be happy for this moment.

The trip across Arizona is just one oasis after another. You can just throw anything out and it will grow there, I like Arizona.
Will Rogers

Nick and are not what you'd call "repeat travelers." We like to pick a new place we haven't been and enjoy all it has to offer with the thought that we'll probably never be there again. Arizona was high on our list of "never been there" places (although Nick did play some college golf in Scottsdale about 10 years ago). November is the perfect time for us to take our big yearly trip because it's the end of golf season here in St. Louis and allows us to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

We left Saturday morning and returned late Thursday night - the time in between was both fun, relaxing and downright educational.

Did you know that the largest Ponderosa Pine Forest on the continent is in the area around the Grand Canyon? Me either! The landscape was so much different than I pictured in Northern Arizona. I was thinking cactus and desert like Phoenix but in fact it was full of beautiful trees, snow capped mountains and cold weather.

Here's a photo run down of our fun 2nd anniversary trip:

Our first stop when we landed in Phoenix, In-N-Out Burger!

Yum!

We then drove north from Phoenix to Sedona (about 2 hours). This was one of our first views entering the area.

In front of our "condo" home for three days at the Hyatt Pinon Pointe.

Sunset and appetizers on the balcony before dinner.

Sunrise on Sunday morning in Sedona. Up early for our Pink Jeep Tour to the Grand Canyon.

Hooray for Pink Jeep!

Our stylin' ride two hours north to the Canyon.

After a drive through Flagstaff, we arrived at the Grand Canyon.

Our first beautiful view of the Canyon.

Relaxing on the front porch of the Grand Canyon lodge, El Tovar, where we had lunch.

At El Tovar.

Nick has the historic Hopi House.

Second view of the Canyon toward the east.

Last stop, at the Desert View Watchtower.

Inside the Watchtower, full of neat paintings.

View from the top of the Watchtower.

Beautiful views, so long Grand Canyon!

After the Grand Canyon, we headed east to the Navajo Indian Reservation and their trading post.

On Monday morning we went to a few of the lookout points in Sedona on our way out of town. That's Nick with "me" since there was no one else there to take our picture.

Beautiful rocks near Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Chapel of the Holy Cross built right into the rocks.

That day we drove back south to Scottsdale. View from our hotel room at Millennium McCormick Ranch.

Nick played golf at The Arizona Country Club...

...while I explored 5th Avenue and the Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale.

For our anniversary dinner we at at The Greene House in Kierland Commons.

On Tuesday morning, Nick played golf at our resort and I went for a tour at the amazing Frank Lloyd Wright home, Taliesin West.

View of the front of the house.

Views out to Scottsdale.

That evening we went to meet for coffee with my favorite summer intern from St. Louis, Elaine. She goes to school in Flagstaff and we driving through so I got to see her and catch up!

On Wednesday morning, while Nick laid around in his bathrobe at the hotel, I stood in line at Kierland Commons like a crazy woman to meet and have my book signed by the Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten.

With Ina! She was so gracious and nice, just as you'd imagine.

Then I took myself down to Old Town Scottsdale to look around.

Lots of stores and I finally found a pair of turquoise and silver earrings that I loved (and that weren't $300!).

I had lunch at the Sugar Bowl which is famously known in Family Circus comics.

For dinner we headed to the mountains to meet up at the beautiful home of Nick's parent's good friends, Tim and Genny.

We ate at their beautiful country club, Troon. It was the perfect last dinner in Scottsdale!

On our last day, Thursday, we drove west to Glendale and took a tour of the Arizona Cardinals' stadium. It was pretty amazing!

On the "field" except it hadn't been rolled in yet for the game.

For my future reference and for anyone who would like details of where we visited, stayed and ate here are the links:

Stayed:
Hyatt Pinon Pointe in Sedona
Millennium McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale

Visited:
Pink Jeep Tour to the Grand Canyon
Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona
Kierland Commons in Scottsdale
5th Avenue in Scottsdale
Taliesin West (the Frank Lloyd Wright home)
Old Town Scottsdale
The Arizona Country Club in Phoenix
McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale
Scottsdale Fashion Square
University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale

Ate:
In-N-Out Burger in Phoenix
Ken's Creekside in Sedona
El Tovar in Grand Canyon Village
Late for the Train Coffee in Flagstaff
Cowboy Club in Sedona
The Breakfast Club in Scottsdale
The Greene House in Scottsdale
RA Sushi in Scottsdale
Lux Coffee Bar in Phoenix
Yard House in Scottsdale
Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale
Troon Country Club in Scottsdale
Gordon Biersch in Glendale