Category Archives: United States

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Arizona, Expats and TCKs, Uncategorized, United States, ,

With the heat of an Arizona summer in full force, our hiking trips have ended until September. However, Phoenix has a lot of budget experiences to offer besides its many outdoor offerings! Did you know that Phoenix-area residents can visit many of the Valley’s museums for free? The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is one of these.

How to Visit for Free

When we lived in Detroit, I could walk in to many museums without paying just because of the address on my drivers license. Although this isn’t the case in Phoenix, you can still find ways to get tickets without swiping your credit card.

There are two ways I know of to get in to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art for free. One is to go on a Thursday or the second Saturday of the month. I believe that at the time of writing, you are supposed to make a reservation. I can see why– it was pretty busy the last time I visited, even though the museum is still practicing more social distancing than most of the other places around town.

The other way to get in free is to snag a Culture Pass at one of the libraries in Maricopa County. If you’ve never used a Culture Pass, these are red laminated strips displayed near the door of any library in the county system. You have to take the Culture Pass strip to the front desk and have a librarian activate it for you, and then you take your receipt to the museum within seven days for entry. Each Culture Pass is worth admission for two. Depending on the time of year and the attraction, Culture Passes go quickly– so plan on arriving when the library opens if you want to be sure to grab one!

You do need a library card to get a Culture Pass. This means you need to have residency in Maricopa County. If you’re just visiting, the free days are your best bet!

Visiting SMoCA

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is located in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. You can park for free in the garage behind the museum. Thank goodness for that– parking in the sun at this time of year makes getting back in the car feel like climbing into an oven!

It had been about five years since I’d been to SMoCA, and I was excited to see what had changed. I was also excited to show it to my friend Jenny, a New Zealander who recently moved here after nine years mining gold in Mongolia.

(Yes, her life as is cool as it sounds– you can check out her travel blog here!)

SMoCA is a small museum with just a few galleries, but it does change exhibits frequently. The first time I went, several years ago, I was unimpressed by a display of American cheese squares laid out in a grid. Come on, people. American cheese is barely food, much less art.

This time, however, the museum displayed beautiful and thought-provoking modern art as well as contemporary twists on traditional art forms.

SMoCA Exhibits

During our visit, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art showcased several cool exhibits. Our favorite was a fantastic weaving display featuring human-sized baskets and a modern take on traditional tapestry weaving. The artist, Diedrick Brackens, was inspired by the Biblical story of Moses to create baskets that people can float in. It included videos of the artist trying out his beautiful basket boats!

I’ve never seen tapestries like this done on a traditional loom. It must take a lot of skill to take photos, edit them into monochromatic computer images, create a weaving pattern, and execute the design flawlessly. So cool!

Things to Do Near SMoCA

After our trip to the museum, Jenny treated me to a lunch at Los Olivos, a delicious Mexican restaurant next to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. The building of the restaurant is also a work of art, with interesting stained glass windows bathing a room all in blue, fish tanks bubbling in the corner, and unique architecture.

Since SMoCA is located in Old Town Scottsdale, there are also many other places to dine, drink, and dessert. One of my favorites is Sugar Bowl, an old-timey ice cream shop once frequented by Bil Keane, creator of Family Circus.

If you’re looking for something to do on a hot Arizona day…

…then the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is a great place to go! You’ll be sure to enjoy modern art infused with emotion and meaning from creators in the Southwest and all around the world.

Shaw Butte Ruins

Shaw Butte Trail

Arizona, Blog, Nature, Uncategorized, United States,

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I travel. A lot. Not always for fun, sometimes we’re just moving—and we’ve moved 12 times in our seven-year marriage! But with the pandemic, we’ve really slowed it down. In fact, I haven’t been out of the country for over a year, and barely left the state. Still, I’ve been able to do some exploring right here in Phoenix! Although I’ve spent over 20 years of my life here, there’s still a lot I’ve never seen, especially when it comes to hiking trails.

A couple years ago, Ben got me a book called 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Phoenix for Christmas. It has been our goal to hit all 60 hikes—even if some of them CHEAT and are 75 miles out of town! Not surprisingly, the 15 hikes we’ve done have been mostly close to home.

One of my favorites so far is a hike that Ben and I did during his last day off: Shaw Butte. Although we lived ten minutes away from his hike for three years, we never did it. Now that we’ve moved across town, I can say it’s still worth the drive!

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Shaw Butte is apparently one of the most popular hikes in Phoenix. While I was doing Camelback and Piestewa over and over, other outdoor enthusiasts were throwing Shaw Butte into the mix. It’s actually quite a bit easier than either of the other two, but it is a bit longer, at four miles.

My favorite part of this hike is that you get a completely different view of Phoenix. It lines up just right with Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw so that you get to see layers on layers of mountains—something that’s not common to find in the middle of urban sprawl!

My second-favorite part of the hike are the ruins three-quarters of the way to the summit. Although ancient ruins are definitely more interesting, the shell of this 1960s building is still pretty cool. Especially considering that what used to be a restaurant patio is now the ideal lookout spot for viewing downtown Phoenix (and snapping some shots for Insta, let’s be real).

The story behind the ruins is even better. Sixty years ago, a restaurant called Cloud Nine overlooked what was then the northern part of Phoenix. Patrons were shuttled to the fancy nightclub using the owner’s vehicle, since no real road was built and there’s only way up and down.

I have to imagine that Cloud Nine wasn’t exactly to code. Maybe that’s why it burned down in a mysterious fire. And unlike the mythical bird our city is named after, it never rose from the ashes.

If you’re like me, and were clueless about Shaw Butte, or if you’re just visiting Phoenix, put this hike on your to-do list! Not only is it a good workout and an excellent photo op, but it’s also a unique view into the history of Phoenix. If you stand very still, you may be able to imagine the ghosts of night club patrons milling around the patio with voice of Bobby Darin floating from the record player.

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

Arizona, Blog, International Travel, Nature, United States, , ,

How does one write a travel blog during a pandemic? The question of travel bloggers everywhere. I guess I could have spent time catching up on dozens of past adventures that I *intended* to write about, but instead I’ve been working on other projects– namely, finishing my novel.

HOWEVER, now that things are starting to open, I have been able to get out and do some fun things in Northern Arizona, where it isn’t a hundred bazillion degrees outside.

You think I’m exaggerating, but seriously, once it hits 115 degrees, you can’t even tell when it gets hotter anymore.

The good thing about living in Phoenix is that I can escape bad weather with a two-hour drive. My parents treated my family to trips up north in August, TWICE. A glorious reprieve.

While in Flagstaff, I finally had the chance to try the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course. There are actually two options for adults: The Zip Line and the Adult Adventure Course. I got to try both!

Zip Line

The Zip Line was so fun! This course offers dozens of zips, and one is so long you can’t even see the end through the trees. I love the feeling of being high up, so this was a lot of fun for me. If you’re nervous, though, never fear– you’re connected by two strong clips at all times.

My foster son, R, and I doing the Zip Line Course

Fun fact– this is the largest zip line course in the Western U.S.

Also– how many gnomes can you find hiding in the trees?

Adult Adventure Course

There are five levels to this course, and one guide told me (after I fearlessly leapt to a rope that swung me into a giant net) that only 25% of people actually finish all five. Can you do it?

My husband, Ben, and I. And yes, I chose that shirt on purpose.

The beginning of this course is really easy, aside from crawling through a hanging barrel. But it does get harder. And higher. There’s even some bouldering involved!

I liked the Adult Adventure Course best. It’s focused on challenge, rather than just fun. But both were a lot of great! Definitely something I’d do again.

COVID Precautions

The Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course’s COVID precautions were appropriate. Everyone on staff wore a mask and the facility was clean. Guests were encouraged to social distance and avoid going in the building, except to use the restroom. We were allowed to take off our masks once we got in the trees, but each party had to stay on separate platforms. You will be touching things other people touched, but I wasn’t too worried about it since it was outside in the sunlight. I just didn’t touch my face and washed my hands after.

I totally recommend this! I was born in Flagstaff and lived there for several years. I’ve been to all the touristy things within two hours. This one is one of my favorites.

Nearby Attractions:

Wupatki National Monument

The Grand Canyon

Sunset Crater

Wupatki National Monument

Arizona, Blog, International Travel, United States,

It’s high time I invited you to my favorite place in the world (outside of Sint Maarten, of course). If you’ve ever spent a significant amount of time in Arizona, you know that Great State Forty-Eight has a lot to offer in the way of hidden roadside treasures. My absolute favorite is Wupatki National Monument.

A couple of years ago, Ben and I took a road trip from Phoenix to Page, which is north of the Grand Canyon on the border of Utah. Along the way, we stopped at several ancient Native American dwellings. I wrote about Palatki, but we also stopped at Wupatki during that trip. This year, I decided to introduce my sister, Kaylee, to Wupatki.

Wupatki is one of those amazing places that doesn’t get the attention it deserves, which makes it even better, because you don’t have to share it with seven million tourists and busload of field-trippers. In fact, it’s so out-of-the-way that you might drive by it on the highway every weekend and never pay attention to the turnoff signs.

However, once you do make that trip deep into the high desert wilderness, you’ll be amazing to walk through the remains of some of Arizona’s oldest civilizations. The history value is incredible– and the Instagram factor isn’t bad, either!

There are many pueblos in Wupatki, and you can see several of them at five stopping points along the loop that takes you through the monument. My favorite is Wupatki Pueblo, a huge, multi-family complex that includes natural air conditioning (you have to see it to believe it) that comes from a hole in the ground.

Cooling off with natural air conditioning

In addition to the big pueblo, you can visit other stops within the monument to walk through houses built over a box canyon, climb inside a medium pueblo with a stunning view, and hike to a hilltop neighborhood.

The best part, to me, is getting out to a place where all you can hear is the sound of the wind over the wilderness, where animals rule the landscape, and where whispers of the past rise like smoke from the crumbling remains of mysterious ancient dwellings.

As an aside, I would encourage you to visit my sister’s blog. She talks about faith and hope in the midst of navigating life as a 23-year-old widow.

Click here for Kaylee’s blog.

Fried Prickly Pear Cactus

Arizona, Blog, Cooking, International Travel, Nature, Uncategorized, United States, ,

So, I got heat stroke yesterday. And it was more frightening than the time I almost wrecked myself on sharp rocks while surfing.

A word to the wise: the elements generally win.

So, what was I doing to incur the wrath of the Arizona sun? I was spending an hour and a half cleaning up my front yard. Yup, that’s all it takes in the summer, apparently.

I was also gathering the ingredients to make fried prickly pear for lunch, which actually turned out pretty decently!

I have always tried to appreciate the food that grows in my own backyard, no matter how unexpected. In the Caribbean, I used to fish and gather food like moringa, tamarind, sea grapes, and coconuts (well, Ben climbed for the coconuts and got most of the fish…)

Sea Grapes in Anguilla

Here, the food is less obvious but still there. In my yard, I can eat three varieties of cactus fruit and two varieties of prickly pear.

I used this recipe. Here are the steps in photos:

Prickly Pear paddles have a lemony taste
You can also eat the fruit. They make good jams.
Leather gloves are a good idea for this step.
Watch out for tiny thorns at the base of the bigger spines
Boiling and then frying tastes better than grilling, IMO
Cheese and onions to stuff it!
Fry in olive oil and pretend it’s healthy
Voila!

I don’t recommend using this type of prickly pear if you have options. The kind without thorns is a lot better. I did stick myself pretty bad, and Ben stepped on one thorn that I dropped. You can buy thorn-free paddles from the store if you don’t grow them. Phoenix Wal-Marts often carry them, and Mexican food stores sell them in other areas.

This was a pretty good lunch. Not amazing, but edible. And sort of a bucket-list item and bragging point. And let’s be honest– who doesn’t want a photo like this on their Instagram? So #trendy.

That being said, it wasn’t worth the heatstroke. So be smart, and know the risks and signs. Stay hydrated when it’s hot, too.

Now you’re wondering what heatstroke signs are. Lucky you– I happen to know first-hand. Unlucky me.

The first thing that happened was that I started to have sore and tingly muscles. I thought I was sore from my workout, even though it felt different than that. Then I got really lethargic and too tired to move.

At this point I was starting to get nervous. My family was coming over in half an hour so I decided to wait it out.

By the time they arrived, I was freezing and shaking, even though it was hot. They took care of me and made me drink water, even though I didn’t want it. By the time Ben got off work and talked to them on the phone, I had a fever that quickly climbed to 104 degrees F. I started get confused, too. I don’t remember that part.

As soon as Ben got home, he started treating me for heatstroke. He aggressively rehydrated me and started cooling measures. My temperature began to drop quickly. Since Ben is a doctor, he was able to make that call and treat me at home. Otherwise, I would have had to go to the hospital and get evaluated. Heat stroke is deadly and you should never take chances. I was really stupid not to tell anyone what I was feeling when I knew something was wrong. The faster you get hydrated and bring the fever down, the better your chances for survival and the lower your chances for serious damage like hearing loss.

The moral to the story is this: drink water, stay out of the heat, and get help if you need it.

Home Sweet Home

American University of the Caribbean, Arizona, AUC, Blog, Uncategorized, United States, , ,

There’s no place like home. Especially when you know you’ll get to call it home for a while.

Kayaking the Salt River for our anniversary
  • 2014

  • 2019

Ben and I celebrated our fifth anniversary a week ago! We realized that we’ve experienced a lot in our half-decade of marriage. Most notably, we survived Ben’s med school journey. I also survived my master’s program. We moved twelve times, living in two countries and three states. We had a baby. I can’t even remember how many jobs we’ve had.

But the transition is over!

You know, it’s fun to list all the different things we’ve done, but it sure does feel flighty at the same time. We’ve both been reading Grit by Angela Duckworth (Ben had it first and I snag it to read when he’s busy), which talks about how most people who excel in their field stick with things and pursue goals over a long period of time. It doesn’t seem like our lives have really characterized that over the past few years, but in the end, it was all to pursue this thing called an M.D. And now we’re on to the next stage.

Flying home after Ben’s graduation! We were on TV at the San Antonio airport.

When it’s all said and done, it was fun to try a bunch of different things, but I’m glad we’ll be sticking with a routine for a while. We were gritty enough to get through med school, and I think we can be gritty enough to be OK with the daily grind, too.

Little Man will appreciate that, too, I think. We were finally able to get him a crib. At eight and half months old, he’s finally out of the pack-and-play and can depend on sleeping in the same place for more than a few weeks at a time.

Relaxing at home

We also bought a couch. That doesn’t sound too exciting, but to me, it was an indication that we’re staying here for a while and not getting furniture with moving in mind. We’ve never bought a couch before. My parents gave us our first one, and we’ve just had futons and things that came with furnished apartments since then. It was fun to pick one out- and the people who sold it to us at their garage sale invited us over for dinner, too! A couch and new friends in the neighborhood. Doesn’t get better than that.

Living room

We’re actually planting things, too. To be honest, the best I’ve done so far is put some pots in the backyard and grow some chives in the kitchen, but it’s a start. Quite literally, we are “putting down roots.”

It’s good to be home.