A Trip to the Desert!

In late July Blake attended the National Elks Convention.  The meetings happened to be on my off week so I hopped on the plane and headed to Phoenix, Arizona with him!  We had a great time. The first of the week Blake attended meetings most of the day and I enjoyed so RandR around the hotel and ventured out into town to shop.  After the convention was over we headed out to Scotsdale to stay at the Camelback Inn and enjoy the remainder of the week/weekend before we headed back to Alabama.

Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium - we enjoyed the game with other members of the Elks organization during the convention.  The Dbacks recognized the organization and the GER threw out the first pitch at the game.

We drove to Sedona for the afternoon.  It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL and one of the most peaceful places I have ever visited on earth.

Sedona Scenery

We took a jeep tour through the desert and not only enjoyed the scenery but also got to hear a little bit of Sedona history

Javalinas -these creatures were all over town.  They are supposed to bring good luck

More Sedona scenery

Our 5th Anniversary was July 22nd while we were in Phoenix so we (Blake really, at first, I was a bit of a chicken about going) took a hot air balloon ride over the desert

Sunrise over Phoenix from the hot air balloon

Camelback Inn at night.  My family stayed at the resort 10 years ago while my Dad was in school getting his doctorate because he had to attend a class/conference in AZ - we (Mom and I - Dad was in class most of the day) loved Camelback and it was fun to go back and revisit with Blake because he has heard us talk about it so much.  While in Scotsdale we enjoyed shopping in Old Scotsdale, swimming, and hiking at the resort.

Raspberry Tea - the best tea in the world - aside from southern sweet tea

We had this the last time we were at the CBI and haven't been able to find it anywhere since.

So glad to enjoy it again and so thankful to our sweet waitress who sent me home some for Dad!