Apacheland Days

Here's a little something I found the other day. Superstition Mountain Museum will hold their Apacheland Days celebration on January 16 and 17. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Apacheland Movie Ranch's opening. I don't have the time to research detailed information on the Apacheland studio this morning, but several movies, TV shows and commercials were filmed there before a fire burnt down all but the barn and the chapel that appeared in the Elvis movie, Charro. Those two buildings were relocated to the Superstition Mountain Museum, their permanent home.

(I thought I had a photo of the chapel, but I can't find it.)

Author Event at Sedona Rouge

I will be speaking and signing books along with two other Arizona authors, Christine Bailey and Jackie Dishner, on January 23 from 4pm-6pm at Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa. I'm really looking forward to the trip. In addition to the event, we are scheduled to take the Water to Wine tour where you kayak to the area's wineries. I'm also hoping to take a helicopter and a Tomcar ride.

Flagg Gem and Mineral Show

I wish I knew about the Flagg Gem & Mineral Show before I went last Saturday. If I had, I would have taken the kids earlier. Usually held the first weekend in January (this year it was moved to the second weekend so it didn't conflict with New Year's Day celebrations), the show features more than 100 dealers of minerals, fossils, gems and lapidary materials. One of its goals is to increase children's interest in rocks, minerals, geology and science, and the Arizona Mineral & Mining Museum Foundation and the Mesa Community College Geology Club, the show's sponsors, go out of their way to make this a particularly child-friendly event. Several groups offer free samples to children and teachers.

We went because one of my daughters needed rock samples for a science project and her teacher recommended the event. She suggested we go to the Arizona Leaverite booth where kids can choose 12 labeled rock and mineral samples from those displayed in cups on three tables. Cost? $1. This seemed to be one of the more popular booths at the event although the "Dig for Fossils" exhibit and the florescent rock display were also popular.

Did I mention this gem and mineral show is free? Free admission and free parking. If you have kids--and even if you don't--keep an eye out for this event next year.

Salsa Trail

I randomly picked a brochure on the Salsa Trail (http://www.salsatrail.com/) this morning, and rather than write about all the restaurants and my last visit, I wanted to focus on a discussion I recently had with a fellow writer. The question is this: Is the Salsa Trail a day trip?

Of course, it can be a day trip. In fact, the last time I visited Graham County and explored the Trail, I tackled it as a day trip. But, how much salsa can you eat in one day? On my trip, my husband, girls and I stopped first at Bush & Shurtz for lunch. We drove down the road for chips and salsa at La Casita Cafe in Thatcher. It gets a little blurry after that. I think we went on to have chips and salsa at Casa Manana before driving out to Country Seven Grocery in Duncan, which at the time was no longer serving food (although we wouldn't have been able to eat it). From there, we visited the San Simon Chile Company (Mi Casa Tortilla Factory wasn't open). At that point, I think we were up for some more salsa, so we stopped at Manor House & Rock N' Horse Saloon. Dinner I think was at Chalo's in Safford, but maybe it was El Charro. After eating my weight in chips and salsa alone that day, who knows?

I personally think the Salsa Trail is best experienced over the course of a weekend. Spend some time at Discovery Park and Mt. Graham International Observatory. Fish at Roper Lake State Park. Rockhound at Red Mountain and Black Hills rockhound areas. Off-road at Hot Wells Dunes Recreation Area. Or, sight see at the Rex Allen Museum in Willcox. Then, hit the Salsa Trail again. I recommend staying at the Black Rock Ranch Wilderness Retreat (http://www.blackrockranch.com/), the Olney House (http://www.olneyhouse.com/), or the Simpson Hotel (http://www.simpsonhotel.com/).

Now, can you make the Salsa Trail a day trip? I suppose if you gathered a group of friends and ordered one or two appetizers at each stop, you could make it to all 12 restaurants, the tortilla factory and the chile company in one day. Instead, I would pick two or three restaurants, eat at the first for lunch, sight see or visit a few local shops and then have dinner. Give each of the restaurant the full gastronomic attention they deserve.

New Year

For me, the New Year starts today, the Monday my kids go back to school and I get back to work. I didn't make any formal resolutions this year, no goals to hike down the Grand Canyon or bird watch in Southern Arizona. But, I do plan to clean my desk.

What does a clean desk have to do with travel? As a travel writer, I collect brochures, articles, photos, you name it. My desk runneth over with them. The plan: write and clean. Every day, I'll grab a brochure, share a tip I've learned in my travels, and clear off my desk. Hopefully, before too long, I'll have a cleaner desk and a steady stream of blog content.

Allan Houser at the Desert Botanical Garden

This year the Desert Botanical Garden is featuring the sculptures of Native American artist Allan Houser during Las Noches de las Luminarias. (Last year, it was the work of Chiluly.) Houser, who died in 1994 at the age of 80, is often referred to as the father of American Indian sculpture. Here are a few of the works I photographed (not very well) recently at the Luminarias:

Tempe Art Galleries

In my last post, I talked about the Tempe Center for the Arts, which includes a small art gallery and a sculpture garden. I wanted to take a few minutes here, though, and talk about the other galleries in Tempe.

The Tempe Public Library, located at 3500 S. Rural Road, displays art on both its first and second floors. Exhibits rotate and include student work. At Connections Cafe, also within the library, local artists have an opportunity to show their work. Upcoming exhibits include Othman and Thomas; Bruns and Keaton; Kaster and Klotz; and Carlton and Farias.

The Tempe Post Office, located at 500 S. Mill Avenue, also showcases local artists. Displays here emphasize fun, eye-catching and unusual work.

The recently refurbished Gallery at the Vihel Center also offers the community a chance to see local artwork. The center, located at 3340 S. Rural Road, holds classes, too, in dance, music, theater and visual arts for both children and adults.

And, then there's ASU. Check out the ASU Art Museum at the corner of Mill Avenue and 10th Street. This contemporary art museum is free to the public and is home to the very first Georgia O'Keefe skull painting. As part of your visit, cross 10th Street and tour the Ceramics Research Center's displays of 3-dimensional art.