Trip Report: Chandler, Arizona

From Friday through Sunday, we were visiting Chandler, Arizona. Chandler makes up the southeastern portion of the greater Phoenix glob. (During the other three seasons of the year, it's an area, but during the summer, the heat melts the neighboring municipalities into one big, sticky glob.)

We flew out of San Jose on Friday morning. It took two minutes to get through security, which was disappointing. The last few times I flew, security pulled me out of line just to say hello and search my belongings before sending me on my way fifteen minutes later. It passed the time and made me feel special. This time, I actually had a chance to eat a cheese egg mit from Noah's Bagels, drink coffee, and relax before boarding. It made me edgy. I almost went back to the checkpoint to ask them to search my backpack anyway, just to calm my nerves.

Because the point of the trip was more to visit friends than to see the sights, we didn't do a lot of wandering. They're a young family with a two-year-old and a one-month-old and since they had already been so kind to invite us to stay with them, we didn't want to burden them with entertaining us as well. We just tried to be low-key and undemanding in an effort to make the weekend as much of a vacation as possible for everybody.

As soon as we were out of the airport, my camera was out and snapping shots of the local scenery. This was one of the first photos...

After dropping off our backpacks at the house, we had brunch at Brunchies, a country kitchen establishment that is famous for its American and Mexican style breakfasts. What it should be famous for is the talking horse's head mounted on the wall. The thing freaked me out. Fortunately, it didn't start babbling until after I had finished my Brunchies Omelet (a three-egg omelet with cheese, avocado, and bacon).

That evening, M and I cooked cheese raviolis covered with ground turkey and tomato sauce. After dinner, I received a refresher course in toddler endurance. I've never seen a child push a train around a track so many times without tiring or losing interest. His enjoyment never flagged. By the time he was done, I was choo-choo-ed out and ready for a good long nap.

On Saturday, we visited Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden ($10 per person). Thanks to thunderstorms the night before and that morning, temperatures were only in the nineties, a welcome relief from the previous day's 100+ high.

The garden, located in Papago Park, features cactus, succulents, wildflowers, and other plants that thrive in the desert, more specifically, the Sonoran Desert, which extends from Mexico, through Arizona and California, and into Baja California. My favorite plants were the octopus cactus, teddy bear cactus, and saguaro cactus. The first two are pictured below...

The garden also featured Childhood Dreams, a living sculpture by Patrick Dougherty.

Afterwards, we ate lunch at Aunt Chilada's, where I had a two-enchilada plate (shredded chicken and shredded beef).

We then drove to Dobbin's Lookout in South Mountain Park (free). It's a popular spot (easily accessible by car) that offers a magnificent view of the greater Phoenix glob.

On certain Sundays (called Silent Sundays), the roads inside the park are closed to vehicles. Only hikers, runners, cyclists, and equestrians are allowed full access. It's a great concept. I wish I had seen it in effect. Actually, it would be great if they enforced it seven days a week. The crowd at the lookout would have been a third of the size and there would have been less litter. It's sad to see empty soda cans and water bottles strewn across the mountain landscape. After seeing a teenager drop his empty bottle on the ground, I was tempted to toss it (and the rest of the litter) into his car. Instead, I surreptitiously dumped it in a garbage can.

For dinner, we had barbecued chicken and hot dogs. Afterwards, we watched an entertaining episode (or three) of The Backyardigans. Then, after the little ones had gone to bed, I watched 300, one of bloodiest and most melodramatic green screen movies I've ever seen. If I had my way, I would have added a penguin named Pablo and had the Spartans sing "The Worman Polka" (Yip yip yip!).

On Sunday, we drove thirty miles southeast to the town of Coolidge and visited Casa Grande Ruins National Monument ($5 per person), the location of an ancient agrarian community of people known as the Hohokams. The Casa Grande, or "great house", is one of the largest Hohokam structures still standing. The four-story building is over 700 years old and is now protected by steel roof.

We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and spending time with our friends. They kindly dropped us off at the airport and we caught our flight home without trouble or "special" treatment (darn you, TSA!). When we got home, I had just enough energy to empty my backpack, dump my dirty clothes in the washing machine, shower, and jump into bed.

The next time I visit Arizona, I hope to go during the spring or fall. I also hope to stay longer. A road trip through the state would be ideal. There is the Grand Canyon still to see, as well as Canyon de Chelly and the Petrified Forest. In the Phoenix area, I'd like to see a Spring Training game or at least watch the Diamondbacks play. It could also be fun to visit Rawhide (a western theme park) and couple of genuine ghost towns. In any case, it's a state I want to see again.

Finally, I leave you with a parting shot from Casa Grande Ruins...

You can see more photos here...