One thing I learned from all those years living in the Midwest is that the weather suffers from a bad case of Bipolar as it teeters from one extreme (blizzards and snowstorms) to another (massive heatwaves and tornadoes). An occasional rare moment of perfect weather is very much appreciated. I hope all of you stay safe and warm back home, inshallah.
Arizona is beautiful and the weather is amazing, so we have been enjoying the change in both weather and scenery. We went to this state park/nature reserve called South Mountain in Phoenix and it looked like those movies from the Wild West back in the old days. There were cactus everywhere. This massive park happens to have the honor of being the largest urban park in the United States because it is over 16,000 acres in size and it attracts outdoorsy visitors from all over the country (and possibly the world); who walk, hike and bike the trails. We didn't get far into the park because we snapped pictures of everything we saw and there was a lot to see at the entrance of the park. The vegetation was so different from the common plants we see in Michigan we might as well have been on the surface of an alien planet.
Here's more of what the park has to offer
A link for directions and info
http://phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/south/index.html
Amazing views from every angle
Did I mention that big foot visits the area? J:P
Those who like nature from afar can take scenic drives through the park
The entrance of the park