Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The State Parks in Arizona are offering guided hikes for New Years Day as part of a program called 1st Day Hikes. Guided hikes are great, even if you are an experienced hiker, because the guides will have lots of information about the area that you might not have known. The State Parks are great places to visit at any time, and the opportunity for a free guided hike is a bonus. Generally, the weather is cool on New Years Day, but at higher altitudes, you should add layers. Also, bring your own w... Full story
Often hailed as Arizona's capital of autumn, Flagstaff is a leaf peeper's paradise. To experience the season at its most exhilarating visitors flock to the trails around 8,000 feet elevation; where large stands of aspen trees steal the show with their quaking leaves glowing like liquid sunshine. Fall In Flagstaff As the fall months begin to emerge, the warming autumn colors will descend from the San Francisco Peaks to the streets of Flagstaff. Considering the vague perception of when the... Full story
(Phoenix, Arizona - September 15, 2015) - Come celebrate fall at Slide Rock State Park's Fall Festival on October 3, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pack a picnic and spend the day enjoying harvest and homestead demonstrations, live music, kids activities, face painting, fly wheelers, games and activities for the whole family. Slide Rock State Park's history began as a working Appleorchard. Today, this agricultural legacy continues. The orchard is still a working commercial apple ranch that... Full story
As of press time, many were planning to come celebrate fall at Slide Rock State Park's Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event planners have been suggesting that visitors pack a picnic and spend the day enjoying harvest and homestead demonstrations, live music, kids' activities, face painting, fly wheelers, games and activities for the whole family. Slide Rock State Park's history began as a working Apple orchard. Today, this agricultural legacy continues. The... Full story
From Phoenix go north on I-17 100 miles to Cottonwood (Exit on 260), Dead Horse Ranch State Park is right in town, then north on 89A for 16 miles to Red Rock State Park. Staying on 89A, go through Sedona for 6 miles to Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon and only 24 miles north to Flagstaff to visit Riordan Mansion State Historic Park. From Flagstaff, take the Lake Mary Road south 100 miles to Highway 87 (to Pine and Strawberry) and stop at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. Follow 87 to... Full story
Arizona is a dynamic state with a wide array of climate zones, and conditions particularly in the northern part of the Grand Canyon State allow for a beautiful array of fall foliage colors from mid-September through mid-November. Drives along U.S. Highway 89 will take you through an elevation change of more than 4,000 feet in the relatively short distance of 80 miles and plunge you into a mountainous kaleidoscope of fall color that covers the entire autumnal spectrum. Here are a few sites that... Full story
For many, Labor Day signaled the end of summer, but at Arizona State Parks, it's just the beginning of your family adventures. Get away from the hectic fall schedule and travel to some parks and nearby communities. Create moments to share while exploring the beautiful State of Arizona. Here are the top picks of some parks and nearby communities, events and fun things to do on a weekend. • Lyman Lake State Park (St. Johns) - Stay in a rustic camping cabin by the lake and enjoy activities i... Full story
If you enjoy wildlife and the outdoors, you won't want to miss the new season of Arizona Wildlife Views Sundays on Phoenix PBS Channel 8. The Emmy-award winning television program will open your eyes to the best of our state's wildlife, wild places and outdoor adventure through spectacular video and compelling stories. It is produced by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and hosted by Jim Paxon. The August premiere visited the "Wings Over Willcox" nature festival, which has become a staple... Full story
Travel to Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks in Sedona to create unforgettable family vacation memories. Both parks were selected in a recent travel poll by FamilyFun magazine readers as one of the "Top 10 State Parks in the Country" and were featured in the magazine's April issue. "The winners in each category represent places where families have formed lasting memories, and offer adventures for all types of interests, for animal lovers to history and science buffs," Editor-in-Chief Ann... Full story
The wonderful thing about living in Arizona is that we have such a range of altitudes and ecosystems. When it's too cold up north, we can mess around in the desert, and when the desert is broiling, we can either keep cool at one of the desert reservoirs or head up to higher altitudes and enjoy cooler weather. We enjoyed an unseasonably cool and wonderful May, but now that June and July are here, the summer weather has fully set in. So here are my picks of the top ten ways to enjoy the summer out... Full story
The State Parks in Arizona provide many opportunities for campers. Sue Black, executive director, said, "Come out and visit your State Parks ..., whether it's for a day trip or a weekend adventure." Although there are many things you can experience at a State Park, here is a list of some fun things to do with your family: • Waterskiing at Lyman Lake State Park (St. Johns) • Camping under the Stars at Alamo Lake State Park (Wenden) • Swimming at Slide Rock State Park (Sedona) • Cave Tours a... Full story
Largemouth bass fishing is a great bet at Bartlett Lake, and the dropshot technique using plastic worms is usually the most reliable method of catching these fish. Before heading out, see a video shot at Bartlett Lake with local semiprofessional angler Gary Senft on how to fish a dropshot rig using Bobber Stoppers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35ATjA3DL4g&feature=youtu.be THE REEL DEAL Let's get right to some recommended Fourth of July weekend fishing waters, starting with the high country:... Full story
(Phoenix, AZ - July 1, 2015) - Get away from the sizzling temperatures and make a splash at one your State Parks on the Fourth of July weekend. Cool down and relax by swimming, water-skiing, boating, canoeing, fishing or kayaking. Wherever your adventure takes you, we hope to see you exploring at one of your Arizona State Parks. Although there are many things you can experience at a State Park, here are the top picks of some fun things to do with your family this weekend. The Top 10 things to... Full story
ONLY FIVE -- There are only five naturally occurring populations of spikedace remaining in the world (and possibly just three). So the Arizona Game and Fish Department on Monday, May 11, helped stock native spikedace into Spring Creek near Sedona. This was a project involving the AZGFD, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service, not to mention local landowners, who lent their support. In the Verde drainage, AZGFD has established a spikedace population in... Full story
Travel to Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks in Sedona to create unforgettable family vacation memories. Both parks were selected in a recent travel poll by FamilyFun magazine readers as Top 10 State Parks in the country and were featured in the magazine's April issue. "The winners in each category represent places where families have formed lasting memories, and offer adventures for all types of interests, for animal lovers to history and science buffs," said Ann Hallock, editor-in-chief. "We... Full story
Preparing a summer vacation should be as easy and relaxing as the heavenly skies and vast wilderness of Sedona, Ariz. The city, surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest land and buttressed by four wilderness areas and two state parks, is a landscape built for adventure and offers numerous options for summer explorations. Angular formations, high mesas and rocky cliffs define the multi-terraced skyline. Forests are carved by a network of trails and surrounded by feisty streams, all... Full story
(Phoenix, Arizona - April 27, 2015) - Travel to Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks in Sedona to create unforgettable family vacation memories. Both parks were selected in a recent travel poll by FamilyFun magazine readers as Top 10 State Parks in the country and were featured in the magazine's April issue. "The winners in each category represent places where families have formed lasting memories, and offer adventures for all types of interests, for animal lovers to history and science buffs,"... Full story
HANGING OUT – Kelsee Haws, an enthusiastic outdoors woman and firefighter captain at Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology, is shown "hanging out" at Devil's Bridge, Sedona. She recommends a beautiful 1.8-mile hike in the Red Rock country to this beautiful, year-round destination -- just a short drive west of Highway 89A. Her comment: " "Join in the fun up in Sedona and have an adventure of your own"!... Full story
Have you ever wanted to bring your family camping but weren't sure where to start? The Arizona Family Campout Program is a one-weekend adventure designed for families who have little-or-no experience camping. The program will provide tents, sleeping mats and introduce families to the new adventure of camping at an Arizona State Park. How To Do It Throughout the weekend families will work with a Camp Coordinator and other families to learn how to set-up their tent and how to prepare a dinner,... Full story
At the New Year, it is customary to reflect and aspire to do better in the coming year, often through the traditions of New Year's resolutions. In 2015, Sedona welcomes those who resolve to travel more, offering its vast red rock landscape as the backdrop to next year's memories. Before planning the next trip to this desert oasis, the city offers the top five secret sights to see while adventuring in the city. Here, then, are the city's top five (in ascending order) hidden treasures to create... Full story
Each year as part of its nationally-recognized and highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department asks outdoor recreationists and aircraft pilots to help protect important eagle breeding areas by honoring the closure of 23 areas across the state. Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas for part of the year to protect the state's 55 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located n... Full story
If an authentic African safari sounds like the ultimate adventure, then head to Camp Verde, Ariz., for an unforgettable visit to Out of Africa Wildlife Park, located just 45 minutes north of Anthem and 30 minutes south of Sedona ,3 miles west of I-17. It's not a zoo or a circus, but rather a natural wildlife habitat where owners Dean and Prayeri Harrison have adopted a unique and respectful way of interacting with hundreds of wild-by-nature animals on a 104-acre setting replicating Africa.... Full story
Chandler photographer Robert Rinsem's image of a handsome hooded merganser gliding across golden waters has captured the grand prize in this year's Arizona wildlife photo contest, sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The contest, which promotes Arizona's diverse wildlife, attracted more than 700 entries on the theme "Arizona's surprising wildlife." Thirteen winning images have just been published in a full-size 2015 wildlife calendar in the November–December issue of Arizona W... Full story
It may be a desert state, but Arizona has many great swimming holes. Nestled here and there near mountain springs and along tributaries of rivers, these natural spas are popular with hikers, picnickers and just about anyone who enjoys time in and around the water. Some of the following entail a drive; others require a short walk or a bit of a scramble. A few can only be reached after a long, hard hike. Keep in mind, though, that you are not the only one who wants to cool off in the water; there... Full story
Tip Of The Week Greer Derby The Business Council of Greer is sponsoring a $10,000 Fishing Derby until Oct. 31. Catch one of 50 tagged fish in the three Greer Lakes and bring one into the Lazy Trout Market to exchange for a hat. On Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. at The Lazy Trout Market, a tag will be drawn and it must match the winning number sent by OddsOnPromotions to win the $10,000. Registration is not necessary before catching the tagged fish. If there is no $10,000 winner, a $250 first and $100 second... Full story