This week was packed with adventure, with 8 nights spent at Catalina State Park and 3 nights at McDowell Mountain, a Maricopa County regional park! We planned this extended stay to catch up on everyday tasks, like servicing the truck and taking care of our hair. But we also made plenty of time for some great adventures.

Sam had a fantastic trip to Casa Grande to visit the Lactalis Dairy plant and explore the nearby Casa Grande National Monument. He played a key role in getting the plant up and running back in 2013, so it was incredibly rewarding for him to see how well it’s still doing.

We explored both sides of Saguaro National Park—the Rincon (east) and the Red Hills (west). We drove up Mt. Lemmon, enjoying stunning views and experiencing four different ecological zones as we ascended 9,100 feet. We also biked several miles around the state park and the Tucson Loop, a 137-mile trail that circles Tucson. Phew, just typing that out feels exhausting!

We had a few relaxing days at the regional park, capped off by a beautiful sunset display.

The highlight of our week was catching up with our dear friends, Mark and Margretta Bromley, who treated us to an amazing Mexican dinner. A big thank you to them! We also met a wonderful couple at Catalina, Jenny and Ian Eddy, originally from Putney, VT—a town very close to our hometown of Dummerston! We joked about them being our “neighbors.”

This video captures all of these adventures, and we hope you enjoy our journey through our second state park in Arizona!