Lovely, Darling. Absolutely lovely…read more These old folks have more energy than a hummingbird in heat. So many vintage items. It was like an estate sale without the ghosts and guilt. I asked one lady how much for a belt. The lady EXCLAIMED, "Is today Saturday? Well, its free belt day!" The coffee pot was flowing so I got with the program, poured me a cup and went to shoppin' sanctuary. I found a darling lovely 80s onesie for Mom... and priceless darling lovelies for myself.

What a cool park!…read more We have a lifetime parks pass, so it's been great to be able to explore when we can. We spent about 1/2 day here - drove to many of the overlooks for some very cool views. Followed someone recommendation to hike the Blue Mesa and truly felt like we were walking on the moon. Very cool colors and petrified logs lying around. It's about a mile; so quite a short hike but you are 'up close and personal' with nature. Take the time to walk thru the museum at the Inn (there's also clean restrooms here and an ice cream shop). They've done a great job preserving the original furniture and such. The parking lots at many of the stops had several spots for RV's and could accommodate towing as well. Clean restrooms thru out the park too A tip would be to hike in the morning as the afternoons can get pretty toasty and windy

I am a big fan of national parks and am also a big fan of keeping them fully budgeted and staffed…read more If you have ever been to a national park, you know that they get a ton of visitors from other countries. These foreign folks love our national parks for good reason. Americans should also appreciate them. Now, this is probably not one of the "must do" national parks. It is not a Yosemite or a Yellowstone. There is no camping here and much of the park is entirely experienced by driving around in your car. There are a few hiking spots, some better than others. There are two entrances and there is only one road between them. It is impossible to get lost, although there are a few turnoffs. You drive from one entrance to the other and then you are done. Apparently, some people drive through the park, never leave their car, and spend about an hour in total here. It seems crazy to me to visit a national park in one hour and I do not recommend it. Do one or more of the hikes. Get out and experience a few of the overlooks. The Blue Mesa portion of the park is incredible. That was probably the highlight of the park for me. The color of the hills is just surreal. It is like you landed on Mars. You will, of course, see petrified (or "fossilized") wood here. It is multi-colored beautiful stuff. The visitor center on the north end is much better than the one at the south end. There is a cafe at the north visitor center, better souvenirs, and also the Painted Desert Inn where you can experience a bit of history from about a 100 years ago. Spend some time here whether you are just entering the park or leaving it. I would plan on spending about three or four hours here, especially if you do at least one good hike and stop at most of the overlooks. If you did all the hikes and all the overlooks and bring a lunch (there are no picnic or lunch areas, by the way), you could probably spend the entire day here. Half a day, including one long hike, was fine for us and I feel like we saw all of the highlights. I hate to give any area of land less than 5 stars through no fault of its own but this is not one of the more spectacular national parks in the country. But if you are in the area, it is worth a visit.

This is truly, a hidden gem! You cannot access this petroglyph site and area on your own. You need…read moreto make a reservation in advance, with the tour guide for the City of Holbrook. More information is available on the City of Holbrook website under "parks". Currently, the tour guide is Darlene, a Rock Symbols Researcher, and she can be reached at 928-241-1324. She is fundamental in the preservation of this site. I met Darlene at the golf course clubhouse, which is at the end of Gold Course Rd. There you sign a waiver, and the fee for the tour is $25 cash per person. Make sure you have cash with you, as there is not an ATM on site. The city of Holbrook website does not explain a lot of this, so, when you speak with your tour guide, make sure all of your questions are answered prior to your visit. From the golf course, you follow Darlene in your vehicle on dirt roads, so a vehicle that's possible on a fairly decent dirt road, is needed. These roads do have locked gates, so do not try to access on your own. If you have time, she will take you around the birding pond, and then to the petroglyph site. For the petroglyph site, make sure you are wearing decent hiking boots/shoes, as the trails are challenging with rock-climbing, and pants, as there are shrubs that can scratch you. Also, wear sunscreen, bring an adequate amount of water, a snack, some TP or a napkin in case you need to pee pee, and I would recommend a hat and binoculars, as some of the glyphs are up high. Many of these Anasazi glyphs are in wonderful shape and from different time periods. My tour guide, Darlene, was just amazing in pointing out the glyphs, describing what they possibly mean, and the history of the property. Darlene also spoke of her documentation of these glyphs, as well as others, as there is really no way to preserve them. There is very little vandalism at this site, which is a plus! My experience on this Earth Day, was so educational, peaceful, and truly enjoyable! The Anasazi had it right, leave no footprint behind unless they're petroglyphs!

The tour and Darlene's information about the site, Arizona archaeology and the cultures associated…read morewere very interesting.