In January 2023, I went on a 15-day mother-daughter trip to Arizona and New Mexico. To give you a different perspective, mom has been kind enough to answer some questions.
1. What were your specific goals for this trip?
Joni: Every year I like to clear my mind, enjoy nature and fresh air, and travel with my favorite travel partner.
2. What did you pack?
Joni: Due to the time of year and different elevations, Steph recommended layers to accommodate 30- to 70-degree temperatures.
3. What did you pack but didn’t use?
Joni: Nothing. Usually I overpack; however, with the changing weather I used everything I packed.
4. What do you wish you had packed but didn’t?
Joni: I don’t recall anything. With trips comes experience.
5. Did you need to buy any essentials while traveling?
Joni: More saline solution and cold medicine due to changing temperatures.
6. What were your favorite foods or meals from the trip?
Joni: There were two that stood out:
- The steak and shrimp at Diamond Point Shadows Steakhouse in Star Valley, Arizona
- The salmon at Los Arcos in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
7. What was your favorite experience?
Joni: There were many special moments, so I’ve broken it into different categories:
- Hiking: Chiricahua National Monument (mountain environment)
- Solitude: White Sands National Park
- Wildlife: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
- Nature’s wonder: Petrified Forest National Park
8. What is your best memory of the trip?
Joni: I love wildlife so I would have to say Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
9. What was your least favorite experience?
Joni: Sleet hitting our faces in very cold weather while visiting the Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
10. Is there anything you wish you’d done?
Joni: I wish the weather cooperated for us to hike the Lava Falls Trail at El Malpais – we had 6 inches of snow and couldn’t see the trail.
11. Have you been in the area before? If so, what did you do?
Joni: No
12. What did you miss from home?
Joni: A good cup of coffee and my husband
13. What souvenirs did you buy?
Joni: A pair of earrings, notecards, roadrunner bumper stickers, and (best of all) a piece of petrified wood. The proceeds from the petrified wood go toward helping Petrified Forest National Park.
14. What do you like more when you travel – relaxation, new experiences, good food, shopping?
Joni: New experiences
15. What inspires you to travel?
Joni: StephPurk.com
16. Where would you like to travel next?
Joni: Either California, Oregon, Washington, or North and South Dakota
17. Where have you traveled in the United States?
Joni: I’ve been to every state except the following 13: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington.
18. Where have you traveled internationally?
Joni: Bahamas, Botswana, Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico, South Africa, and Zimbabwe
That was a fun read! Taking me back down memory lane.