St Thomas and the British Virgin Islands

My friend Alicia has been to the BVIs numerous times, and she really wanted us to see it.  Aimee, Annie, and I are game for going anywhere, and somewhere this beautiful was particularly exciting.

DAY 1 -

St Thomas

We flew into St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands from our various states.  I LOVE meeting up with my friends in other places.  It's always a sort of - where am I going to see you and is this really going to work out - type of thing.  It always has so far!

Aimee and Alicia had gotten there a few hours before me, so I took a taxi to meet them at our Airbnb.  We were taking some steep, twisty roads up a mountain, and I said, "This is really steep," and the driver didn't respond.  As I found out later, he didn't respond because THIS WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE ISLANDS.  Twisty, incredibly steep, incredibly narrow roads were the norm.

It was so steep that the taxi driver didn't even drive me all the way to the hotel.  He left me at the bottom of the driveway and I walked up.  I didn't think anything of it, but the Airbnb owners couldn't believe it.

Aimee and Alicia had already befriended the owners, (this is also the norm), so they drove us to see the sunset on a pretty beach, and then they made us dinner.

DAY 2 -

Tortola

We got up early to catch the ferry to Tortola.  We had bought tickets in advance, but this didn't seem to matter.  The person who worked for our ferry company wasn't in yet, so another woman just processed our tickets and passports for us.  Very island-like!

The ferry ride was pretty, because the water was so blue, and the islands were so mountainous.

We rented a car, and the Airbnb owner Karen said she would meet us on the road and we could follow her up to our house.

This is why - there is no way we would have thought we were going the right way.  We drove on the tightest turn, narrowest, twistiest, steepest cliff roads I'd ever been on before.  If she had directed us up there, we would have said, "There's no way this is a road.  This is clearly a path to our doom."  But!  Aimee drove like a champ and we made it to the top with no problem.  Night, rain, other cars - Aimee never had any problems doing it.

The view from the Airbnb was worth it - all open, all island and water.  We had lunch in town and found out it was election day, and as a result, there were no alcohol sales.  We made many jokes about this, as everyone went out of their way to tell us about it.  We drove to Smuggler's Beach on an awful road - and bottomed out the car on the way - and enjoyed the pretty beach.  Check out Nigel's Boom Boom Beach Bar & Grill - we ran into Nigel himself around town three times on our trip!

We were heading across the island and stopped to ask for directions at Stoutt's Look Out, a really happening place on top of a mountain.  The owner was very friendly, as were all the people in there - and then a political candidate drove by and they beckoned him in, wishing him luck.  It had an amazing view and a GREAT atmosphere!  You should definitely go here.

It is here we were introduced to a different definition for the word 'lime.'  Some super fun women told us it means to hang out and have drinks.  "We lime all the time," "He just likes to lime," and "Just liming," are all proper uses.  Go ahead, try and use it - we did!

DAY 3 -

The Baths on Virgin Gorda

There is an interesting thing about the BVIs.  There are no signs.  No street signs, no gas station signs, no grocery store signs - everyone just tells you 'You can't miss it.'  We missed it A LOT.

One spa brochure read, "West End, Tortola.  Right after Jerry Car Rental.  Exactly where Kelly's Hardware used to be."

Another factor is that there was a gigantic hurricane - Irma - here in 2017.  It majorly affected the island and they are still recovering.  Everyone local will talk to you about it, because it was massive and changed everyone's lives.

Through a friend of a friend, ahead of time Alicia found a private ship captain - Bryson - and boat for hire.  We met up with him at a restaurant on the water (without an easily visible sign) and he used his sailboat to take us about two hours to another island - Virgin Gorda, to the Baths.

The Baths are giant rocks you can climb through, under, over - and it's gorgeous.  The water, the rocks, everything.  (I simply cannot get over the water color in the BVIs.)  This is a must see in the BVIs.  We went all through them and then ate lunch at the Top of the Baths Restaurant and Bar.

I tried (unsuccessfully) to sail the boat on the way back.  We went to the Nanny Cay, pronounced key, Beach Bar to eat and hang out.  Our lovely Airbnb host Karen came and bought us drinks, as Annie, Aimee, and Alicia had already befriended her - the theme continues!  There were a lot of locals here, which made it an especially fun place to hang out.

DAY 4 -

The Indians, Willy T's, Cane Garden Bay Beach

We met up with Bryson again and he ferried us to The Indians, which are huge rocks that stick a little above the water and then are the size of skyscrapers under the water.  We snorkeled here and I loved it.

I don't actually snorkel.  I just wear the mask, no flippers, and no mouthpiece.  For me, it's far more enjoyable that way.  It was a little choppy in the water, but it was super exciting seeing how tall the rocks were in the clear water, and we saw lots of fish.  Swimming in the ocean here was great, and seemed almost magical - so far from the boat and any land, but no trouble staying up.  Aimee said, "I like being by the rocks, but when you go away from them, I can almost hear the shark music."  Ha!

We went to Willy T's, which is an iconic BVI stop.  It's a giant floating bar/restaurant!  People were feeding a barracuda chicken wings.  One of the things to do is jump off the second story of the boat.  The water was so clear that I wasn't sure how deep it was, but a guy showed me he could dive off of it.  So, I took the plunge!  It's a tourist thing - you have to!

We snorkeled around and Alicia saw the barracuda, but I didn't - thank goodness.

We hit Stoutt's Look Out again because Annie hadn't seen it, ate dinner at Bananakeet and watched the sunset, and spent the evening at Cane Garden Bay Beach, mostly at the Paradise Club Lounge.  Tons of people out, on the beach, all fun.

DAY 5 -

Jost Van Dyke

After a beautiful breakfast at Sebastian's on the Beach, (truly another gorgeous beach), we met up with our captain again.  We went to White Bay to the Soggy Dollar, which was full of people and sports memorabilia.  People bring flags from all across the world to hang up.

Did I mention the color of the water?!  You could hang out here for hours, but we decided to hike across the peak to take in the sweeping vistas.  It was like looking at a postcard.

We went to Foxy's and met the legendary owner himself, and then we boated over to Bubbly Pool.

Bubbly Pool is accessible from a short walk from the shore.  There are giant rocks that allow waves to swell in, and when they recede it leaves little bubbles.  We watched our Bryson play in the waves as we stayed back a safe distance, and then when he got out he told us that people have died there when they've been swept out past the rocks.  The waves are enough to knock you over, and at some point it had taken away a lot of our shoes that we were able to find.  We all made it, though!  It's worth going - as long as you don't get sucked past the rocks.

We went back to Smuggler's Beach at sunset, and we were the only ones there.  We watched flying fish leap into the air, then we ate dinner and headed for home.

DAY 6 -

Road Town

We took the car back - I should mention that we originally reserved an SUV, but they didn't have one.  We took it back to get one after we bottomed out and I had to tuck part of the broken plastic back under the car, and then it got a flat tire we half changed and then had to get the tire repaired.  Ah, rentals!

Annie and Alicia had an earlier flight, so they took an earlier ferry.  Aimee and I walked around Road Town and looked at people there from the cruise ships.

Everyone told us to NOT rely on the internet for the ferry schedule.  We found that the ferry schedule was very fluid.  When we got there, Annie and Alicia bought tickets for an earlier ferry, and the woman there told Aimee and me to come back later.  When we were walking by later, she said, "Come in and get on this ferry RIGHT NOW!"  about an hour earlier than she had said we should be there.  So we quickly processed our passports and paid the fee for getting out of the country - so many countries make you pay something to get in and leave - and walked in the ferry waiting area to see ... Annie and Alicia!  We were all on the same ferry!  Luckily they made it to their flights on time.

The sights, the different islands, the views, the snorkeling, the Baths, the boat, the amazingly twisty roads - all of it was exciting and fun.  My travel partners are hard to beat, too - just ask any Airbnb host, because they're already friends with them.  Lime away!


Any questions?  Email me at carla.wardin@gmail.com.

Arizona in three days

Kate and I had three days - plus two travel days - to see Arizona.  If that's the kind of time you have, here's what we did and what you might want to do, too!

Thursday - 

Phoenix

We flew into Phoenix Sky Harbor International because we found super cheap flights, but don't overlook the Phoenix-Mesa airport, because it has some sweet deals, too.  For instance, Allegiant flies into there.  Last year I went from Grand Rapids to Phoenix-Mesa with a $200 ticket, and the fact that the girl next to me had a cat in her lap the entire time, and at one point the cat clawed my dress ... still totally worth the money.  And that's saying a lot.  

We took an Uber to Phoenix to check out Lustre, a rooftop bar and restaurant.  It was a little hard to get into and looked closed, but when we found our way up there, it was lovely!  Pretty pool, comfy furniture, and a great view.  Kate ordered a drink that came in a little honey bear on ice.  We were taken.

Kate is a total foodie so she always orders interesting items.  She loved her seafood dish and dips, and I loved my pretzel sticks.  Salt and bread - that's my jam.

The Diamondbacks were playing, plus Disney on Ice was about to start, so we walked around and checked out the people coming into downtown.  We went for a drink at Copper Blues - Rock Pub & Kitchen, which was an artsy outdoor place with a lot of taps - and another open, warm outdoor area!  (Sitting outdoors and eating AND being warm is right up there for a lot of people from Michigan.  I have, in some cases, done this in a winter coat.)

DAY 1 - Friday

Lake Pleasant Regional Park to Yavapai Peak

Hiking!  We went to Lake Pleasant Regional Park to hike to Yavapai Peak.  After paying the entrance fee of $7.00, we parked at the wrong trailhead, then found the right one due to the map.  If you tell them at the gate where you want to go they can direct you.  

The whole desert was in bloom, and the entire landscape is full of saguaro cactus!  Please note - it is imperative that you imitate their branches with your arm motion and take a picture.

The trail is well-maintained and an easy three-mile out and back.  Last year my dad and son went off track and got into some teddy bear cactus.  Cole got it in his elbow, head, arm ... my dad had it all over his backside ... but the park service has now thoughtfully put up a sign indicating that this trail - that USED to look like a trail - is NOT the trail.

The view from the bench at the top is so beautiful, and the sweeping vistas are just as nice on the way down.

I don't normally carry water around, but in Arizona it is dry.  You know, with it being the desert and all.  I like to take water on hikes and I always drink it.  

Next up -     

White Tank Mountain Regional Park and Petroglyphs

We drove about 30 minutes to the White Tank Mountains and on the way got to see a field of roses!  Not wild roses - like a crop of roses.  (We didn't have to pay again - the park receipt is good for the day.)

The White Tank Mountain Regional Park features petroglyphs.  Petroglyphs are unlike hieroglyphics, because they look like a lot of graffiti, but really old graffiti.  They have signs talking about what the doodlings might mean, so you can make fun of their interpretations.  "This swirl may indicate the eternity of life and the uncertainty we all face ... or the artist might have really liked a curvy line."

This trail is touted as family friendly, and for a long way it is a cement sidewalk.  After you get off the sidewalk, it takes you to a fun canyon.  You can take off your shoes, wade through the water, and climb up the canyon to where there is sometimes a trickle of a waterfall (a very small trickle).  I did that with my mountain goat-children, but Kate and I opted to lie on a very large, very warm rock and take in the gorgeous view.

Scottsdale

We got dressed up and headed to Scottsdale for dinner.  We ate at Hot Noodles, Cold Saki because Kate thought that the ramen looked amazing.  Don't be put off by the fact that it is really hard to find in a strip mall.  (We had some difficulty finding it - but there was a rainbow that led us right to it!  Don't expect this when you go.  Especially if you go after dark.)

Kate loved her food so much that she couldn't talk to me while she ate it.  It was that good!  I also liked mine - an egg on top of noodles and lots of vegetables.

Old Town Scottsdale was immediately attractive to me, because anytime you hang lights criss cross across a downtown I'm IN.  We went to the most happening place on the block, The Rusty Spur Saloon.  A band of old guys played and the people were friendly.  We ventured outside because I wanted to try ... the e-scooters!  We downloaded the app and I rode the Bird for the first time!  There were lots of art galleries around us and Kate and I - sometimes riding double and sometimes single - checked them out.  They were surprisingly easy to ride, because I'm not that great at a regular scooter, but these were fun!

DAY 2 - Saturday

Cathedral Rock Trail

We headed to Sedona to hike the Cathedral Rock trail.  This is easily one of my favorite hikes.  You have to actually climb - on all fours - and find footholds, but if  you fell you wouldn't get hurt.  It's the perfect angle!

You have to pay at the machine in the parking lot, then put the receipt in your car.  The earlier you get there, the better, because it fills up on nice days.  People just start parking along the street, which is fine, too, but pretty narrow.

Have you already heard about the vortex in Sedona?  Some people claim to feel some force when in Sedona.  Before I went there I thought it was kind of silly, but 2/3 times I've been to Sedona I've definitely felt something, which feels a lot like an abrupt change in altitude.  I like it.

It's just a two-mile round trip.  You can enjoy the views all the way up, and once you're up there, the red of the rock and the blue of the sky is absolutely beautiful.  Lots of people were just hanging out on top, taking pictures, eating, drinking water, and even meditating.  We did too.  Lovely hike and view! 

We ate great Mexican food at Miley's Cafe and wonderful ice cream at Rocky Road Ice Cream Company, but there are a million choices of places to eat.  

Chapel of the Holy Cross

We went to Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is a beautiful church built into a rock, up really high, surrounded by red rocks.  

The builder seemingly didn't anticipate that masses of people would want to come and see the church, because the parking situation is awful.

Everyone wants to see it, and there's no entry fee - other than voluntarily paying for candles to light and a gift shop.  There's angled parking on the street up, and the parking attendant motioned for me to go forward, but there was no parking any closer.  You just have to go to the top and do a three point turn in a parking lot and head back down.  My advice - go when it's not busy, or just park below in the street on the way there.  We got lucky and got a spot on the way down, but I wouldn't count on it.

But it's worth it!  The church is so pretty, the art is lovely, and the view from the church is gorgeous.

Grand Canyon

Kate and I parked at the Grand Canyon National Park Visitors Center ($35 per car for 1-7 day pass) and hit Mather Point for the sunset.  It was the first time Kate had been, and the fourth time I've been ... but it does NOT get old.  It is so gorgeous that it brought tears to my eyes.  (So dramatic...)  We moved off to the west to see more and to get away from the crowds.  We toasted the sunset.  By the time we left, we were both shivering.  When the sun's gone it immediately gets cold.  Take warm clothes!

DAY 3 - Sunday

Grand Canyon South Kaibab Trail

After spending the night in Tusayan at the Canyon Plaza Premier Studio and Apartments (only a few miles from the entrance to the Grand Canyon), we went back to the visitor center to catch the 8:00 a.m. shuttle bus to the South Kaibab Trail, my favorite trail into the canyon.  I have also hiked halfway down into the canyon on the Bright Angel trail, but I prefer the views and less traffic of this one.

There are signs upon signs that instruct you to not to go down into the canyon and back up in one day, and I haven't...but WOW is it tempting.  Seems fine, really.  But you didn't hear it from me.

We had a gorgeous day, sunny and perfect weather for hiking.  We hiked past Ooh Ahh Point to Cedar Ridge, where there are bathrooms.  We went on a huge rock outcropping here to stop and eat and drink and once again, look at the gorgeous view and talk about how great it was.

This is my top thing to do in Arizona - hiking down this trail.  I really love it, everyone there is happy, (there are some nervous parents clutching their children, but they all seemed excited, too) and the views are one of the best things I've seen.  I just love going so far down into it that you're surrounded.  This time, we didn't even have to share the trail with mules, which made me feel much more confident that nothing was going to accidentally knock me to my death.  My mom sent me three articles about people who fell into the canyon and died in the weeks leading up to our trip, but there were no mules involved in any of the accidents.

Flagstaff

After the trail, we drove to Flagstaff to eat.  There was snow on the mountains!  Flagstaff was a hip, cool college town, full of students, hipsters, and murals.  We ate great food at the Lumberyard Brewing Co, but there are a ton of choices.  People were eating outside, enjoying the sunshine, looking at the snow capped mountains. 

Sun City West

My parents live in Sun City West in the winter, which is where Kate and I stayed.  It's a 17,000 house retirement neighborhood with three rec centers, clubs for every activity imaginable, and opportunities to play, play, play.  You have to be 55 to own a home there, but there is no age limit for visitors!  We stayed here Sunday night and flew home Monday.

So that's Arizona in three days.  It's warm, it's fun, and there is so much to do within a few hours.

Thanks to Kate for suggesting the trip and my parents for living there!  I'll go cry at a beautiful sight anytime.  Mule attendance optional.

If you have any questions about your upcoming trip, please feel free to email me at carla.wardin@gmail.com.  

Welcome!

Before I go on a trip, I like to do a little research ... and I invariably run across a really helpful blog telling me where to go and what to do.  Since I LOVE traveling, I thought I'd share.  I like to do a lot in a short amount of time, and so if you're heading these places - or thinking of heading there - here are some ideas!