White Tank Mountain Regional Park
Many Portlanders use the MLK weekend for a getaway to warmer climes. My choice was to visit my friend Elizabeth, the Phoenix Day Trips Examiner, in Arizona for a couple of fun day trips. An easy drive out of Phoenix, White Tank Mountain Regional Park has accessible "tennis shoe hiking" trails as well as boot-and-hiking stick trails. We walked the Waterfall Trail and viewed the Native American petroglyphs. The waterfall itself is a scramble across some rocks, but only a trickle unless there has been recent rains.
I felt like I just couldn't take enough cactus photos. Our second walk was on the Black Rock Trail where I learned the names of the prickly pear, hedgehog, and teddy bear cactus in addition to the stately saguaro. Our weather was perfect, the temperature was in the low 70's with no wind. Being a Northwesterner, I slathered on my highest SPF sunscreen before venturing out, and my husband sported the custom-fit palm hat we bought from a vendor in Quartzsite.
Quartzsite rocks and minerals
Our other walking destination was the big January rock and mineral shows and swap meets at Quartzsite. This small town swells from a few thousand year-round residents to over a million in the winter as RV snowbirds come camp. Quartzsite is located about two hours west of Phoenix. Elizabeth's walking club hosted a walking route to visit one of the several big vendor areas. We were amazed at the size and variety of geodes, fossils, and every type of decorative rock. Elizabeth bought some geodes while I got a bathroom set made of Moroccan fossils.
If you come to Quartzsite, expect to walk! There are several large swap meet sites where you can spend hours to see all of the tables. We took a break for lunch at the Quartzsite Yacht Club.
Shopping for walking essentials in Quartzsite
We aren't ready to adopt the snowbird RV lifestyle and winter in Quartzsite. But we have several walking friends who have taken that road. We'll enjoy an occasional getaway to the land of cactus and enjoy our rocks and palm hats back in Portland. Next time, we'll know what to shop for and bring a bigger suitcase. And maybe we'll take time to explore the wines of Arizona.
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