Day trips are a good way to get out of the house and have a fun day as a family without all the cost and time of a vacation. We stop for coffee, hot cocoa and a snack and head out on the road. Down south to Tucson, Payson, Prescott Sedona or any of the state parks. We plan a hike, birding tour or guided walk. Stop for lunch and do a little shopping while we are out. Local shops with homemade soaps or jewelry are the best. We return home and then to work and school refreshed and ready for the week.

Salt River

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

State Park Travels Part 2

My next visit to Patagonia Lake State park was the best. We knew what to expect and reserved a prime spot, that we had scoped out on our previous trip. We decided to join the bird walk. The guides were knowledgable and very excited to have my 10 year old daughter along. The others attending the bird walk were experienced and giving tip and advices. As we later found out, Patagonia lake is a birding destination for people from all over the country. We saw many birds I had never seen before and probably never paid attention to. We were hooked. 5 years later I still consider myself a beginning birder.

State Park Travels

State parks are a great way to explore different areas of the state. Living in Arizona I have access to an award winning state park system. The best part of these parks, in my opinion, are the tours and walks that come with the admission. At the time I had only visited Lost Dutchman State Park. It is a beautiful park with a lot of history, stories of lost treasure and ghosts. My husband and I decided to try a new place that we have never visited before. We chose Patagonia Lake State Park in southern Arizona. We were unsure of visiting a new place and we trusted the state park. We were blown away by the park. Beautiful views, large campsites and a swimming area. The restrooms and showers were nice and clean. A great visitor's center with a great look out area and even a small market on site, which came in handy when my daughter was stung by a bee. There were trails and walk paths throughout. That first visit we didn't take advantage of the bird walks but we knew we had a great spot to visit for years to come.

Ice after the bee sting

Camp coffee

When my family camps, coffee is always at the top of our pre-camping to-do list. Pick up beans, ground for the percolator, insulated cups, and condiments. After those long, fun days of camping, before we go to bed we add water to the percolator so that it is ready to go on the camp stove or fire in the morning, just add coffee. I realize there are so many different, maybe better ways to make camp coffee. Ways so that you don't have grinds at the bottom of your cup. Pour over, press, coffee in steeping bags etc, but the percolator is our family tradition. That same percolator is then used later in the day to heat water for hot cocoa or tea. To me, there is nothing like getting up on a cool morning to the fresh air, sitting down and drinking that hot camp coffee while watching birds or squirrels scurrying around in the trees. Just sitting and enjoying the sounds of nature, enjoying family, enjoying the coffee.

Family Camping, 2008