Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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John and I are always looking for new roads to explore in the Jeep, and this past week we found one that we could have done in the car, so I thought I'd share it, because there were plenty of interesting things to see and some incredibly beautiful areas. You could do this whole loop in one day like we did, even taking time to hop out and wander around, plus a stop for a picnic lunch. In all, we covered 286 miles from the west valley, round trip. FIRST UP: DOLL BABY RANCH ROAD I saw this road on...
Note - All photos courtesy of John and Margie Anderson Camping is the ideal outdoor adventure – it can be inexpensive and close to home, and gets you out in the fresh air and away from the news stories. If you're new to camping, don't feel like you need to go out and buy a bunch of stuff. You can probably borrow a lot of what you need from friends and family, or find used gear online. Find out if your neighborhood or church has a "Buy Nothing" program. Once you sign up, you can get a lot of g... Full story
Lake Pleasant Fireworks – July 3, 2024 Watch The Best Fireworks Show In Town! Pleasant Harbor at Lake Pleasant will host its annual Celebrate America fireworks show on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Pleasant Harbor is home to this annual firework show, as well asfood trucks, free kids' activities, and live concert featuring the band, Rock Lobster. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. and activities running through 10:30 p.m.Presale parking admission is $27.50(per vehicle)and $35 day o... Full story
This is the perfect time of year to take your winter guests or your family to some of the wonderful places in Arizona that get a bit warm in the summertime. We've taken the granddaughters to all of these places, and believe it or not, Trinity tells us that the Hassayampa Preserve was her favorite hike ever! Some of these places are free to visit, and others are not, so I'm including current prices as well as how to get there and what not to miss! Enjoy! Boyce Thompson Arboretum The girls have... Full story
John and I and Mochi took a fun ride up in the cool pines the other day – it wasn't a ride packed with things to see, but it did take us past Marshall Lake, Upper and Lower Lake Mary, Mormon Lake, and Stoneman Lake – all of which are currently chock full of water! You will need a high-clearance vehicle for this drive, and I'm thinking it could get iffy after a big rain. I'm an Arizona native, but this is the first time I've ever seen water in Stoneman Lake, and the first time I remember see... Full story
Hopefully you had a chance to enjoy a high-country camping or lake trip this summer to escape the record-breaking heat we experienced across the state! School is back in session and families are getting back into their routines, and most Arizonans are looking forward to cooler temps and fall weather. Try not to let your adventurous spirit get lost in the fray of your busy life this year. Remember to get outside this fall to remain connected with nature and enjoy the array of physical and mental... Full story
Safety tips can prevent attracting bears and advise what to do in case of an encounter. Editor's Note: In light of the recent tragedy near Prescott, Ariz., we publish this reminder from AZGFD and send sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has started to receive its first confirmed reports of the year of bear sightings in Arizona. As temperatures rise, bears will come out of their dens searching for food. Black bears are typicall... Full story
Forestville, WI (November 2, 2022) – Women now account for 37 percent of anglers in the U.S., the highest level on record according to the Special Report on Fishing announced at ICAST 2022 by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) in collaboration with the Outdoor Foundation. 19.4 million women went fishing in 2021, an 8% increase in fishing outings since 2019. 1.6 million female participants were first timers. The total number of fishing outings for females in 2021 was 288 m... Full story
Who's ready to enjoy a free night's stay in one of Maricopa County's regional parks? Starting October 1, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is bringing back its popular Buy One, Get One camping promotion! The promotion allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a participating desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free during that same stay. "This Buy One, Get One camping promotion allows our residents to... Full story
Wild Arizona: 200 Captive Desert Tortoises Need Forever Homes For some, a dog or cat will do just fine. But for others who are considering adopting something truly unique to Arizona, say hello to your next family member: "Many people don't even consider opening up their homes to desert tortoises, but they make fantastic and personable pets," said Tegan Wolf, desert tortoise adoption program coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). "It's rewarding to hear stories from those... Full story
Dive In! The "merry, merry month of May" brings us both the lighter side of taking selfies with mermaids and the more serious side of remembering our moms on Mothers' Day and loved ones lost on Memorial Day. Scuba Show 2022 in L.A. promises to be a family friendly event with many programs focused on the kids. However, there is lots for the adults too who are interested in scuba diving: products, programs, educational seminars and more. Also in this delightful, not-too-hot-yet month are the... Full story
By John And Margie Anderson Mother's Day is for letting Mom know how much we love her -- and giving her the perfect gift is one of the ways we show love. It can be as simple as a hand-made card, a vase full of wildflowers, or a home-baked treat. If Mom is the outdoorsy type, We've got a lot of options for you to consider! Camping Mom BlendJet I love a good protein shake for breakfast, so I recently got a BlendJet so that I can make my daily shakes when I'm camping and hunting. Oh my! My only... Full story
This is worth celebrating: The Arizona Game & Fish Department's Outdoor Expo is back! After a two-year hiatus, the popular family friendly event returns. I am taking this as a sign that our past couple of years of restricted activities are finally coming to an end. I hope I am right and that we will be able to cheer on "normal", be it the new or otherwise. The Expo, in a sense, kicks off the spring season in the Southwest, and as you will note in this issue, the focus is on such great outdoor... Full story
Here are some suggestions for kayak and canoe safety and equipment. AZGFD Paddlesports Training Course Is First The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) was recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for offering the nation's first paddle-sports class that meets the national standard for "On-Water Recreational Boating Skills – Human Propelled." AZGFD's "Paddlesports Arizona" course teaches fundamental paddlecraft skills that entry-level recreational boaters should be able... Full story
The funeral service with military honors will be held on Monday, March 14, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Peace Lutheran Church with Rev. Cory Burma officiating. Interment will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Monday from 1:00 PM until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service on Monday at 1:45 PM at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the... Full story
Early in February it can seem like the fish are on strike," says local resident and ournament angler Debbie Blanchard, "but before long the big smallmouth start to move in and you can catch a lot of really big fish." The smallmouth begin to spawn when the water reaches about 58 degrees, and they spawn deeper than largemouth do. Easy To Spot Debbie looks for beds in at least ten feet of water. They're easy to spot, she says, because smallmouth nests are as much as three times as big as... Full story
Christmas Gifts For Outdoorsy Types Need some stocking stuffer and gift ideas for your outdoorsy family and friends? Look no further – here are a bunch of great ones at all different price ranges. UNDER $25 STANSPORT knows it's never too early to start kids on a love for the outdoors, and they make it easy for you by providing fun stuff for your little explorers at great prices. For instance, you can get a Kids' Insect Catching Kit for $25.99 and a Kids' Magnifying Jar for 10.99. That will k... Full story
Camping is awesome, especially if you know some basics. Choosing a great spot and setting up a camp site is something I've been doing for decades. Of course, when I first started camping, my dad did most of the choosing, but we all helped set up the camp. Where and how we camp still depends a lot on the purpose of the trip. In other words, are we hunting, fishing, hiking, or just exploring and camping? How elaborate our camp becomes is largely dependent on the answer to that question, but the... Full story
Celebrate America 2021 At Lake Pleasant Pleasant Harbor at Lake Pleasant will host its annual Celebrate America fireworks show on Saturday, July 3. Located on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant, conveniently adjacent to the Phoenix Metro area, Pleasant Harbor hosts this annual firework show, as well as food trucks, free kids activities, including water slides, bounce houses and live music. Festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. and activities running through 10:30 p.m.... Full story
Compiled By Doug Burt AZGFD Hunting/Shooting Sports Manager Are you interested in going hunting, but not sure where to start? Look no further. The Arizona Game and Fish Department along with an extensive network of partnering organizations host dozens of learn how to hunt, fish, shoot, trap and other outdoor skill development events throughout the year. Most of these events offer mentoring (not guides), hands-on activities, seminars, a hot meal and campfires for sharing your story. Event types... Full story
Flagstaff Has Some Great Ideas For June 20 And, by the third week in June, you and your dad might want to head for the cooler high country to celebrate. From Discover Flagstaff Flagstaff, with its wide-ranging choice of manly activities, is the ideal place to celebrate Father's Day. It's easy to make the day extra special for Dad when you plan a mountain town get-together to show him how much you care. Whether you make it an extended family activity, a gathering of the nearest and dearest or an... Full story
And the best gift of all is your love and your time. If you're like me, your dad probably had a lot to do with your love of the outdoors. A dad who hikes, fishes, hunts, camps, or goes off-road is so easy to buy for! Basically, when I bought stuff for my dad I just bought stuff I'd like to have myself. If that doesn't work for you, I've got some ideas for you. Here's a bunch of stuff I bet your outdoor dad will love. Ideas For The Off-Road Dad John and I go exploring a lot, so I know there are... Full story
The year 2020 saw a lot of people venturing into the outdoors for the first time. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, this past year 6.2 million new shooters took up the sport. There was also a spike in camping and other outdoor activities. Some people were afraid to gather together inside, but outside is a different matter. If you are one of the newbies, I hope you continue to enjoy the outdoors this year and for many years to come. Many Good Reasons There are a lot of good... Full story
Peoria, AZ (October 9, 2020) – The Annual Haunted Harbor Trunk-N-Treat at Lake Pleasant will occur on Saturday, October 24 from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The event includes a safe and fun environment to trick or treat, Halloween costume contest, a live Rockabilly band and food trucks. Although there is a $7.00 entry gate fee per carload, this charge is waived if children are dressed in Halloween costumes. All attendees must wear a mask and follow posted social distancing guidelines. Pleasant Har... Full story
Although the letter from London was often on our minds, Jim and I were able to enjoy our flight to Scotland, the wedding of his sister Lynn, and the delightful family of her new husband Frank. It had been a memorable time in Glasgow, but now that the celebrations were over, we were ready to begin our three-part travels of Scotland, the Irelands, and Wales. (We called this journey our "trilogy.") We telephoned London just before we left Glasgow. As there was not an answer at Crampton's, we... Full story
