Tag: mountain biking

5 Things to Do in Mesa, AZ

If you’re headed to Mesa, Arizona in the next month or so, you know there is no reason to shy away from the weather. In fact, if you’re planning a glamping trip with a stay at one of our fabulous glamping resorts, Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort or Monte Vista RV Resort, plan to spend as much time in the sun as you can. Of course, there are interesting indoor activities too. Here is a little roundup of what you can do if you’re doing a winter glamping getaway to the area. 

Glamping cottage at ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort
Glamping cottage at ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort

1. Usery Mountain Regional Park: To borrow a phrase from the film, Step Brothers, Usery Mountain Regional Park has “so much room for activities.” At over 3600 acres of desert lands, you can find just about any outdoor activity you might desire here from archery and biking to stargazing and picnicking. Hiking trails include the moderate and very popular Wind Cave Trail; the easy Merkle Trail, which can accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and other mobility equipment; and the moderate Pass Mountain trail which leads to the mountain’s summit. There are also roughly 29 miles of mountain biking trails ranging from easy to difficult; a 5-star archery range; plenty of picnic tables, a model airplane flying site, an outdoor fitness area and plenty of activities led by the park ranger staff.  

2. Fresh Foodie Trail: With all the fresh air and activity, you’ll want to eat good so why not try something unique? The Fresh Foodie Trail is a 52-mile trail that includes local farms, wineries, farmers markets, and eateries featuring some of the best of the local offerings from wines, produce and baked good to artisan olive oils. For details on the interesting way to explore the area, head to visitmesa.com/restaurants/fresh-foodie. 

Landscape view of The Apache Trail
The Apache Trail

3. The Apache Trail: How about a 65-mile round trip drive that traces the path of the Native Americans as well as early settlers to the area. The Trail includes miles and miles of desert wilderness with the rugged Superstition Mountains towering over. You can stop and visit a reconstructed ghost town (Goldfield), stop at the historic Tortilla Flat, a stagecoach stop complete with the Superstition Saloon or check out Lost Dutchman State Park to learn about the legendary lost gold mine.   

Pool at ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort
Pool at ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort

4. Taliesin West: As both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark, not to mention an architectural masterpiece by the world-renowned Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West also served as Wright’s beloved winter home and studio. Built in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, the home was designed to incorporate local materials like desert rock and sand to stand in harmony with the landscape. There are several ways to explore this magnificent tribute to FLW from self-guided tours to hikes. To see what strikes your fancy, visit franklloydwright.org.  

5. Wild Horses: If you want to see something unique, visit the Tonto National Forest to see if you can catch a glimpse of the Salt River wild horses that roam the area and are said to be descendants of the horses brought here by Spanish settlers in the 16th and 17th century. The horses tend to gather near the water in the forest and prime viewing spots include the Blue Point and Coon Bluff Recreation areas. Go to visitmesa.com for more information and tips on how to view these magnificent creatures.  

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Green City Getaways

With April having two dates that recognize the importance of taking care of our Earth (Earth Day and Arbor Day), it makes sense to plan a trip to visit a Green City this month (or in the future).

Cherry tree blossoms on the waterfront in Portland, OR.

According to treehugger.com, there are several things to take into consideration in determining how “green” a city is. Those include efficient public transportation, quality public space, plentiful parks, and the availability of bike lanes as well as composting and recycling programs. One other interesting item is whether a city offers “good green fun,” which means farmer’s markets, plenty of organic fare served up in the local eating and drinking establishments and music festivals and outdoor events that feature solar-powered stages and valet parking for bicycles. There are several more “green definers” and combined that’s a lot for a city to tackle, yet slowly but surely, more and more of our urban areas around the country are hitting the mark when it comes to being green. Additionally, there are many different groups providing different rankings for these cities, but some consistently make the grade across the board.

  1. San Diego, California: San Diego’s nickname is “America’s Finest City”, but it can also boast being one of America’s greenest cities. San Diego is home to Balboa Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. Other green things about this southern California city include dozens of weekly farmer’s markets, a major “Farm to Fork” movement in the dining industry, a variety of public transportation including trolleys, shuttles, and pedi-cabs, and plenty of opportunities for green fun including kayaking, mountain biking, and surfing.

Book a cabin or cottage stay at Pio Pico or Oakzanita Springs for a San Diego Green Getaway.

Tiny House Savannah at Mt. Hood Tiny House Village in Welches, OR.
  1. Portland, Oregon: With over 90,000 acres of green space and a top-notch biking/walking trail system, Portland is definitely eco-friendly. In fact, they have the highest rate of workers biking to the office than any other U.S. city. They were also one of the first cities to ban the use of plastic bags. For green space, visitors and residents alike need to look no further than the city’s Forest Park, a 5200-acre urban forest, featuring hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, and plenty of greenery!

Book a stay at the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village for a Portland Green Getaway.

Cozy cabin Yukon Trails in Lyndon Station, WI.
  1. Madison, Wisconsin: Did you know that the man behind Earth Day was from Wisconsin? Gaylord Nelson, who served as both governor and senator of the state was not only a politician, but also an avid environmentalist, calling upon the citizens of America to bring awareness to problems with the environment. So naturally, it makes sense that Madison would be a green city – it’s in the genes! Madison consistently ranks as a green city thanks to its abundance of green space – from plenty of city parks to acres of lakes and miles of biking and hiking trails. Madison is home to more bikes than cars and the city is very walkable. The city has more farmer’s markets than you can shake a cucumber at, and in fact, Saturday on the Square, an event that features more than 250 vendors, is a popular destination for visitors and Mad-Town residents like.

Book a cabin stay at Yukon Trails for a Madison Green Getaway.

Lake Eola Park in Orlando, FL.
  1. Orlando, Florida: While green space is not as abundant as in some of the other green cities, Orlando makes the green grade thanks to its continued efforts and eye to the future when it comes to being, and staying, green. With goals like a 40% city-wide tree canopy coverage by 2040, the One Person One Tree initiative to help expand the urban forest, and a host of programs to protect the ecosystems found here, Orlando is definitely putting a green foot forward. And to clarify, they have plenty of green space to the tune of more than 100 parks, plus plenty of lakes and wetlands.
Colorful cottage stay at Tropical Palms in Kissimmee, FL.

Book a colorful cottage stay at Tropical Palms for an Orlando Green Getaway.

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