Posted by Nancy D. Brown

See the Saguaro Giant Cactus in Wickenburg, Arizona

When I crave good hearty Cowboy cuisine, I turn to Cowboy Cafe.

To escape work I go to The Spa at Los Caballeros.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at the Hassayampa River Preserve.

If you come to Wickenburg, get your picture taken at the Historic Jail Tree.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Anita’s Cocina, get the Carne Asada dinner. 

Wickenburg is my one stop shop for western wear.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to DJ’s Frontier Diner.

For a huge splurge, I go to Rancho de los Caballeros.  

Photo ops in Wickenburg include: Bronze statues in downtown; vulture peak; historic Santa Fe Depot; Box Canyon and Historic Vulture Mine.

The best vantage points are taken by hiking to the top of Vulture Peak.

The most random thing about Wickenburg is that they are known for having top-notch addiction treatment centers. In fact, when I was in Wickenburg reviewing  the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch, the local paper reported that Tiger Woods was rumored to be in town for sexual addiction treatment.

 In Wickenburg, an active day outdoors involves walking or hiking, horseback riding, roping or jeeping.

My favorite walking route is the Westside pedestrian trail next to Highway 60.

See the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona

To find out what’s going on at night or on weekends, read The Wickenburg Sun.

You can tell a lot about Wickenburg from visiting our rural community and watching a special heritage event.

In the spring you should attend Cowgirl Up!

In the summer you should check out Fiesta de Septiembre.

The winter is a good time to go to Gold Rush Days and Rodeo.

 A hidden gem in Wickenburg is the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts.

For a great breakfast treat or espresso, go to Nana’s Sandwich Saloon.

There are plenty of cowboys and cowgirls in Wickenburg, Arizona

Just outside of Wickenburg you can visit Congress, Arizona, have lunch at Nichols West.

The best way to see Wickenburg is to take the historical walking tour of downtown.

If you have kids, you won’t want to miss Camp Imagination, Wickenburg Fly-In & Car Show, hiking the Hassayampa Preserve and visiting the gem & mineral room at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum.

What are your favorite things to see and do in Wickenburg?

Thank you to Julie Brooks of the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce for assistance with this post.

All photos by Nancy D. Brown

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Your international travel budget may be in sorry shape, but that doesn't mean crossing summer vacation plans off your list.  Look to your backyard for summer travel.  The USA has our own crown jewels in our national parks system.    

Think national parks this summer and give extra thought to packaged, all-inclusive, small group family tours that can save money, planning and logistics time and maximize sightseeing opportunities and experiences.

Specializing in family travel, Austin-Lehman Adventures notes that national parks offer both value and the stay-closer-to-home mantra of today’s economy.

"Now’s the time to start planning; early interest in U.S. programs has been surprisingly strong," says Dan Austin, ALA’s co-founder and director. His company was singled out as one of the top 13 outfitters in the world in National Geographic Adventure magazine’s annual "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth" issue.

Here are several national park trips for value-minded families:

Photo courtesy Austin-Lehman1) Yellowstone National Park:

Kids go crazy for: The mineral hot spring-fed pool at Chico Hot Springs Resort where they gather for their own private pizza party while parents have a romantic, adult-only candlelit dinner in the historic dining room.

Photo Courtesy National Park Service2) Yosemite National Park:

Kids go crazy for: Getting misted at Bridalveil Fall. Watching deer and coyotes go about their business in the park.

  Grand Canyon photo by Nancy D. Brown 

3) Grand Canyon National Park:

Kids go crazy for: The cascading waterfalls and Travertine limestone pools of Havasu Creek.

Horses by Nancy D. Brown4) Grand Teton National Park: 

Kids go crazy for: Spotting enormous Bull Moose under towering Tetons. Watching the bucking broncos at the Jackson Hole rodeo.

Photo Courtesy Ultimate Resort – Wailea Beach, Maui

Contra Costa Times Article Launched: 04/18/2008

As the cabin door closed on Aloha Airlines Hawaii-bound flight from Oakland Airport, Val Pettegrew’s angst took hold and it had nothing to do with a fear of flying.  “If the word had gotten out that they were shutting down, we would have never gone,” lamented Pettegrew.  While they had a gorgeous ocean view room, their vacation was consumed with logistical calls to find available seats to the Bay area as their airline carrier had filed for bankruptcy.  Odds of finding open seats were lessened when ATA Airlines shutdown operations two days later.

The Aloha spirit was not in the air for numerous Lamorinda families who found themselves stranded in paradise over spring break.  Dawn Hess and her family were not able to return to Moraga as scheduled, same goes for the Reineckes and Baldwins of Lafayette.  “I think the airline shake out is going to continue,” notes Hess.

There were no crowded airports for our vacation as we hit the open road.  Our trusty Honda van logged 1,614 miles as we traveled from Lafayette to the Grand Canyon via Las Vegas, Nevada. Our AAA vacation specialist recommended Circus Circus Hotel for our 12 and 16 year old.  We were located in the older Skyrise Tower at the end of the Strip.  It reminded me of Tijuana more than glitzy Vegas. 

We left the neon lights and trapeze acts behind us and steered toward Hoover Dam and mighty Lake Mead.  While not a wonder of the world, Hoover Dam is one of the greatest engineering works in history.  If you have time, check out the Powerplant or Dam Tour. 

Visit the Grand Canyon by Rail

The Grand Canyon did not leave us disappointed.  We opted for the Rails to Rim Package which included a night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel before and after our stay at Maswik Lodge.  Anyone traveling with kids will appreciate the cheesy Wild West show in Williams, Arizona before taking the train to the South Rim.  FYI, seven miles of Hermit Road will be closed until November 2008 for safety upgrades.

 Tallman Hotel's Dining Room

Closer to home, readers unfamiliar with Lake County are in for a treat.  A recent Unique Inns road trip took me from the Inn at Occidental to the historic Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.  The 1890’s main building has been restored by owners Lynne and Bernard Butcher to its original glory, housing 17 rooms, suites and cottages on the property, while eco-friendly solar panels and Japanese Ofuro soaking tubs differentiate the place.  The location would be ideal for a family reunion with its meeting room and swimming pool.  Next door, the Blue Wing Saloon serves good food and microbrews at affordable prices.  Lynne Butcher told me that Lakeport’s Disney Boat Rentals will take care of all your water sport needs.

 Lavender Rows Lead To Ceago Vinegarden

Central to wineries, boating and hiking, the Clear Lake region offers more than a venue for aging rock stars at Konocti Harbor.  Accessible by float plane and car, Ceago Vineygarden  is located between the village of Nice and Lucerne on Clear Lake’s north shore.  Owner Jim Fetzer’s organic and biodynamic grapes go into Ceago wines.  Framed with olive trees, the lavender-lined paths are in full bloom now.  Eventually, Fetzer plans to unveil a spa and restaurant on the property.