Phoenix - Hiking Locally and in Saguaro National Park + Botanical Gardens

Phoenix is a large city, and local hikes on weekends get very crowded. One of the few hikes I have done here was Camelback Mountain via Cholla Trail right in Phoenix. I found parking on the street next to the trailhead. It was going to be another hot day but not until later in the morning. I didn't know what to expect besides the fact that it was a shorter hike with quite a bit of elevation gain. 

It turned out to me better than I thought. The elevation gain meant some scrambling, especially as I was getting closer to the top. The views of the city were fantastic throughout the hike. I even was able to visualize where I dined the day before at Different Pointe of View!

The trail was very crowded, and several times I had to wait for people to pass to get into the narrow trail in the rock. For some reason, my fear of heights did not make an appearance for which I was very grateful. The view at the top was a fantastic 360 degree view of the entire city. It was a worthy adventure.

I also got to visit Desert Botanical Garden on the free admission day. Picture this: a 140-acre playground bursting with cacti, succulents, and wildflowers. It's not your grandma's garden; it's a wild, vibrant, and downright picturesque oasis in the midst of the Sonoran Desert. It was incredibly crowded that day, something that I considered, but decided it would not deter me from visiting for free. My first stop was the Butterfly enclosure. Because of the time of the day (I went after work), the butterflies were already hiding, but I still enjoyed a brief adventure into their world. I felt bad invading their space when they are about to go to sleep.

The gardens are organizes in loops/trails. I was able to complete all of them in just under 2 hours leisurely stroll.

Desert Wildflower Loop:

The garden features a dedicated area celebrating the ephemeral beauty of desert wildflowers. Depending on the season, visitors can witness a breathtaking display of colors as wildflowers bloom and carpet the landscape.

Cactus and Succulent Galleries:

You can also wander through the Cactus and Succulent Galleries to discover a diverse collection of these iconic desert plants. The garden showcases an extensive variety, from towering saguaros to whimsically shaped agaves, providing a fascinating insight into the adaptability of desert life.

Ethnobotanical Garden:

Explore the Ethnobotanical Garden, where the rich cultural history of the Sonoran Desert comes to life. This area highlights the ways in which indigenous communities have utilized desert plants for food, medicine, and shelter, offering a profound connection between nature and human heritage. This was one of my favorites as it how humans integrated in nature in a reasonable way vs. how we are doing it now.

Desert Discovery Trail:

For those seeking a more immersive experience, the Desert Discovery Trail winds through the natural terrain, providing an opportunity to encounter native wildlife and experience the unique flora in its natural habitat. I personally just enjoyed the incredible variety of plant species. This was my favorite trail here.

Having visited the human-made beauty, I decided to visit Saguaro cacti in the wild in Saguaro National Park. This national park, split into two distinct districts on either side of Tucson, Arizona, offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the mesmerizing landscapes shaped by towering cacti, vibrant wildflowers, and the enchanting rhythm of desert life.

Saguaro National Park is synonymous with the saguaro cactus, and these giants are the undisputed stars of the show. Picture colossal cacti reaching skyward like sentinels of the desert. The park is a sanctuary for these slow-growing giants, some of which have been standing tall for over a century, creating a unique and awe-inspiring silhouette against the Arizona sky.

I picked a popular hike King Canyon Trail to Wasson Peak. The weather was absolutely incredible at the end of October. The trail was challenging enough to get the heart beating faster but not so hard that I would want to take multiple breaks. Nice and steady. 

The views of the cacti and the surrounding landscape exceeded my expectations. There was something about being in desert surrounded by the giants knowing that they only grow an inch a year in good conditions. It reminded me being among giant sequoias but in the desert.

Last stretch before reaching the top

While I didn't hike as much as I wanted in Phoenix, the hikes that I did were wonderful. Some places I visit warrant further exploration of nature at another time, and maybe Phoenix was that for me.

Phoenix - Culture and People

I truly maximized my cultural experience in Phoenix. In one month, I attended 7 theater/symphony/dance performances, a festival, a concert, several restaurants, including Different Pointe of View, a botanical garden, did a historical tour of the Orpheum Theater and signed up for yoga classes. Being near civilization has its pros.

The first weekend in Phoenix opened up with a Greek festival that I was supposed to attend with a Meetup group. I did meet the group but decided to do a quick "overview" of the festival and head home. There was some interesting food there but it was so hot I could not imagine drinking or eating much. On the way home, I stopped by a Greek Orthodox church that reminded me of the time when I would have the desire to come to pray. Sadly, not anymore. I did buy a candle as a respect to my traditions and lit it before exiting. 

I tried Spanakopita pastry - it was delicious but a bit greasy

I attended a few free performances during my stay in Phoenix. Performance Pop-Ups organized by Herberger's Theater were truly a treat. Located in the Pavilion (an outdoor stage outside Herberger's Theater), the performances were different every time. The first one I saw there was organized by the Convergence Ballet Company. Dancers performed both classical and contemporary pieces in 100F heat. I genuinely admired them.

Another performance was dedicated to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) that was very odd and interesting at the same time with both chanting, singing and dancing intertwined together.

I also went to Herberger's Theater twice to see a dance performance the Match Girl by Scorpius Dance Theater as well as The Lady with All the Answers, a play based on columnist Ann Landers. Both took place on a smaller stage with just a few dozen people in the audience. Both were wonderful!

I could not miss going to symphony, and when I saw a combination of Harry Potter and symphony, I could not miss it! The orchestra accompanied the movie making it feel like you are part of the movie. Sadly, the venue was way too warm, and Harry Potter too sleep-inducing as I used to watch it to fall asleep. After the first part of the movie, I decided to retire to my car and head home missing the post-intermission part. Can I say that I hate intermission in general??? Why would someone want to interrupt something that is so entertaining?!

I had a chance to do a historical tour of the Orpheum Theater. The free 90-minute guided tour gave an overview of how the theater came about as well as offered a chance to walk around both backstage and on the stage. It was a wonderful experience that made me appreciate the concert by Ruben and Clay that I attended the following week there. 

The "sky" above the audience - lighting changes to represent different times of the day

First floor

Some of the artists who performed here

This is where the performers do their make up

Round room with insane sound - you stand in the center and say something just to hear the voice bouncing off the walls emphasizing the sound

The view from the stage to the audience

The ceiling in one of the rooms

First floor from a different view - the doors lead to the main floor

VIP "Green room"

I have not heard of Clay and Ruben before, I must admit, and only bought the tickets because I didn't think I would have time to tour the Orpheum theater before. The concert turned out to be terrific full of positive energy and great singing.

As for the restaurants, I had a wonderful opportunity to visit Different Pointe of View, a restaurant on top of the mountain with the most incredible night views that I have ever seen. The service was fantastic, it's been a long time since I have experienced formal service like that... The food was okay, but really who cared at that point??!

Another terrific restaurant that I didn't even expect to be that great was Pa'La Wood Fired Cooking with tapa plates. I booked a table mostly because of live Jazz, but got so much more!

Finally, Ocotillo was another great find. The outdoor area was perfect on another hot day. Every dish was terrific.

I was really impressed by what Phoenix had to offer from a cultural perspective. Although I only attended one meetup where I actually got to socialize, I could see myself living here if not for the heat. 

Phoenix, AZ - Can city life be peaceful?

I must say, I was concerned about this place. Rented through Furnished Finder, the casita seemed perfect for my needs - near the downtown, but not in it, somewhat private and updated. The landlady seemed a bit unresponsive at times. I had to was over a week to sign a lease, and another week to confirm she received it. I was really worried it was not going to be good. 

I left Las Cruces a day earlier on Friday as I had an overlapping day. It was sad leaving that place as I got pretty attached to the sunsets and peacefulness of it. Phoenix was my next destination, and I knew I would not get the same quiet atmosphere as I had in Las Cruces, so I set my expectations appropriately. It took me about 4-5 hours to get to Phoenix and I was able to get in the casita via the self check in process. Did I mention that I had to prepay for the rental? I don't think so. It is typically a practice when I rented on Airbnb, but with Furnished Finder I would normally pay when I checked in. This added to my nervousness about the place, but I decided to take a chance.

I parked in the driveway as directed by the host and went to check the place out. The casita was located in the backyard and with the code the host provided I was able to get in. Success!

Bedroom

King size bed

Living room/kitchenette + Kitty

Kitchenette

Living area

Bathroom

I was impressed. The cleanliness exceeded my expectations, so did the size of the place. Everything was nicely laid out. While there was not a full stove, the host provided a double hot plate and a fancy toaster over/air fryer. There was also a water cooler with filtered water. At first, I thought it was merely a nice-to-have sort of thing, but after I tasted the water, I realized I could not even use it after filtration. It tasted disgusting, no clue why...

The privacy was not there as I expected but the neighborhood seemed quiet and peaceful. I felt comfortable here, and after a few nights realized that city life can indeed be okay. The host did not use the backyard and the back of the casita was against an alley providing some distance from neighbors. The other two neighbors were quiet throughout my stay. Phoenix was growing on me...