Ajo is one of the closest communities in Arizona near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument where we were able to get an RV park reservation. In Spanish, Ajo is the word for garlic. However, the Tohono O’odham Indians have a similar sounding word o’oho which, is their word for paint. The Tohono O’odham people obtained their red paint pigments from the Ajo area. From Tucson it was about a 2.5 hour drive.
Saguaro National Park has been a favorite for many years. Late April to early May is usually a great time to visit because the snow birds have left, the cactus are blooming, and the temperatures are reasonable, except for this year. Typically, the average highs are in the low 80s. Currently, it’s been around 100 everyday, yikes. At least the early mornings have been in the 60s, great for hiking.
Willcox, Arizona is partially known for its wineries. The area produces 74% of the wine grapes in Arizona. We had wine tasted here in the past and were pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, because of the stay at home orders, the wineries were closed and not considered essential. The governor must not be a wine aficionado.
From Las Vegas, Nevada we made our way to Palm Springs, California via Lake Havasu, Arizona. We love the vistas and barren beauty of the southwest.
Monument Valley is known for its stunning isolated red buttes surrounded by sandy desert. It has been depicted as the essence of the American West, mostly because Monument Valley has been featured in numerous films, commercials, and advertising.
A gateway to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is Page, Arizona. Its where the Glen Canyon dam is located. Page was founded in 1957 as a housing community for the workers during the construction of the dam.
