One thing that has surprised me recently is the beauty of the desert in the Phoenix metro area. I guess I had always simply thought of deserts as dry, rather barren places.

I absolutely love aquariums of all kinds! Well, I actually prefer the ones that don’t smell too “fishy.” Yeah, I know. 🙄

Anyway, I can spend all day in a large, well-done aquarium and Scottsdale’s OdySea is definitely both of those. There are more than 65 exhibits to explore and I’m not just talking tiny tanks I set in a wall.

The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has numerous self-driving cars for hire - reserved with an app like Uber or Lyft. The company is called Waymo and I got to ride in one to and from a tour in Old Town Scottsdale.

Scottsdale is so surprising! There’s something for everyone here - the arts, sports, shopping of all types, tours, nature, great restaurants, and great winter weather. I am loving it here. One of the places that surprised me was the Western Spirit Museum: Scottsdale Museum of the West.

As mentioned in my blog just previous to this one, my mom and I went to the Western Spirit Museum: Scottsdale Museum of the West yesterday and today and it was wonderful! During this post I’m going to focus on the courtyard sculpture garden.

Howdy, Partners!!! I’m having a great time here in Scottsdale learning about all sorts of things. Yesterday and today, my mom and I went to the Western Spirit Museum: Scottsdale Museum of the West. It was fabulous!

Yesterday I went on a little adventure with my mom and two sisters to two luxury hotels in Scottsdale.

There will be days that don’t remotely go according to plan when you travel. In fact, you will sometimes have to completely abandon the plan and “wing it.” Today was one of those days.

Visit Kaneko in Omaha soon! The featured exhibition is a range of works by Linda Fleming (until February 11) and her work is fabulous!

If you’re anything like me, you don’t particularly love the month of January in the Midwest. Some folks get Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) and tire of the gray clouds, lack of sunshine and monotony of being indoors. I don’t tend to notice that much in myself, but I do crave beautiful green plants and colorful, blooming flowers this time of year.

I had the privilege today of going “Live” on my travel blog Facebook page showcasing a new full-scale mural in Council Bluffs.

I’m feeling rather snarky today as our furnace is not working on the coldest day in recent memory. 🤨 Just know I am sending this out under a pile of blankets dressed like an Alaskan lumberjack freshly back from a thrift store run. 😏

This post showcases photos and locations I haven’t had a chance to touch on. So, here we go!

Despite the fact I do eat at restaurants when I travel, I do not proclaim to be a “foodie.” Scottsdale is known for their great restaurants, though, so trying at least a few is a must-do. It’s all part of the fun!

Last night I went off on my own and toured the Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo. It is a special holiday attraction with more than 4 million lights that runs until January 14. It was absolutely gorgeous

While a quarter million (250,000) currently live in Scottsdale, the original downtown/Old Town feels very much like a small town. There are many small shops of all types, fun restaurants, artwork and galleries galore, beautiful public areas, and an unbelievable amount of Western Americana.

My mom, sister, daughter, and I went to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. They host a special holiday event each year called Las Noches de las Luminarias” which is simply incredible.

Since we were going to be in town on Christmas this year, I decided to surprise my family and reserve a decorated igloo at the zoo for the evening (6-9 pm) of December 26.

With two dogs! 🐾. Never a dull moment! 🤣

Runs through December 31. Werner Park in Papillon, Nebraska (near Omaha).