The Great American Road Trip. Day 5. AZ-NM. Tent Rocks National Monument.

Kasha-Kutuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a little out of the way as we drove the 5 hours from Holbrook to Santa Fe, but well worth the extra mileage and time.  These 5,610 acres of public land (included with our National Parks pass) are located 52 miles north of Albuquerque and 35 miles south of Santa Fe.  

Tent rock formations (the cone shaped formations) are created from millions of years of volcanic activity, creating different layers of ash and lava flow, followed by wind and water erosion.  The hoodoos (the formations with the big boulder caps) are made from the same process but the harder boulder cap protects the softer rock below.

There is a sign when you arrive at the ranger station that says 'from this point the wait is 60 minutes'.  Lucky for us we arrived late (around 3:00), about an hour and a half before it closed, because there was no wait at all.  We didn't have time to hike the entire Slot Canyon Trail, but we did the best part (says the person who didn't do the entire trail).  After the slot canyons there is a steep climb with a nice view, which would have been a little difficult in the heat, with a baby strapped to my chest, and not enough water.  So, it worked out for the best.

Inside the slot canyons there was a nice breeze and protection from the sun.

I couldn't imagine coming here when it is an hour wait to just park.  It would not be a fun hike through the skinny slot canyons, trying to squeeze past people of various sizes.  

Our timing was perfect.

 

The snake is a little blurry but I didn't have time to properly focus before it lost interest in me.

Tent Rocks National Park is TINY.  There are only a few miles of trails, but if you are in the area it is definitely worth a visit.

The Great American Road Trip. Day 4. Route 66.

We said our goodbyes to family, leaving today for Holbrook, AZ.  

It would have been nice to stay another day but our Scamp awaits!

It wasn't easy planning for this trip since we had to carefully break up the driving to be more baby friendly, and that often leaves you smack dab in the middle of nowhere.  Since we don't have our trailer yet. we have to stay somewhere... so Holbrook it is!  (On a scale of nowhere to somewhere, Holbrook is very close to nowhere.)

Here is our soon-to-be trailer!

We must be getting closer to the source.

Our first stop was Flagstaff (the previous residence of my aunt and uncle).

Flagstaff is a funky little town, full of interesting characters, past and present.

In 1886 Flagstaff was the second largest city along the railroad between Albuquerque and the West coast.

Flagstaff is a great place to walk around and look at historic buildings. 

We had lunch and split an IPA at Lumberyard Brewing Company, located in a building that really used to be a lumberyard (so they didn't have to get too creative with the name).

Historic Route 66 runs through Flagstaff and continues on through Holbrook, our stopover for the evening.  Officially, we drove on Interstate 40 and not the 66, but you can see weathered remains of roadside attractions from the freeway.

Our mini adventurer is welcomed!   Good.  

Although our hotel, Brad's Desert Inn, doesn't look like much on the outside, it is the most highly rated hotel in the area, and was quite comfortable for the night. 

The Wigwam Motel (built in 1950) would have been a neat to stay at but teepees aren't known for their extensive square footage' I am not actually sure if there is room for a crib.  

The man who patented Wigwam Village didn't like the name teepee so called them wigwams instead... he didn't like the name teepee but was fine with wigwam... 

There are dozens of towns along Route 66 in Arizona.  The Wigwam Motel is super cool but it makes you wonder what fun motels and roadside attractions that we missed along the way.

The Great American Road Trip. Day 3. The West.

For Eric's first Father's Day, our daughter was cut off from her typical attempt at cat befriending so we could hit the road before it got too hot.  

Our plan was to throw (securely) the car seat into the International, Grumpy, for a Baby's First Off Road Adventure. 

Grumpy has no AC so time was of the essence.  

We drove through Tonto National Forest to the Doppler, about an hour away.  With chains rattling around in the back, and the loud roar of Grumpy, with Baby on Board, the Doppler looked like an unattainable spot on the horizon.  Much to our surprise Little Miss A slept almost the entire time; before we knew it we were enjoying a 360 degree view and a cool breeze.

At close to 3 million acres, Tonto National Forest is the largest national forest in Arizona, and the fifth largest in the United States.

Good ol' Gumpy, he is fun!

Next on the agenda was to go to Scottsdale to the Museum of the West.

On Father's Day, dads get in free and their spouses are half off.  Its a super deal.

The museum includes guns, art, cowboy gear, bandit paraphernalia, Native American artifacts and more.  It is comprehensive and well worth the price of admission, Father's Day deal or not.

If it weren't for our clothes, and a dad carrying his own child, this would look like a scene straight out of the West!

The Great American Road Trip. Day 2. The Desert.

One street over from KC and Holly's is a reserve with hiking/biking paths.

We came to admire the saguaros (that largest cactus in the US!) and for a quick photo opp.  

(Our time was brief due to the heat. Safety first!)

Little Miss A is fascinated by the strange cacti.  

Well, she is fascinated by everything.

Saguaro's grow arms as they age.  

A single saguaro can have up to 25 arms.

And then it was pool party time!

Everyone likes a pool party.

💙

The Great American Road Trip. Day 1. CA-AZ.

Summer vacation is finally upon us and obviously the excitement is palpable.  

We are on our way to get our brand new 13' Scamp trailer at the manufacturer in Backus, MN (with a few stops along the way and a few more after). 

There is a 130 degree difference between our current road trip and our last one.

130❗❗

Our first stop is Cave Creek, AZ, to visit family.

This little baby gets comfortable fast.

Most of our time here will be spent in front of the swamp cooler in KC's handcrafted outdoor living room.  That or in the pool.  They are both great options.

We are aware that it is summer and we are in the desert.  We are used to the looks and comments when we say where we are going and when we are going there (they are the same looks and comments you get when you say you are going to Montana in the winter).  

But to those people I say don't come.  Haha.  

We love it here.  

The desert is amazing.

Safari Park Animal Impersonations

I know, I know, she is just a few months old, but I have to show off her animal impersonations.  

This is her joey...

Pretty spot on.

Then her lemur...

(It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant, wishing I was a lemur!)

This is her hand being a lemur... she is THAT good...

Actually, this is a handimal, handcrafted by Safari Park employees.  We were impressed, first that our little one allowed her hand to be painted, then that they turned her handprint into this!

This baby is talented.  

Absolutely amazingly wonderful.

I am one lucky momma!