Visit Alpine, Arizona

Create your own Arizona day trip experience!

Whether you wish to plan a trip to see nature and wildlife, learn about the history of the southwest or just want to get away from it all Arizona has a variety of places to see and things to do that will interest any recreational adventurer.

Day trips make a refreshing break from the chaos of the daily routine. They can also be cheap, since many of the areas are distant from the city.

Arizona features a surprising range of terrain that includes desert, grassy lowlands and vegetated mountain regions. The climate found across the state also shows much variety. And you don't have to travel far to appreciate this assortment of scenery. In the summer you can take a break in the cool, nearby hills, while the lower lying areas are more popular in the winter months.

Alpine is in Apache County which is in the eastern most part of Arizona. Located due east of Scottsdale-Phoenix it is only 6 miles from the border with New Mexico. You can get there by taking U.S. Highway 180 and U.S. Highway 191.

The town is nestled among the gentle pines of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. The San Francisco River also begins its winding path toward the pacific coast near Alpine.

The land is at a very high elevation. The climate is continental steppe and highland so that plant life is rich what one expects to see along mountains. The distinctive mountains stand out boldly against the surrounding lower elevations. Wildlife includes elk and mountain lion. The area is mostly geared toward year around outdoor recreation.

Wildlife preservation is a passion here. There are many animal habitats here, of which the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Habitat (an endangered species of bird) is just one example

Alpine is also designated a Biotic Community. This means that interdependent natural resources, such as soil, water, climate, topical features, flora and fauna are all linked, resulting in unique life zones from sea level deserts to Arctic tundra.

Alpine is, in a word, a naturalist's paradise.

The earliest settlers put up their first log cabins about 1876. The first settlement was named Fort Bush. Mormon settlers came to this area to build a community and the name was changed to Alpine because some thought the mountains surrounding the town looked like the Alps. In 1953 a historic Fort Bush Monument was erected to honor the early pioneers.

There is one attraction in town that will be a real hit with golfers. The Alpine Country Club offers 18 holes of golf set amongst the pines. An outdoor attractions: high altitude golf (should assist duffers with their loft and distance), Luna Lake. Luna Lake Wildlife Area is a wildlife refuge. Bald and golden eagles live here as do swans and geese.

The Coronado Trail Scenic Byway provides viewers gorgeous landscapes.

As you might guess, hiking, back packing and pack animal, camping, hunting, fishing and sightseeing are popular here.

The many winter cabin and chalet style flats highlight the focus on fall and winter recreation. There is plenty of bed and breakfast lodging available for those not so eager to rough it in the wilderness.

The higher elevations make skiing and backpacking popular; and for the winter sportsman there is even an Iditarod in January.

The area is popular for conventions as well. Many car, motorcycle and other groups hold events at this location. Accommodations are priced so that Alpine's popularity will likely continue.

See which features of this community appeal to you the most.

History, nature, and memorable experiences are all a part of what Arizona offers those who live, work, and visit. So consider the things this area has to offer the next time you take off to discover Arizona

R. Steven Thomas Yacono is a legal scholar, educator and writer who has traveled extensively over the course past decade. From Beijing to Barstow and Xiamen to Sedona, his journeys have provided a wealth of experiences about fascinating people and places to share with interested readers. You can find out more about Arizona at http://www.arizonan.com; and to plan your next trip visit http://www.on-holiday.com Your comments are welcomed. Please direct correspondence to R. Steven Thomas Yacono at aztreking@hotmail.com

[tags]arizona, travel, vacation, day trip, history, scenery, southwest, wildlife, phoenix, scottsdale[/tags]

How To Have A (Relatively) Stress Free Car Journey With Your Kids

One of the joys of being a parent is taking your children on a day out and seeing their eyes light up as you pull into the car park at your destination. But there is one thing that may taint the rosy memories of your day out – the stress of the car journey there. And I don't mean the stress caused by spending half an hour stuck in road works, or the annoyance caused by your incompetent Sat Nav system. Read on for advice on how to prevent, or at least delay, the words every parent dreads on a car journey – "are we nearly there yet?"

Make frequent stops

If the journey is going to be a couple of hours or more try to stop every hour. It doesn't have to be for long, even 10 minutes will suffice. Giving the children the opportunity to get out and stretch their legs will make them far less restless when they are travelling.

Bring Snacks

Bring plenty food and drink, both for you and your children. If everyone is eating at regular intervals the mood in the car is going to be far happier.

Bring Toys

Activities such as colouring or drawing should keep your children entertained for a while, but bring a separate pack of crayons or pencils for each child to avoid inevitable arguments. Books are also great if you want some peace and quiet on the journey, although they are best avoided if your child suffers from travel sickness.

Nursery rhyme CDs are popular with parents for car journeys, but your older child may not appreciate hearing their younger sibling's favourite CD over and over and over again (or vice versa). You'll probably find hearing '5 Little Ducks Went Swimming One Day' twenty times tests your patience too, so consider taking a storybook CD instead.

Pack a rucksack with an assortment of favourite toys. Avoid anything with small parts as these may get lost down the back of the seat. For long journeys, keep some of the toys in the boot and bring them out once the kids are starting to tire of the selection. It will help keep their interest for a little longer, and if you rotate the selection of toys every time you make a stop it will also keep the back seat from disappearing under a pile of clutter.

Play Games

Let's face it, even the best behaved child isn't going to sit quietly with a colouring in book for the entire journey so look into fun games you can play with the kids while you are driving. For example 'Who am I?' where players have to guess which celebrity you are by asking a series of yes or no questions. Games that get your children look out of the window are good too, as shifting their focus outside the car can help prevent or ease travel sickness. Try back seat bingo, where everyone has a list of objects you might see outside – for example, a bus, a tree, a tractor – and have to look out for and mark off each of these items. The first person to cross all items off their list is the winner.

Bring a Blanket

If it is going to be a long journey, your children are young or you'll be returning late in the day, bring a blanket, or maybe even pillows. Children often become tired during car journeys and a blanket will make them more comfortable and more likely to settle for a nap.

Bring Medicine

You don't need to bring the entire medicine cabinet, and the chances are you aren't going to need whatever you do bring, but it's worth taking the basics. Headaches are unpredictable so it's always worth bringing the Calpol. Children are often susceptible to travel sickness so it may be worth taking a few remedies just in case.

Most of all just remember to relax and enjoy! There's no reason why the only enjoyable part of your day out should be what you do at the destination.

Happy motoring!

Angela is a mum of one and webmistress of UK Days Out . Find a great day out in your area by visiting www.uk-days-out.co.uk

[tags]kids, travel, car journeys[/tags]