Experiencing Arizona with a twist
By land or by air, there are plenty of new ways to enjoy life in the desert
The Grand Canyon State is home to as many as 330 days of sunshine a year, the Sonoran desert and some really fun ways to soak it all in.
Experiencing what Arizona has to offer, whether from the air or on the ground, or whether it has an engine or an electric motor, there is always a good time to be had.
Taking a ‘Splash’ in the Desert
Through the headphones, I can hear that the Cessna Caravan seaplane is being held up for just a few moments. It seems as though there’s “congestion” on one of the busiest single-runway facilities in the United States. But it’s not for obvious reasons.
A coyote is romping around. Before taking off, the pilot is instructed to wait and make sure this canine is out of harm’s way.
A few moments later, an aircraft that holds nine individuals plus the captain is ready for takeoff. Not long after that, the ground is a distant memory as we ascend into a pale blue sky.
Cirrus clouds wispily garnish the world above, while the McDowell Mountains, golf courses, and an abundance of swimming pools drape the world below.
The aerial tour by Desert Splash Adventures (desertsplashadventures.com) gives passengers a bird’seye view of the rugged terrain that characterizes the desert atmosphere.
In an outing that takes just over an hour, you cover a fair amount of territory. Soaring over the Salt River Canyon, then over the Roosevelt Dam, then to check out “The Spires,” a sandcastle like formation nestled deep inside the Superstition Mountains is part of the program.
And it wouldn’t be a seaplane ride without a water landing, right? Right.
Touching down on Roosevelt Lake (one of Arizona’s largest bodies of water), then hopping off to stretch the legs and check out the surroundings also comes on the menu. Don’t forget your camera!
Getting down and dirty with Tom (cars)
A saguaro cactus towers over me. And based on its growth rate — a 10-year old saguaro may measure only about an inch tall — it’s old. Around 200 years old. Yet, it looks good for its age. And it’s still standing.
It’s also home to the saguaro blossom, Arizona’s state flower.
What does vegetation have to do with it?
Traversing to this geriatric Carnegiea gigantean (the scientific name of this cactus — go ahead, impress your friends with your newly acquired botanical terminology!) was made possible because of the type of vehicle I was behind the wheel of: a Tomcar.
These go-anywhere military vehicles are built with purpose in mind. The purpose of getting you just about anywhere you want to go.
The terrain? The Sonoran Desert. The company? Green Zebra Tours (gogreenzebra.com)
With access to at least 100 kilometres (60 miles) of trails through the Fort McDowell Yavapai Reservation, having the chances to experience a snippet of what this arid setting has to offer is both fascinating and educational.
Fascinating because you never know what’s around the bend. It could be wild cattle roaming free, or a mare and her foal coming to check out the flurry of excitement, then promptly run away.
Educational because there are a few stops along the trail where the guides offer up some information about the surroundings.
Driving the Tomcars requires no special training, so after a safety briefing, you can get behind the wheel of a vehicle that can seat two or four.
Notes to consider: It’s a rough-ish ride but highly amusing. Furthermore, you’ll probably get dirty, so dress appropriately. Because of the lack of precipitation, when the dust settles, chances are it’ll be on your attire.
Regardless, a day that involves driving through the desert in Tomcars and learning interesting factoids is along the way, and laughing excitedly, is a great day.
Segway golf. Yes, you read that correctly
A trip to Arizona wouldn’t be complete without driving a few balls, on the golf course, that is.
Arizona is an ideal spot to hit the greens and enjoy the desert scenery. But why not do it with a twist?
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (http://tinyurl.com/yckmytm) offers 27 immaculate holes of golf that can be played in three different 18-hole combinations.
Aside from offering air-conditioned golf carts — a welcome feature especially when playing a round in the summer — load up your bag on a Segway. Yes, a Segway.
This electric personal mobility device has been modified to accommodate your golfing needs. And it’s fantastic. A training session/tutorial is given to familiarize yourself with the device.
So how does it perform? Well, it’s certainly more exciting than my golf game.
Is it the most practical golf mate? Not entirely. It does need to be turned off every time you roll up to hit your ball. That can be a little tiresome. But it’s totally worth it. The experience is priceless and not one that I’ll soon forget. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
The resort has four of them on hand and they are available at an additional $35 charge per golf round.