Scottsdale - the West's most Western town

Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Named Scottsdale in 1894 after its founder Winfield Scott, a retired U.S. Army chaplain, the city was incorporated in 1951 with a population of 2,000. At the 2020 census, the population was 241,361.

 

Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix

It was a long day - we hiked in Sedona (click here to see - Sedona - Cathedral Rock hike) and stopped to explore Jerome on our way back to Phoenix (click here to explore - Jerome AZ, the town with a story...). So the next day we decided to take it easy and enjoy something within the city. We chose the Desert Botanical Garden as it promised a lot to see. As the spring season begins to bloom, the Desert Botanical Garden is transformed into a wonderland of vibrant colors and unique desert flora. The garden's 140 acres of stunning landscapes and winding paths provide the perfect backdrop for a day of exploring and appreciating the beauty of the desert. In late April, the garden is in full swing, with a variety of plants in bloom and wildlife making their presence known.

 

Jerome AZ, the town with a story...

The hike to Cathedral Rock in Sedona (click here to see it - Sedona - Cathedral Rock hike) was great. Amazing scenery and nice weather... what else can you ask for? On our way back, we decided to take a longer route and see a small town of Jerome, which is about an hour from Sedona and occupies the slopes of the mountain and climbs up to the sky...

 

Sedona - Cathedral Rock hike

Saguaros looked absolutely amazing (click here to see - Saguaro National Park - King Canyon and Gould Mine hike) but we got toasted while hiking there. We also had other plans and wanted to explore somewhere cooler, so the next day we drove north to explore the Sedona area. Located at 4350 feet (shut up those who live in a mile high city, I know how you feel about such silly elevation ;) ) Sedona offers a pleasant coolness (compared to Phoenix). Known for its red sandstone formations and vibrant colors...

 

Saguaro National Park - King Canyon and Gould Mine hike

Saguaro National Park is home to an impressive number of saguaro cacti... By the way, while talking to a ranger, I found out that they pronounce it as sa-WAH-ro ;) But... regardless of how you pronounce it, you will find a lot of them there... and they are truly magnificent...

 

Cañón de grandioso - Grand canyon

We drove all day long and reached the South Rim of the Grand Canyon late. I mean it... Like 10PM late. It was pitch dark in the parking lot and we could see nothing... Absolutely nothing... But we couldn't not walk to the edge and look down... Still nothing to see though... but... we all can swear we could feel something... something unspeakable and unclear... like some huge beast was quietly sleeping down below and breathing slowly... It was a silent night and a windless one... but still we all can feel the presence of something we have no words for...

We slept in the car and in the morning we walked there again and now we can see... not much in the beginning but with the Sun slowly rising we finally can see it - the Grand Canyon...