• About Me
  • Arizona
    • Arizona Destinations
    • Arizona Hikes & Outdoor Adventures
    • Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences
    • Arizona Seasonal Content
  • Other Destinations
  • Coffee
    • Camping Coffee
    • Coffee Shop Guides
  • Guides & Merch
  • Arizona Leaf Watch
Join My Weekly Emails 🙂
5 Best Luxury Hotels in Sedona, Arizona (2026)

5 Best Luxury Hotels in Sedona, Arizona (2026)

by daniellenfairbanks | Aug 31, 2026 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Sedona

5 Best Luxury Hotels in Sedona, Arizona (2026) Sedona is home to some of Arizona’s most beautiful luxury hotels, with everything from glass-walled rooms overlooking the red rocks to romantic creekside cottages and secluded desert resorts. Whether you’re planning a...
15 Best Things to Do at the Grand Canyon (South Rim)

15 Best Things to Do at the Grand Canyon (South Rim)

by daniellenfairbanks | Aug 27, 2026 | Arizona, Arizona Destinations, Arizona Hikes & Outdoor Adventures, Grand Canyon

15 Best Things to Do at the Grand Canyon (South Rim) The Grand Canyon is one of the most incredible places to visit in Arizona, and there’s so much more to do than simply stop at a viewpoint and take a photo. From hiking below the rim and watching the sunrise to...
Sedona in the Fall: Best Things to Do + Fall Colors

Sedona in the Fall: Best Things to Do + Fall Colors

by daniellenfairbanks | Aug 20, 2026 | Arizona, Arizona Fall, Arizona Seasons, Sedona

Sedona in the Fall: Best Things to Do + Fall Colors Sedona in the fall is one of the best times to experience Arizona’s red rock country. As temperatures begin to cool, hiking becomes much more enjoyable, crowds start to shift from the busy summer season, and pockets...
See Spring Trail Arizona: Easy Fall Hike Near Payson

See Spring Trail Arizona: Easy Fall Hike Near Payson

by daniellenfairbanks | Aug 18, 2026 | Arizona, Arizona Fall, Arizona Seasons, Payson/ Pine/ Strawberry

See Spring Trail Arizona: Easy Fall Hike Near Payson See Spring Trail is one of my favorite easy hikes near Payson, Arizona, especially if you’re looking for fall colors on the Mogollon Rim. This short forested trail follows Christopher Creek through towering...
How to Find the Aspen Corner Swing in Flagstaff

How to Find the Aspen Corner Swing in Flagstaff

by daniellenfairbanks | Aug 18, 2026 | Arizona, Arizona Fall, Flagstaff

How to Find the Aspen Corner Swing in Flagstaff Hidden among the aspens outside Flagstaff is one of the cutest little tree swings in Arizona. The Aspen Corner swing is located near Arizona Snowbowl and only requires a short walk to reach, but it can be surprisingly...
15 Incredible Places to Visit in Arizona You Can’t Miss

15 Incredible Places to Visit in Arizona You Can’t Miss

by daniellenfairbanks | Aug 12, 2026 | Arizona, Arizona Destinations, Arizona Hikes & Outdoor Adventures, Arizona Hikes & Outdoor Adventures

15 Incredible Places to Visit in Arizona You Can’t Miss Arizona is one of the most diverse states in the U.S. In just a few hours, you can go from towering saguaro cacti and red rock canyons to alpine lakes, pine forests, and even snowy mountain peaks. Whether...
« Older Entries

Recent Posts

  • Best eSIM for Switzerland in 2026: My Honest Review
  • 5 Best Luxury Hotels in Sedona, Arizona (2026)
  • 15 Best Things to Do at the Grand Canyon (South Rim)

Follow Along on Instagram

↓

a week living in phoenix 🏜️☕️🥾✨ a week living in phoenix 🏜️☕️🥾✨
arizona officially has a FOURTH national park! 🌵🏞️ arizona officially has a FOURTH national park! 🌵🏞️ and there’s a pretty cool story behind how it happened.

📍 chiricahua national park | willcox, arizona

🚗 about 3.5–4 hours from phoenix
🌵 located in southeastern arizona, near willcox
🥾 17 miles of hiking trails
🪨 famous for its towering rock spires, balancing rocks & volcanic formations
🌋 formed by volcanic activity approximately 27 million years ago
🏞️ more than 12,000 acres of protected landscapes

originally designated a national monument in 1924, chiricahua is known as the “wonderland of rocks” and is home to incredible biodiversity, beautiful hiking trails, and thousands of years of cultural history, including its significance to the chiricahua apache.

but how exactly does a national monument become a national park? 🤔

here’s a little government refresher using chiricahua as an example (had to bring back memories from AP Gov in high school, lol)-

🇺🇸 HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW:

1️⃣ a bill is introduced: senator mark kelly @captmarkkelly first introduced legislation to designate chiricahua as a national park in 2021. the effort continued over several years, with bipartisan support.

2️⃣ legislation is introduced in congress: the successful 2025–2026 effort included a bipartisan effort

3️⃣ committees review the legislation: congressional committees consider proposed bills, discuss their impacts, and can recommend changes before they advance.

4️⃣ the house votes: on march 16, 2026, the house of representatives passed the chiricahua national park act.

5️⃣ the senate votes: on september 30, 2026, the senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent!

6️⃣ the president signs: on october 20, 2026, president trump signed the bill into law, officially making chiricahua arizona’s fourth national park and the 64th in the united states! 🎉

and this is why understanding how our government works matters!

we don’t have to be experts on every piece of legislation, but understanding the process, knowing who represents us, and staying informed about issues we care about can make a difference.

📌 save this for your next arizona road trip!
drones are great, but if you don’t have one or can drones are great, but if you don’t have one or can’t have one in certain places & you want drone-like footage, try the insta360 X6 📸✨ AD

the extended invisible selfie stick is taller than i am, but still easy to hold & barely noticeable in videos (like these ones!) @insta360 

ive always loved capturing my adventures to have tangible memories for years to come, and this is such a fun way to do it!! 

places/ things im putting on my list that would be so cool captured with the X6:

🛶 top down while on a kayak/ paddle board 
🌉 walking over a bridge 
🏔️ on a mountain summit/ ridgeline
🏜️ in front of a tall mountain that’s too big to capture even with wide angle 
🚗 outside the window driving views 
🚠 on a gondola!!!

any others you can think of???

comment 📸 for the link and use my code: DANIELLE 

#insta360 #insta360x6
what are your favorite hikes lately? 🥾 what are your favorite hikes lately? 🥾

MENU

ARIZONA

OTHER DESTINATIONS

GALLERY

LET’S BE FRIENDS

About Me

Work With Me

Contact Me

TERMS

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Disclaimer

LET’S BE FRIENDS

About Me

Work With Me

Contact Me

LET’S BE FRIENDS

About Me

Work With Me

Contact Me

Copyright | Danielle Outdoors | 2024