We are lucky that despite moving across the country, we still have family nearby, a fact that definitely played a part in our decision to move to Flagstaff. You've heard about our grandmas and Johnny's aunt in southern Arizona, but my aunt and uncle live in Las Vegas, just 3 and half (when Johnny's driving) short hours from us as well. They graciously took Winslow in and provided transport to and from the airport (and who could forget - a place to lay our head before our early flight and after our late arrival) for our trip back home over Christmas. Unfortunately, every moment we spent in Vegas then was in the dark and mostly in the car so we decided what better way to spend our 3 day weekend over MLK Day than visiting in Vegas. Thankfully, Winslow hadn't tormented the dogs or my aunt or uncle too much while we were away so they welcomed us back into their home, fed us well, and played tour guide for the weekend. On our first day, we experienced the real Vegas. We walked the Fremont Street Experience, checked out a cool shopping center made out of shipping containers (Downtown Container Park), and visited the Bellagio. At the Bellagio, we toured the Conservatory (definitely worth checking out!), wandered the halls of luxurious stores, and of course gambled ($1 and Johnny lost it all!). Before we left, we caught the water show out front and then headed home to watch some playoff football. Sunday, with our annual National Parks pass in tow, we visited Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Just a 10-15 minute drive outside the city limits, bulbous red rocks come into view. From certain vantage points on the scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon, you can catch glimpses of a distant Vegas strip. Despite the crowds we waited behind upon entering the the Conservation Area, we easily found a short hike all to ourselves. The weather, for us non-locals, was magnificent with highs in the mid- to upper-50s and the sun peaking through every once in awhile. If you're in the area and need to detox from the rest of your Vegas experience, Red Rock Canyon is the perfect escape. Whether you plan to hike, rock climb, or simply drive the scenic route, you can't go wrong. Monday signaled the end of our weekend and came with the glaring reminder that students would be returning to town and campus the next day so we hit the road mid-morning to prepare for the week before us (walk-in advising for me and training for his new position as a Medical Supervisor for Johnny). We leisurely made our way home, taking time to stop and admire Lake Mead. Her pastel hues led us briefly along a paved trail attempting to get the best view possible. As we continued on our way to Flagstaff, we noticed other stop-offs that provide stunning vantage points of this desert giant and plan to make stops on future Vegas excursions. We are thankful for family near-ish-by and will certainly be visiting Vegas again, provided Winslow doesn't ruin our reputation with our gracious hosts ;)
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We hope you all have had a wonderful start to the new year. We were sad to see 2015 go since it was such a great year for us but we're excited to continue exploring our here and now which, despite the fact that we've lived in Flagstaff for over 6 months, still feels so new to us. We welcomed the new year Flagstaff style by attending the annual pinecone drop (just like the ball drop in Times Square except that it's a giant pinecone...seriously). Our first Flagstaff New Years went off without a hitch and by happenstance ended up working out perfectly (a future post on that maybe?). Since then, things have been a little crazy here in Flagstaff. Over the last week we welcomed 30+ inches of snow! Now, here's the thing about snow in Flagstaff - you'd think it'd be the same as any old snow storm in Minnesota or South Dakota so we'd be used to it, right? Wrong. Whenever it snows, the temperatures hang right around, if not above, freezing. While I don't miss the frigid air of the North (how about that Vikings game today, eh?) these moderate temps aren't so great either. The problem is that the warmer weather causes it to sometimes rain or sleet first and then it snows. Other times it snows and then melts some and then freezes over night which is just as bad as if it had rained or sleeted in the first place. Another thing about snow in Flagstaff is that plowing is subpar (think about how much money is dedicated to plowing in the state of Arizona - probably very little). Not only that but they also banned salt on roads in town a few years ago, so while that's environmentally a good thing, the black gravel they bombard the roads with helps very little and just makes a big mess. But worse than the ice or the crappy roads are the (scary) Arizonan drivers on the roads! We were lucky this the students were on break over this last snow storm because many of NAU's students come from the valley or southern Arizona or California and have never experienced winter driving and either drive way too fast or way too slow (both equally dangerous on icy, messy roads in my opinion). Regardless, whenever it snows there's a migration of Phoenicians trying to live out their winter wonderland dreams for an afternoon, clogging the streets, driving dangerously, and leaving their messes behind. They take to the hills both in and outside of town to sled but leave their broken sleds and trash from their tailgates behind for the Forest Service to pick up. So while we welcome their money to help our little mountain town thrive, it's frustrating they don't appreciate this incredible, unique area of the country enough to take care of it. Despite the frustrations of winter driving and the masses of people that interrupt our quiet mountain town on the weekends, it's undeniable that we live in a real life winter wonderland - and for that, we're still thankful for this place we call home.
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