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Loews Ventana Canyon Resort- Tucson, AZ
Although Loews Ventana Canyon is not a historic hotel, it certainly feels like one. Built in the 1980s by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, it has aged extraordinarily well. Low slung and buff colored, the complex virtually disappears into the surrounding desert, allowing you to fully appreciate its stunning surroundings. Masterfully situated in the Catalina foothills, its is perhaps the most scenic resort in Tucson.
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Chapel of the Holy Cross- Sedona, AZ
Sedona is nothing short of stunning; without question, one of the most beautiful locations in the United States. As you gaze across the rugged red landscape, it is impossible not to be awestruck by the powerful natural processes at work in the world. A transformative moment for many, including Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who built a chapel among the red rocks as a testament to her faith. As if placed by divine hands, the chapel seems to rise from the sandstone itself; born from the land, rather than built by man. Staude, an artist and devout Catholic, was inspired to build the chapel after spying a shadowy cross superimposed on the…
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The Desert Bar- Parker, AZ
You never know what you will find in the desert. Case in point, The Desert Bar. Five miles down a rugged dirt track reminiscent of Fury Road, past fervent supporters of the Second Amendment, an oasis appears. A cluster of rustic buildings stand in stark contrast to the surrounding desert. It is a welcoming sight, as it confirms you have not been lured to a remote location for nefarious purposes, but rather to celebrate an imaginative reuse of an old mine.
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Mission San Xavier del Bac- Tucson, AZ
I love many things about the West- first and foremost, mild winters. However, toward the top of the list are all the beautiful missions. Follow the trail of Spanish explorers, and you will find them. California has some of the most well known; San Antonio has them in droves, including the famous Alamo. Tucked away in Tucson however is one of the most beautiful of them all, Mission San Xavier. Located about 10 miles outside of Tucson, the mission was founded in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit who died before a church was even constructed on the site. It was not until 1756 that a simple adobe structure…
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The Wigwam- Litchfield Park, AZ
The Wigwam has insanely beautiful grounds. A mixture of cacti, colorful flowers, lush grass, and palms, the landscaping feels almost tropical, and far removed from the surrounding desert. The property may have started as housing for Goodyear executives in 1918, but it has evolved into an amazing golf resort with a distinctly southwestern feel. The Wigwam grew out of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s need for cotton. Turns out, long staple cotton extended the life of their tires, but the east coast cotton supply had been decimated by the boll weevil. Fortunately, cotton grows well in dry, sandy soil, which Arizona has a lot of, and land there was…
