Arizona at Last

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Sunday, 15 June, 2014



Driving this morning was much easier without yesterday's strong winds, although the wind picked up pretty strong this afternoon.



Our first stop today was at Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Parks. The colors of the Painted Desert were as beautiful as ever and the drive through Petrified Forest was prettier than we remembered. We stopped in Holbrook, AZ, at the rock store to buy a bit of petrified wood for Sean.



At Flagstaff we finally left I-40 and drove north on Hwy 89 to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. We set up camp at Bonita Campground in Coconino National Forest, which is right across the road from the Sunset Crater Volcano visitor center. After stopping at the visitor center for a postcard and park stamps, we drove through the park. Sean enjoyed walking a short trail through a lava flow area and visiting an overlook for a view of several cinder cones and the volcano itself. A few miles down the road is Wupatki National Monument, which has old Indian ruins.



Back at camp, Sean enjoyed riding his bicycle and making friends with the ranger's son. Riding off some of his excess energy was a very good thing.

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Photos

Newspaper Rock
Petrified Forest

Teepees area
Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest
Sean sitting on petrified log

Lava Trail
Sunset Crater Volcano

Comments

[Susan]

ARIZONA
As an Arizona native, I love reading others impression of my dear state. Welcome.