Arizona

I don’t know how many times I’ve visited Arizona over the past couple of decades, as it seems like a second home in many ways. My brother and nephew live there, and now my mom. Besides family trips, I’ve also taken quite a few motorcycle related trips and a women’s retreat in the Grand Canyon State.

Of course my favorite way to visit is typically on one of my bikes. Most of the trip between Vegas and Phoenix is fairly boring, but there are a few spots with curves that wake me up in the most exhilarating way.

On one trip I got to ride with my brother. He took me and a friend up some mountain (I don’t remember the name of it), and the views were gorgeous. I love the winding mountain roads anyway, so the view was an added bonus. It was also cool to experience that with my little brother.

Most of my trips to Arizona have been to Phoenix, where he lives. I get to hang out with him and do family stuff with my nephew. Food, little league games, kung fu practice, and things like that. We went downtown and walked around one time.

A few trips landed us in Tucson where my nephew’s mother grew up. We’ve celebrated a few of his birthdays (and the baby shower) there. I didn’t branch out too much.

I’ve been on a few rides throughout the city. My first experience with the International Female Ride Day was with the women in Phoenix in 2016. I loved it so much that I helped bring it to Las Vegas. I couldn’t tell you where we ended up, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Prescott was another city I got to enjoy due to motorcycles. Now I go there because my mother moved there last year. I still haven’t gotten to explore too much, but we have plans to do all kinds of stuff there as she starts feeling better.

I spent a week in Scottsdale last year for a women’s retreat. That experience was amazing, as well. We explored different shops and got to know the area, just taking in the natural desert beauty. The company was phenomenal, as well.

A few months ago my mother and I took my nephew on a train ride into the Grand Canyon just before Christmas. We got to explore and play in the snow and just enjoy each other. I highly recommend taking a train into the park and staying overnight if you’re ever able.

My nephew enjoyed running and sliding on the ice patches, as well as trying to make snowballs to throw at trees and me. The scenery was breathtaking. To experience it with my mom and my nephew was even more special. We saw tons of wildlife and just enjoyed each other’s company.

We rented a house in Bullhead City a couple of times for a family reunion. It was nice to have several cousins and their children present. We took advantage of Laughlin being right across the bridge and enjoyed the river.

We took a day trip to meet family in Lake Havasu one year. We saw the London Bridge, ate, walked around, and took in the scenery.

I definitely have more plans for Arizona, such as exploring Prescott and the surrounding areas. A group of friends and I want to plan a girls’ spa getaway in the Sedona area. There are several mountains, trails, and towns I’d like to ride through.