I have always been told to visit Jerome, but no one mentioned that it was up a mountain. I sure was surprised as we made our way up!

It is hard to visualize the number of people working at the mine up the mountain.

Old copper mine rail cars.

A nice view of the townsite.

And another view.

And yet another view.

Getting ready to check into the Haunted Hamburger for our lunch reservation on the patio with Cody. Is that a skeleton scaling the wall?

Yup, how can you not have a Bloody Mary at the Haunted Hamburger.

Food and drinks hit the spot.

The spirits have moved the bookshelf into the roof. Be sure to look around to see other spooky oddities.

The view as we enjoy our lunch.

Our campsite in Camp Verde is off in the distance.

Jerome Arizona:

https://azjerome.com

• It was a nice suppose to see how high up the mountain Jerome really is. The road is windy and switches back and fort and at parts you feel like the road is about to end. This drive is a must if you are in the areas. There is lots of shops to see and restaurants to eat at. Be sure to stop in at Haunted Hamburger for a Bloody Mary.

After seeing the cliff dwellers in Sedona, we wanted to see Montezuma Caste - the 20 ancient apartment showcasing the Native American culture and way of life back then.

It's truly remarkable how the people found shade, water and housing in such a harsh desert climate.

As you walk the ancient neighbourhood, you try to imagine what life was like.

The ruins clearly show where once walls stood to create rooms for storing food and living in.

A river runs very close to where the people lived, providing much needed water.

This is a model of what the castle would have looked like.

Montezuma Castle - National Monument Arizona:

https://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm

• $10.00 fee to access the National Monument or a National Parks Pass
• To access the monument, you need to pass through the territorial lands of the Yavapai-Apache First Nation

Leaving I17, you access the Yavapai-Apache Nation

Stopped to check out the famous Fry Bread

Jewelry and items made by the tribe are sold at this little roadside stop

Thanks Alesya for suggesting the Fry Bread with honey. It was very good.

Yavapai-Apache Nation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yavapai–Apache_Nation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yavapai
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache


After a quick bite of Fry Bread we drove to Montezuma's Well

A nice and easy walk to the well from the parking lot

It's amazing to see such an oasis in the middle of the desert. I can't image how critical this spot was.

Darrel and Cody walked the perimeter of the well as I navigated the ancient stairs to make my way to the water well.

Many homes are still visible around the top of the well along with the caves down at the bottom.

The desert in Arizona is always breathtaking with its views.

As I walk down into the well, I stop to take in the screen view and realize how quiet things are. All I can hear is the babbling brook of water leaving the well and birds singing songs or praise for the abundance of food and water.

Slowing making my way down the starts. I stop to take a photo for Darrel as He is at the top and missing this viewpoint.

The area has an abundance of plants that offer food, medicinal properties and shelter.

The water source come up from a natural spring and replenishes itself continually, the water is not stale or stagnant.

Another dwelling at the bottom of the well near the water and natural canal where water drains out to a stream.

Water drains from the well under the rocks into a narrow canal or tube at this point.

A beautiful day to take in all the glory of Mother Nature.

Interesting architecture of a home that was constructed underground.



A roof has been placed over the structure to help preserve it. I wish there was a way to see inside.

Montezuma Well - National Monument Arizona:

https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/exploring-montezuma-well.htm

• Free to access and beautiful to see

The red rock and blue skies are endless.

Amazing views from the Chapel Trail.

More views from the trail.

This is the outside of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It's wedged perfectly into the rock and offers a beautiful view from the sanctuary.

sitting outside the Chapel taking in the surroundings. Some dark clouds moved in, but they moved out just as quickly. It was a great day.

Darrel off to check out the Chapel and Cody and I stayed outside meeting people. Cody loved getting all the attention from people from all over the world. People would tell us that they missed their dog who was at home while they were on vacation and then thanked Cody for the love. I think Cody enjoyed it just as much as they did.

Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Walking back to the Jeep after taking a moment to reflect at the Chapel. So many tings to be thankful for.

The drive to Sedona was a quick 30 minutes from Camp Verde. As you drop into Sedona, the terrain changes along with the beauty. I always love visiting Sedona and seeing the familiar sights. If you have not been, go! You will be happy you went.

Chapel of the Holy Cross
https://chapeloftheholycross.com

Large pull through site, we had the view of the rolling hills and wide open sky out our window.

The pretty pink and blue sky occurred every night at sunset.

The clouds formations were unique and happened daily in the area. I am not sure if it was the magical powers from Sedona or the mountain ranges in the area, but it was neat to see.

Sunsets in Arizona never disappoint.

The moon coming out rom behind the clouds.

Pool was great for laying back and relaxing and soaking up some sun.

The arcade is not just for little kids.

Billiards and shuffleboard options overlooking the pool.

Getting ready to head to the pool.

Cody enjoying the sunset from the bedroom window.

We attended a Beer Tasking event from the local brewery (for a small fee). It was nice to experience a local brew and hang out with other travellers. We met a lovely lady who worked at Yellowstone Park as a ranger and gave us lots of good advice for our upcoming trip this summer.

It was great learning about the beer making process and what and were the ingredients come from and how they create this micro brew.

We were able to purchase some beer to take home. I wanted to share with Christian and Courtney when they visit us in Las Vegas in a few days.

Verde Ranch RV Resort:

https://verderanchrvresort.com

• Campsite #120 - $85 per night
• Pool, Splash Pad, Laundry, Gym, Clubhouse, Pool Table, Arcade, Pickle Ball and Dog Park
• Food Trucks, Beer Tasting, Activities
• 20 min to Cottonwood, 40 min to Jerome, 40 Min to Sedona, 60 min to Flagstaff and 2.5 hours to Grand Canyon

The property is very well laid out and has multiple bath/shower locations in the park. It is conveniently located close to the highway and there is a Starbucks and car wash close by. We travelled into Cottonwood for groceries and Chinese Food one night. Be sure to visit Jerome, the local bannock/fry bread (on the reserve) and Montezuma's Castle and Well. We loved the spot, as it was so convenient to get to Sedona and sightsee in the areas. Funny thing, I have driven past this place a few times on the way to Sedona and never knew it existed. I am glad we found it, we will be back. TIP: you need to use a card to load funds onto, to use the laundry facilities. If you are only doing one or two loads, ask to borrow a card from housekeeping. We did and it worked well.

Tags: AZ

Alesya and I stopped in to see Dick and Bev with a FaceTime video call to Charlene, as she unable to make it to Phoenix. We gad a few laughs and talked about the good times when we were all together.

Charlene asked us to pick up a rainbow cake from Chompie's, a place of fond memories for Dick, Bev, Charlene and the family. I have to say, Bev was right, the cake was great!

Dick would talk highly of his family and friends constantly, and when I finally got to meet some of them, it felt like I knew them already. Dick's daughter Charlene and I have bonded and are best friends because of Dick. Dick had a talent of uniting people with love, food and kindness. I am blessed to have got so much time with Dick over the years and now Charlene.

That evening Alesya and I continued our celebration of Dick and visited one of his favourite resaturates, Las Glorias Grill. The food here is the best Mexican food I have had (at a restaurant) and the place holds so many memories for all of us. Often before or after board meetings, we would stop in to Las Glorias and order our usuals. I am so glad Alesya and I were able to make this happen, rounding out the day with food, fun, friends and more memories. Isn't that what it's about?!?!?

This is my go to dish, two grilled chicken enchiladas topped with sauce, melted cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo and cotija cheese on a bed of grilled peppers and onions. YUM!

I can't believe I have not had a green milkshake in years! It was so good!

Happy Birthday Arlene - I love this picture of you and the family on your special day back in Jamaica. It was a great time and I am so blessed to have been there. I wish you all the best for the years to come! Love ya!