Cottonwood, AZ - Sunrise

 We were up bright early to get to the lagoons in time for sunrise only to discover that the gates don’t open until 7 AM. Beautiful huh? Yeah Ojile took his dog down at the lake. He’s very first or not so he says this. The third lake has the biggest expensive water where you can get a Sunrise with the clips in the background. Oh the sunrise OK also, may just leaving sunset. Yeah, so we could definitely yeah, yeah do you wanna go back and have some breakfast going to open in a few more minutes and 10 minutes? Yeah yeah I was munching on an apple iPad. 

Flagstaff, Arizona - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park

Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, this is the impressive reminder of gracious living in a small territorial logging town. The mansion is an example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The expansive home has forty rooms, over 13, 000 square foot of living space, and servants' quarters. The Riordan mansion was designed by the creator of Grand Canyon's El Tovar Hotel, Charles Whittlesey. (Source: http://azstateparks.com/Parks/RIMA/]

I could only take photos of the exterior.  The tour of the interior is $10 and well worth it.  The two Riordan brothers married two sisters. The mansion is actually two full homes connected by a common area complete with fireplaces and pool table.

 Reminded me of PA!

Ohiopyle, PA - Ohiopyle State Park and Falls

Ohiopyle State Park is at the southern end of the Laurel Ridge.  The Falls are on the Youghiogheny [yaw-ki-gay-nee] River Gorge and are the centerpiece for Ohiopyle.  The "Yough" [yawk] has some of the best white water boating in the eastern United States.  The Park offers bicycling, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, picnicking, white water boating, and wildlife watching.  Sledding and snowmobiling are also available, weather permitting.

This is a panoramic of the Falls area.  There are multiple deck layers providing great viewing areas. 

Ohiopyle Falls, Ohiopyle State Park, PA - 2014

 I saw this sign in the planter. It explains that The Yough flows north and carries seeds from the south.  The area has conditions that allow the seeds to take hold, and you will see plants in this area that you cannot see around other areas in PA. 

 Little cones.  Mom said that this has already been in bloom.

 She also recognized this tree. She had seen only one or two others in the backyard of the Donaldson family in Newell, PA.  The fruit looks like little apples.  The fruit is editable.  She knew them as "Red Haw" but isn't sure if this is an official name or one that the neighborhood gave to Donaldson's trees.

 The area is accessible so don't shy away from going here if you are concerned about the access.