Door

Door in Tubac

Walls of Tubac

Doggie Day Trip - Tubac

San Xavier del Bac

Mission San Xavier del Bac

Devotional Fountain

Drinking fountain at San Xavier del Bac

Dawn

Titled "Dawn" because, quite frankly, I have no clue what this thing is called.  Turret? Nevertheless, I love the look of morning sun on white stucco.  San Xavier del Bac was radioactive white from the freeway.  Even more gorgeous up close.

Arches

The chapel at San Xavier del Bac

Doggie Day Trip - San Xavier del Bac, San Xavier Reservation near Tucson

Love that crazy cactus.

Doggie Day Trip - Superior and Globe

Poor Sophie has to suffer through my latest case of itchy feet.    Before summer, we'll be hitting the road to revisit all those little places my parents once insisted were interesting and important.  Of course, only dog friendly spots will make it on our agenda.  Last week, we took off on the 60 and headed northeast to the mining towns of Superior -Miami- Globe, then took the 88 hugging Roosevelt Lake to the east and the Tonto National Monument to the west.  These spots were our favorites:

• Boyce Thompson Arboretum - The Arboretum houses an incredible collection of desert plants from around the world - the Chihuahuan, Sonoran and Australian deserts are well represented.  The cactus garden is a must see.  We even got to watch the tree climbing competition in the eucalyptus garden. 

• Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park - The Salado Indians' upper and lower dwellings at Tonto National Monument are off limits to dogs, so Besh Ba Gowah was a pleasant find.  The Park houses over 200 Salado pueblos.  There is also an on-site museum, a gift shop, a spacious and clean restroom, a mini botanical garden, and an informative video - all for the bargain price of $4.  Dogs are free!

• Roosevelt Lake - Ok, so we didn't really hit the lake, but the scenic drive around the lake was relaxing.  If traveling north on the 88, you'll hit a nice lookout pullover before the bridge.  It's a platform to view the upper dwelling of the Tonto National Monument to the west (I had to squint to see it) and Roosevelt Lake to the east.  It's also the perfect spot for a car sick pup to get some fresh air.

one car sick puppy

Besh-Ba-Gowah in Globe, AZ

Pueblo Interior

Barrel

Barrel Cactus at Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Garden Art

Glass and metal piece at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Cactus Garden

The Cactus Garden at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Green Grove

Chilean Palo Verde grove at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Doggie Day Trip - Tucson

Sophie and I jetted off to Tucson on Saturday and discovered a few spots that welcomed both man and beast:

• Saguaro National Park (East) - Dogs are not allowed on the trails, but they are welcome to trot on the nine mile loop road, the various scenic overlooks and the expansive picnic area. The ranger even had a stash of dog biscuits at the entry.  $10/vehicle.  The pass is good for 7 days. 
• Agua Caliente Park - Check out this site for info and stunning wildlife photos.  There is a natural spring pond and bevies of beautiful birds (great for meditation or chasing).   
•  Farmer's Market at St. Philips Plaza - A lot of crafts and a few fresh produce stands.  Great for people watching and dog sniffing.  I bought a steaming cup of hand pressed Costa Rican coffee and an apple crumble pie made with mesquite flour (ground mesquite pods).   
• Cup Cafe at the Hotel Congress - A great little place in downtown Tucson by the University.  Sophie and I hung out at the patio until the storm rolled in right over our quiche.  We retired to the lobby where Herb, our waiter - great name for a waiter, brought us some sweet potato fries, a bowl of fresh water and a cup of coffee. 

As for the Finger Rock Trail (see two previous photos)... well, Google just informed me that dogs aren't allowed on that trail.  So, let's just drop that one from the list.

The loop drive  at Saguaro National Park East