Visit to Wickenburg, AZ

We awakened early to a pretty sunrise and the anticipation of another day trip. 

 

 

First, we headed to Congress, Arizona, to explore Escapees North Ranch RV Park.  What a lovely facility!  Like Escapees KOFA co-op, the park has pretty little desert gardens, an activity center, a clubhouse, and tons of friendly folks.

 

 

 

 

We also met up with our friends from Crazy Horse, Tammy and Marty, for a day of sightseeing in Wickenburg with Claudia and Mike.  We did a walking tour, taking pics of the lifelike John Seward Johnson statues.

 

Our Group Pic With "The Teacher"

 

"The Miner" Statue

 

"The Jail Tree"

 

 

We visited the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, with beautiful paintings and sculptures depicting life, culture, and heritage of the Southwest.  (see my blog of Wednesday, February 4, 2015, for more about Wickenburg).

 

 



 

 

 

 

We strolled along the trails at the Nature Conservancy’s Hassayampa River Preserve, filled with cottonwood trees, natural grasses, and other desert flora.  Caught a glimpse of some mallards wading in a pond, along with a colorful vermillion flycatcher (I’m getting to be quite an ornithologist!)

 

 

 

 

 

No get together would be complete without some great food, so we headed to Nichols West upon the recommendation of the receptionist at the Preserve.  This is a small hole in the wall type of place that you could drive by without ever seeing.  But it is a gem.  Quite a varied menu, from ramen noodle bowl dishes, to burgers, steaks, and chops.  And a ton of seafood options, which I thought weird for being in the middle of the desert.  We all ordered something different, and for the most part (Tammy’s chicken saltimbocca came with a ton of onions, which she can’t eat), all thoroughly enjoyed our entrees.

 

We were blessed with seeing a fantastic sunset—the perfect end to another wonderful day.