Desert Botanical Gardens: Las Noches de las Luminarias

Pretty close to my apartment, there is a lovely hidden gem - the Desert Botanical Gardens. The gardens are a local secret, that I just happened to stumble across this past holiday season.

My mom has always been a fan of any kind of botanical garden, often dragging me along to visit the blooming acres of flora that can be found all over Seattle. Naturally, I had little to no appreciation for it until I aged a few years (although, full disclosure, I still get a little twitchy staring at bushes for more than two minutes before continuing on our stroll).

I knew I needed to work this into her December visit, but apparently due to the secret popularness of the Desert Botanical Gardens, tickets had sold out all the way through Christmas. Damn you out of towners!

Thankfully a few tickets opened up for the day after Christmas, and I scooped them up as fast as possible. The Gardens hold what is called Las Noches de las Luminarias each holiday season, lining each and every path of the gardens with candle lit luminaries.

As you curve around the paths, viewing the beautiful Chihuly installations, cactus varieties and desert friendly bushes, you come across stations of musical talent, singing, caroling, storytelling and playing all kinds of instruments.

With hot apple cider in hand (if I hadn't been sick, I would have been all over that mulled wine!), we stolled throughout the park. A four person steel drum band, and man with a didgeridoo, a native american story teller who played a hand whittled flute, even a quartet of old time carolers filled our ears with the wonderful sounds of the holidays.

It was an amazing evening, and a new tradition which I'm sure we will enjoy each Christmas. If you haven't had a chance to check out the Desert Botanical Gardens, I can't think of a better place to pack a picnic, grab a good read and a pair of shades this Spring. Unwind and step away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

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Foodies in Bisbee Arizona

Not too long ago, my good friend Kortney & I roadtripped down to Tucson to visit our friend Greg. I search of an adventure, we hopped on the road and kept driving south - in search of the old western town of Bisbee. Our first stop lunch, and we chose the vegan mexican restaurant Poco after reading a flood of fantastic yelp reviews.

It was hilarious to see the server's face as we added chorizo to several of the items, not realizing that it was a vegan restaurant. I think the comment "mmmm I love pork" really pushed her over the edge, and she let slip an audible chuckle.

The inside of the restaurant is pretty tiny, but so colorfully decorated. We opted to sit out on one of the patios to enjoy the beautiful cool weather, watching the dark clouds of a stormy afternoon slowly roll in.

Being new in town we rookie ordered a meal each - which was entirely too much food. Nachos with chorizo, a chick'n sausage burrito & double decker mexican pizza (the middle was filled with black beans) were left half untouched, as we sat with fire breath and full bellies. Filling up on fresh pureed watermelon juice probably didn't help - but wow was it refreshing!

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Kissing Frogs & Red Rocks

While my dad was in town, we took a day trip to the chilly city of Sedona (chilly in Arizona standards). It was 60 degrees! How glorious! Whenever I have visitors in town, I easily forget about the close daytrip options we have in this state. Sedona, Jerome, Prescott, Tucson, Bisbee, even the Grand Canyon if you're feeling extra adventurous!

Usually saved for longer visits, when my fam & friends come into town I like to pick one small town to explore. It's a great way to get out of my usual Phoenix & Scottsdale bubble and traipse around the state, which I may not have done without them.

A little fresh air never hurt anyone. 

In other news, being in Sedona didn't make me any more psychic. Even with all the vortexes! And the Elote Cafe was closed for the third time that I've attempted to visit. Looks like I'll be needing to head up again soon!

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The Raven Cafe, Prescott

Prescott is just close enough to be the perfect day trip from Phoenix. A little planning ahead of time, an early set alarm clock, some great car tunes to entertain you during the drive and before you know it you've arrived.

Even close enough for the adventurous types who want to try a new coffee shop or cafe. Strolling through the city's cute weekend art markets, antique shops, or laying on the big lawn out front of the court house can be exhausting. Raven Cafe is just the spot if you're up for the hour, day, or weekend.

My beautiful mom and I drove up for precisely all of those things - to explore the new town, grab a coffee, see if there were any vintage goodies at antique shops I needed to own, etc. We had heard great things about the Raven Cafe, mostly from locals & Yelp, and decided to get a quick bite to eat before heading out of town.

The line to order was long, but the wait for our food was not bad. The place was packed - apparently we weren't the only ones to know about this local favorite! With a few ominous clouds in the sky we opted to sit inside, but if you're there on a nice day you must check out the upstairs patio. What a great view! I love a good restaurant patio.

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Prescott Tour: Cuppers

As a two year Arizona native, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I haven't taken the time to visit a few of the state's most popular destinations. Namely, Prescott and Tucson. Thankfully, my mama is always game to travel around the state and experience new things on her vacations, so we made the trek up to Prescott on Saturday.

Naturally, our first stop was a coffee shop. After some quick yelp research, we decided that Cuppers was the best place to go and set off on foot in search of the bright red overhang. On the journey, we stumbled on a full fledged weekend fair, some hottie firemen, and what seemed like the entire town bustling around the court house eating picnics and soaking in the beautiful sun. I felt a little like we had teleported to Stars Hallow and no one told me.

It was pretty adorable and homey on the inside. We sat down at a table topped with postcards from someone's world travels, and planned out the rest of our day. Our plans included lunch at a yelp-approved restaurant, antiquing, hottie fireman oogling, and checking out the fair. All in a days work.

I mean, right? Also, I've got to get my hands on those posters. 

A great success. We cheers-ed our mexican chocolate americanos and felt caffeinated enough to take on the day. It was great! I'd definitely stop by again the next time I'm in town. 

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{Crawfish Boil}

The last of my new orleans photos that I'll be sharing on the blog are a bit of a mixed bag, which I've dumped into one post (kind of like a certain seafood, veggie, spicy boiled dinner item - clever, I know). Quick snapshots of some of the big highlights on the trip. As sad as I am that this trip is over, taking the time to revisit each day and each memory has made my time in the south much more special.

It's definitely hard to narrow it down, but I have to say that Commanders Palace was the best experience of the entire trip. Kenz surprised Devin & I, making reservations for the restaurant's famous brunch more than a month before our trip. Three full courses, mimosas & bellinis, live jazz sang at our table, personal waiters who lowered each dish in a clearly rehearsed theatrical manner, a maître d' who insists on escorting women to the restroom with linked arms, pale blue searsucker suits and loud southern accents...that morning was incredible, and I'll never forget it. Thank you times a million kenz.

{my future house}

{a southern delicacy}

{drive-thru shrimp po boy stand & a louisiana sunset}

{Jackson Square - the site of our psychic readings}

{daiquiris & putting our toes in the river}

  {my first experience eating baby lobsters crawfish, the only veggie on the menu (fried cauliflower?), and red beans & rice. A true southern meal)

 Take me back.

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{The Myrtles}

The Myrtles Plantation is one of the south's most haunted homes, found in St. Francisville, Louisiana.

The plantation is home to at least 10 ghosts, who often make appearances during the night and DAY...according to our tour guide. With a constant rotation of guests booking overnights at this haunted residence, there are countless stories of footsteps, door slams, bed imprints and more.

As soon as you cross over onto the plantation's land, something in the air shifts. The moss covered creepy trees provide so much shade coverage it was a few degrees cooler, per my incredibly accurate internal thermometer. I'm also open to the possibility that it had nothing to do with the shade, instead,  ghosts were following us around and fanning cool air in our direction as we strolled across the grounds.

We had an incredibly spirited tour guide, who worked in a ton of history and scary stories that are usually reserved for the night tour. Which I'm sorry, but people are dumb for taking. He claims all of the ghosts are friendly, but did let us know that a few people have been startled when the woman who was hung from a tree appears in her bedroom...swinging. Rope and all.

This mirror is one of the houses oddities. It's impossible to clean, even though they've had it stripped and re-mirrored several times. The black film returns, as do the drips. Also, that gray blurry thing in the mirror? Is it dirt...or a reflection. Preeeetty sure that wasn't there when I took the photo. Chills.

The hanging woman died here. 

So sad, it's no wonder she's not ready to move on. I would totally be pissed.

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