Arizona Tourist Traps

This has been a week of tourist traps.  On Sunday we met my brother Mark, his wife Charko, daughter Kali and friend Christian in Sedona, Arizona.  A beautiful 2 1/2 hour ride north east of Phoenix ended spectacularly in the Red Rock region known as Sedona (Sedona link). 

Mark arranged for everyone to take a  3 hour "Pink Jeep" broken arrow/scenic rim jeep tour more photos.  Wow, what an adventure.  We rode in a 6 passenger Jeep through some of the most challenging terrain imaginable.  Once on the tour, you really have a different respect for what a Jeep can do (see "more photos" link above). 

Our ride:

Mark, Charko and Kali looking for an alternate cab ride home:

Awesome views:

Neither words nor mere pictures can not describe the trip.  It was spectacular.

On Wednesday the five of us went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum outside of Tucson
more info.  This is a combination outdoor zoo/garden/natural history museum.  We attended a program showing a live Gila monster and rattle snake.  We also ducked while a quintet of Harris hawks as they swooped overhead during a live, open air demonstration.  The museum adjoins the Saguaro National Park (west unit) and is abundant with various desert plants.

Donna and Charko looking for cacti:

Donna and Charko locating themselves on the museum map:

The tour guides (Mark, Charko, Kali and Christian):

Two good days in Arizona.