The Great Escape

While Chicago was suffering a white-out, I was enjoying the pleasant winter-desert air. Arizona certainly is one of my favourite states. From the mountains up in Flagstaff to the arid deserts of Tucson, there is so much variety! There is also some of the most amazing natural scenery in the US including Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Sedona's red rock mountains... etc. Anyway, this brief trip was spent in the Phoenix area, which is pretty boring but its proximity to nature hikes and the awesome beds of the JW Marriott Resort & Spa made the trip totally worthwhile. The parentals should really move from Dallas-suburbia to Phoenix-suburbia if you ask me.

So what did I do while away? Mostly I gorged (In-n-Out for lunch, surf and turf for dinner). Also did some hiking, hit some golf balls, and watched Law and Order: SVU (heh heh).




Clockwise starting Top-L: View of urban-suburban sprawl (boo) from the top of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix (hike & climb was pretty tiring but so satisfying! My butt's still sore!), Me defacing nature, view of a white Chicago on the way back, and Saguaro cacti!

Also really wanted to make the drive to Sedona (only 2hrs) but it's a little chilly at that elevation and I only had a sweatshirt. Ah well... here is someone else's photo of Sedona's juniper trees & red rocks for you to enjoy: