Hiking the Santa Catalina Mountains AZ

On a particularly drab winter weekend, my sweetheart and I decided to seek out a warm, sunny spot by indulging ourselves in a romantic getaway. Where better to do this than the vibrant terra cotta and emerald foothills of Tucson.
We decided to stay at the Alta Vista Bed and Breakfast, an inn with a warm and cozy yet elegant atmosphere. Greeted by Innkeepers Peter and Gaila Smith, we felt relaxed in this serene desert oasis. Our bright, sunny room with private bath, had a stunning view of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Desert walks to watch the sunset, spotting an abundance of wildlife, night-time hot-tubbing under a canopy of stars blanketing the inky sky – all these experiences enveloped us.

Though difficult to say goodbye that Sunday, our Hostess, Gaila and I kept in touch.
Magically, this correspondence, and my palpable lasting experience of my time at Alta Vista B & B, led to an opportunity to come and work at the Inn, where I am happily now the Assistant Innkeeper! From Gaila I have observed and adopted her artful way of treating each and every visitor as a special guest.

Lucia on Gypsy in the foothills near Alta Vista BB

And just out the door, I am greeted daily by the magic of the Tucson desert, the unique bird-life, and a stunning array of fun activities like hiking and horseback riding, (on my days off, of course).

Let the draw of a warm day in the high desert, and a cozy, elegant stay at Alta Vista entice you to return time and again.

Sunset over Santa Rita Mountains

Lovely Madera Canyon makes an excellent day trip from our Arizona bed and breakfast. Located on the northern edge of the Santa Rita Mountains, the Madera Canyon is one of many canyons that separate the incredible Sky Islands: islands of land that jut approximately ten thousand feet up out of the Sonoran Desert. This unique landscape is worth a visit, and Madera Canyon is perhaps the most accessible of the canyons.

Over 230 bird species have been spotted in Madera Canyon, including over a dozen types of hummingbirds. Pack a picnic and your binoculars, put on sturdy shoes and head out on a birding adventure.

At this time of year, you are likely to spot Wild Turkey, Gambel’s Quail, and a couple varieties of hawks. Keep an eye out for the Northern Mockingbird as you enjoy your picnic under a sycamore tree. When you return to our Arizona bed & breakfast you’ll be ready for a soak in the hot tub.

One such plant/animal relationship is between the yucca and moths. To the layman’s observations this relationship is invisible. Each species of yucca depends on a single moth to pollinate it. But without the nectar of the yucca, the moth would die out.

This is just one example of what makes this place, our desert, such a special environment. We hope you will come stay with us at our Arizona bed and breakfast, in the midst of the Sonora Desert.

The trail doesn’t end at Bridal Wreath Falls, but it is a common end point. It can be a nice place to bring some sandwiches for lunch, or just bring a book to enjoy the quiet desert beauty. The scenery is classic Sonoran Desert Scrub and the further you trek, the more you get. For beginners, the reward of the beautiful waterfall at the end of the hike is about you will need. I recommend this hike for those that are “not outdoorsy”. The whole family, from toddlers to elderly, can enjoy this trek on a regular basis. There are not many steep hills and lots of hikers to keep you company.

The trail is about 4 miles from Alta Vista Arizona Bed and Breakfast.

If you lack energy or footwear, hop on the tram up the Canyon. On foot or in the tram, you will be delighted by lovely scenery. Here are some of of the beautiful trailheads that start at Sabino Canyon:

Blackett’s Ridge Trail
This trail has several steep switch-backs while hiking up but levels out more toward the top, which provides some breathtaking views.

Telephone Line Trail
This hike overlooks Sabino Creek. This has been a wonder lately; the Cottonwoods along the creek bed are a brilliant rainbow of fall colors.

Hutch’s Pools
This location is popular when the Creek contains water. The hike is best taken by intermediate or advanced hikers, as it takes a good six to eight hours to complete. You can reach the trailhead by taking the tram up to Stop #9.

After a great day in mother nature, come back to our Arizona Bed and Breakfast for a nice warm fire and comfortable bed.

The animals there are in distinctly realistic housing, and that is all part of their goal, to re-create real environments for study. So the visitor finds themselves in close contact with mountain lions, huge gila monster lizards and more. There are over 300 species of animal and 1200 plants. There are 2 miles of paths through 21 acres of desert landscape.

Events happening at the Sonoran Desert museum include “Running Wild” and “Live and on the Loose”. “Running Wild” is an “innovative live-animal demonstration that combines natural behaviors of small desert mammals, birds and reptiles with projected images, music and narration. In its inaugural year, the program will focus on fur, feathers and scales.” The presentation is daily except Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Warden Oasis Theater at 11 a.m.

“Live and on the Loose” is a live animal presentation that changes regularly. It is also at the Warden Oasis Theater at 12:15 pm and lasts for an hour. These could be great activities for after breakfast at our Arizona Bed and Breakfast.

If Geology is your thing, the museum has an extensive Sonoran Desert region gem, mineral, and fossil collection totaling 14,095 cataloged specimens, some of which are on display at the Earth Sciences Center. They also have a new vertebrate paleontology collection contains the first and only significant dinosaur skeleton from Southern Arizona.

Another example of a great way to explore the desert around our Arizona Bed & Breakfast.

Tucson Turkey Vulture

This Monday , Oct. 12, look forward to a presentation on Urban Raptors and Urban Myths surrounding these birds. As more and more habitat is taken away from wildlife and used by humans, animals have begun to adapt to these changes. Birds of prey, which are some of my favorite, have their own unique methods for cohabitation.

On Saturday October 17 there will be a useful lecture on Ethnobotany. The conversation will introduce a wide variety of local and native plants and their various uses for humans and birds alike. Speaker Vincent Pinto will share his knowledge about various plant species that can be used for food, medicine, shelter, tools, rope, dye, fishing tackle, and even bird calls! The presentation will also cover how the same plants serve as vital resources for a diversity of bird species. The lecture is held at Green Valley Public Library, about 14 miles from our Arizona Bed and Breakfast.

Upcoming next month on Nov. 9th, Prof. Michael Rosenzweig will be speaking on reconciling the needs of people and wildlife.

We are glad that there is a great organization like the Audubon Society here in Tucson amongst our natural bounty. We are glad when our guests want to visit the Saguaro National Park East, and take in the beauty the the Tucson desert provides to both humans and wildlife.

The desert contains the iconic Giant Saguaro Cactus, which so many of us associate with the American Southwest and it’s deserts. The Saguaro National Park protects these cacti, and it is lucky they do, for the Giant Saguaro only grows in a very limited region of the world.

The Saguaro East National Park is 3.5 miles from our B&B

As we talked about in earlier posts, it is the deserts ability to resurrect itself which has always made it a magical place. Even when it looks lifeless and desolate, there is activity waiting just underneath the surface, waiting for water.

Growing at Saguaro National Park in the Rincon Mountain District (which is at the East entrance near our Arizona Bed & Breakfast), there are more than 1,162 species of plants ranging from desert vegetation such as cacti, ocotillo, and creosote in the lower elevations all the way to ponderosa pine, oak, and Douglas-fir in the upper elevations of the Rincon Mountains. The Tucson Mountain District is home to 512 species of plants.

This area of Saguaro National Park varies greatly in elevation as well. Lows are 2,500 feet elevation to the tops of ridges at 8,666 feet elevation. The varied elevation within the park’s boundaries allows for a great variety of different species, found in 6 different plant communities. Saguaro National Park is thought to be home to ten species of Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive plants. Just like all of the US, non-native species of plants have made their way into the park, as many as 47 varieties. The Exotic Plant program, with help from volunteers, maps and removes non-native species from both districts of the park.

We hope you will come visit our Arizona Bed and Breakfast for a while, and explore the unique beauty and life of the Saguaro Desert.

I was planning to write about the monsoon but we almost didn’t have a monsoon for me to write about.     Thank goodness we finally had a terrific monsoon storm here in our Tucson, Arizona. Phew!

Tucson Arizona Sunset

The typical monsoon storm starts building in the afternoon with some lovely big white puffy clouds that keep  building up larger and larger over the Rincon Mountains and over Saguaro National Park East. Later on, you’ll notice that the winds will start to pick up a bit, soon you will hear the distant rumbling of thunder.

Douglas Spring Trail Near Saguaro National Park East.

When the storm lets up, out come all of the desert critters and birds to rejoice in the life-giving blessed rain.

Monsoon storm at the Saguaro National Park East

]]> http://www.altavistabedandbreakfast.com/blog/tucson-travel/tucson-monsoon-season-finally/feed 0 http://www.altavistabedandbreakfast.com/blog/tucson-travel/the-night-blooming-cactus-of-tucson-arizona http://www.altavistabedandbreakfast.com/blog/tucson-travel/the-night-blooming-cactus-of-tucson-arizona#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:19:54 +0000 Tucson Innkeeper http://www.altavistabedandbreakfast.com/blog/?p=62

We love these gorgeous cactus flowers so much that we selected their marvelous blossoms to be our logo on our web site.

Cereus Peruvianus

These beautiful blooms are sometimes as large as a dinner plate!

Under the warm starlit skies of a Tucson, Arizona B&B night, a magical mystical show is about to take place at our Tucson,Arizona Bed and Breakfast with the exquisitely beautiful night blooming cactus setting the stage.
Now the migrating pollinators of the night appear at our Tucson, Bed and Breakfast such as the nectar loving Mexican long-tongued and the lesser long-nosed bats.

Lesser Long-nosed Bat

The lesser long-nosed bat is listed as among the most threatened land mammals in North America.
The nectar loving bats have discovered our Tucson B&B and our many hummingbird feeders, which they drink dry every night at this time of the year.
Here at our Tucson, Arizona Bed and Breakfast the guests love to have Tucson B&B bat watching parties and enjoy a margarita toast to the magnificent night blooming cactus and enjoy the evening show.

Cereus Peruvianus at sunrise

In the early morning when the sun rises over our Tucson Bed and Breakfast Inn, the birds and the bees and other insects enjoy partaking from the now closing cactus flowers.
Each cactus flower will close up, dry up and fall off the plants.

Where the flower once was, a soft ripe reddish pink round fruit will develop with many small black seeds inside.
The fruit is called a Peruvian apple or also known as tuna by the Mexican people.
Inside the fruit it looks very much like a soft over ripened kiwi fruit but it tastes rather plain.
The gila woodpeckers and many other Tucson birds and desert wildlife of the Arizona Sonora Desert love to eat these cactus fruits.