Blog

Citizen Public House: Where comfort meets class

Scottsdale, Arizona has long been a hotbed for innovative culinary cuisine and trendy nightclubs, especially clustered within the downtown/old town area. I recently received a suggestion from one of my readers encouraging me to try one of the latest gastronomic experiences, Citizen Public House (CPH). My readers rarely steer me...

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Exploring Page, Lake Powell and beyond

Page, Arizona is located in northern Arizona near the Utah border and is home to one of my favorite recreational lakes...Lake Powell. This stunning body of water has more coastline than the entire west coast...with finger inlets of turquoise blue water stretching for miles. Lake Powell is encompassed within the...

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Top-10 Backpacking essentials

I attended the 2014 Outdoor Retailer show this year and was introduced to a number of really cool products. As an avid outdoors person, I really enjoy camping and backpacking—since the show, I've been testing out a variety of products. Here are some of the best, and, essential backpacking gear...

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Montaras make mole hills out of mountains

Written by: Terri Campbell Initial look at the Womens Ahnu Montara hiking boots Price: $160.00 Model: Montara AF2139 Color: BLACK Material: Leather and swede accents Sizes: 5-11 Features: Padded leather collar and tongue, eVent® breathable waterproof bootie, Rubber toe protector, Vibram® outsole for traction on variety of surfaces. I love...

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Mother’s Day at the Wigwam

As someone who has lived in Arizona off and on most of my life, I have always been familiar with the historic Wigwam Resort, but for whatever reason, a visit had eluded me. As a travel blogger on the road most of the time, it’s been years since I had...

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Finland fascinates; winter activities thrill

I’ve been to Europe several times, but my recent trip to Finland was the first to a Nordic or Scandinavian country. I have lived most of my life in the Southwest of the U.S. and have little experience with winter activities, however several had been on my bucket list…such as...

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Sadness in Seattle

I made it to Seattle yesterday and have been going through some of my father's things with my step-mother and sister. It's been an emotional time, and, to be honest, I'm looking forward to this chapter being over. Link to previous Road Diary entry. The burial is tomorrow and a...

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Heading to Seattle to say goodbye

If you follow me closely, you know that a few weeks ago my father passed away. Needless to say, it has been a difficult time. My dad was not interested in a funeral, so the family is getting together this week for a memorial celebration. When I found out my...

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Cozy Cactus: Not fancy…just fabulous

Cozy Cactus is a wonderful bed and breakfast located in the Village of Oak Creek, not far from Sedona, Arizona. Heading north on Hwy 179 toward Sedona, the landscape is similar to that of the drive from Phoenix. However, just a few miles after you round a bend in the...

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It’s a very, very sad day…

It is a very sad day for me and my family. After battling and recovering from prostrate cancer, then trying to fight lung cancer, my father lost that battle this morning around 1am. I just learned of my father's lung cancer a couple months ago when he told me he...

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SKY: luxurious Lappish cuisine with a view

On my last evening in the Lapland capital of Rovaniemi, I was looking for a really nice place to enjoy one last Lappish meal before my departure. I asked a number of the locals which restaurant they thought I should try; nearly all said, “SKY Restaurant.” SKY is located at...

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Alchemy turns food into fun fare

Located in the San Diego community of South Park (just east of downtown) is a neighborhood restaurant the locals rave about, so I had to check it out for myself. Alchemy is a casual and slightly eclectic place serving up some interesting culinary fare and craft cocktails. The focal point...

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Arizona Renaissance Festival

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is is one of the largest such festivals in the nation. This year festival organizers are celebrating its 26th season, which runs from the beginning of February through the end of March. The 30-acre park is located just outside of Apache Junction, about 50 miles east...

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Kemi SnowCastle is downright cool

For years I've been enamored by the idea of a seasonal and temporary hotel made of snow and ice. I recently had an opportunity to visit one of the most well-known snow and ice structures in the world...the Kemi SnowCastle. While the unusually warm weather and overcast skies did not...

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