top of page

Arizona | Amaris and Fox Return to Tucson


Time to get the van and get out of dodge.

Sunset At La Paloma Golf Course In Tucson Arizona
La Paloma Golf Course During Sunset

Welcome to Tucson, Arizona, the first stop on the Amaris and Fox adventure of July, 2020. This was our first trip together and people must be thinking who goes to Arizona during summer? Despite the "dry heat" as dad says, the desert is beautiful year round if one knows where and when to look. Fox' family lives in Tucson, we needed time in nature desperately, so we left a tumultuous town in search of space and freedom. One way tickets were purchased to Tucson with little plan other than a few nights near home followed by an extended road trip. What we learned in Tucson was, even though it was a thousand degrees at times the Monsoon Season was in full swing! These rains followed an unusually wet winter, provided much needed rains due to the ongoing Bighorn Fire, and gave way to rejuvenating evenings.


Monsoon Season Over The Tucson Desert
Monsoon Season Over The Tucson Desert

The two night stay at Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa started earlier in the afternoon with a poolside escape. Over the course of the next two days we rose early to enjoy the cool morning air, which began with a stop at the Donut Wheel followed by a super early morning hike at Wild Burrow Canyon next to The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain. Towards the end of the hike we were visited by a couple of large jack rabbits! Afterwards we headed downtown, hung out by the University of Arizona, and lunched at Gentle Ben's, a favorite of Amaris'. On a recommendation from dad, we drove south ten miles and walked around the gorgeous San Xavier del Bac Mission, which was founded as a mission in 1692 with construction of the current church lasting from 1783 - 1797.


San Xavier Del Bac Mission
San Xavier del Bac Mission

As the day was truly heating up we took our sun kissed skin and made the drive back to La Paloma Estates where we enjoyed a sunset walk around the immaculate golf course, architected by Jack Nicklaus and Michael Riley, with a founder of GO2Devices who recommended we have dinner nearby at the lovely La Hacienda del Sol's Terraza Garden Patio and Lounge. The dinner was so nice we decided to stay at the hotel on a future visit in October, 2020, prior to disappearing into the vast desert for opening weekend of Quail hunting, which will be happening again in the fall of 2021.


Foothills Of The Catalina Mountains
Foothills of the Catalina Mountains

The following morning a scratched up Toyota 4Runner was loaded with Amaris, Fox, and his parents for some good ol' fashioned off roading in the Tortolita Mountains. The family was in for a treat as more wildlife was seen on that day than any other in the past twenty plus years of exploring the range - a lesson learned here is to check the @theoldfarmersalmanac as, we found out after the fact, this day was in the 95% for animal activity. Shortly after hitting the dirt road off I-10 the 4Runner slammed to a halt as a large snake was crossing the road - a good omen. Throughout the course of the trek we saw a previously never before seen Pronghorn that was resting under a tree, a baby coyote that could not have been more than a week old, two owls, and decided to park for a refill next to a swarm of hornets. The wonderful morning was just one more reason to leave the road most travelled.


Catalina Foothills Neighborhood In Tucson Arizona
Cruising Through The Catalina Foothills Neighborhood

All of these spots are highly recommended for a mixed experience of posh and good ol' rugged / stay fit fun. Should time allow watch a sunset from the top of Gate's Pass, drive through the scenic Canyon Ranch, visit Oro Valley and roll through the Saguaro National Park to Mt. Lemmon. During our stay there were fires, unfortunately, and we were not able to drive near the mountain.


Santa Catalina Mountains
Santa Catalina Mountains

Sunset At La Paloma Golf Course
La Paloma Sunset

Going HAM with the Fox FAM was a blast and we left Tucson to our next destination, Sedona, with full hearts.



Comments


bottom of page