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Dolly Steamboat: What To Expect

Dolly Steamboat: What To Expect

by daniellenfairbanks | May 25, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Phoenix

Dolly Steamboat: What To Expect As the Arizona sun blazes, many of us seek refuge in the cool embrace of water. But what if you could combine that refreshing escape with a journey through breathtaking desert landscapes and a touch of historical charm? Look no further...
Where to Stay in Flagstaff, Arizona: 20+ Best Hotels, Cabins & Areas

Where to Stay in Flagstaff, Arizona: 20+ Best Hotels, Cabins & Areas

by daniellenfairbanks | May 18, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Destinations, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Flagstaff

Where to Stay in Flagstaff, Arizona: 20+ Best Hotels, Cabins & Areas Whether you’re planning a summer escape from Phoenix, a fall leaf-peeping trip, a winter ski weekend, or using Flagstaff as a base for the Grand Canyon, choosing the right place to stay...
Pine AZ Restaurants You Need to Try!

Pine AZ Restaurants You Need to Try!

by daniellenfairbanks | May 3, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Destinations, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Payson/ Pine/ Strawberry, Shops & Restaurants

Pine AZ Restaurants You Need to Try! Looking for the perfect spot to grab a bite in Pine, Arizona? You’ve come to the right place! This charming mountain town boasts a surprising variety of restaurants, from cozy cafes serving up hearty breakfasts to...
Horseback Riding in Phoenix, AZ: What’s the Best Tour?

Horseback Riding in Phoenix, AZ: What’s the Best Tour?

by daniellenfairbanks | Dec 4, 2024 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Phoenix, Superstition Mountains

Horseback Riding in Phoenix, AZ: What’s the Best Tour? Who is ready to go HORSEBACK RIDING IN PHOENIX, AZ? Arizona is part of the American Desert Southwest, and here we have lots of old western cowboy history. Horseback riding is a favorite activity of Arizona...
The Best Local Phoenix Souvenir Shops

The Best Local Phoenix Souvenir Shops

by daniellenfairbanks | Nov 30, 2024 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Shops & Restaurants, Tempe

The Best Local Phoenix Souvenir Shops Looking for unique PHOENIX SOUVENIR SHOPS? I got you covered! The magnets and trinkets are reat, but when I travel, I like to get unique, local gifts that last! Things that I can wear consistently, or things I can work into my...
Coffee Shops in Payson to Check Out!

Coffee Shops in Payson to Check Out!

by daniellenfairbanks | Nov 7, 2024 | Arizona, Arizona Destinations, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Coffee, Payson/ Pine/ Strawberry, Shops & Restaurants

Coffee Shops in Payson to Check Out! Coffee is the best, isn’t it? Even better, a LOCAL coffee shop while traveling. I just love the unique vibes, local stories, and decor. I have been visiting Payson, AZ to hike and camp for a decade and didn’t know these...
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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? 🥾

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