May 12th ~ Celebrating Mother’s Day in Arizona
Wupatki Pueblo
My day started off with a sweet surprise from our son. He had sent a Mother’s Day card with my husband for him to give me. It was a beautiful hand-made card that his girlfriend NaReena had painted with such a loving sentiment written inside. We had a nice long conversation later in the day that just made it all the nicer.
My dear husband had also picked out a card for me that so fits us. It had a travel and gratitude theme. PERFECT!
Our travel stops had us divert a bit north of Route 66. There are two National Monuments side by side that can easily be covered in three to four hours. One entrance fee gets you into both parks where you can take a 35-mile scenic loop road, connecting the two.
One entrance fee, one brochure covers both monument sites
The first one was Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Since we have previously visited several volcanic sites, including Lassen National Park, we did not spend as much time here as one might under normal circumstances.
The visitors center for a short movie and displays, another stop for a short walk, and a couple of scenic overlooks completed that section before we moved on down the loop road.
Visitors Center
Short hike
View of lava flow and typical terrain
Vista point
Our second visitor center at Wupatki is a must stop as the largest pueblo ruins sits right behind the center. If you don’t know that ahead of time, you might easily miss seeing the main event.
Wupatki National Monument
Wupatki Pueblo
These were occupied around 800 years ago
The surrounding mountains still have snow.
Tonight we are staying at the KOA in Holbrook which is right on the edge of the Petrified Forest which is where we are off to tomorrow.
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful to have been remembered in such a loving way for Mother’s Day.
A Note From Abroad 
Sounds like a great mothers day! Love the pueblos.
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Thank you Darlene. It was a lovely day.
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I was just at the petrified forest and painted desert this weekend, and loved it. Hope you enjoy it as well. Safe travels.
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Thanks. Good to know your visit was great. I’m sure we will enjoy it too!
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nice AZ holiday!
memories from my years
of living with the Hopi 🙂
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I’m guessing you have some wonderful and unique memories from living there.
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thanks, many memories
living and working on the rez for 20 years 🙂
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Not only do the San Francisco peaks have snow, the ski resort up there is still open for skiing!
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Wow, really late in the season for skiing.
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Our national parks are such treasures!
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I agree 100%
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Petrified Forest is great, as is the Painted Desert. I’ll have to look for the pueblo once we’ve moved to Arizona. 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day late.
janet
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Thank you Janet. I hope you also had a wonderful Mother’s Day.
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I did. We’d planned on a bike ride, but the weather didn’t really cooperate, so we had a nice, inexpensive but delicious lunch, then watched hockey (which I love), and just relaxed at home. 🙂
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