{"id":107276,"date":"2024-11-09T01:33:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-09T06:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=107276"},"modified":"2024-11-17T19:06:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T00:06:26","slug":"can-you-see-all-of-arizona-in-one-week-we-tried-and-succeeded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/can-you-see-all-of-arizona-in-one-week-we-tried-and-succeeded\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you see all of Arizona in one week \u2013 we tried and succeeded"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Follow us on a photo essay of Arizona\u2019s amazing sights<\/em><\/strong> in a Blacksford RV camper<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We had a free week at the end of October and decided to see as much of Arizona as we could \u2013 traveling in a spacious motorhome from Blacksford RV <\/a>rentals in Phoenix. We\u2019d traveled in one of their luxurious rentals before, touring the scenic byways of Utah and two of its national parks. That went so well, we were really looking forward to the opening of their new Phoenix location, just minutes from the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much could we see in one week?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d been to the Grand Canyon a few times before, both the south rim and the west rim. So, that didn\u2019t seem like a necessity. But there were still two other national parks that I\u2019d never seen \u2013 Saguaro and Petrified Forest.  Added to list.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having traveled briefly on parts of the Old Historical Route 66 in Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma, I heard that the longest stretch of the original route still remaining was in Arizona.  Added to list.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019d also be told by friends that Arizona has some beautiful byways that we also tried to work in \u2013 Salt River Canyon, Cactus Forest Drive, San Francisco Peaks, Sitgreaves Pass, and more. Added to list.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a week of planning, we determined we could actually see most all we wanted by circumnavigating the state, starting in and returning to Phoenix. So, follow along and see the sites with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heading southeast<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After being met at the airport by John from Blacksford RV, we were shuttled to their office where a 2025 Thor Quantum LC28 was waiting for us. We were presented with a 12-month free pass to all the US National Parks, for us and our vehicle. He then gave us an explanatory tour of the vehicle, making sure we knew how to use all the systems, and we were off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Fast forward to the end of the article if you\u2019d like to see the vast interior of the LC28 and why we loved it so much.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving directly down I-10, we proceeded directly to Saguaro National Park, just outside Tucson. We went first to the Red Hill Visitor Center at Saguaro West. I always find the national parks to inevitably have fascinating visitor centers \u2013 sort of mini museums. The park rangers are always a great source of knowledge if you want to see the best the park has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just outside the visitor center is a wheelchair-accessible walkway with an amazing variety of cacti and other desert plants. <\/p>\n\n\n

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