for those three days is on your back.

What makes this place different is what’s waiting at base camp.

You’re not hiking to one waterfall. You’re moving through an entire canyon filled with them. Navajo Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls farther down. The water is that bright blue you’ve seen in photos, cutting through red rock walls the entire way.

It doesn’t feel like a single destination. It feels like a place you stay in.

There’s no water on the hike in, so you need to carry what you need or plan to filter once you reach the canyon. The hike out is the real test, climbing all that elevation back up mostly in the last mile and usually in the heat.

That’s where your gear matters. A solid pack, enough water capacity, and a setup you trust for multiple days. This is not the place to figure things out as you go.

And by the time you actually get there, the permit starts at $455 per person. Then plane ride, hotels, food, and gear, this easily all adds up.

It’s a lot of effort, a lot of planning, and a bigger commitment than most hikes. But if there’s one that actually lives up to it, this is it.

📍 Havasupai Falls, Arizona
🥾 ~20 miles round trip
🏕️ 3 nights required
💰 Permit required
💧 Multiple waterfalls throughout the canyon

04/14/2026

We had a fun day searching for a dozen Thomas Dambo trolls at South Coast Botanic Garden in So Cal. Terry was a good sport and climbed up into this lovable troll's squeeze. This was our first chance to see these sweet creatures, but it won't be our last. Follow along to see what we found and where we'll go next.