It was around 10:00 a.m. on May 12th with clear, blue skies and a cool, comfortable temperatures in the mid-60's (18.3C). We piled into Janet and Ralph's SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) and drove to Flagstaff for some lunch and sightseeing. Off in the distance was the snow capped Humphrey's Peak, the highest natural point in Arizona at 12,637 feet 3,852m) and also the offspring of the San Francisco Peaks.
On the corner of Aspen Avenue and San Francisco Street sat the Babbitt Brothers Building. Beginning as a supply store in 1888, this business grew in size and stature, eventually becoming Arizona's largest department store half a city block big. Slated for demolition, the building was purchased in 1991 and is currently being renovated.
Also located on San Francisco Street was the Hotel Monte Vista, built in 1926. Rumors had it that the Monte Vista was haunted and guests have reported "sightings" and supernatural experiences. The hotel's history has been colorful and ranged from the bank robber who enjoyed his last drink while he bled to death in the lounge to "The Rocking Chair" in Room 305 which has been featured on the American television show "Unsolved Mysteries." Even actor John Wayne reported seeing "The Phantom Bellboy" in Room 210 during a few of his stays. Mr. Wayne was stated as saying he thought the ghost was friendly and he didn't feel threatened by its presence.
Lunch at the Mountain Oasis International Restaurant, located on East Aspen Avenue, was delicious. The eclectic menu leaned towards healthy options. I tried their black bean and sweet potato wrap...yum, yum.
Flagstaff's early industries centered around livestock, lumber and the railroad. The town gained its name from a flag raising ceremony that was held on July 4, 1876, by Boston travelers who had left New England, and came to the area in search of farmland. They chose a tall pine tree, stripped its branches, and attached a flag to the top in honor of the nation's centennial of the Declaration of Independence. Today, Flagstaff still pays tribute to its past in the newly redeveloped downtown historic district in Heritage Square. The flag still flies from a stripped pine tree.
This was an interesting mural painted on the outside of a parking garage ramp.
Arizonans had a program called P.A.W.S. (Promoting Assets With Sculptures) designed to highlight educational assets in innovative ways as Arizona strives for excellence in their education field. The theme was cats = paws and each station, or cat, had an "asset" outlined on a plaque designed to inspire children with its message. This cat was Asset #15 - Positive Influence and the message read: "How do you best innovate, involve, support and work alongside others to benefit yourself, others and the world around you?" Nice.
The red brick railroad track signifies the history the railroad played in Flagstaff's past. In 1882, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad arrived in Flagstaff based on efforts to build a train depot on "flat land". After the railroad arrived, then came the sawmill operations since wooden ties were needed in the building of the railroad tracks. Since Flagstaff sits near the world's largest forest of ponderosa pines, wood was not a problem. Speaking of logs, did you know there was such a thing as "loggers lingo"? In the 1880's, the sawmill industry developed its own culture, including its own language. Examples were: coffee was referred to by its brand name "Arbuckle", pancakes were called "blankets" and American biscuits were "doorknobs". Cool, isn't it?
I thought this was different. A local car wash added on "...extreme mud fee...". Well, after thinking about it, we were in a dry, dusty desert after all.
Next, we drove to Sedona. Now THIS was gorgeous land. For my American movie fans: this area of Arizona became popular due to Hollywood as far back as the 1920's and as current as the 1980's. Sedona was host to more than sixty Hollywood productions (mostly westerns) and was casually referred to as "Little Hollywood". The "Call Of The Canyon", filmed in 1923, was the first film shot there and soon Sedona became an official back lot for western settings. Many films were in black and white (until color was introduced) but Sedona's stunning landscape is still recognizable. In February 2017, Sedona will host its 23rd Annual International Film Festival celebrating and paying tribute to the art of film.
My curiosity was peaked when I kept seeing these tall, spindly plants along the roads. It was an attention grabber because it was hard to decide whether this "thing" was in the last stages of bloom or just supposed to resemble a scrawny, malnourished cactus. I still haven't learned what they are, so a "call out" to my readers: does anyone recognize this plant?
Juniper berry grew wild along the off road trails. Juniper was once used as a less expensive substitute for black pepper in the days of the Romans. More commonly, the berries are used to flavor gin. The Native American Indians used it as an appetite suppressant in times of hunger.
State Road 179, also known as SR 179, is a north-south scenic byway in Arizona that runs through Sedona. The red rock and sandstone features along this roadway make this an extremely beautiful backdrop and one I would highly recommend to any future visitors to this area. Not long, the 7.5 mile length packed a lot of "awe" into one package both on and off the beaten path. It was definitely an outdoor paradise with hiking, horseback riding and biking trails throughout.
Sedona offered lots of tour options for exploring the landscape.
Not "just a pretty face", Sedona boasted a serious appreciation for fine arts and culture as well. Music festivals, theatre, galleries and film history along with mentoring programs and scholarships are just a few of the many programs offered.
Before coming to the Sedona Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Byway, we found a dirt road leading to a cool, rippling creek. The sound of the water trickling over rocks drew our attention and we carefully took a look. The "danger" sign did prove how overpowering the sound of the creek really was. It was worth the side trip and I just had to dip my toes in the icy cold water. Refreshing.
Now, more about the Sedona Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road. Arizona's Department of Transportation gave this route a scenic title in 1984 because it offers a rare opportunity to see such a variety of elements in such a short distance. Beginning near Sedona, the road follows US 89A north for 14.5 miles through seven major plant communities and geologic formations likened to the Grand Canyon.
Another impressive element of this spectacular drive was the hair raising series of switchbacks (twists and curves) along the way.
We have hurricane warnings back home - this area of America fears fire. The parched land could become tinder with any carelessness. "Danger levels" were posted and prevalent in most national parks and byways we toured on this trip.
Once back at the campground, we talked about the amazing natural wonders we had seen thus far on our trip. Little did we know it was only going to get better and better and already it was becoming impossible to compare something like the Grand Canyon to Sedona (and more) in terms of colors, textures, rock formations and natural wonder. I never realized just how inspired and proud I would be of America's beauty.
We finished off our day with a home cooked meal of grilled steaks and lamb chops, Bibb lettuce salad and sautéed mushrooms. I attempted to contribute to the meal by preparing sweet potatoes cooked in the convection oven. Umm, I guess my domestic skills are still "challenged" a bit. The potatoes set off the smoke alarm in the coach.
Once I got past the smoke and pulled out my "masterpieces" from the oven, they were charred, black globs as hard as a hockey puck. It's a good thing I was traveling with three experienced cooks who made up for my lack of cooking skills.
Thanks to Rick, Janet and Ralph, we had a delicious dinner that night al fresco. That evening, we met our campground neighbors from Iowa, who made and bottled their own wine. So this shout out is to Mark and Lori...thank you again for the wine. Hope our paths cross again.
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