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Our Guide to 15 Great Hikes in Scottsdale, Arizona

10/10/2019

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Tom's Thumb Trail in Scottsdale, Arizona
The stunning summit views on Tom's Thumb Trail, just one of the fun hikes we discovered on a recent trip to Scottsdale.
By John Roberts
Colleen and I went on vacation to Scottsdale, Arizona, as we have done frequently over the past decade-plus. Our first trip to this delightful destination in the Sonoran Desert was in 2005 for our honeymoon.
We find the autumn weather in the Valley of the Sun to be just what we need to extend our summer. July and August are notoriously scorching in Phoenix and Scottsdale, reaching triple digits daily. But when fall arrives, the furnace starts to cool a bit, and we find the temps just right, low 80s to low 90s for much of the time from mid-September and into October.  
This time of year, it's just wonderful to be outside and enjoying the sunshine during the day and warm desert nights with clear starry skies. So, that's when we go, checking in for a week at our favorite resort Westin Kierland Villas, which puts us close to Old Town Scottsdale, Kierland Commons and plenty of restaurant and entertainment options.
But we really love it because we're in the heart of a recreational wonderland, an especially good place for hiking and running. We got out for three hikes during our most recent visit to Scottsdale, and we discovered numerous others that we'll work through on our return trips. 
Here is our guide to 15 great hikes in and around Scottsdale.

Tom's Thumb Trail
Length: Five miles out and back.
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
What to know: This beautiful hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in North Scottsdale offers the chance to explore some of the most stunning rock formations in the region. We chose the Tom's Thumb trail up to the distinctive formation at the very peak, but this preserve features a number of hikes that give views of the expansive McDowell Mountain Range. A large parking lot is on site, and the hike requires no fee. The views along the hike are indeed incredible, and you can take several photo breaks at designated viewing points. This is a steep switchback trail that is rocky at points but is extremely well maintained and popular for visitors and residents.

Pinnacle Peak Park
Length: A 3.5-mile out-and-back trail that rises and falls in elevation as you go.
Difficulty: Moderate
What to know: You have spectacular views of the valley from all around as you progress along the route. The hike starts at an information center, and the first portion of the trail is filled with signs that describe the flora, fauna and geology of the park. The hike also has well-marked access to rock climbing areas. There is a large parking lot, and trail access is free. The cumulative elevation gain is 1,300 feet, with the highest point on the route at 2,889 feet and the lowest 2,366.
Camelback Mountain Hikes
Camelback is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Arizona, a mecca for hikers and rock climbers. The range, of course, offers a number of great hiking trails.
Echo Canyon Trail
Length: This is a 2.6-mile out-and-back hike.
Difficulty: Strenuous
What to know: Get there early. Gates open at sunrise, and parking is limited and parking regulations are strictly enforced. There is no fee for this hike, which is rocky, steep and with little shade. The route features beautiful wildflowers and views (try to spot Four Peaks once you reach the top). At the top, you can see out over Phoenix and Scottsdale.
 
Cholla Trail
Length: A 3-mile out-and-back route.
Difficulty: Strenuous
What to know: This trail is best used from May through September and also is a nice option for viewing wildflowers and other desert plants. This popular trail is well marked, gets hot (bring extra water) and can be crowded even if you head out at sunrise. The steep route gains about 1,250 feet in elevation over 1.5 miles to the top, where you are rewarded with nice views of the sunrise over the city if you're up early enough. Park on Invergordon (64th Street) and head about a half-mile up Cholla Lane to reach the trailhead.

Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area
This beautiful slice of outdoors offers numerous hiking and biking activities just 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix. Here are two of our favorites.
Piestewa Peak Summit Trail
Length: 2.4 miles round-trip (out and back).
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
What to know: You are hiking among gorgeous desert flowers, cactus and other plants while viewing Camelback Mountain, South Mountain and the beautiful surrounding valley. The hike offers about 1,200 feet of elevation gain to the 2,608-foot summit. There is a parking lot, but it gets filled up quickly in this popular recreation area. There are some rocky paths to scramble near the top, which then offers 360-degree views of the valley.

Quartz Ridge Trail (8A)
Length: 3.5 miles out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
What to know: The trail is a nice option located away from the busy Piestewa Peak Summit Trail, although Quartz Ridge Trail 8A gets busy on the weekends. There is a parking lot with two dozen spaces at the end of North 32nd Street. The trail is also a great option because you can customize your hike and extend your mileage on many other paths that branch off Quartz Ridge.

Superstition Mountains
About a 90-minute drive from Scottsdale but worth the trip, the awesome mountain range represents the signature feature of the Superstition Wilderness Area, a federally designated site. Note: there is a $7 per vehicle fee January through April.
Peralta Trail
Length: This is a 5.8-mile out-and-back hike.
Difficulty: Moderate
What to know: The hike takes you up a scenic canyon to Fremont Saddle, with a steep stretch for the last quarter-mile or so. Views include interesting rock formations, desert landscape, the valley, gulleys and the iconic Weaver's Needle, a distinctive 1,000-foot rock structure that legend says could be a hiding place for gold artifacts from Spanish occupation during the 18th century. You get more than 1,300 feet of elevation gain up to the 4,533-foot peak elevation.
There is a main parking lot and space for overflow parking on busy days.
 
Treasure Loop Trail #56
Length: 2.5-mile loop trail.
Difficulty: Moderate
What to know: The trail offers a burst of pretty wildflowers, and the first half-mile of the hike delivers satisfying views despite being a gradual ascent -- because the trailhead begins at 2,000 feet and the surrounding Sonoran Desert is quite flat, offering a brilliant contrast in elevations. Total elevation gain is about 460 feet, and you enjoy constant views of the Superstitions and Tonto Forest. This is a great trail for sunrise or sunset hiking.

South Mountain Park Kiwanis Trail
Length: 2 miles out and back.
Difficulty: Easy
What to know: The path offers a gradual ascent and is a great introduction for visitors who are trying their first desert mountain hiking experience. The trailhead is located at 10919 S. Central Avenue, and the path takes you through a pleasant rock-studded canyon area where you can see a range of interesting plants and animals. Elevation gain is 480 feet.

Pass Mountain Trail in Usery Park
Length: 7.1-mile loop hike.
Difficulty: Moderate
What to know: One of the longer hikes on our list, so be sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks. Requires a $7 fee per car. The path is well marked and narrow at points. You'll spot plenty of impressive cholla shrubs and saguaro and prickly pear cactus, as well as wildflowers and possibly desert animals.

White Tank Mountain Park Goat Camp Trail
Length: 6.5 miles out and back.
Difficulty: Moderate
What to know: This is another park that is located about 90 minutes from Scottsdale. Goat Camp Trail features several dramatic rock formations, as well as a small waterfall, stone dam and ancient mesquite tree. This trail connects with more options for longer hikes. Entry fee is $7 per car.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve
A conservancy program created and maintains the preserve (18333 North Thompson Peak Parkway), which contains more than 200 miles of trails within 30,500 acres in the Sonoran Desert. There is no charge for parking or access to this recreational area, which is open from sunrise to sunset and used for hiking, mountain biking, trail running, horseback riding, rock climbing and educational programming.

Gateway Loop Trail
Length: 4.4-mile loop trail.
Difficulty: Moderate
What to know: Elevation gain is about 715 feet until you reach the Gateway Saddle viewing point and junction with the Bell Pass Trail. You can choose to hike in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. (You might choose depending on the angle of the sun at the time you head out.) This is a well-maintained and wide trail and a great introduction to the McDowell Mountain Range.

Brown's Ranch Trail
Length: 3.1-mile out and back.
Difficulty: Easy
What to know: This gentle hike on a very wide trail features a barely noticeable 100 feet of elevation gain. It's more of a pleasant walk that takes you to historic Brown's Ranch, with many structures still on display. The area was used for ranching from the late 1800s until the 1950s. In springtime, this hike is a great option to see the brilliantly blooming wildflowers.

Bajada Nature Trail
Length: A half-mile loop trail.
Difficulty: Easy
What to know: This is a wheelchair accessible trail, offering a wonderful opportunity for everyone to enjoy the beauty of the desert. The interpretive trail features plenty of signage to explain the diversity of plants and geology that visitors are seeing. This is a good site to spot birds, such as kestrels, cactus wren and hummingbirds.

Cave Creek Regional Park Go John Trail
Length: 6 miles (loop hike).
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
What to know: Park entrance requires a $7 fee per carload. The hike follows scenic ridge line, and you'll pass several abandoned mines along the route. The trail offers 800 feet of elevation gain, is accessible all year and also used by runners, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The summit is at 2,529 feet and is situated near Gunsight Pass, and along the way, you'll enjoy refreshing breezes and views of the valley and city.

Our additional tips: Hike early to avoid the intense sun and heat of the day (even in September and October, it can be intense), bring plenty of water and wear good quality and comfortable hiking shoes. Ratings for difficulty are meant to offer a comparison among the hikes. The true difficulty will depend on your own fitness level.
Tom's Thumb Trail in Scottsdale, Arizona
Have fun out there!
Thanks for reading, and always travel fit.
JR
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Star Clippers Reveals Lineup of Theme Cruises on Tall Ships

10/8/2019

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Picture
Royal Clipper is a steel-hulled five-masted and fully rigged tall ship that takes passengers to exotic destinations in style.
By John Roberts
Star Clippers -- which we know as that cool cruise line with the majestic tall ships -- has revealed a diverse lineup of speakers, photographer, life coaches, chefs and dance and fitness instructors as part of the cruise line's 2020 voyages.
In addition to experiencing the thrill of sailing to exotic ports of call in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Southeast Asia, these special theme cruises give you the opportunity to learn a new skill, work on personal growth or pursue your fitness goals during your journey.
And the best part? You get to do it all onboard an authentic clipper ship with crisp sails that catch the wind and make you feel as if you are part of an earlier era of travel.
Star Clippers' 2020 theme cruises are available on all three of the line's ships. The Star Flyer's lineup features cruises that focus on swing dancing, life coaching, fashion, yoga and meditation in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. On the Royal Clipper, the Mediterranean itineraries have sailings that focus on yoga and cooking with three renowned Italian chefs. The Star Clipper sails in Thailand while giving you access to special yoga and photography classes.
Check out the full calendar of the Star Clippers' theme cruises coming in 2020.
For more than 25 years, Star Clippers has been introducing travelers to the thrill of modern tall ship sailing to remote ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. The company operates three of the world's largest and tallest sailing vessels: Star Clipper and Star Flyer are traditional clipper ships with modern amenities carrying up to 170 passengers, while the 227-passenger Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest and only five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in service today. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, lively tropical bars on deck and piano lounges.

Thanks for reading,
JR
We are an affiliate of Cruise Critic Smart Deals, where you can find the best prices for your upcoming cruises. Check out the deals here. We get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and visit the website. Happy sailing!
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Drinking Our Way Around Portland, Maine, the Craft Beer Capital

10/3/2019

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Lone Pine Brewery in Portland, Maine
Colleen, Gene and me at Lone Pine, the last stop on our The Maine Brew Bus tour in Portland.
By John Roberts
We grab our seats on the patio at Lone Pine Brewing. It's a spectacularly sunny and warm early September afternoon as our host Becca offers us a tray full of slightly cloudy, honey-colored wheat beer.
Lone Pine is the last stop on our tour of craft breweries in Portland, Maine, and we down a few varieties, including this freshly poured Honey Whole Wheat Ale. By this time, the weekend had become a somewhat impromptu whirlwind tour, following our taste buds around a city that has built an incredible reputation for craft beers.
We spent parts of two days drinking our way through the port city during a visit on our cruise on Scenic Eclipse. It wasn't all drinking all the time, though.
Portland offers plenty of charms. We included runs along the picturesque waterfront park to get each of our days started.
And we . . .
Well, that was it.
So, a bit of jogging and visits to eight separate craft breweries over two days.
Picture
The waterfront trail is built along an old rail line in Portland. We made use of it both days to burn off some calories ahead of our beer indulgences.
Well, OK, I'm sure Portland offers plenty of other charms.
But this time, we gravitated toward one of our favorite ways to explore what a new destination has to offer. 
The city has a legit claim as "Craft Beer Capital of America." In fact, a C+R Research study released in 2019 reveals that Portland, Maine, boasts the most breweries per capita in the U.S., with 18 breweries per 50,000 people, edging out Asheville, N.C.
We had long known about the delicious brews coming out of Maine. But it wasn't until we stepped off the ship to wander out on a self-guided, Google-informed walking tour on a Saturday afternoon that we realized just how many cool bars are within easy reach of the port. The city is highly walkable and easy to get around. We checked out three breweries on our own on the first afternoon.
Portland Maine lighthouse
Portland is a stunning waterfront city. It's a popular port for cruises to New England and Canada, especially during the fall.
We were a little blown away by the cool atmosphere, friendly people and number of bars and restaurants we spotted all over the city. Our informal wanderings provided a wonderful warm-up to the beer scene. The next day, we joined a formal tour to visit even more destinations a little farther afield.
Portland Maine
The Maine Brew Bus offers a range of fun tours, and we were shuttled around to a handful of locations -- small, medium and larger outfits -- that feature creative varieties. If you're ever visiting Portland, these craft beer tours are a fun option. They are led by expert guides, and you get to explore both well-established and budding breweries operated by passionate entrepreneurs.
The Maine Brew Bus tours in Portland
We took a Sunday craft beer tour around the city on The Maine Brew Bus.
Here is a look at the breweries we visited during our time in Portland:
Self-Guided Tour (All of these are within a 15-minute walk from the port)
Sebago Brewing Co. -- We found the Sebago Portland Brewpub just five minutes from our ship and settled in for our first Portland craft brew of the weekend. There would be a few more flights and pints, so I started with a Simmer Down session ale at Sebago.
Picture
Shipyard Brewing Co. -- This is one of the bigger and most widely known brands based in Portland, along with Allagash Brewing, and Shipyard offers a fun environment to settle in and try its brews. We selected out our flight flavors (using chalk on the creative flight trays), grabbed a trivia game and sat back and savored the vibe of this bustling tasting room. By now, we could see why so many people who come to visit Portland, end up staying and becoming part of this friendly community.
Shipyard Brewing in Portland, Maine
Shipyard Brewing in Portland, Maine
Shipyard Brewing in Portland, Maine
Shipyard Brewing in Portland, Maine
Shipyard Brewing in Portland, Maine
Oxbow Blending & Bottling -- One last stop on our self-guided Day 1 tour. Colleen found this brewpub, which specializes in farmhouse ales, and she loved it. The indoor/outdoor facility is a rustic reclaimed warehouse (many of the craft brewers throughout the state have repurposed old city pubs, river lodges, mills and barns). The beer garden features a food stall offering Belgian specialties, part of the site's partnership with award-winning restaurant Duckfat.
Oxbow Blending and Bottling in Portland, Maine
Oxbow Blending and Bottling in Portland, Maine
The Maine Brew Bus Stops
Bissell Brothers Brewing Co. -- This brewer is a definite trend-setter and known as one of the creators of the New England-style pale ale, with its hazy natural body. The brewery's flagship beer is The Substance, an almost creamy IPA with hints of citrus. We grabbed a four-pack on our way out.
Bissell Brothers Brewing in Portland, Maine
Bissell Brothers Brewing in Portland, Maine. The Substance.
Bissell Brothers Brewing in Portland, Maine. The Substance.
Bissell Brothers created the first well-known New England IPA, and the Substance launched the company's craft brewery business.
Goodfire Brewing Co. -- This small brewer offers funky hazy varieties. We loved the Maximum IPA, with its subtle grapefruit and pineapple flavors. The brewery's cans feature cool art designs, too. Goodfire is located just out back behind its neighbor Lone Pine. A food truck is almost always on-site.
Goodfire Brewing Co. in Portland, Maine
Goodfire Brewing Co. in Portland, Maine
Lone Pine Brewing Co. -- This well-regarded brewer began in 2016 and is growing rapidly (available in seven states). It specializes in America ales and small-batch varieties. We enjoyed Lone Pine's Honey Whole Wheat Ale and flagship Portland Pale Ale.
Lone Pine Brewing in Portland, Maine
Lone Pine Brewing in Portland, Maine
Lone Pine Brewery in Portland, Maine
Our guide Major Tom gave us an in-depth look at the Portland craft beer industry.
Major Tom, beer guide for the Maine Brew Bus tours in Portland, Maine
More Pours (We kept the good times rolling after our Brew Bus tour with these finds)
Urban Farm Fermentory -- This spot is right across the street from Lone Pine. 
Urban Farm features fermented drinks like kombucha, ciders, mead and beer made with locally harvested and foraged ingredients.
Urban Farm Fermentory in Portland, Maine
Liquid Riot Bottling Co. -- This Portland waterfront brewery and distillery was a natural last stop as we headed back to the ship. We watched an NFL game and downed a pint to cap a sweet weekend drinking our way around Portland. We also made a pact to come back for a longer visit in the next year to try some new beers and reunite with some of our favorites from this trip.
Picture
Next time, we'll be sure to make time for hiking, biking, watersports and all the fabulous foods the city offers, too. All of these activities pair perfectly with a delicious craft brew, of course.  
We left Portland with four four-packs, picked up as cherished souvenirs from our visit that we brought home to share with friends.

Thanks for reading,
JR
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