7 Feb 07 Camp Verde AZ to Benson AZ

  We took our time this morning, with a leisurely breakfast and slow departure. By noon, we were cruising the streets of Scottsdale and admiring the desert landscaping by all the houses. It was too early to stop for the day so we didn’t get a chance to check out Jean and Sammy’s hotel. From Phoenix/Scottsdale we took a scenic route to Tucson, stopping in the historic town of Florence to picnic in the park. Dry-area parks and playgrounds are rather different than we are used to, but the kids were having fun just the same.

 We drove through desert for the rest of the day and were surprised by the amount of vegetation and the many varieties of cacti and other plants. After a circuitous trip through the Tucson suburbs, we found our way to the Saguaro National Park. We had only an hour or so before the park closed at sunset, but really enjoyed our circuit of the “cactus forest” and some closeup looks at some of the cacti. We hoped to find nearby accommodation so we could return in the morning, but no luck. We stopped at Benson AZ in a Baymont Inn – very nice digs.

All Photos 7 Feb 07