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Friday, November 25, 2016

Exploring Taos Pueblo: A Native American Village in Taos, New Mexico



The Taos Pueblo is the oldest continually inhibited dwellings in New Mexico - built between A.D. 1300 and 1450.



Approximately 150 people live within the Pueblo full time.



The Pueblo is made of adobe. Adobe is a clay straw mixture typically in the form of sun-dried bricks, but can be poured into forms. The walls of the pueblo are usually made very thick, sometimes 2-3 feet.



Pottery, jewelry, and other locally handmade items can be purchased in little shops located throughout the pueblo.



 Completed in 1850, the San Geronimo( St. Jerome) Chapel was built to replace the original church which had been destroyed in the Mexican-American War.




Address:

120 Veterans Highway

Taos, New Mexico 87571



Admission:

Adults: $16 per person
Groups (8 or more Adults): $14 per person
Students: $14 per person

Children 10 and under: Free


Hours:

Taos Pueblo Hours:
Monday – Saturday 8:00AM – 4:30PM
Sunday – 8:30AM – 4:30PM


Happy Travels! 


Friday, November 18, 2016

Discovering the Cactus Forest at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona


The Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections. They are located on either side of the city of Tucson, Arizona. 



The park is named after the saguaro cactus, native to its desert environment.





In the eastern Rincon Mountain District, Cactus Forest Drive is a paved eight mile drive with beautiful views of the desert. There are many pull overs and hiking trails on the route.



There are around 1200 species of plants in the Rincon Mountain District and about 400 species in the Tucson Mountain District.




 The saguaro cactus is the largest of the 25 species of cactus located in the park. It can grow up to 60 feet tall and weigh up to 4800 pounds. If the conditions are right, it can live up to 200 years.




All of these photos were taken on the drive in the Rincon Mountain district.






Address:
3693 S Old Spanish Rd
Tucson, AZ 85730




Happy Travels! 













Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Sky Ranch Lodge (Review) Sedona, Arizona


The Sky Ranch Lodge is located on top of a mesa and has some of the best views in Sedona. This was our favorite spot for hiking and watching the sunset.



It is conveniently located across the road from the airport, and close to shopping and sightseeing.



A short walk puts you at one of the most popular overlook in Sedona. This area gets crowded, especially at sunset.




The location is very convenient for hiking to the airport vortex. The trail head is located at the back of the parking lot just across the main road.



The property features an outdoor pool with waterfall and a large hot tub.



The grounds are beautifully landscaped with walkways, bridges, sitting areas, and fish ponds located throughout.




There are many choices for accommodation options. We chose one with a kitchenette at the back of the property with a garden view.. We would have loved to have had one with a mesa view at the front of the property, but they were all booked when we made reservations. 



We loved everything about the lodge, but the views from the patio were amazing!



Relaxing on the patio and watching the sunset is the main attraction at the lodge. It's easy to understand why that is by this photo I took on our last night there. 


Address:

 1105 Airport Rd
 Sedona, AZ 86336


Happy Travels! 

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Airport Mesa Vortex and Hike– Sedona, Arizona


Sedona is a special place not only for it's beautiful red messes, but also for it special energy. Every year, thousands of people travel from all over the world to experience these vortexes.




Sedona’s vortexes are areas of concentrated energy rising from the earth in a swirling pattern similar to a tornado.




This vortex energy is also reported to be found at sacred sites such as Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid.





It is said that the vortex causes the twisting of juniper trees in places where this energy is strongest.





There are four main Vortexes in Sedona. We hiked to the Airport Vortex.




We started our out from the parking lot next to the airport vista overlook. It is a little over half a mile from the vortex.





The lot is a large parking area on the left up Airport Road from the vortex parking. There are only eight spaces to park close to the vortex and they are always full. The lot is across the road from the Sky Ranch Lodge where we were staying. I highly recommend staying there! It is a beautiful place! I will make a post about it later.





Be sure a check out the overlook across the road from the parking lot. The view is amazing!










The views from the Airport Mesa Overlook are worth the hike, regardless of rather you feel the energy or not!


Happy Travels! 

Video of Hike ↓↓↓










Friday, November 11, 2016

Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch ( Review) Tucson, Arizona


I was looking for a place to stay in Tucson, Arizona when I came across the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch. The front entry had me hooked immediately! I read on about the accommodations and amenities, which all sounded good, so I made reservations. 




I have been disappointed many times when I was expecting a place to be how it was presented and it wasn't. But let me tell you, this place exceeded my expectations! It is amazing!




The Hacienda Del Sol is one of Tucson's oldest and most prestigious guest ranch resorts with a very interesting history. Read about the resort's history here.





The resort offers lodging in an older section or in the new area. We chose the newer area.





The adobe buildings and grounds are beautiful!





We stayed in #52, which is at the top of these stairs.










Besides being incredibly beautiful, our room had everything we could possibly need. We even had soft robes to put on after getting out of the shower!





Brightly colored tile work is throughout the grounds and buildings.







There are walkways, gardens, and courtyards connecting the old and new sections.








The door to our room





One of two pools on the property. This one is an infinity with a hot tub connected located in the new section. We had this one to ourselves the whole time we were there.







The second pool is located on the side of a hill in the older section. The view is breath taking from the pool and hot tub both. Both pool areas are great places to watch the sun set.




The perfect place to watch the sun set on a chilly day.




I noticed a rainbow as we were loading the car to leave. The perfect ending to a perfect stay! I hope you enjoyed the tour around the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch.



Happy Travels! ~ Sherri