We had high expectations for adventure in Arizona--and we definitely were not disappointed! Our exploration began near Sedona and its beautiful red rock country. We spent a lot of time there, enjoying bountiful hummingbirds, warm weather, and stunning scenery. We spent a few days hiking amongst the red rock spires and arches, a few days perusing the unique shops and boutiques, a day or two fishing, and celebrated both John's 25th birthday and Duke winning the NCAA men's national championship. It was a memorable destination!
Even though we spent the most amount of time in Sedona, we made sure to experience all that Arizona had to offer. Our next destination was Winslow, putting us within an easy day trip of Petrified Forest National Park. We listened to the Eagles song, Take it Easy and tried "Standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona." It actually was a fine sight to see! Homolovi State park was near our campsite, and we spent an afternoon there learning about traditional pottery making and exploring ancient Pueblo ruins. Populations inhabited the sights in this area as early as AD 620 and as recently as AD 1400. The ground was covered with shattered pottery--some with intricate textures and others with painted native designs.
From Homolovi, we continued down I-40 towards Petrified Forest National Park. The closer we came to the park, we began to notice a higher and higher concentration of tourist shops selling petrified wood. You could get a small, unpolished piece for a few dollars, or if you recently inherited a fortune from a long lost uncle, you could buy a 4ft slice of rainbow petrified tree for only a few hundred thousand! The real treasures, however, were within the park itself. We were astounded to learn that all the trees currently laying petrified within the park are over 200 million years old. What a humbling feeling it is to touch something that was around before dinosaurs walked on the planet!
John and I took a walk off the beaten path and main tourist attractions to a butte covered in petroglyphs. To reach the butte, we had to cross a wash littered with millions of pieces of petrified wood. They absolutely dominated the landscape.
Once we reached the butte, we realized that the petroglyphs were not in short supply either! There were many hundreds all together, and below are just a few examples. Some boulders had only one or two figures carved into them, while others were almost completely covered. It was fascinating trying to decide why these artists chose certain rocks over others to use as their canvas.
Of course, we couldn't help but stop at some of the more popular exhibits as well. The rainbow silicas that are responsible for the petrification of these ancient trees are a welcomed sight in an otherwise almost colorless landscape.
Homolovi State Park and Petrified Forest National Park were wonderfully historic sights to experience. They helped to broaden our view of what Arizona really is: a rich diversity of landscapes, climates, plant and animal life, and even human history. We are so glad we visited!
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