1. New River Trail and Rio Vista Park in the Peoria area of Arizona. Even though there are news reports all the time about the water shortage in the Southwest, and there's a giant wall warning you about it right at the airport, some of us have to go to the area to visit parents who refuse to move. Such is my lot in life, watching housing developments be constructed and no idea where the water will come from. At any rate, when I go, I stay at a lovely Holiday Inn Express just off of Bell Road by the Auto District. It's a wonderful place with a great staff and good breakfasts. What I did discover this time, was that directly behind the hotel, I mean just off the parking lot, is a fully paved river trail that is over 16 miles long. Despite the fact that New River is dry, it's a beautiful place to walk, especially at sunrise and sunset when the temperatures aren't lethal.
The other great thing about this trail is that only a mile from the hotel is Rio Vista Park, and this park is amazing. They have water (not sure where it comes from) and it makes a beautiful pond and canal, full of ducks and other water birds. There's a fabulous playground, ball fields for all sports, pavilions, a multi story recreation center with a gym and auditorium. There's also plenty of bathrooms (very important when walking a distance). At the end of the park you'll find a veteran's memorial, and it's not like most. There's a retired military helicopter on a stick, and the lights come on at night. It's a great park.
So, if you find yourself in the Glendale/Sun City/Peoria section of Arizona; check out this trail and park.
https://www.traillink.com/trail/new-river-trail/
https://walkrideusa.com/states/arizona/individual-trails/phoenix/new-river-trail-arizona
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/new-river-trail-535129/
2. Khao Soi in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is something that I wouldn't normally even notice, but I watch a lot of travel vloggers on YouTube and this is a favorite to a lot of them. Chiang Mai is a favorite with budget travelers who like to get out of the more touristy areas and see what the rest of the country is like. Most folks only visit Bangkok but Chiang Mai is a less crowded, cheaper, yet fabulous city to visit. Khao Soi is the city's signature dish.
What is it? I wondered that too. There isn't a single place that makes it in my neck of the woods here in the USA. What it is, is a chicken or beef based stew with all the curry spiciness and cabbage you may be used to, but it's a little different. The curry is mellowed a bit with coconut and other veggies. It tends to have a bit of egg in it. But, it's all about the noodles. Khao Soi comes with both boiled and fried noodles. From what I understand, the spice mix is spot on, and the noodles put it over the top. So, if in Northern Thailand, or more specifically Chiang Mai, check out some Khao Soi for lunch.
https://achefstour.com/blog/the-5-best-khao-soi-joints-in-chiang-mai
https://inquiringchef.com/khao-soi-chiang-mai-noodles/
https://foodicles.com/khao-soi-history/
https://www.thaizer.com/khao-soi-northern-thailands-signature-dish/
https://tasteofthailand.org/khao-soi-the-uniqueness-of-northern-thailand/
3. Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California. Just when I thought I'd heard it all, Samantha Brown pops up on "Live With Kelly and Mark" and mentions a crazy interesting park I'd never heard of right in the USA in California. This place is filled with hiking and desert beauty and has a visitor's center to answer any questions you may have; and you will have questions.
This park has dragons surrounding the road, there are dinosaurs, and all kinds of other creatures. No, it's not Jurrasic Park, they're statues in the desert. Why? Ricardo Breceda is the artist who built the metal sculptures and the park is in part named after Juan Bautista de Anza who crossed the desert there many moons ago. Where does Borrego come in? It means sheep and is a reference to the longhorn sheep that used to live in the area.
It's a beautiful park, and one I'd never heard of. The sculptures are unique and the flowers are plenty. It's a great day trip if you're visiting the area.
https://www.visitcalifornia.com/things-to-do/anza-borrego-desert-state-park/
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638
https://nomanbefore.com/anza-borrego-state-park-guide/
4. The Alvord Desert and Hot Springs of Oregon. That's right, that beautiful wooded, mountained, collection of fabulous waterfalls which we call Oregon has a desert. Strangely, Alvord Desert isn't the only such area in the eastern part of the state. Alvord Desert is home to flatness, where the land looks almost like a wrinkled piece of paper. There's a crazy isolation about it, and somewhere in that vast emptiness is a hot spring. If you love the outdoors, this is one spot you may have completely overlooked, so check out that area east of the Cascades in Oregon.
https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/destinations/parks-forests-wildlife-areas/the-alvord-desert/
https://www.mlainephotography.com/blog/camping-in-the-alvord-desert-a-southeast-oregon-road-trip
https://thatoregonlife.com/2022/01/alvord-desert/
https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/oregon/alvord-desert
https://www.shareoregon.com/things-to-do/en/listings/124895-alvord-desert
5. Let's talk where foodies should go to eat! That's me! You might be surprised where the five top foodie cities in the world are. However, if you go out and try food, you'll follow.
Number 1 is Oaxaca, Mexico. That's not surprising, since Mexican food is a favorite the world over. Oaxaca has it's own regional deliciousness in the Mexican genre, and it draws people from all over the world. It is a rousing enclave of US expats as well. If you want some truly great local Mexican food, it's your destination.
Number 2 is Beirut, Lebanon. That may seem shocking, since historically it's a pretty dangerous place sitting in the middle of the Middle East's hot spot. However, if you've ever had Lebanese Food, you'll understand it. Largely vegetarian and not hell bent on mimicking meat, Lebanese Food is a spicy wonder that you'll crave once you've tried it.
Number 3 is New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Won't lie, if you want to try some Creole food, you have to stop by. Everything I ate was wonderful from the pastries to the main dishes. Just be aware, you'll have a hard time finding in shell crawfish. They only serve them in a couple of places, but you can get the crawfish etouffee anywhere and it's delicious.
Number 4 is San Sebastian in the Basque Region of Spain and France. The Basque folks have their own way of life and their own regional cuisine. Spicy and rich, grilled meats with paprikas, drawn largely from the sea, it is spectacular and you won't find it anywhere else.
Number 5 is Florence, Italy. Does this really surprise anyone? It's a hub of Tuscany, and who doesn't want to eat in Tuscany? The cured meats, the cheeses, the pastas, the wine. I can't imagine not wanting to eat the sauces and the truffles and the prosciutto and the veggies. This city has been a foodie destination as long as I can remember.
Now, if you Google, as I do; you'll see about 50 different lists of top foodie cities. I liked this one.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/worlds-best-cities-for-food
https://www.willflyforfood.net/food-in-oaxaca/
https://roadsandkingdoms.com/travel-guide/beirut/history-beirut-10-dishes/
https://www.bigboytravel.com/louisiana/neworleans/top-ten-must-eat-foods/
https://devourtours.com/blog/top-7-must-try-typical-foods-in-san-sebastian/?cnt=US
https://www.timeout.com/florence/restaurants/best-florence-restaurants
Before you wonder, no, I wasn't hungry when I wrote this. However, one thing I've learned over the years is that one of the best ways to learn about a city's or a country's history and culture is to learn about their food. It's way tastier than a day in a museum, and the guides are more interesting.
As far as all of this goes, I hope you find some intriguing ideas as you peruse my blog. I love to travel, I love the out of the way things, and I love to investigate something that I've never heard of. So, keep reading and see what oddball things I find, consider making a great adventure, and enjoy!
