We recently moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where our son-in-law picked us up with his Cessna plane at first light. We flew into the private Sky Ranch airport in Carefree Arizona, the home of our daughter’s family. As we walked towards their home near the runway, three bi-planes took to the skies. What a treat to see!
After a home style breakfast at the Black Mountain Coffee Shop in Spanish Village, my daughter and I wondered around downtown Carefree checking out the art galleries and eclectic shops, while my husband and son-in-law took the grandkids to the playground in the park. I fell in love with a very large painting at the Wild Holly Gallery. Fortunately, they ship anywhere, since fitting it into a small plane with three people would have proven problematic.
We strolled together through the Botanical Garden, a work in progress throughout the park. The variety of beautiful exotic plants and cacti was amazing. This spectacular world class Garden is a donation to the Town by a local company, Desert Foothills Landscape. Wow! We were told that it would be finished in the fall, with a Grand Opening Ceremony November 13th, which we plan to attend.
The park is also home to the newly refurbished iconic 72′ long Carefree Sundial, the second largest in the world, installed in 1959 by the Town founders. A friendly resident took a family photo of us by the Sundial.
After dropping the kids off at the babysitter’s, the adults headed to the northern part of town, where we “girls” treated ourselves to messages, manicures, and pedicures at the Carefree Resort’s Spa. The “boys” played a round of golf at the private Desert Forest Golf Club across the street, and we met for lunch at the Resort’s Lariat restaurant.
My daughter and I ventured out again later to share an authentic afternoon tea at the English Rose Tea Room on Easy Street, while our “boys” enjoyed cigars at the Cellar 13 cigar bar on nearby Tom Darlington Drive. The entire family ate a delicious dinner at The Carefree Station, which includes the rooftop Bev Heaven where we watched a spectacular sunset while sipping drinks.
We return to Flagstaff tomorrow morning, but eagerly anticipate our next visit to the quaint Town of Carefree.
