We Sold Our RV and Bought a New Traveling Lifestyle

 

Last week I told you about how and why we chose to settle in Phoeni, first every winter and then three years later permanently, after eight years of RVing. The winters of the last three years were spent at Viewpoint, a large RV and golf resort in the city. In the third year, at about this time around Christmas, we decided to gift ourselves a change in traveling lifestyle. We bought a small, simple house and sold our RV.

WHAT LED TO OUR DECISION

1.    Completed Goal: North America

By that time, we had visited seven Mexican states, ten Canadian provinces, and 49 American states—had also gone to Hawaii although the RV could not take us there! We realized that we had essentially covered our North American bucket list, chronicled in my first travel book published in 2015: Carolina: Cruising to an American Dream.

2.    New Goal: The World

Meanwhile, our travels abroad have mainly been trips back to the Philippines and to my daughters’ homes—they live in three separate countries: the US, Canada, and Australia.  As we toured all the areas around where they lived, a thirst for the rest of this wonderful world set in. But going home after each trip had become increasingly difficult. Enduring jet lag, we still had to haul our RV from storage, drive it back to Viewpoint, and refit it into the hook-ups.  We couldn’t just turn a key, drop our luggage, and plop into a nice comfy bed.

3.    Lasting Friendships

In addition, even if we met interesting people in the many campgrounds where we had stayed, we often lost contact with them afterward. It’s a not-so-happy consequence of regularly changing our neighborhoods and one of the cons of the full-time RV cruising lifestyle. Meanwhile, in Viewpoint, we were adopted by kindred campers. They included us in their tennis teams, golfing groups, and social events. Four decided to buy homes in the new golf resort phase featuring great-looking, good-sized brand-new manufactured homes. We followed the lead of our new lifelong friends.

4.    Good Healthcare

It was healthcare that led us to stay put at a central location every winter for our medical needs. Fortunately, we found Dr. Rustin Crawford of Cornerstone Family Medicine who diagnosed my two nascent issues and prescribed half of the smallest dose of medications for maintenance. They were quickly arrested. He referred my husband to an excellent cardiologist who fitted him with a pacemaker and a great dermatologist who is controlling skin cancer issues. We wanted Rustin to take care of us until the end. His small clinic has grown to three branches in the East Valley Phoenix Area.  

It all made so much sense. We had to have a permanent home here.

WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING

1.    Buying a House

We chose one of the model units close to the newest clubhouse complex (photo), giving us thousands of dollars of upgrades. The 1,200-square-foot three-bedroom home was more than three times the space we had in the RV. When we moved three months later, I almost got lost! But the biggest thrill was that I had a bride’s dream of being carried over the threshold—at the young age of 70—after a never-ending honeymoon.  Imagine furnishing and decorating our little home— with tastes that are cultures apart and attitudes so stubborn!

2.    Selling Out RV

Selling our RV proved to be a cinch, too. We bought our moving home that took us all over North America for $40,000. It was an 11-year-old Newmar Mountain Aire, one of the best brands and models in the market. On the day we listed it on Craigslist, it sold before noon! With the $10,000 in hand, the math meant that our first home had cost us just $312.50 per month over the previous eight years. It was the best travel investment we could ever have made because we even found the lifestyle more economical than living in an apartment. On top of that, we had rental income from our properties, giving us hefty savings!

WHAT WE GOT WITH THE CHANGE

World Travel

We had wanted to explore more of the other continents. After the house, we invested the balance of our savings in timeshares for our new “traveling lifestyle with a base.” So far, we have made trips to 28 countries, have annual reunions with both of our families in resort destinations around the US and enjoyed an awesome all-inclusive winter vacation for three months each year in Mexico.

Resort Lifestyle

Between trips, we had a resort lifestyle community in Viewpoint. Amenities include three clubhouses, two golf courses, an onsite restaurant and pro shop, four heated swimming pools, five hot tubs, two fitness centers, ten tennis courts, nine pickle ball courts, a shuffleboard court, a ball field, multi-purpose rooms, ballrooms, craft rooms, fifty clubs, and weekly dinners, concerts, and dances. The golf courses are right after the clubhouse near our house. It was a great place to relax and be with friends.

Visits from Family and Friends

The pleasant surprise was that, with more space in our home, lots of resort amenities in Viewpoint, and Arizona endowed with great landmarks such as the Grand Canyon National Park or lovely Sedona— many of our favorite people have come to visit and stay with us for vacations. This has been the additional blessing of owning a home. Family and friends now have a place to stay to be with us. Consider yourself invited!

A Covid-19 Sanctuary

And when the pandemic upended our lives, our home became a great sanctuary for the tiny bubble I shared with my husband. We have added a 200-square-foot Arizona room for my writing area and our playroom that converts into a guest room. Yes, that’s where you’ll stay!

I must admit that I miss RVing, every time I see one going down a freeway or parked at Walmart, especially when it became the safest way to travel during COVID-19 days. But not my husband— neither the driving nor the hooking or unhooking. I guess we can’t have it all; not forever. Anyway, a change always settles on being good again. 

PREVIOUS POST

How We Chose to Settle in Phoenix After RVing for 8 Years

How We Chose to Settle in Phoenix After RVing For 8 Years

This article was first published in TravelAwaits on Dec. 12, 2021.

Almost immediately after our wedding ceremony, we embarked on what we thought would be a never-ending honeymoon. We had both led very career-driven lives and our hunger for travel had reached its peak. But after crisscrossing the North American continent for five years full-time in an RV,  we decided to settle in one location every winter to begin what real retirement should be for us “sexygenarians.” But many ask, "Why Phoenix?" Let me tell you how we reached the decision.

It started with our realization that we were not super-persons who did not need a team of physicians who could take care of us on a regular basis.  After my husband suffered a heart attack in Florida—fortunately near a heart hospital— and my host of many smaller health issues, we decided to stay put in a place for a few months to do the rounds of doctors. Besides, not getting any younger, we would have to wake up from the dream later, cut short our honeymoon, and really retire.

Before making a firm decision, we took our RV and proceeded to stay in the most likely areas where we could try semi-retirement to get a better feel of how it would be to live there, which is vastly different from simply visiting. We were sure it would be in the South because neither of us could handle the cold. My husband’s fingers turned blue at the Grand Canyon National Park…in spring; and, for 54 years, it was summer year-round for me. It would probably be somewhere in Florida, southern California, or Arizona. We embarked on a serious search.

SEEKING A BETTER TAX STRUCTURE AND LOWER COST OF LIVING

Even if San Diego is touted to have the best weather in the country all year round, it was easy to eliminate southern California; sad because that is where most Filipinos choose to live. Thus, there are Filipino groceries like Seafood City, many Filipino organizations to join, and many of my former classmates, co-workers, and other colleagues. However, the tax structure of the state and the consequent high cost of living are not good for retirees on fixed incomes like us. A case in point is the cost of gasoline. It is always highest in “SOCAL.”  Our dollars would buy so much less!

TO BE NEARER OUR CHILDREN

We turned our attention to Florida where the tax structure is better. And there are so many ready-made retirement havens for people like us. As a matter of fact, we thought we would be buying a property at The Villages, often cited as the best retirement “city” in the whole country. We loved the climate there, hot and humid like I was used to in the Philippines. But, alas, Florida is so far from where our children live. Road trips to visit any of them would never be practical, and plane flights would all end up being more expensive in the long run. These may prevent us from visiting them often; or, worse, discourage them from visiting us!

So we zeroed in on Arizona, where a road trip to San Francisco, California— where my eldest daughter lives—would take just 12 hours; to Denver, Colorado— which my husband’s daughter calls home— would almost be the same; and to Boise, Idaho— where his eldest and only son lives— would be longer by just an hour and a half.  So we took our RV to spend three weeks each in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma, Arizona’s candidate cities.

A WARMER CLIMATE

The Grand Canyon National Park is only one and a half hours away from Flagstaff; only 45 minutes separates it from Sedona, that magical city of red rocks (photo). There are many other national monuments and state parks around the city: Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, Sunset Crater, Tuzigoot, and Montezuma, to name a few.  Yes, it’s Arizona’s prettiest corner. If we lived there, we would be visited by a lot of friends and family. And yet, it proved too cold for me and my husband since Flagstaff is in the northern part of the state, at elevations of almost 7,000 ft.  After three pleasant summer weeks, this Arizona city was nonetheless eliminated.

A MORE COSMOPOLITAN CHOICE

Let me explain here that I am a big-city girl, having lived in Metro Manila—a megacity with a  current population of 14 million, one of the densest cities in the world, much like Bangkok—until I retired. Given a choice, I prefer to have a wide range of facilities for cultural events, many options for shopping, extra choices for international culinary delights  (not a single El Pollo Loco), and a full complement of government and commercial services. So, even if Yuma has a population of 200,000 and is just 25 minutes walking distance to Los Algodones, Mexico, a mecca for inexpensive dental and medical services and supplies, it was also eliminated from the list. 

A BETTER GLOBAL REACH

In the end, it became a close contest between Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona’s biggest and best metropolitan areas. At first, we found it difficult to decide between the two.

The Tucson metropolitan area, population of almost a million, was the early front-runner. Temperatures are cooler by five degrees year-round because it is at a higher elevation. It is also closer to Mexico which we were looking at as a second home at best or a regular vacation spot at least. There are also many landmarks in and around the city like the Saguaro National Park and the Sabino Canyon National Recreation Area, aside from cool day trips to places like the Tumacacori National Historical Park, the site of the first-ever Spanish mission in the US. Actually, another mission, Xavier San Juan del Bac, is right in the city and is the best example of Spanish architecture in the US, still actively providing enchanting services. Tucson is decidedly more Spanish in character. It is also the site of the world-famous “International Gems and Jewelry Festival” in winter. Great for aspirational women, like me!

On the other hand, Phoenix is five times larger with a population of five million, the 11^th ranked in the nation. Although it does not have national parks or Mexico at its backdoor, the Flagstaff area is just about three hours away, Yuma about the same, and Tucson, two. It is also home to more museums, entertainment options, venues for concerts and shows, and city, state, and regional parks. The latter were very useful for communing with nature when we were in forced lockdowns.  There will be no dearth of places to take our visitors and guests. The megacity is made up of a cluster of cities and municipalities like Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, and 17 others. 

We stayed at the Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort in Mesa. With 1,900 sites, it is the biggest such resort of its kind in the Phoenix area. There was a similar resort called Voyager RV Resort and Hotel in Tucson. Although a little smaller with 1,500 sites, there was a hotel for guests attached to it. Both are part of Encore Resorts which also owned the network of campgrounds where we were members. And both had sections for homes when one finally decided to stay put.

We chose Viewpoint. The deciding factor was simple: Sky Harbor International Airport is a global hub, and therefore our travels around the world and visits to children in Anchorage, Alaska, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Melbourne, Australia would not only be less expensive but more convenient, with usually just one stop or even nonstop stop flight options.

Three years later, after we settled with a great family physician and a team of specialists to whom he referred us, we finally fully retired, sold our RV and bought a house in Viewpoint. I have fallen in love with the desert. Spring is a beautiful season to be here when the ubiquitous paloverdes, aside from all the wildflowers, are in full bloom with their delicate yellow flowers. Fall weather is also perfect.  These days, we stay home during these two seasons and travel when Phoenix sizzles in summer or chills in winter.

It was a blessing owning an RV. We were able to search the country thoroughly and when we were ready, choose from candidate cities by staying in each one for three weeks. And then we took all of three years wintering in Viewpoint before deciding to make the arrangement permanent. It was a rigorous and highly enjoyable process. And in the end, we made the best decision. 

PREVIOUS POST

How to Choose the Best RV and Campground for the Way You Want to RV   

TRAVEL AWAITS: 11 Unique Roadside Attractions Along American Highways

This article was originally published in Travel Awaits on March 12, 2023

Roadside America calls them “attractions and oddities.” To me, they are welcome distractions from the humdrum of the roads we travel. I am not talking about those that we include in our bucket lists; I mean those that we don’t seek. They just pop up unannounced. Sometimes we enjoy them from the comfort of our vehicle. Other times, we just need to get out and walk a bit. For a few others, we see a sign and follow for a short distance.  

Every summer when we visit family and friends in their homes (and to escape the Phoenix heat), they have made our trips much richer. Here are the 11 we remember best. I have written about seven others elsewhere in Travel Awaits.

1.    1. Lucy the Elephant.

The first one we came across is dubbed the oldest roadside attraction in America; we saw her early in our RVing days. Built in 1881, Lucy the Elephant stands six stories high on the road alongside the beach in Josephine Harron Park in Margate, New Jersey near Atlantic City. Originally called the Elephant Bazaar, she later became a tavern. Now she’s a National Historical Landmark.She inspired us to watch out for more.

Pro-Tip:  Be sure to take the guided tour to explore her interior.

2.   2.    World's Largest Praying Hands

We also took day trips from Pittsburg to Branson, Missouri, passing through Joplin. Just outside of the town, we came across the Praying Hands Memorial. It’s 32 ft tall and built on top of a 40 ft man-made hill. Created by a local artist in 1972, the words “Hands in prayer. World in peace.” are written on a concrete slab base.

Pro-Tip: On a previous trip, we also saw the 60-ft. world’s largest praying hands at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

3. The Ampersand Sculpture

Stopping at a convenience store, part of the chain called Kum & Go, on Joplin’s Rangeline Road, we found the Ampersand Sculpture, not that big (8x7 ft), but quite colorful. The company’s core values are on one side; the other side contains things about Joplin’s history: mining, Route 66, Bonnie and Clyde, and the many symbols of Joplin’s “strength and hope.”

Pro-Tip: Joplin is known for its citizen-led rebuilding after the devastation from the  May 2011 tornado.

5.  4. Cadillac Ranch (see headline photo)

After Oklahoma, we passed through Amarillo, Texas where we discovered what road travelers have been raving about since 1974: a Cadillac Ranch with ten Cadillacs buried nose-down in a field at the same angle as the Pyramids of Giza. It’s free and you can find it on the south access road of I-40 east of the Arnot Road exit and is open 24/7. 

Pro-Tip: Bring a small canister of paint so you can follow the custom and leave your own mark.

7.    5. The Arco Number Hill

Along US 20, on our way out of Boise, Idaho where my husband’s son lives on the way to Calgary, Alberta where my daughter lives, you will be surprised to find a hill dotted with white numbers. Since 1920, the town’s high school graduating class paints its year of graduation on Number Hill, We should have also explored Arco, Idaho, dubbed the Atomic City!

Pro-Tip: Start looking as soon as you leave the Craters of the Moon National Monument.

8.    6. The Charcoal Ovens in Nevada

Once we took an alternate route going home to Arizona from Boise through Las Vegas. On US 93, at the small mining town of Ward in Ely, Nevada (population, 4,202), a sign pointed to “Charcoal Ovens.” We followed the signs on a six-mile, well-maintained dirt road to six beehive-shaped, large ovens (30 ft high, 27 ft in diameter with walls 2 ft thick at the base). Built in 1876, each one held about 35 cords of wood, each 4 ft high, 4 ft wide, and 8 ft long, producing 1,750 bushels of charcoal for two silver smelters in town. It is now the Ward Chocolate Ovens State Historic Park.

Pro-Tip. From the dirt road, it is just 100 yards to walk to the ovens.

9.    7. The Wild Horses Monument

From Boise to Seattle, Washington (where my daughter used to live), as you go north on I-90, you will be able to spot the Wild Horses Monument. It’s a spectacular sculpture of 15 life-size galloping wild horses on a cliff overlooking the Columbia Gorge, just after Highway 243 becomes I-90.  As you pass the sign to the town of Vantage on the left, keep looking up to see the Dave Govedare masterpiece.

Pro-Tip: You can view it up close by taking a 0.2-mile hike up the hill.

8,  Forever Marilyn

On the road to my sister’s former in Lancaster, California, we were surprised to find that the famous Marilyn Monroe statue had been transferred to Palm Springs from Chicago, Illinois where we had first seen her. We found out then that the 26-foot statue was moved to a new location every year (from Palm Springs it went to New Jersey, Australia, and Connecticut).

Pro-Tip: In 2021, Forever Marilyn returned to Palm Springs as a permanent fixture on Museum Way, just east of the Palm Springs Art Museum.

1 9. Painted Pipes

When my sister moved to Alaska, we took a road trip north to Fairbanks and came across a colorful building air vent on a downtown street corner. A store owner we asked told us there were 13 of them (out of 23 in the city). Our afternoon turned into a treasure hunt. They were part of the Fairbanks’ “Paint the Pipes” project and serve as fresh air intakes for a utilidor (utility corridor) that runs under the streets.

Pro-Tip: Now there are only 12 because the one called “Marilyn in Bunny Boots” has become just a pink pipe.

1 10.  World’s Largest Tire

One of my daughters lives in Canada. Once on a drive back down, we found the World’s Largest Tire, a Uniroyal weighing 12 tons and standing 80 feet tall on I-94 between Highways 39 and 2 in Detroit, Michigan. It first served as a Ferris wheel in the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, then transferred to its current location at Allen Park in 1966. 

Pro-Tip. It is on I-94 near the Metro Detroit Airport.

1 11.  Tovrea Castle 

I have to tell you about Phoenix’s best roadside attraction. No one who drives on Arizona State Route 202 will miss it. Tovrea Castle is a four-story, 5,000 sq. ft. architectural masterpiece that looks like a wedding cake. It holds 100+ years of Arizona history and is Arizona’s only castle.

Pro-Tip: There is a long wait to explore this gem. I have joined ticket lotteries but have not managed to win one yet.   

There you have it! To all the roadside attractions we have loved before and to all the ones we will someday have the pleasure of seeing: Thank you for enhancing the roads we travel.

FOR THOSE ON MOBILE, THE SHARE BUTTONS APPEAR WHEN YOU CLICK WEB VERSION AT THE VERY END AFTER COMMENTS.

PREVIOUS POST

Why This Luxurious Sedona Resort Is Perfect for Long Weekends

TRAVEL AWAITS: Why This Luxurious Sedona Resort Is Perfect For A Long Weekend

This article was originally published in Travel Awaits on January 12, 2023.

There are only 11 long weekends in an American calendar year, and we all want each one to be a precious break from the humdrum of everyday life. If you want one that will be the utmost in rest, relaxation, and reflection (or even romance) think no further than the L’Auberge Resort in Sedona, Arizona. My husband and I found seven undeniable reasons why it was the perfect gift to give ourselves.

Location, Location, Location

Sedona is a popular tourist destination. Massive red rocks in all sorts of fanciful formations overlook many city views. I have always thought that the whole area deserves to be declared a national park. My husband and I consider it an attraction second only to the Grand Canyon in the state. Only two hours away from our home, we take our guests there when they have a day to spare. Having a picnic, taking hikes (short or long, easy or difficult), shopping and other activities become extra special in such a lovely setting.

Dining there is a sheer delight. On our several trips to Sedona, we have collected ten awesome dining experiences with unforgettable views: the more upscale Mariposa, Hideaway House, Creekside Bistro, Salt Rock Kitchen, and The Hudson; or the more affordable Canyon Breeze, Mesa Grill, Sound Bites Grill, and even the branch of “fast-food” chain Wildflower Bread Company.

In addition, Sedona is an epicenter of sacred vortexes (how locals want it spelled), a central location from which to spend time hiking in nature, exploring nooks and corners, and enjoying personal reflection. Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon are the best-known magical spots. Actually, when you simply practice mindfulness, anywhere at all will do—even the sublime creek in L’Auberge.

The Loveliness and Luxury of Lodging

We gave ourselves the chance to stay at this unique place nestled in Oak Creek Canyon, a river gorge often described as a smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon, and under many large, stately, Biblical sycamore trees. We own timeshares in Sedona and have stayed in various hotels and resorts, but our membership did not include this most luxurious lodging option available. To reach this heavenly spot you descend along L’Auberge Road. At the bottom, your vehicle will be handled by valets. A shuttle van allows you to get back up to Old Sedona anytime.

We usually go up in summer, but this time we visited in the fall, and the sycamores’ leaves had turned yellow and gold. Even if it was a bit on the chilly side, the loveliness of the scenery more than made up for it. Amid the rustling of the leaves, the rushing of the waters, and the chirping of the birds, the experience became unforgettable:

The 5-bedroom premier Creekhouse makes the most luxurious getaway for a family of 10 to 12. But we stayed at one of the charming Creekside Cottages (there are 14 plus two Creekside suites). It is situated on the banks of Oak Creek and we had a spacious private deck looking over to the creek and the sycamores. The unit is unlike any room we had previously stayed in. It gives a feeling of being one with nature. There was even a romantic, private outdoor shower that I imagine would be awesome in the warmer months.

It is very well-appointed and endowed with luxuries like a 65-inch very smart TV, a wood-burning fireplace, and premium-brand appliances. I loved the bedside desk/tray table which I used often for writing. The King-size bed was luxuriously comfortable with all the pillow sizes and shapes that I needed for an elevated upper body.  I never had to request more as I usually do. The armchairs and coffee table were quite comfy. A dining table served both as a place to share food and as a big study desk for laying out papers.

There are 46 other cottages: Vista that have legendary views of Snoopy, Giant’s Thumb, and Elephant Rocks (nine have telescopes), Garden, and Spa Cottages with jetted tubs, two of which have Peloton bikes. And there is a Main Lodge with 19 deluxe lodge rooms and two suites. But we will always stay at a Creekside Cottage.

The Chef’s Cuisine

Fine dining at Cress on Oak Creek is nationally recognized. In fact, we discovered L’Auberge when a friend who was there for a residential art program invited us to experience dining there. Just as she expected, we fell in love with the chef-inspired meals served along the enchanting creek bank under the sycamores.  A year later we went back for an anniversary dinner.

This time, however, we not only dined. But it was a bit chilly, so we opted to dine in the enclosed dining room. Still, we could feast on the fantastic view of the creek and the sycamores. A musician was in the waiting area playing his ukulele violin. When he did “La Vie en Rose,” I was moved to sing. It’s my all-time favorite French love song.

Whenever it’s on the menu, I order French onion soup, and I was delighted when it came—so gooey-good I devoured every single bit and ended up so full that I struggled to finish the striped bass entrée. But I could not resist it; it was perfectly golden-crusted at the top, buttery soft inside, and had a thin layer of savory good fish fat to boot. I decided to book lunch for the next day, too, which made another delightful meal. The mushroom bisque soup had such an exquisite smooth taste.

Totally satisfied, I asked to talk to Chef Shawn. I expressed my appreciation for his creations. He thanked me sincerely. The next night we tried Room Service. I love the food at L’Aueberge. In fact, we were also very pleased with the Mexican fare at its sister kitchen, 89 Agave Cantina just above L’Auberge in Old Sedona.

Esoteric Experiences

There are other L’Auberge programs that deepen appreciation of the Sedona mystique. Beginner classes like Crystal Introduction and Meditation, Sound Healing, Chakra and Energy Healing are available for free. We participated in The Qigong and Meditation Beginner Class, and the Vortexes and Hikes Talk by Paula, the lady in charge of the L’Auberge metaphysical program. Especially arranged private experiences including Shinrin-Yoku, 7 Flutes for 7 Chakras, Soul Energy Medicine, and others are also available for a more personal and deeper journey of discovery.

The session with Paula inspired us to take a hike to the Airport Mesa Summit to experience the upward and downward vortexes there. As she suggested, we also looked for the heart-shaped pads of prickly pear cacti on the trail. In fact, other hikers began to follow us when they found out what we were looking for. These special cacti had stopped growing heart-shaped pad versions in the recent past, but have reappeared this year!

And you should not miss the stargazing opportunity offered at the large veranda above the cottages near the Main Lodge. At 30-minute intervals, a guide points out the many stars and constellations to see. Stargazing with my husband became a romantic experience in the middle of the night.

The Relaxation Response

I tried the Signature Facial and my husband had the Arizona Apricot Scrub at the famed L’ApothecarySpa.  In a Phoenix spa, I used to have a monthly facial but it negatively impacted my chin, so I stopped. Here I was told that only once per change of season is recommended. I hope the time will return when people compliment how my skin glows. I brought home the maintenance serum.

The gentle massage was a very warm experience for my husband, too; but I guess spa pampering is not as much of a guy thing. I loved the luxurious waiting area, the special cookies and tea servings, and the dressing area complete with all that you need. I can only imagine how it would be during summer when they do all those facials and massages under the sycamores beside the creek.

Aesthetics and Art

L’Auberge even has the Le Galerie Art program in partnership with the Goldstein Gallery of Sedona. At strategic spots on the trail connecting the cottages in the property, there are five large sculptures that add to the natural beauty and delight your aesthetic senses. It was the “Pastoral Dreamer” at the Peace Garden that most impressed me. He appears to emerge from the ground in an extremely restful, contemplative pose, making me want to do the same, so relevant for a weekend getaway! At the Main Lodge, at the Creekhouse, and at the Restaurant/Center, there are plenty of paintings adorning the walls. Some are available for purchase.  

Creekside Connections

I was just told that they have launched a new program called "Creekside Connections." It was not available when we were there. This offering includes one-of-a-kind activities like tarot readings, vortex cocktails, a private workshop on “Unleash Your Visions,” and others that can be held between and among friends for an experience that deepens relationships. This is something my husband and I are looking forward to.

We have gone to L’Auberge for our Anniversary, my birthday, and at Thanksgiving. Next time we will go to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I am usually a very frugal person, but sometimes a luxurious getaway like what a L’Auberge experience can provide over a precious long weekend is the best gift we can give ourselves.

FOR THOSE ON MOBILE, THE SHARE BUTTONS APPEAR WHEN YOU CLICK WEB VERSION AT THE VERY END AFTER COMMENTS.

PREVIOUS POST

9 Unique Food and Dining Experiences I Loved in San Francisco

  

TRAVEL AWAITS: My 6 Favorite Stops from Southern Arizona to the Mexican Pacific Coast

The original article was published in Travel Awaits last Feb. 9. 2022.

The Mexican Pacific Coast is where my husband really wants to live; Mazatlan in Sinaloa, in particular. That’s where he’d collected great memories with his late wife and children on vacation from his then-hectic corporate life. When we met, he readily hosted my family in his timeshare. They loved it and said it was the best vacation they’d ever had.

The city’s charm comes from the fact that it isn’t just a resort town. It is a bona fide Mexican city, with age-old traditions like the third largest Carnaval in the world in February, places like its beautiful historic downtown complete with a venerable theater, a beautiful cathedral, and a great Mercado, and landmarks like the longest Malecon in Latin America with significant monuments and gorgeous beaches. This Shrimp Capital of the World is now our second home.

We stay in Mazatlan’s  El Cid Resorts every winter although we can also stay at their Cancun and Cozumel properties. From our house in Mesa, Arizona, it is a little more than 900 miles or 16 hours of driving time. We are currently here on our fourth winter break, missing 2020 because of Covid. To get here, we have used three different routes and have gotten to know six different stops.  

Our Early Route: Hermosillo and Los Mochis

Hermosillo, Sonora

Hermosillo is the largest city (population 830,000), the capital, and the main economic center for the state of Sonora which borders Arizona. It has grown much because of strong industrialization, especially since the 1980s in the automotive industry. Such is the economic stimulus of being on the US border.

 It’s six hours (without time at the border) from our home in Mesa and, as such, is very much like an American city. It boasts of an interesting and rocky landform called the Cerro de la Campana considered the symbol of the city. On a hilltop at an elevation of over 1,000 feet, it provides tourists an excellent view of the city.

Hermosillo to Los Mochis

The federal highway Mexico 15 is the freeway that connects Arizona to Mazatlan. There are two parts: 15D is the Cuota (toll) while 15 is the Libre (free) road. We were amazed at the improvement of the Sonora section of 15D between our first and second trips (an interval of eight years). Running straight south, we registered great mph throughout. On our fourth trip, toll fee collection plazas were no longer operating but they resumed on our latest (fifth) trip. There were still a lot of those vibradores that force motorists to reduce speed. But you also have great scenes along the way.

Los Mochis, Sinaloa

Los Mochis is a coastal city in the northern part of the state of Sinaloa. With a population of over 360,000, it is the end of the Chihuahua-Pacific Railroad which passes through scenic Copper Canyon, a major tourist attraction of Mexico. This railway links the cattle markets in Kansas City, USA with the nearest port on the Pacific Ocean, Topolobampo, the second largest deep-water port in the world located right before Los Mochis.

The city is also at the center of the state’s agricultural area producing sugar cane, cotton, rice, flowers, mangoes, and other vegetables. Corporations have adopted many small farms, introducing innovative farm implements and practices.  But we also saw many men lined up at truck stops and farm entrances, waiting for farm managers to pick them up for work in the fields. These scenes were depressing because many do not find work and remain idle. Perhaps this is partly why the drug industry has flourished in the state.

Los Mochis to Mazatlan

From Los Mochis to Mazatlan, Mexico 15D is almost the same as we saw it on our first trip: full of potholes. Ironically, there was a Cuota Collection stop every half hour. There were eight of them on the five-hour drive, even more than Sonora. The saving grace is that, on the last hour of the trip, the big, blue, and calm Pacific Ocean stayed with us to the right of the highway, reminding us that the paradise we seek is almost around the corner.

A New Route and New Stops: Navojoa and Magdalena del Kino

On our third winter vacation, we met a couple who had been driving to Mazatlan for years. They advised us to change our route to one that not only divides the trip more evenly but also deliberately confines stops to Sonora. It is a state with a Level 3 Travel Advisory (go with caution) instead of Sinaloa with a Level 4 (do not go). And the stops are even more charming!

Navojoa, Sonora

The first stop of our return trip was Navojoa, Sonora, the fifth-largest in the state (population 150,000).  The Mexican Revolutionary Álvaro Obregón was born in a small town near the city. After the 1910 revolt, he became President of Mexico, introducing modern agricultural techniques, making the surrounding valley one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in Mexico.

Today, foreign and local investors have gone into many other industries like shrimp farming, swine production, and even a Tecate (beer) brewery. Prosperity is evident. A lovely Main Plaza fronts the Palacio Municipal surrounded by four monuments, a striking Clock Tower, with lovely Cathedral spires visible. At the rotunda, a colorful Navojoa sign welcomes visitors.  

Magdalena de Kino

The next town, just six hours from Navojoa, is a little more than 60 miles south of Nogales on the US border. The movie “The Fast and The Furious” was filmed there (and in the nearby town of cattle country, Santa Ana) in June and July 2008. Magdalena de Kino (population 25,000) is a Pueblo Mágico, one of 100+ towns selected by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism for a scenic, cultural or historical qualities.

We loved our stay at the 5-star Hotel Industria, one of six hotels in the city. It is just a half block away from the beautiful Main Plaza around which we had a lovely horse-drawn carriage ride in the evening.  At the center are a chapel containing the lying effigy of and a monument with a crypt housing the remains of Father Francisco Eusebio Kino which were discovered there in 1966, 255 years after his death.  He is the pioneer Roman Catholic missionary who founded fifteen missions in the area as well as in southern Arizona. The city is also named after Santa Maria Magdalena for whom a pretty church was also built in the Plaza.

Our Most Recent Route: Nogales and Ciudad Obregon

Last Christmas we celebrated with my husband’s daughter in Denver, Colorado. Since we were not coming from home, we ended up in Nogales, Arizona after a stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Nogales, Arizona

the port of entry that divides Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico

Nogales is an Arizona city of about 20,000, Arizona's largest international border community, and part of the larger Tucson-Nogales combined statistical area. It has a counterpart city of Nogales in the state of Sonora on the Mexican side. I-19 continues south from Phoenix into Mexico 15D. These two highways, together with their Canadian counterpart, comprise the CANAMEX Corridor that connects the three countries.

Nogales channels about US$30 B worth of fresh produce and manufactured goods from Mexico into the US. This trade helps support thousands of jobs and local economies throughout Arizona and Sonora. Pretty interesting but it’s not a tourist town. However, it makes a great base from which to continue a drive into Mexico or to relax in after going through the procedures at the US border.

Ciudad Obregon

Ciudad Obregon, the state’s second-largest city after Hermosillo with a population of 329,404, is a six-hour drive from Nogales. Mazatlan is seven hours away. Since Navojoa is an hour farther from Ciudad Obregon, we chose this new stop to allow for time at Km. 21, where the tourist and vehicle permits to stay in Mexico are processed after border crossing. This usually takes about an hour.As you approach the city from the north, the statue of an indigenous Yaqui greets you. He represents the tribe that won several battles against the Spanish but in 1610 was persuaded to submit to the Spanish Crown. Even then, conflicts continued into the next two centuries. In 1887 the Porfirio Diaz army shot the Yaqui Chief Cajeme to death. That ushered in commercial and agricultural progress in the 1900s, just like nearby Navojoa when Obregon purchased modern equipment and developed “Hacienda Nainari.” In 1927, however, he was assassinated and the city was named after him.

The Laguna de Nainari, a man-made lake with a diameter of about two kilometers, is the green spot in the city. It is a meeting place for various groups and where people can sample many different snacks of the region. People also gather at the Ostimuri Children’s Park and Zoo which also features a Planetarium.

As you can see, there are great stops on this route. We choose them based on two factors: the US State Department Travel Advisory Level due to crime and the driving time from our starting point (home or elsewhere). When we go home in April, we will stop at Navojoa and Nogales. 

FOR THOSE ON MOBILE, SHARE BUTTONS APPEAR WHEN YOU CLICK WEB VERSION AT THE VERY END AFTER COMMENTS.

PREVIOUS POST

4 Things to Consider During a Road Trip in Mexico