new normal through our camera lenses. I wouldn’t say we ever got “used” to the summer heat, but we soon discovered when to venture out and found great beauty in the flora and fauna in the natural areas within a few miles of the freeways and the bustling city. The Phoenix area is part of the Sonoran Desert, which is the hottest desert in the United States. Although sizzling hot during the summer months, the Sonoran is quite “lush” compared to most deserts, with a surprisingly diverse ecosystem home to more than 2,000 plant species and more than 350 animal species. Although in the triple digits in the summer, the autumn, winter, and spring are so welcoming. No matter the season, there are ways to escape. The nearest adventure to us was the Veterans Oasis Park , so named to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans. With 113 acres, a beautiful community fishing lake, scenic hiking and horseback riding trails, tranquil pavilions, and an outdoor amphitheater, Veterans Oasis Park hosts plentiful outdoor recreational opportunities. The park is a popular spot to exercise with 4.5-miles of groomed dirt trails or dirt paths. With a 0.4-mile paved path that goes around the lake. The hiking and biking trails afford visitors the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the wetland area.
People have explored the Phoenix area for centuries. It began with the Hohokam people, who created canals that fed a civilization for more than a thousand years. Today, building on what the early Native Americans discovered, you’ll find the nation’s fifth largest city— you’ll discover a thriving community that elevates art, culture, cuisine. No matter what search engine you use, you’ll find hundreds of suggestions about “what to do in Phoenix.” The suggestions are as diverse as the inhabitants of this amazing city. But if you long for a different adventure, take a walk on the natural side just outside the Phoenix city limits. My husband and I moved to the Phoenix area 10 years ago. We both grew up in the green hills (we called them mountains) of Virginia and West Virginia, so the transition was quite drastic. We went from verdant green mountains covered with trees, to rocks and boulders dotted with various types of cacti. It didn’t take us long to go on many adventures capturing our Escape the City Naturally Splendid Adventures Near Phoenix By Dixie Dee Whited
Ocotillo is a magnet for bees and hummingbirds, credit Dee Whited
ESCAPE THE CITY
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE FALL 2025 | 16
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