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| View from above the Sonoran desert landscape |
When Larry and I planned a trip to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area in Arizona, I expected spectacular desert scenery, breathtaking red rock mountains, and sunny Arizona weather. I wasn’t disappointed. All those natural features have spawned a huge community with world-renown golf courses and more resort spas than anywhere else in the country.
But if
luxury digs and lazy days aren't your travel style, there are many other options for
exploring—and enjoying--the area.
Taliesin West I’ve long been fascinated by the architecture of FrankLloyd Wright, so we took a 90-minute guided tour of Taliesin West, the home he
built in the 1930s. Regarded as one of his greatest masterpieces and now a
National Historic Landmark, Taliesin West was literally built out of the desert
using rocks and sand to balance the design with the surrounding environment.
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| Taliesin West showcases the genius of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. |
Wright
oriented his home to face the mountains and away from utility poles, which he
disliked. He loved music—even had a wall cut out to fit a piano--and encouraged
performances by visitors, a tradition that continues today among architecture
students who come to study the master’s style.
Until
his death in 1959, Wright constantly expanded and modified the house and enhanced
its natural elements. He also designed furniture to fit the house and was
particular about its placement. The living quarters and Garden Room are
highlights of the tour, and I could almost imagine sharing conversations with
famous guests Wright entertained there. www.franklloydwright.org
Musical Instrument Museum Whether you know much about music or not, this is a fun
place to browse for a couple of hours. Opened in 2010, the museum’s exhibits
display instruments from every country in the world, and videos provide musical
sights and sounds from a variety of cultures.  |
| Learn about familiar and little-known instruments at MIM in Phoenix. |
Among
the instruments on display in the museum are a side-blown trumpet from
Tanzania, bowed lute from Madagascar, goblet drum from Turkey, kettle drum made
from goatskin and wood from Chile, and a plucked zither from Syria. Guitars
from the earliest models up to present day instruments were displayed openly,
not behind glass.
One of
the tidbits we learned: Congo musicians who use bells and rattles to call up
spirits for healing or protection are held in high esteem.
Music styles
represented include hip hop, country, Cajun, bluegrass, and blues. In the
Experience Gallery, visitors can test out gongs and other instruments, or
create their own music on the accessible Steinway grand piano. www.themim.org
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| Bright red blooms liven a cactus at Desert Botanical Garden |
Desert Botanical Garden A visit to this vibrant garden quickly dispels the
myth that deserts are barren and boring. Stunning specimens of pipe organ
cacti, 100-year-old saguaros, and blooms emanating from thick stems in rainbow
colors are displayed in 50 acres of beautiful outdoor
landscaping.
Nestled in the garden among the red buttes of Papago Park
are 50,000 plants, 139 of which are rare, threatened, and endangered
species. At every turn along five
thematic trails there’s something new to see, whether it’s an unusual variety
of succulent, one of more than a hundred bird species, or a half-century-old
turtle crossing the path.
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| Mountains provide a splendid backdrop for desert plants. |
Hot air balloon ride It’s a bit of a splurge and you have to get up early, but the
sunrise flight is totally worth it. After arriving at the launch site, we
watched as workers inflated the giant balloon before climbing into the attached
basket. Up we drifted, tranquilly soaring above the Sonoran Desert in the 12-story-tall
apparatus.
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| We're getting ready to lift off for hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran desert near Phoenix, Arizona. |
Despite
cracking us up with his crazy jokes, our captain masterfully monitored air
currents to raise the wicker basket 8,000 feet above earth. Although the
balloon travels around five miles per hour, there’s little sensation of
motion. Along the way, we had unobstructed
views of scampering jackrabbits, scattered cacti, shrubs, and trees, and even
shadows from our own balloon.
Back
on land, the crew served a traditional champagne breakfast on white-clothed
tables in the field where the balloon landed—the perfect ending to a thrilling
flight. www.hotairexpeditions.com
Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier
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1 comment:
I, too, was really impressed by the attractions in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. It's a region that is blessed with the natural beauty of the desert, but also has many man-made attractions to enjoy.
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