The stockings were hung in the trailer with care....
Christmas Eve cookie making
Our own holiday masterpieces
Christmas morning look of sheer shock and excitement
Tears of joy on Christmas morning
Travel is a noun. It's what we do, who we are, what drives us and what calls to us. From 300 feet below the barren desert, tubing through a tropical rainforest and atv-ing through snowstorms there is nothing stopping our quest to discover and explore. Together, using our super human powers of humor and common sense, we attempt to take over the world one buffet at a time and we aren't afraid to be totally trailer!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas from Catalina State Park (Totally Trailer Style)
We celebrated Christmas, Totally Trailer style in Catalina State Park. Christmas Eve we each baked and decorated cookies for baby Jesus and awoke Christmas morning to blue skies, saguaros, an excited kid, homemade quiche. a festive trailer and lots of love!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Horseback Riding in Saguaro National Park
Christmas Eve was a special day for the Totally Trailer Team; we went on a leisurely horseback ride through the Saguaro National Park!
Houston's Horseback Riding Company led our journey through the spectacular saguaros. Thousands of unique saguaros as far as the eye could see. Some had bird nests at eye level to peer into, some were crested (very rare....1 in every 3,000 have this rare mutation). We saw one very large hawk perched atop the tallest saguaro, we saw one of the oldest saguaro's in the world, a big-eared jack rabbit, baby saguaros, twin saguaros and so much more. It was a perfect day to mosey through the park naming these funny cacti and noticing the different characteristics each plant had. Some had outie belly buttons and some had handle bar mustaches, while others looked like they were hugging or dancing; Magnificent creatures!
Our horses were very mellow and we rarely had to motivate them or even pull on the reins. I rode Neil, hubby had Sterling and our little one rode Lulu (named after Honolulu where she came from).
Awesome scenery, perfect weather and gentle horses made for a memorable Christmas Eve!
Houston's Horseback Riding Company led our journey through the spectacular saguaros. Thousands of unique saguaros as far as the eye could see. Some had bird nests at eye level to peer into, some were crested (very rare....1 in every 3,000 have this rare mutation). We saw one very large hawk perched atop the tallest saguaro, we saw one of the oldest saguaro's in the world, a big-eared jack rabbit, baby saguaros, twin saguaros and so much more. It was a perfect day to mosey through the park naming these funny cacti and noticing the different characteristics each plant had. Some had outie belly buttons and some had handle bar mustaches, while others looked like they were hugging or dancing; Magnificent creatures!
Our horses were very mellow and we rarely had to motivate them or even pull on the reins. I rode Neil, hubby had Sterling and our little one rode Lulu (named after Honolulu where she came from).
Awesome scenery, perfect weather and gentle horses made for a memorable Christmas Eve!
Houston's Horseback Riding in Tucson, AZ
The gateway to our scenic ride
All lined up for the start of our 2 hour ride through the Saguaros
Little Cowgirl riding Lulu
Handsome hubby riding Sterling
Infant Saquaros
The epitome of a true Arizona Saguaro (as seen in all cartoons)!
Pit Stop for Lulu
Me and my shadow
Neil and I doing some bonding
Totally Trailer Team wishing everyone a Merry Christmas from Tucson
Monday, December 23, 2013
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Next stop in Tucson....The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum located not far from Old Tucson Studios. After passing this up last year, we made a point of visiting this time and we were glad we did! The highlight of the day was the Raptor Free Flight show, this surpassed all of our expectations. They sent out 4 different birds and had them land right in front of us, swoop down (narrowly missing our heads) and sit atop saguaro cactus. The were let out in the vast open desert and although they were free to swoop, soar and even go after a mouse in the field, the handlers always brought them right back to us. What a sight to see as they communicated and "played" in their natural habitat mere inches away from us.
Another amazing sight was a majestic mountain lion! This young mountain lion (2.5 years old) was rescued and taken in by the museum. At the time of the rescue, this beautiful animal was in bad shape. They nursed him and brought him back to perfect health and now he loves coming out and watching all of the visitors. Every person that approached, he watched carefully and made eye contact. He was not fearful or shy and posed quite nicely for many photographs! This was a special treat for us, since we rarely get to see one out and about (normally they are shy and stay hidden from visitors).
So much to see at this beautifully maintained park! Little one fell in love with the Hummingbird enclosure/aviary, they had an adorable Ocelot that was taking a "cat nap" on a warm rock, hilariously photogenic prairie dogs, reptiles, big horn sheep, otters, Ancient Arizona display, Earth Science museum and an aquarium! Truly a magnificent place to visit and interact with many animals in their own environments. You can check our more info on their website: www.desertmuseum.org.
Another amazing sight was a majestic mountain lion! This young mountain lion (2.5 years old) was rescued and taken in by the museum. At the time of the rescue, this beautiful animal was in bad shape. They nursed him and brought him back to perfect health and now he loves coming out and watching all of the visitors. Every person that approached, he watched carefully and made eye contact. He was not fearful or shy and posed quite nicely for many photographs! This was a special treat for us, since we rarely get to see one out and about (normally they are shy and stay hidden from visitors).
So much to see at this beautifully maintained park! Little one fell in love with the Hummingbird enclosure/aviary, they had an adorable Ocelot that was taking a "cat nap" on a warm rock, hilariously photogenic prairie dogs, reptiles, big horn sheep, otters, Ancient Arizona display, Earth Science museum and an aquarium! Truly a magnificent place to visit and interact with many animals in their own environments. You can check our more info on their website: www.desertmuseum.org.
Christmas time in Arizona means decorated Saguaro's. This Santa Saguaro welcomed us at the gates of the museum!
Gray Hawk was the first to take flight over us. At only 17 inches, he is considered a small raptor
These Gray Hawks are considered a threatened species in Texas and Arizona
Next up was the Barn Owl. Although he flies virtually silent, his screech was unmistakable and we heard him coming, long before we saw him. He was by far, the most talkative of the group.
The Raptor Free Flight show takes you to the middle of the Arizona desert to watch these majestic birds take flight!
The social Harris Hawks were up next. Typically very social birds, they hunt in groups of five and we got to see all five in action!
Harris Hawk taking flight to join his friends
Four out of the five Harris Hawks pictured here. The leader is clearly calling the fifth hawk to join them
These hilarious prairie dogs came right up to the glass and happily posed for us. Apparently, this was his "good side"!
Look how regal this Mountain Lion looks with his paws perfectly crossed; such a gentleman
Big kitty yawn!
Up close and personal, nothing but glass between us and this sweet face
This sleepy Ocelot looks like he found a perfect place to rest his adorable little head
Inside the Ancient Arizona museum were rare fossils found right there in Pima and Maricopa County. I was fascinated by the perfectly intact bird nest.
The Totally Trailer Team
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Winterhaven Light Festival
We visited the 63rd annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson. For over 60 years, the residents, over a 12 block radius have been relishing in the holiday spirit and giving back to their community at the same time. These residents encourage spectators to bring canned food and donations for the Tucson Community Food Bank. In 2012 they donated over 33,905 pounds of canned food and over $20,000 just from visitors like us. We enjoyed the decorations, the lights, the carolers, but we also enjoyed donating too!
Celebrating the season together
Lit tree danced to holiday music
Kissing under the mistletoe
Elf display made completely out of duct tape!
Old Tucson Studios
Our Christmas holiday led us East to Tucson, AZ and what is a visit to Tucson without going to Old Tucson Studios? First stop was to look the part in some real cowboy hats, then on to the fun! Old Tucson Studios was first built in the 1930's, but suffered a devastating fire in 1995 that wiped out the majority of their buildings. Now, there are only three original adobe buildings left on the premises and everything else has been rebuilt. The amount of movies and TV series filmed here over the years is astonishing. All John Wayne films, all seasons of Little House on The Prairie, Three Amigos and so much more! There was an entire museum full of every movie every filmed at the studios along with signed memorabilia, costumes and movie posters.
The Grand Palace is now a major sound stage and every inch of the property is used as a backdrop, including trains, stage coaches, covered wagons, water towers, churches, mines and train depots (oh my)!
We did all of the touristy things, including riding the old fashioned train, taking a stroll in a stage coach, driving the "autopia cars" through the desert and even did a crazy mine tour (that looked more like a funhouse/cheesy haunted house...but the tour guide was a riot)!
I was even pulled up during a gun battle to engage in some good old fashioned stunt fighting. In the end, the stunt man was beaten up by a girl! My punishment for beating up a cowboy, was having to give him a kiss on the cheek in front of the crowd (luckily my husband didn't mind)!
Overall, we really enjoyed our rowdy adventure and the Hollywood history in this rip roaring western town.
The Grand Palace Saloon sits at the end of Main Street and has been used in numerous movies. Now it's a set and a major sound stage.
My good old fashioned Cowboy and Cowgirl
Picturesque setting in Old Tucson Studios
Our tour through the Iron Door Mine was hilariously entertaining
Originally built for a John Wayne movie, but was eventually left on the cutting room floor
Old train car rests in front of Golden Gate Mountain. Golden Gate mountain (the biggest peak) was seen in only one episode of Little House on the Prairie and if you look closely, it makes an appearance in just about every old western movie
Abandoned water tower in the back lot
Autopia ride through the desert...little one is way too happy to have her own car!
Train depot used in many shows including High Chaparral and most recently 3:10 to Yuma
The quaint train depot and train tracks we rode around the studio
After our Stage Coach tour, I posed with our tour guides
The "mission set" which was also the setting of the wild stunt show (as well as the backdrop for many movies including The Three Amigos, Tombstone and many more.
Apparently, I pack a good "fake" punch!
My embarrassing punishment
The famous "Reno" train sits amidst an old church and natural beauty. The Reno appeared in movies as recent as "Wild Wild West" with Will Smith and the locals refer to him as their international superstar.
Our trip in an 1880 stage coach
As the sun sets, we say good bye to Old Tucson Studios
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)