PASSION FRUIT AND JUMPING CACTI!
Beware of the jumping cactus, they said! I was more concerned about scorpions and spiders, but when I heard about the jumping Cholla cactus, I wasn't sure if I would brave hiking the desert on my own.
I had been to the desert in the southwestern part of the US but not to Scottsdale, Arizona or the Phoenix area. Sundresses packed and sandals ready to go, I boarded a plane for Arizona, looking forward to feeling the sun on my skin after a long dark winter in the midwest.
Wild horses, right on cue! Looking for great experience and a way to cool off in the summer heat? Try the kayaking tour down the Lower Salt River in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This excursion was a great place to do some scenic photography. You don’t have to worry about camera gear getting wet, they supply dry bags and unless you are planning on dancing in your kayak, it’s a pretty smooth, dry ride.
The guides had mentioned that there would be a possibility of seeing wild horses on this trip and right on cue, they came up to the bank and right into the water! The horses feed on the river grass and are used to boats, so they will come right out into plain view.
I had done some research before I left on the area and decided to look up hiking in the desert. I came across a couple of sites that warned of jumping cactus that attach to your skin and embed their tentacles if you try to pull them off! Now I had visions of hiding under my sheets with a flashlight spoofing on the Blair Witch Project, scared of heading out to the trails of the Sonora Desert Preserve. But when I arrived and connected with the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau , the lovely ladies there assured me that there were no jumping cacti and gave me the safety basics when hiking in the desert. Whew! Glad to hear that as I had a solo 4 AM sunrise photo-shoot planned.
The few days in Scottsdale were a wonderful experience! It turned out to be an adventure filled area in the desert, steeped with history and plenty of things to do. I met many restaurant and business owners, and the one thing that really struck me was the passion the people of this area have for what they do. I will be sharing some of their stories here and in future posts.
THE LAWRENCE DUNHAM VINEYARDS
The Lawrence Dunham Vineyards is one story of passion. Wine is at the center of life for the team that runs and owns this vineyard. With a tasting room in old town Scottsdale, you can taste all of the signature wines from grapes grown on their property in the Chiricahua Mountain region in Arizona. Their signature wine, the 2010 Petite Sirah was my favorite and I ended up shipping a bottle home for my husband.
THE HOUSE BRASSERIE
The House Brasserie has a really nice vibe with outdoor chandeliers and vintage style furnishings. The chemex coffee is something worth coming back for and the food was delectable! The towering chicken parmesan sandwich was very tasty!
