#same for the history of food but specifically mexican american food in the southwest

[mochinomnoms]

ARENT TADPOLES,,,like, a solid dark green color,,

wait are eels even green i uhm apologies late night rambling

🇫🇷

I thought that tadpoles were translucent and turn color when they get bigger like eels do. But Imma be honest, I only know as much as I do about morays because I hyperfixate hard and idk much about frogs.

When I get really interested in something I become google for it aksdalkjsdkl

[schrodingers-fool]

I appreciate your points agree with you on the national identity part, I am not a fan of nationalism for sure. The thing I'd push back on is the idea that those subcultures aren't inherently American. What makes them less American than, for example, bharatanatyam is Indian? Bharatanatyam is a classical south Indian dance form, many from North India would not know it, but even though it is a part of a specific subculture within India, it is still considered a part of Indian culture. That goes back to my questions in my tags, why do we let the worst of us define our narrative? Why is Black American culture not considered American culture? Why is Indigenous American culture not considered American culture? Why is our idea of American culture white Americans in American flag shirts buying guns and Walmarts and not a Mexican-American family in the Southwest having a huge potluck of fusion food, everyone making sure to make extra so that every guest can take something home? Why isn't it everything that came out of the ballroom scene in the 80s?

I feel like I need to especially emphasize black and indigenous people again because indigenous people are as American as you can get (using the popular framework of what a country is and what America is), why do we ignore them so much when it comes to what American culture is? And black people were brought here pretty much from the beginning of the colonization, how can we say that their culture isn't as American as white culture here?

I hate the idea that people are Proud To Be An American™️ in the sense of being proud of what our government has been doing and being proud of our history of colonialism. And I definitely do not like the propaganda surrounding the idea of the "melting pot" that tries to erase the violent history against immigrants and bipoc. However, we have to acknowledge that those same immigrants and bipoc and queer people that we are trying to protect are Americans, and the culture they cultivate is American culture.

if you identify at all with 'american culture' or 'american national identity' you are a MARK

[emmeriichs]

How To Make Hot Sauce [SPICY RECIPE]

This guide will show you how to make hot sauces of various sorts, including numerous plans and tips, aging data, protecting hot sauce, and how to begin a hot sauce business.

The fame of hot sauce in the United States has detonated over the most recent twenty years, and it gives no indications of easing back down. What used to be a market commanded by just a couple of hot sauce alternatives with fascinating periphery hot sauces is currently a market loaded up with a brilliant determination of hot sauces for purchasers.

Custom made Buffalo Sauce

Gone are the times of a solitary brand or two filling the hot sauce racks.

As I run a nourishment blog committed to hot food sources just as bean stew peppers, I get messages and remarks constantly identified with making hot sauces. Individuals need to realize how to make them at home. A few people need to figure out how to take their hot sauce making leisure activity and transform it into a business.

I have a great deal of hot sauce plans on the site here, however needed to add to my developing formula assortment some data on the most proficient method to make hot sauces all in all.

I will consistently refresh this page with data as I obtain it, however for the time being, we should discuss making your own hot sauces at home. Everything begins with a basic fixing – bean stew peppers.

Bean stew PEPPERS AND HOT SAUCE

Bean stew peppers are basic to such a significant number of cooking styles the world over. Frequently that stew pepper flavor, zest and in some cases heat gets synonymous with a specific culture. Bean stew peppers ooze appeal and a persona that is at the same time fascinating and down-home, and without them we wouldn't have a portion of our preferred dishes and toppings, one specifically that is near my heart – HOT SAUCE.

I delighted in hot sauce as a child, yet didn't find the wide universe of craftsman hot sauces until a ways into my twenties. As of late wedded, I got keen on cooking and my hunger for zesty nourishment was in full sprout.

I discovered some remarkable hot sauces with the craziest marks, some of them genuine, some of them clever, driving through them by the case, and immediately got keen on making my own.

There is a touch of a craftsmanship to making hot sauces, yet is anything but a troublesome activity. It is for the most part about joining stew peppers with different fixings to accomplish a specific flavor.

HISTORY OF HOT SAUCE

History of Hot Sauce

Bean stew peppers have been gathered for a huge number of years, and it is realized that when Columbus arrived in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in 1492, he found the Arawak individuals utilizing peppers widely. They protected meats with peppers and cooked them into pretty much every feast.

The principal notice for a business hot sauce in the United States is by all accounts in Massachusetts in 1807 by a rancher for a cayenne sauce.

It was Edmund McIlhenny, an investor from New Orleans who promoted hot sauce in the American culture. He matured Tabasco peppers and matured them, stressed and blended them in with vinegar, and started to offer it to nearby markets.

McIlhenny's sauce on the grounds that the well known "Tabasco" hot sauce that we know today.

Motivations TO MAKE HOT SAUCE AT HOME

I began making hot sauces at home since I had become hopelessly enamored with a large number of the craftsman hot sauces out there, yet at times couldn't discover them, and I needed to explore different avenues regarding various flavors.

At the point when you make your own hot sauce at home, you are allowed to consolidate whatever fixings that please you. Likewise, you're allowed to accentuate specific flavors that different sauces don't offer, for example, more superhot stew peppers or a bunch that centers intensely around natural product. Along these lines, making your own hot sauce promises it will be special.

IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY FUN AND SATISFYING.

I appreciate investing energy in the kitchen, concocting clumps of hot sauce, and it fulfills me when I finish another bunch, newly packaged. I set them into my fridge with a feeling of bliss realizing that I will have another hot sauce for quite a long time to come.

Making hot sauce is additionally an incredible method to protect your bean stew pepper reap. I grow a decent estimated pepper garden every year and keeping in mind that I cook with and protect them from numerous points of view, I still can't seem to discover a bean stew pepper that can't be made into a brilliant hot sauce.

Indeed, even gentle peppers can make delightful sauces.

Perceive How to Preserve Chili Peppers for additional data.

Sorts OF HOT SAUCES

Sorts of Hot Sauce

I've never observed a conclusive rundown of hot sauce types, as I don't might suspect a rundown of such exists, however hot sauces do change from area to locale. There are various procedures to making hot sauces, as well, yet it generally is by all accounts a local variety dependent on territorial fixings, which you'll see reflected in this rundown.

Hot sauce has innumerable varieties, for example, the consistency of the peppers, the planning of the peppers (matured, new, dried, broiled, dish cooked) the real sorts of peppers utilized in the hot sauce, the utilization of different fixings and then some.

The most essential division with hot sauces is whether the peppers are mixed with different fixings. Now and again they are, some of the time they are definitely not.

HERE IS A LIST OF POPULAR HOT SAUCE TYPES:

Louisiana Style – This hot sauce, advanced by hot sauces like "Tabasco" and "Precious stone", is made with new or aged peppers that are crushed with salt and vinegar. I make a great deal of hot sauces thusly, with both new and matured peppers.

Caribbean Style – Usually made with red hot habaneros or Scotch Bonnet peppers, these sauces fluctuate fiercely on account of the various culinary impacts in the region. You'll discover hot sauces with African impact, and others with French impact close by, just as Indian impact and then some. The fixings mirror this.

Hawaiian Style – Hawaiian hot sauce, or "Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water", is normally a blend of nearby stew peppers, garlic, ginger, a touch of vinegar however for the most part water, among other potential fixings. It is sprinkled over everything. It is suggestive of the renowned "Puerto Rican Hot Sauce – Pique".

American Southwest – You'll discover numerous gritty fixings with thick walled New Mexican peppers, either new or dried, with next to no utilization of vinegar. In New Mexico specifically, they present "red" or "green" stew sauce throughout the entire year.

Mexican Style – You'll see a great deal of hybrid from Mexican cooking and the American Southwest and Tex-Mex food. These hot sauces are made with heaps of smoked or potentially dried cases just as nearby fixings. They as a rule center more around enhance and less on heat.

South American – Here you'll locate some fascinating and tasty hot sauces, from Peruvian Aji Amarillo sauce to Chilean Pebre (herb and oil based with peppers) to Molho de Pimento (peppers and vinegar), and many, some more.

Asian Style – Asia is a colossal region with a various societies, so it is hard to portray their hot sauce all things considered, however numerous Asian hot sauces and sauces are thick and utilized as bean stew glues or stew oils.

In Thailand, Sriracha Hot Sauce is the most popular, made essentially with ground chilies, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt. In Korea, Gochujang is very well known, produced using bean stew powder and matured glutinous rice.

Sambal – enormously famous in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore – is the conventional term for nearby bean stew pepper sauces and hot sauces. They shift in heat level and in fixings utilized.

Center Eastern Style – Chili peppers are well known for sauces in the Middle East with sauces, for example, Harissa (a tasty bean stew glue), Muhamarra (a hot pepper plunge), Shatta (a thick pepper sauce), and Zhug (a herb and oil based sauce with peppers), with kinds of Middle Eastern flavors.

African – the most well known African hot sauce is Peri Sauce, which is produced using African Bird's Eye bean stew peppers. It is thick and tasty with a decent degree of warmth.

Indian Style – India is notable for parcel of flavors, and use them in chutney and general ordinary sauces and plunges.

European Style – I've experienced Hungarian Hot Paprika just as Ajvar (articulated "eye-var" – smoky cooked red peppers with now and then eggplant), which is a Balkan sauce. It is increasingly similar to a spread. There is an exceptionally hot form, call Lutenica (otherwise known as "Ljutenica" – "Luto" signifies "hot"), made with peppers, carrots, garlic, oil, sugar, salt, tomatoes, and now and then eggplant, however understandings exist from district to area.

There is additionally Hungarian "Eros Pista" (Hungry Steven), made basically of minced paprika peppers and salt. Spain cooks with a ton of peppers and a portion of their hot sauces incorporate Samfaina (like a French ratatouille), Sofrito (peppers with tomato, garlic, onions and oil) and Mojos (herb and oil based with peppers, some of the time). Italy has hot sauces, for example, the acclaimed Diavalo sauce, made with fiery bean stew chips or peppers.

Superhot Style – There is a great deal of hybrid between different styles of hot sauces, yet these hot sauces are constantly made with superhot bean stew peppers, those that are 1 Million Scoville Heat Units or more, similar to the phantom pepper, scorpion peppers, 7 pots and the Carolina Reaper, which is the most sizzling bean stew pepper on the planet as of now.

Once more, this isn't a comprehensive rundown, as I could incorporate various kinds of sauces, stew oils and the sky is the limit from there, so for the inquisitive disapproved, I propose following the peppers into different pieces of the world and find what local people are cooking.

You'll in actuality find some intriguing hot sauces made with neighborhood fixings.

Common HOT SAUCE INGREDIENTS

Hot Sauce Ingredients

At its most fundamental structure, hot sauce is regularly a blend of bean stew peppers and a fluid, for example, vinegar, citrus, or even water. You can combine those two and you have yourself a hot sauce. Will it be extraordinary? Perhaps. Would it be able to be better? Obviously.

[pcurrytravels]

Mini-Guide: Los Angeles

In July of 2017, I embarked on a trip to Los Angeles, most of my time being spent in the West L.A. region. More specifically, the neighborhood of Pico-Robertson. 

Now, just so you all know, this post is specifically a “mini-guide” post. As such, my own personal thoughts and opinions will be kept to a minimum here. I plan to do a “Thoughts” post in the near-future where I’ll detail more of my perspective. The purpose of the Mini-Guides is to be informative. Now with all that being said: 

The Appeal:

Fun in the sun. Endless beaches. Cultural diversity for days. The entertainment industry and associated landmarks and history. Lots of great shopping and dining. Never-ending options for exploration.

Top Things To Do:

Sightseeing: 

-Any of the beaches (Venice and Santa Monica being my personal favorites). 

-Hollywood.

-Downtown LA.

-Beverly Hills. 

Dining: 

-Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles. 

-Canter’s Deli for a fantastic, kosher-style Hot Corned Beef or Pastrami sandwich. 

-Various taquerias all around the city for fantastic Mexican food. 

-Innumerable options as far as Asian dining is concerned. 

-Oh, and you can never go wrong with California-style burger joints like In-N-Out. 

Neighborhoods to Explore: 

-The numerous ethnic enclaves for a culturally simulating experience (I stayed in Pico-Robertson which was a Jewish-American enclave, and that’s only one of numerous examples). 

-Hollywood for the sights and the history (but tread carefully as things can get pretty shady the further you go from the boulevard). 

-Venice for the quirky, counterculture vibe and Mediterranean-influenced architecture and urban design (again, tread carefully). 

-Fairfax District for the window-shopping, architecture and signage/marquees.

General Tips:

Packing: 

As far as packing is concerned, with a year-round mild climate and casual atmosphere, you’ll be fine with just clothing items made of light materials like cotton, sneakers and flip flops. For my trip, I brought one dress shirt and one nice pair of jeans. The rest of the baggage was t-shirts and shorts. 

In the summer, I would also suggest bringing sun protection items like sunscreen and aloe vera gel and items such as cooling towels and portable fans to keep yourself cool. 

Weather: 

In the summertime, things are fairly mild with highs in the high 80s/low 90s and lows in the low 70s. Note that it can get pretty humid however. 

Safety:

I shouldn’t have to tell anyone that L.A. is quite notorious for crime. However, going off of my experience in West L.A., I can honestly say that there were never any moments where I felt unsafe. 

Though I will note that some of the surrounding areas of Hollywood and Venice did appear on the more sketchy side, so as stated above, tread with caution, especially at night. 

Transportation: 

During my last excursion, I arrived through LAX via Southwest Airlines. LAX is a large, sprawling airport but at the same time clean and efficient. I didn’t feel that I had any long walks and everyone moves quickly. There is also an extensive rideshare (Uber & Lyft) pickup area but, given that so many people are using it, the waits can be long.

On a past trip, I arrived via Greyhoud Bus. The Greyhound Bus station in L.A. is very sketchy and has scary surroundings. After all, it is down the street from Skid Row. Just so you all are aware if you’re considering using that method to travel. 

I would definitely suggest using a rideshare service when arriving, especially if it’s your first time and/or you aren’t too familiar with the terrain if only because of how sprawling L.A. is. To my hotel in particular, had I taken the bus it would have taken us over two hours and two bus transfers to get there, so Uber was a wise decision. From LAX to my hotel in Pico-Robertson, the fare was roughly $18.00 with Uber Pool, although, being Pool, this did require having to ride with four other passengers who were picked up and dropped off at varying points the whole way. 

For getting around the city, there’s the Los Angeles Metro which offers an extensive (if not a bit inconsistent) bus system, two subway/rapid transit rail lines and four light rail lines with a more limited range of service. I never had any trouble getting where I was going, but I will note there can be a bit of confusion. For example, the main bus that ran along Pico happened to be under a different company entirely, so the Metro cards didn’t work on it. During my time there, I saw several bus lines like this (like Big Blue Bus and the Culver City Bus), just a heads up.

Speaking of which, the most efficient way of paying for public transit is to use a Metro TAP card. It’s a reloadable, electronic fare card that you tap at the fare box as soon as you hop on board. If you plan to make frequent use of public transit during your trip, I would highly recommend it. As for where to buy, I personally bought mine at a Ralph’s Supermarket that was down the street from our hotel, but there are many vendors all around the entirety of L.A. 

Walkability is hit and miss. Most of Los Angeles was designed for the automobile and it shows. Although, as most of it was built/designed prior to the 1960s, it’s still built to human scale and overall more manageable for a pedestrian than some places (Looking at you, Las Vegas). There are some neighborhoods/areas where it is very easy to get around by walking, some where it’s impossible, and others that are more in the middle.

For those who wish to drive, traffic is fairly horrific, especially on freeways. Then again, it should be common knowledge by now that Southern California traffic is a nightmare. I also shouldn’t have to tell you that parking is a tricky situation either.

Hours of Operation:

Most things open up around 8 A.M. and close around 10 P.M. I didn’t take part in nightlife personally, but from what I observed, bars and clubs generally start up around 9 P.M. and close shop around 1-2 A.M. 

Money-Related:

Nearly everywhere accepts both cash and plastic.

As for how much things cost, while far from inexpensive, L.A can still be done on a budget if you play your cards right. On my first day there, as I explored the neighborhood near my hotel for something to eat, I went from a Kosher Mexican place that charged $13 for one burrito, to a Kosher sausage place where I got two Polish sausages, fries and a drink for around $10. It can seem intimidating on the surface but I assure you, if you’re searching for something more reasonably priced all it requires is some looking. 

In regards to tipping, it’s customary to tip 15-20% for waiters, $1 per drink at bars, and $1-2 dollars for hotel housekeepers, bellhops and parking valets. 

Taxes run pretty high in these parts, with a sales tax of 9.75%, though this doesn’t apply to most groceries. When dining, the tax is 9.5%. Accommodation taxes range from 13 to 15.5%

Miscellaneous:

How easy it is to find a public restroom can wildly vary depending on the area. Going off of my experience, in Hollywood and Downtown LA I had no trouble, but Venice and Fairfax were much more challenging in this department. 

There is a lot of air pollution going on. Combine this with the summer humidity and you don’t have a good mix. Plan accordingly if you have respiratory difficulties and/or are prone to dry mouth/throat. 

[dcroofingarizona]

Top Things To Do In Tucson AZ

This article Top Things To Do In Tucson AZ had been originally submitted on: the DC Roofing Company blog

Tucson Offers So Many Options!

 Saguaro National Park

Tucson is well-known for its plethora of giant saguaros, a type of cactus that can grow to be over 40 feet tall. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park on both the east and west sides of the city. You can drive, hike, bike, or horseback ride through either park.

University of Arizona Art Museum

Art lovers need look no further than the University of Arizona Art Museum to satisfy their art cravings in Tucson. Operated by the University of Arizona, the site also includes a museum and has permanent exhibitions that include over 6,000 exhibits from all corners of the art world such as sculptures, textiles, prints, and hand drawings. The art on show here is diverse and focuses on both European art as well as American art.

The Tucson Desert Art Museum

The Tucson Desert Art Museum is one of the best things to do in Tucson AZ for art lovers. The collection of paintings includes some of the biggest names of the Southwest: Peter Nisbet, Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon, and Ed Mell. The Museum is a rare and enticing establishment where one can learn about the history of the region through its peoples art.

The Arizona Inn

A popular historic Tucson hotel is the Arizona Inn. This charming boutique hotel spans over 14 acres of gardens, fountains, flowers and lawns. Centrally located, it's a great place to stay if you plan on traveling to all parts of town.

Old Town Artisans

One of the main tourist attractions is the Old Town Artisans , a restored 1850s marketplace. It includes an entire city block of galleries and stores all set in unique buildings. The stores offer selections of art, jewelry, crafts, home decor, and other items by artists from Tucson and around the state. Other items you can find here include pottery, paintings, metalwork, photography, Native American wool rugs, and carvings.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum offers an intimate look at the desert landscape around Tucson. This museum is a wonderful family outing with a zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden all in one. Displays showcase living animals and plants native to the Sonoran Desert, including some endangered species such as the Mexican wolf, thick-billed parrot, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi, desert pupfish, Sonora chub, bonytail chub, razorback sucker, and Gila topminnow.

Transcript

I'm Coyote Peterson, and today we're going behind the scenes at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. - This morning we made the beautiful drive across the Sonoran Desert to arrive in Tucson Mountain Park, which is home to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, established in 1952, by William Carr and Arthur Pack. Their vision was to create a living museum, where visitors could come see animals living in completely natural looking environments. Since childhood I have been visiting this location, enthralled by all of its animal species, and inspired to live a life of adventure and animals. Today I'm lucky enough to walk the grounds with Will Bruner, the museum's curator of animal experiences, a job that as a child, I could've only dreamed of. The first stop would be the mountain lion exhibit. This elusive desert cat has been an ambassador for the museum since 1952. Wow, look how beautiful that cat is. - His mother was killed. He was found as about a four month old cub in California. Obviously, too young to survive on his own in the wild, so that's how he came to us here. - So, this cat weighs about 100 pounds now, and will grow to be about 200 pounds. - Yeah, almost 200 pounds. - So, almost double in size. It's amazing even from this distance you can see how big this cat really is. - [Will] The great thing about this exhibit is that one of our goals is not only to create naturalistic, but also to create interesting environments for the animals. We vary sometimes feeds, we'll vary placement of food. So, this gives him a lot of choices, and choices are a really important thing to an animal in its environment. - [Coyote] Is that kind of why you hide food throughout the enclosure, so it forces him to almost have to hunt, and search out what it is he wants? - Exactly, we want him using all of those natural abilities. The ability to track his prey by scent or visual. He can actually work those muscles as if he were taking down prey, basically stimulating their environment. Even putting scents in here might cause him to actually go and scent mark, which is another behavior he would do in the wild. - [Coyote] So, what's he snacking on there? - [Will] A little bit of everything. We feed a variety of diets, but sometimes the favorite treats like whole animals, a ground meat product that's specifically made for wild cats in captivity. Believe it or not, one of his absolute favorite treats is cream cheese. - [Coyote] On bagels, or on ground squirrels? - A little bit of both. - [Coyote] Yeah. You guys, he's going up into his little den area there. He says, "I've had my snack, "now it's time to take a nap." Okay, so Will, I feel like I'm standing right in the middle of the Sonoran Desert right now, but we're really just in part of the museum at this point, and it's amazing. I mean, you guys have designed this place to feel like you're actually in the environment. - [Will] That's one of the missions of the museum. We want you to really appreciate this area because the Sonoran Desert is like nowhere else in the world. It's a little bit of a microcosm of all the Sonoran Desert habitat here at the museum in a small space. So, you can do the whole Sonoran Desert, which would take you months to walk it, if you did it, but here at the museum you can do it in a couple of hours. We're a natural history museum, as well as a zoo, and a botanical garden. All of those roles play a really important part in the museum's mission to educate people about the Sonoran Desert. - Wow, cool. Alright, well let's go find some more animals. - Great. - So, right now we're working our way down. I can see them over there by the side of the fence, Javelinas, this is like one of my favorite animals that lives out here in the Sonoran Desert. What I know of javelinas, Will, is that they are these little power houses of muscle, and ferocity, and I mean, I can clearly see them, I mean, this guy's no bigger than a golden retriever, but he looks like he's built like a tank. - [Will] They are, and actually they're incredibly powerful little animals for their body size. Literally, just the muscles on the head, and the neck, and the shoulders support that, you know, the large jaws. They work together as a family to defend themselves, and defend their territory as well. - Now, I just saw two of them. They were kind of like rubbing each other's butts on each other's head's. What were they doing there? - They actually, that's a social behavior. They have a musk gland, or a gland on the top of their back they'll rub as a way of sort of coating everybody in the same scent, and that's the way they identify themselves, so it's like a social grooming, and a bonding behavior. - So, what are javelinas typically feeding on out here in the desert environment, and then do you guys provide them with any sort of food, or they just eat what's naturally here in their habitat? - No, we do actually provide them with food, and the desert food is often seasonal. So, the prickly pear fruit, which you'll see, which they do really like is only around this time of year. - [Coyote] They have real tough skin on their noses, and spouts right, so those little spines, it doesn't bother them at all. Look at those tusks. Now, do they use those tusks for anything defensive, or for eating? - Yeah, they're defensive. They're basically used in any social altercations, and also for defense. Those tusks are actually amazing. The way they line up in the javelinas mouth is that as they move back and forth, even with the open and closing your mouth, they're constantly sharpening those tusks. - [Coyote] Wow. We're gonna take a short cut, one of the perks of being behind the scenes at the Desert Museum, on our way to go see the Bighorn Sheep. Now, this is a very important part of the conservation work that you guys are doing here. Tell us all about these sheep. - [Will] Well, these are Desert Bighorn, and they are native to the area, but we're also part of a captive breeding program with this species. We've just recently received a female from the Los Angeles zoo. She had a lamb about six months ago, which continues our breeding program, but also both her and her mother are unrelated to our male, which means they can continue that captive breeding program here at the Museum. - [Coyote] This is the lamb right here, right? - [Will] Yep, this is the youngster, and she's done amazingly well. - When I think Bighorn's, I always think of that famous opening scene from Marty Stouffer's Wild America, where you have the two males, just boom, crushing heads with eachother. - [Will] In the wild, they would break into male and female groups outside the breeding season. Within the male groups they would start jousting, and basically establishing who was gonna be the dominant animal to breed. - [Coyote] So, what then is the ultimate goal of this species survival plan? - [Will] It's to maintain a genetically diverse population within a captive setting, but not only for exhibitory, and zoological institutions, but also in the event of a population crash in a wild population. - [Coyote] There is so much to experience at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and more animal and plant species than we could ever pack into a single episode of breaking trail. From rescuing animals to species survival plans, Arthur Pack and Willaim Carr's original vision of a living museum has truly grown into one of the world's most renowned natural history, and zoological establishments. Will, I can't thank you enough for taking the crew and I out here today. Truly a once in a lifetime experience to get behind the scenes, and see all the amazing conservation, and education work you guys are doing here. I had a fantastic time. I'm Coyote Peterson. Be brave, stay wild. We'll see you on the next adventure. If you thought that was one wild adventure, check out these other animal encounters, and don't forget subscribe to follow me and the crew on this season of Breaking Trail. This episode of Breaking Trail was brought to you by the BuyPower card from Capital One. Every purchase brings you closer to a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle.

[ladystylestores]

The Ultimate Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary • The Blonde Abroad

Jen Tenzer is sharing her road trip itinerary for the Southwestern region of the USA!

The American Southwest is an absolutely stunning setting for a road trip and offers an unparalleled mix of gorgeous red rock views, national park hiking, mysticism, delicious (sometimes spicy!) food, and a rich culture steeped in Mexican and Native American history.

The dry heat makes it an ideal place to visit in the fall and spring months when you’re looking for a break from colder climates. Don’t forget, temperatures reach well over 100 degrees in the summer and the desert can still get snow in February!

This 2-week itinerary captures some of the best of the Southwest, including adventurous activities, nature walks, opportunities to unwind, foodie destinations, and cultural attractions.

The trip begins in Arizona, travels through New Mexico, and ends in Utah. You could easily travel this itinerary in the reverse direction and/or modify it to include more of Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks. There are some optional side trips in case you have more travel time!

Here’s the ultimate Southwest USA road trip itinerary!

Southwest Road Trip Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Tuscon or Phoenix

Day 2-3: Sedona, Arizona

Day 4-5: The Grand Canyon

Day 6-8: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Day 9-12: Moab, Utah

Day 13-14: Salt Lake City, Utah

Day 1: Arrive in Tucson or Phoenix

This trip starts in either Tucson or Phoenix depending on convenience and uses either major city as more of a launchpad than a destination.

That being said, I’d highly recommend checking out Saguaro National Park just outside Tucson and/or hiking Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale.

Either city is a fantastic introduction to the scenery and overall laid back attitude of the Southwestern U.S.

Also, if you’re looking to add a bit of luxury to your road trip, both of these cities have gorgeous resorts where you can indulge! Start your trip with some spa time at Miraval Resort outside Tucson or at the Phoenician in Scottsdale; it’s the perfect way to begin a digital detox during your travels.

After you’ve melted into those well-deserved wind-in-your-hair vibes, drive the ~2 hours from Phoenix or ~3.5 hours from Tucson north to Sedona.

Sedona, Arizona

Day 2-3: Explore Sedona

Sedona is an adorable and mystical town set in the middle of the Arizona desert. It truly suits all appetites!

There are 200+ hiking trails surrounding the Sedona area. Slide Rock State Park is a great place for hiking that can also double as your camping spot; just make sure to reserve a campsite in advance.

Vortexes of Sedona

Some of the town’s most famous hiking trails, like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, travel through Sedona’s famed spiritual vortexes.

While I’m no expert on vortexes, they are believed to be specific locations on Earth where there is a swirling condensed center of spiritual energy. The Native Americans recognized the power of these places and often used them for sacred ceremonies.

Aside from hiking to them, you can experience Sedona’s vortexes through guided yoga and meditation classes out on the red rocks or from above in a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Even their local airport is an energy vortex you can visit!

What to Do + See in Downtown Sedona

Don’t forget to carve out some time to wander around the strip of downtown stores, which reflect this same woo-woo theme. Cute shops display gorgeous crystals in the windows and there are many spiritual healers available for service from psychic mediums to reiki healers.

I even had my aura read while in Sedona! (In case you’re curious, my aura is bright yellow and green with white light at the crown of my head.)

If the spirituality thing isn’t your jam, I’d highly recommend popping into a hidden gem called Blackbird Vintage, right off the main drag in Sedona. The shop owners have curated a high-quality collection of vintage Levi jeans, rock and roll tees, and other unique accessories.

Personally, I couldn’t resist a 1984 AC/DC tour t-shirt! (Check out their Etsy shop to see if anything new has come in, too!)

Where to Eat in Sedona

When you need to break away from the heat, a cold-pressed juice from Local Juicery is just what the doctor ordered. They also have a variety of colorful smoothies, salads, and bowls – all yummy!

I also recommend The Hudson, Mariposa’s Latin Grill, or Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen as dinner options.

Day 4-5: Explore the Grand Canyon

Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is about 2 hours north of Sedona. You have quite a few options on where to set up base camp for your canyon explorations.

Within the park, there are numerous camping options on the rim, as well as hotels run by the park—like The Grand Hotel and El Tovar. If you’re looking to stay down in the canyon, there are additional camping sites you can reserve as well as another park run lodging option called Phantom Ranch.

Just be mindful that any Grand Canyon National Park lodging options often book up roughly a year in advance!

If you don’t have that kind of advanced notice, there are plenty of hotel options located outside the park in Tusayan (~10 minutes drive), Williams (~1 hour) and Flagstaff (~1.5 hours). Tusayan is closest to the Grand Canyon, but is a very small town without many other attractions or restaurants.

Flagstaff is a larger college town with lots of restaurants, breweries, shops, and other activities (like seeing petroglyphs at nearby Walnut Canyon), but is a further drive from the park. Williams is a small historic town on old Route 66 that falls somewhere in the middle of these two in terms of size and distance.

What to Do at the Grand Canyon

You will likely want 2 full days to explore the Grand Canyon itself. Do not underestimate the difficulty of the hikes, particularly if you visit during warm months!

Because the canyon hikes are out-and-back, it’s sort of a reverse mountain; you end up with a hard, uphill battle after you’ve already burned through half the trail. For that reason, the rangers strongly discourage hiking from the rim to the river and back in a single day.

Plan on either hiking down to the river and staying somewhere in the canyon overnight or hiking only a portion of the trail and back up to the rim. There are various stop-off vistas with water sources and bathrooms that make for excellent turnaround points.

I loved hiking both the popular South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trails, but was very happy that I turned around after 2-3 miles to head back up to the rim!

If you have some extra time to kill before heading out of northern Arizona, definitely check out Havasu Falls, Antelope Canyon, and/or Monument Valley as additional side trips!

The crater is massive at 700 feet deep and 3/4 mile wide.

Day 6: Drive to Santa Fe

The drive from the Grand Canyon to Santa Fe is lengthy at about ~7 hours, so you should assume this drive eats up a full day of travel. That being said, there are plenty of stops along I-40 to make the most of it!

For starters, about an hour east of Flagstaff is Meteor Crater where you can see the impact remains of a meteor that crashed to earth 50,000 years ago. The crater is massive at 700 feet deep and ¾ mile wide.

It was used as a training site for the Apollo missions because of its similarity to the moon’s surface. Pretty neat and something you probably won’t see again given it’s in the middle of the desert!

Make a Pit Stop in Winslow, Arizona

Another fun touristy pit stop to fill up on gas and food is Winslow, Arizona. This small town was made famous from the 1972 Eagles’ hit “Take it Easy” with the lyrics:

“Now I’m a-standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona With such a fine sight to see It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford Slowin’ down to have a look at me”

Across the street from your flatbed Ford photo op is Relic Road Brewing where you can pair a solid beer and burger before continuing along I-40.

Painted Desert + Petrified Forest

Lastly, spend a couple of hours checking out the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park where you can see ancient dinosaur-era crystallized logs and gradient-colored teepee mountains.

All of these stops remain en route to your next Southwestern destination!

Day 7-8: Explore Santa Fe

Welcome to New Mexico! From the moment you pull into Santa Fe and see its beautiful Pueblo-style architecture, you know you’ve reached somewhere special. The town is rich with Mexican and Native American culture.

An amazing way to start your day in Santa Fe is at the Sage Bakehouse where you can sample their delicious artisan bread loaves, pastries, sandwiches, and quiches with a giant cup of coffee. I absolutely loved their homemade peach preserves atop some crusty sourdough!

You could spend hours wandering the tiny streets and shops of Santa Fe picking up perfect gifts – I scored a truly unique Mexican blanket, local salsa, and a painted silk scarf which were all absolute hits with friends and family.

Santa Fe is also an art lover’s dream with several local galleries and museums, including the Museum of International Folk Art and the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.

Where to Eat + Drink in Santa Fe

After a long day of walking around, grab a cocktail and a seat with a view at The Bell Tower Bar, a rooftop bar inside La Fonda hotel near the main square.

Santa Fe’s delicious food scene carries through to dinner. I’d highly recommend La Choza Restaurant to try NM’s famed red and green chili tacos. If you’re in the mood for Indian food, Paper Dosa is outstanding – foodies truly can’t go wrong in this town.

Other popular spots include Modern General Feed and Seed, Paloma Restaurant, and The Pantry.

Newspaper Rock has one of the largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs in the U.S.

Day 9: Drive to Moab

The drive from Santa Fe to Moab is another long day of road tripping at about 6 hours. You can help break up the drive by stopping at various ancient ruins along the way, such as the Pueblo settlements of Bandelier National Monument, the beautiful Puye Cliff Dwellings, and/or Mesa Verde National Park.

Closer to Moab, check out Newspaper Rock where you can see one of the largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs in the U.S.

If you have some more time to extend this leg of the trip, consider adding on Great Sand Dunes National Park where you can sled down the sand dunes or the Four Corners Monument where you can place your feet in 4 states at the same time.

Day 10-12: Explore Moab

With a Mars-like red rock landscape, two national parks, and tons of adventurous off-roading activities, the town of Moab is a must.

Before heading out for the trails, you will definitely want to fuel up with a flat white or egg sandwich at Moab Garage Co.

I visited this cute café multiple times during my stay to try their salads, sandwiches, and their special Nitroccino (essentially, an espresso milkshake)!

You will want a full day to explore each of Arches and Canyonlands NP’s, but don’t forget to leave some extra time to explore the town and take in a Hummer or ATV tour!

This town is famous for its off-roading trails and you will see loads of ATV’s trolling down the main street alongside the cars.

I took an ATV excursion with High Point Hummer & ATV Tours and had the BEST time speeding around the bumpy terrain outside Canyonlands at the Merrimack and Monitor Buttes. Other super popular off-roading trails nearby include Hell’s Revenge and Fins & Things.

Where to Eat in Moab

An extremely popular (outdoor) lunch spot to check out is the Quesadilla Mobilla food truck where I devoured a cheesy spinach and sweet potato combination that I will never forget!

I’d also recommend Fiesta Mexicana, Miguel’s Baja Grill, Jailhouse Café, and the Moab Brewery (you’ll see their beers on sale throughout Utah)!

Where to Stay in Moab

There are plenty of different places to stay in and around Moab including Airbnb’s with desert vista backyards, camping in Dead Horse Point State Park, and hotels at various price points.

I loved the pool and restaurant at the Hilton’s Hoodoo Moab, but also enjoyed a couple of relaxing nights at an Airbnb just outside town – the stargazing is crystal clear!

Great Salt Lake Desert

Park City

Day 13-14: Explore Salt Lake City

This city has so much to offer! Depending on what time of year you visit, you can spend your days skiing in nearby Park City or dipping your toes into the cool waters of the Great Salt Lake.

The city is set alongside the mountains so you get the benefit of many hiking trails and nature activities plus a trendy and well-established food scene.

Ensign Peak Trail just north of Capitol Hill is a lovely way to get a lay of the land and see the entire city from above. I loved walking around the Sugar House neighborhood and enjoying al fresco beer flights at the Wasatch Brew Pub.

There is also scooter-sharing all over SLC and it’s a fun way to breeze through different neighborhoods!

Where to Eat in Salt Lake City

I did my fair share of dining in this town and would highly recommend The Rose Establishment for chrysanthemum lattes and sweet treats.

Head to Current Fish & Oyster for incredibly fresh and upscale seafood.

And don’t miss out on Crown Burger! This SLC fast-food spot is famous for its pastrami topped cheeseburgers…which are even more delicious than they sound!

And don’t forget the fry sauce – Utah has a longstanding obsession with this ketchup and mayo combo; you’ll see it on nearly all fried food menus!

Outside of Salt Lake City

A couple of must-do quick drives just outside the city include Antelope Island State Park where bison roam freely, as well as the Bonneville Salt Flats where you’ll feel like you’ve traveled all the way to Bolivia!

Access to these salt flats is free via a rest stop west on I-80. You can even drive on it! The Bonneville Speedway nearby holds numerous land speed records for 400+ mph on the salt surface.

Just make sure to give your car a thorough scrub afterward to scrape off the corrosive salt, as well as whatever other red dirt your car has collected on this ultimate Southwest itinerary!

And there you have it, folks! The ultimate Southwest USA road trip itinerary. Are there any hot spots you would add to this route?

Source link

قالب وردپرس

from World Wide News https://ift.tt/333R6da