Arizona was fantastic. It was partially because the temperatures on arrival (February) were mid-70s, partially because Maryland friends Steve and Lisa coordinated their vacation to see us out here and partially just because this state is pretty neat. I guess lots of other people think this place is “the bomb” too, because upon arriving at our choice State Park, there were no spots available. We managed to find respite at a parking lot-of-a-resort one hour away, where they were squeezing two rigs to a site. Our neighbors on three sides of us were no further away than 10 feet.

Tucson is a pretty desert town with a good number of assorted cactus types sprouting everywhere, the most notable being the saguaro ( “suh-WAHR-uh”). This is the classic one with its big uplifted arms. To see them at Saguaro National Park is unbeatable—miles and miles of ‘em, some reaching heights of fifty feet. In order to get there, you have to drive on some of Tucson’s crazy roller coaster roads. They’re like riding a washboard, shaped that way to help direct rain water when it comes. They’re a cheap thrill if you drive ‘em quickly, but a terrible headache if you’ve got a big ole trailer in tow.

There’s this cute little town that you come up to real sudden like, nestled on a steep mountain side, named Bisbee. The history is that it was a mining town that went bust; now it appears that artisans, bikers and hippies have taken over—in a good way. The town oozes character from its winding streets lined with Victorian cottages, board shacks, cafes, antique shops and galleries. We really took a shine to the place and would have liked to spend some serious time exploring, but we needed to make good on reservations for the OK Corral shootout a half-hour away. An hour if you account for getting pulled over by the state police.

Phoenix is where we caught up with Steve and Lisa. In an attempt to redefine day trips, we did the four-hour drive to the Grand Canyon. The entire approach appears as normal terrain and never gives you a hint of what you’re about to see. Then you get to the edge and BAM! Everything drops down to unfathomable depths in front of you. It feels much like you’re viewing a photograph or a painting, because at this point you can look at it but you’re not really in it. I’ve never seen any photo that captures how it feels in person, though. It’s a surreal experience to take in the breadth and beauty of this place.

Back in Phoenix, the four of us did some exploring. Taliesin West is the winter home for the architecture school of Frank Lloyd Wright. The conclusion after touring the place is that this guy was way ahead of his time. The thoughtful designs and ideas he’s displayed here hold up well against today’s design approaches. The Apache Trail is basically a dusty road peppered with tourist traps. Here you can eat ice cream flavored from prickly pear cactus paddles, see tourists poke their heads through a toilet seat for photographs and ride in circles on a jackass. Good times if you don’t expect authenticity. Tacos Jalisco is a genuine Mexican fast food joint and it ain’t no Taco Bell. We were the only crackers in the place and tried to blend in. The food was terrific and the mariachi band was even better. It’s hard to keep a low profile when they single you out for requests, though. Do you know “Vaya con dios?”