5 Refreshing Socially Distanced Trips to State, Regional, and National Parks

We have been on lockdown, in our Viewpoint home in Arizona, since we arrived from Mazatlan, Mexico on March 23. There have been a few restrictions lifted. Bill can now play golf at the 18-hole course at our Viewpoint Golf Resort and the pools are now open where we live. I have been focused on finishing my second book. Groceries and medicines are picked up curbside. We had special dishes picked up for Easter Sunday and Mother’s Day. Zoom Parties have replaced physical hugs with family and friends.

But what has really saved the day is the refreshing outdoors that we sought on our road trips to open state, regional, and national parks around Phoenix. We can easily socially distance naturally because there are none to a few people who are doing it, like us. Also, our car is an extension of our home. We disinfect it and keep it isolated from foreign influences. We also carry with us our caboodle of face masks, surgical gloves, and hand sanitizers.

White Tank Mountain National Preserve

Spring in the desert is my favorite time and place. I immediately researched where the spring wildflowers were still blooming after our 14-day complete lockdown. We found one, the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. The Park features 19 hiking trails, ranging from 1.3 to 9.1 miles, 1,161 to 2,119 feet above sea level. Eleven of them are short and easy. However, the best one, the Waterfall Trail, was closed.

It was just an hour’s drive northwest from our home on Interstate 10, near the town of Surprise, Arizona. We were charged $7 for our vehicle and the registration was contactless. We were directed to the not yet bloomed-out section. As we drove there, we found about ten cars parked in different areas. And when we got to the spot, we had a ball photographing the yellow and purple blooms. It was our first chance to go out of our home and absolutely loved it.

Estrella Mountain Regional Park

This park was supposed to be just 45 minutes directly west of our home, also on Interstate 10, but this time near Goodyear, Arizona. But the GPS directed us to a dirt road near its southern border. It took us almost another hour to drive around the expansive park. It was a good thing that, on this extraneous drive, we found lots to photograph.  The paloverdes were still blooming yellow and we came upon an old jet fighter plane on display at an air club.

The Park is huge with 20,000 acres of desert, mountains, and a large wetland. There are baseball fields, a large grass picnic area, a golf course, fishing, and over 33 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. There was the abandoned horse show arena and a few horses were available for riding. A couple was riding their horses on to the Pederson Trail of 8.7 miles. Another couple was starting their hike on the 2.4 mile Baseline Trail. We were content photographing the horses and the geometric shapes of the empty benches and other parts of the arena.

Ironwood Forest National Monument

It was supposed to take us just two hours to get to the Ironwood Forest National Monument southeast from Mesa on Interstate 10. Our GPS took us to an exit that led to a dirt road that had a cautionary warning. As we reached the middle of the dirt road, we encountered a flooded wash area with another warning that said to not proceed in case of floods. We found a small track at the side to safely go but as the road became scarier, we turned back.

From my phone’s GPS, we found a route that took us south through more of Interstate 10. Forty minutes later, it took us to another dirt road called West SilverBell. This one, however, had the National Monument sign on entry and no warning. The whole trip took us three hours but it was so refreshing. It was like we were at the more primitive version of the Saguaro National Park. And the saguaros were in full bloom.

an ironwood tree in bloom at the park

Since it was a national forest, there was no visitor center and no fees to be paid. And we were pleasantly surprised with the ironwood tree. It is also called the palo fierro and it blooms in late April/May. We were there just at the right time. They were blazing in “fiery” purple. On the way home, the GPS directed us to a different route from how we came. And it led us to the same dirt road we were on at first. It was shorter but the longer route was definitely lovelier.

Picacho Peak State Park

This Park was about an hour from Ironwood Forest National Monument and it was on the way home right on Interstate 10. So we paid the $7 fee per vehicle and took the short drive through. It was supposed to be the best place to see spring flowers but we were late for the spectacle. But the peak itself is a spectacle. Its centerpiece spire is visible from downtown Tucson as it rises to 3,374 feet above mean sea level. It appears to be the remnant of a volcanic neck. Although now it is believed that it is just an eroded piece of rock.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Even if the trip to this National Monument took almost three hours each way south on Interstate 10 and Highway 85, we made it a point to go. It is a UNESCO biosphere reserve located in extreme southern Arizona, just 18 miles from the Mexican border. We understand that many illegal aliens use it as a corridor into the country. As a matter of fact, the Visitor Center is named after Kris Eggle, a border patrol agent killed by a drug smuggler during a border patrol operation.

We did not regret going because, although the visitor center was closed, there was a number to call to talk to a ranger. She directed us to where the special cacti grow in numbers. The park is the only place in the US where the organ pipe cactus grows wild. It was easy to drive through and spot the places where the cacti flourished, nearer the foothills. In addition, the desert wilderness scenery is so beautiful with ocotillos and saguaros blooming. Finally, there was practically no one around.

These five state, regional, and national parks were heaven-sent. I do not know why not more people go to get refreshed from being captive in their homes.

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10 REASONS PUERTO VALLARTA WINS MANY HEARTS

Bill had vacationed in Puerto Vallarta (PV) many times with his family while he was still working but he eventually chose to go to Mazatlan on a regular basis. That’s why we are in Mazatlan three months a year. But my daughter and son-in-law had a fantastic couple of times in Puerto Vallarta and have urged me to go and see. So Bill brought me to PV. I wanted to know what the more southern Mexican city is all about. Bill found a changed and grown PV and I found ten reasons she wins many hearts.

Malecon

<os Arcos, an icon of the Malecon

PV’s Malecon is only a mile long and very touristy. It is now jammed by many bars and restaurants for great nightlife and shops and stores for daytime shopping. Many palm trees provide shade and there is a renowned sculpture every hundred feet, top-billed by the colorful Puerto Vallarta city sign with the signature Sea Horse in the middle. Various artists perform their acts along the boardwalk, at the end of which stands the Naval Museum and another emblematic structure, Los Arcos. With all the things going on, I was glad there were kiosks of the Direccion de Turismo, very helpful for first-timers like me.

Shopping and Markets

entering Cuale Market from the bridge that spans the Rio Cuale

There are many flea, artisanal and municipal markets in PV so shopping is particularly fun. We came across the Cuale Market first, after the Malecon, towards the east. It is a unique area carved out of an island on the Rio (River) Cuale, dotted on both sides by many makeshift stores. Unique features—like a centuries-old tree, a pair of hanging bridges that connect the island to the two river banks, a welcoming giant Mexicana, festive banderitas, and an upscale open-air restaurant— add color to the market.

Just outside Old Vallarta west towards the Port are high-end malls for upscale visitors and residents. Farther away in the suburbs are the national chains like Mega Soriana and La Comer and international ones like Walmart and Costco to make the North American snow birders really happy and feel at home.

Zona Romantica

the Pier on Zona Romantica

the Old Seahorse

Farther east, on the other side of the Rio Cuale and beyond the Malecon, is the Zona Romantica. A series of restaurants and bars line the popular Playa Los Muertos. This area is the center of vibrant nightlife. The Pier, completed in 2013, adds pizzazz to the Playa. We went in the day but I was told it is spectacular at night.  At the end of the Playa is the “original” Seahorse. Actually, the original was installed there in 1960 but was swept away by a strong storm. In 1976, a larger replica was built.

Nightlife extends to the many restaurants and bars that line Calle Olas Altas, parallel to the beach. On the same street is Plaza Cardenas which is now more popularly called Plaza de Azulejos because almost every inch of it has been covered with colorful tiles. Many residents have volunteered to install them in sections that they choose. That is also where the office of the Direccion de Turismo is housed and where we planned our visits with the help of the officer-on-duty, Erick Reyes.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church

The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe sits just two blocks from the beach, fronting Plaza de Armas. It is "the most endearing" of the city's landmarks, towering over all the other buildings. Started in 1903, it was not really considered complete until its “coronation” in 1965 with a wrought-iron crown hoisted by angels. The original was destroyed by an earthquake 30 years later and the current one is a replica.

Gringo Gulch

Just to the north of the church, up above on a hill accessible by stairs, is a neighborhood called Gringo Gulch. In other words, this is where the Caucasians make their home. As a matter of fact, it is where Elizabeth Taylor lived while she filmed The Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton. Her house—now

known as Casa Kimberley, a hotel—is connected to the Richard Burton house on the other side of the street by a white bridge. It was built to make access to each other more easily. It is just too bad that the set of the movie, the legacy of their love story, is no longer there as It once was kept on the Mismaloya Beach.

Beaches

During the winter months, the temperatures in PV are comfortable — highs of 81 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 65. There seems to be less wind, too. The Bay of Banderas makes the city (and Nuevo Vallarta, NV) land-locked and protected.  Waves are also not crazy strong, making the beaches a family playground.

I was blown away by Playa Los Muertos and its busy beach vibe but Riviera Nayarit (see Nuevo Vallarta below) is very different, quiet, and pristine. We were not able to go to the ones on the southeast that are only accessible by water taxis. They say those are the most fabulous. And those in the Marietas Islands are at yet another level. Yes, the beaches are a lot of fun in PV.

a regular brisk walk on the beach behind our hotel

Nuevo Vallarta

We stayed in a hotel/resort in NV which is a planned residential-resort community located in the Mexican state of Nayarit, about fifteen minutes north of PV's airport (PV is in the neighboring state of Jalisco). NV is a federal government project for PV’s overflow residents and tourists. It was begun over twenty years ago. Luxury villas, estates, resort hotels, and plush condominiums have arisen, many including canals lined with tropical gardens, each with private docking piers connected to the Marina. There are more than 5 miles of white sandy beach that is now known as Riviera Nayarit.

the Marina beside our hotel resort

The following three other reasons I will write about on my next post:

Bay of Banderas

Bahía de Banderas (or the Bay of Flags) is within the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. It is home to prominent features like the Marietas Islands and the Los Arcos. The port, the resort city of PV and the resort community of NV are all on the bay.

Sierra Madres

PV and NV are nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. This is the reason the port city is so jammed up; the available land is small. But the mountains also provide the opportunity for jungle excursions. Bill and I enjoyed the Canopy River, an oasis on the Cuale River up in the mountains.

Magico Pueblos

Mexico has 121 magico pueblos—magical towns designated as such by the Ministry of Tourism. Jalisco has eight and Nayarit has three. We went to three on this trip: Sayulit and Compostela of Nayarit and San Sebastian del Oeste of Jalisco.

Now I know why PV, and also NV, win(s) many people’s hearts. A lot of them stay.

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10 New Landmarks That Considerably Add to the Charm of Mexico's Mazatlan

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This wasn’t our first time in Mazatlan. It’s my third and my husband's fifteenth (see this previous post on classic landmarks of Mazatlan). A City Tour was something we did not think we were going to do again. But it was free for all El Cid’s Elite members. So on one Wednesday morning, we joined a whole bus full of eager first-timers. To my surprise, there are new landmarks that either I had not noticed before or are truly new. As a matter of fact, when we went around in our car or used public buses, we found even more. Here are the ten new landmarks that have considerably added to the city's charm.  

From the City Tour

The Zona Dorada or Golden Zone is a shopping zone just a block away from El Moro. It was built to supplement Old Town shopping. It was here where I found a beautiful silver Aztec-inspired pendant during my first City Tour. Sadly, it didn't have matching earrings. On this second City Tour, we stopped at a brand new Jewelry Store (#1). It features a huge silver lion for a mascot. I finally found my matching earrings. 

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After the shopping zone, we quickly reached the Malecon, the longest boardwalk in Latin America, and perhaps the world, at all of 21 kilometers. There was a colorful Mazatlan City Sign (#2) that surprised me. It is a great addition to all the classic monuments that are memorials to life in Mazatlan built along the boardwalk (the Family, the Pulmoniya, the Lady, the Fisherman’s Memorial, and the Dolphins. Maybe I didn't notice it before but I was also surprised by the Baseball Monument (#3). It was curious but then I found out that baseball is a very important sport for all Mazatlan residents.

Soon after the monuments and the fishermen’s section of the Malecon, we reached the Punta de Clavadistas or Divers’ Point (#4). This was another new thing for me because we did not go this far before. There were two divers who regaled us with their skills at jumping to the sea from the high 50-ft cliff, avoiding the huge rocks, and returning to the small park (to do it all over again), swimming against the big waves hitting the rocks.  

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The last stop of our City Tour was lunch at Roca Mar fronting the Malecon. It was our chance to taste something else other than El Cid food (good Mexican Cazuelitas). On the way there, I saw for the first time the Acuario Mazatlan (Mazatlan Aquarium) (#5). In writing this article, I found out that it actually opened in 1980. There are shows of sea lions, divers, and even sharks. I guess I have not been that much interested because I have always preferred to see animals in the wild for some time now.

From Days Out

On a separate day out, we visited Juarez Market (#6), the other large market in Mazatlan that overflows every Sunday morning. We took the Cerritos Juarez bus from El Cid. We got off to a labyrinth of streets around the original concrete building near the church. Those streets were teeming with people peddling their wares: from clothes, toys, and housewares to fruits and vegetables, shrimps and fish, meat and poultry, and even all kinds of cakes. In fact, it is where I found Dior knock-off sunglasses for just US$10. I went back for another pair before going home.

cakes galore at the flea market

the art piece we bought with the artist Dory

Every First Friday of the month, there is an Art Walk at the Centro Hispanico (#7) near Old Town Mazatlan. We took the Sabalo Centro bus from El Cid and got off at the Mercado. There are about fifty galleries included where many paintings, photography, sculptures, jewelry, and other decor art are offered. At about the time we were ready to go back to El Cid on Feb. 1, we found a unique wooden collage of classic painting-like photographs of sixteen Mazatlan doors at the Beaupres Gallery. Bill returned with the car the next day to pick it up. It proved right that we drove down to Mazatlan with our car despite the warnings (see this previous post on our drive down to Mazatlan). What a find!

But the newest developed area in Mazatlan is to the north of the city. Every time we drive there, we feel we are back in the US. Sear's, Walmart and Sam's Club (#8), Mazatlan Galleries Mall (#9). and a new Centro de Convenciones (#10) are its most important landmarks. We do a lot of shopping there for toiletries, clothes, and gifts. It is also where we watch English movies. Finally, at the state-of-the-art Mazatlan International Center (Centro), you will find the world's largest mural, a three-dimensional mosaic of tile called the "Sea of Cortez." Lovely to look at both up close and from afar, it measures 25x59 meters, made from 105 panels of 3x5 meters each.

Sea of Cortez at the Convention Center

With a population of 650,000, Mazatlan is not just a resort town like the other beach capitals of Mexico. An old city with many landmarks that you wouldn’t want to miss,  its beauty comes from its colorful history and thriving economy, not entirely based on tourism. Called the Shrimping Capital of the World, it is founded on both agriculture and aquaculture. My previous post was on two small Mexican towns, one to the north, the other to the south. I have yet to write on four other day trips from Mazatlan. We will be kept busy. There may even be another future post on new landmarks that will again considerably add to Mazatlan's charm.

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