Organ Pipe National Monument

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Gila Bend, Arizona

Driving through Gila Bend on our way to Southern Arizona.

Cactus and speeding cars are the main attraction at Organ Pipe National Monument in Southern Arizona

This is Organ Pipe National Monument, not an easy park to get to as there’s not a lot to see or do along the way. On this particular visit, the main loop trail was closed to traffic due to some fawning activity of the local pronghorn antelope population. Located on the Mexican border south of Tucson, the park’s main road is also the highway to Rocky Point, so beware of flying beer cans, ice chests in the middle of the road, and speeding 12-foot tall four-wheel-drive pickup trucks with teenagers racing south for a weekend of debauchery.

Cactus and speeding cars are the main attraction at Organ Pipe National Monument in Southern Arizona

On our way back home, this was just a day trip.

Renaissance Festival

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Getting a hug at the annual Renaissance Festival outside of Mesa, Arizona

We have only missed the Renaissance Festival (held every year just outside of Mesa, Arizona) one or maybe two years since moving to Arizona; thus, we are more likely to attend at least once than not at all.

This is great inexpensive entertainment offering shows, shopping, crazy people in costume, turkey legs, Queen Ann’s Lace, Caroline’s favorite – the Lusty Wench (two chocolate-covered strawberries provocatively posed), vegetarian breakfast sausages (great pickles), the King’s Nuts (candied almonds) and an occasional surprise, such as this goose that gave Caroline a nice little hug.

Prescott, Arizona

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Conner, Keaton, and Tia Herman posing with their snowmen in Prescott, Arizona

Old Friend and former employer Steve Herman invited us up to Prescott for a weekend in the snow. His kids, from the left, Conner, Keaton, and Tia, stayed busy building snowmen, just to tear them down after this photo was taken. We had a nice, slow weekend talking, going for a bite to eat, and a trip or two to Starbucks.

Update: Keaton (center), twin of Tia, seen here at six years old, tragically passed away ten years after this photo was taken at the young age of only 16. On December 30, 2010, Keaton died of a heroin overdose.

Los Angeles

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Visiting Santa Monica Pier late one night after a stoll along 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California

We don’t require a lot of motivation to make the 375-mile drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles and, from time to time, end up there a bit too frequently.

On the drive out, we often stop at Mix Bowl Cafe, a favorite Thai fast food neon-lit spot in Claremont. On the way home, a stop at TenRen’s for Bubble Tea is just as important. The purpose of this trip was to visit Santa Monica for a stroll along the 3rd Street Promenade with Mark Shimer, visit the Santa Monica Pier, and take a night walk along the ocean.