Depending on who you talk to, Southern Arizona is regarded anywhere from a beautiful desert landscape with clear blue skies, majestic mountains, and towering saguaros (pronounced suh-wahr-ohs) to “that horribly hot place”. And, contrary to popular belief, we aren’t all wild-west-film cowboys here. In fact, most of us don't even have our own horses. No kidding! I am here to say that despite the varying opinions and misconceptions, Arizona is a unique state filled with interesting places, people, and terrain.
The city of Tempe in the Phoenix area is my current home away from home while I’ve been studying at Arizona State University. I have grown to love this city and all it has to offer. Since you may not be able to visit any time soon, let me describe for you a perfect summer day in Tempe. A day filled with great sites, delicious food, and a healthy dose of heat.
Our adventure begins promptly at 6:00 o’clock in the morning. It’s mid-July and a cool 85 degrees. Woo-hoo! (Yes, I do cheer whenever the weather is under 100). Why are we up so early you ask? For hiking of course! Tempe sits in a valley surrounded by mountains, which means there are many excellent hiking options for those who love to be outdoors. Today we're headed to South Mountain to get a view of the city from high above. Our hike takes us a few hours, but the end result is priceless. A gorgeous view of the city!
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| PHOTO: View of city from the top of South Mountain |
After we wind down from our hike, we’re hungry! But it’s no problem because lunch is one of the best parts of this perfect day. Here in Tempe, you’ll find some of the best Mexican food around. A favorite local spot of mine is Manuel’s. They have the sweetest green corn tamales I’ve ever tasted. My mouth waters just thinking about it! You can’t beat the delicious food and exceptional family run service. But beware, Arizonans like it spicy.
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| PHOTO: Green corn tamale, chicken enchilada, beef taco + beans & rice |
With full stomachs we walk through Arizona State University, whose campus is actually an official arboretum, home to one of the largest collections of diverse plant life in southern Arizona. Both native and more exotic species have roots here. The African Sumac for example (below) is a non-native species, but thrives in Arizona’s hot climate.
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| PHOTO: An African Sumac |
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| PHOTO: Welcome to Mill Avenue! |
We make our way up through the campus and toward Mill Avenue. These brick-laden walkways have plenty to explore, from small shops with eye-catching window displays to restaurants and people watching. It is one of the most popular areas for college students and always has an active nightlife.
Finally, we reach Tempe Town Lake, which is the last stop on our journey through the city. This area is always bustling with activity. City-wide events happen here all year long, but this evening we’re simply enjoying a peaceful boat ride along the lake and reminiscing about our perfect day. Arizona is famous for its stunning sunsets, so of course we sit and watch the sun sink into the distance.
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| PHOTO: Graceful Arch by Matt' Johnson |
