Heading east on the Interstate 10 in Arizona (Photo by me)
In recent years, I’ve taken advantage of the long, end-of-year holiday break to head out of the country to far-away spots in Asia. It felt freeing to pick a place remote and be completely immersed in a foreign culture to get a break from the L.A. hustle.
For the most recent break, however, I opted to stay in America and find a travel challenge closer to home. I’ve lived in the U.S. for 20 years now and I’ve come to the realization that there are so many places in America that I haven’t seen yet. I have traveled to all major cities but I haven’t wandered off the beaten path and seen parts of this country that make it so unique.
Following a trip to Phoenix back in November, I decided I wanted to go back there to explore. I picked to head to Sedona for a couple of days to explore its many trails and vistas. From there, I planned to roadtrip all the way down to West Texas to Marfa – an outpost of artists, writers and other bohemians. I’ve read about Marfa over the years and I figured it would be the perfect place to check out and see a part of America that’s off the grid and pretty much a perfect place to get a break from Los Angeles.
Courthouse Butte: Majestic Beauty (Photo by me)
Sedona was absolutely gorgeous. I think there are over a hundred hiking trails to pick from to explore the Verde Valley and Coconino Forest. I was particularly interested in checking out some of the vortexes that allegedly hold a healing power. There are four main centers of spiritual energy in the Sedona area. I went to check out the vortexes at Mesa airport and Bell Rock. To be frank, I didn’t feel anything while in the presence of these special centers of energy but honestly I may have been too much in “hiking mode” to stop and really absorb what may have been radiating.
The Courthouse Butte hike right south of Sedona was my favorite hike while out there. It’s a hefty 3 hour hike that is mostly flat and very quiet. I really enjoyed this.
I took a full day to travel from Sedona, AZ to Marfa, TX. It’s a 700 mile drive that crosses New Mexico, and is a good mixture of state highways and an interstate. It was a beautiful drive. I enjoyed every second of it. I took very little breaks – only to get gas. I listened to music and podcasts while enjoying the changing landscapes that was at times absolutely breathtaking. The part through the Tonto national forest ending up at the site of Theodore Roosevelt Lake was an incredible sight
Roosevelt Lake: Wow (taken at Cholla Recreation Site (Photo by me)
also truly enjoyed driving through many little towns, including Fort Apache Reservation and San Carlos Reservation. There are so many small settlements in these vast, expansive stretches of land in the American West and it’s absolutely humbling to see people go about their day there living the best life they know how to live. This experience left me with a lasting impression that was a highlight of the trip.
I was hoping that I would get on roads where there was no other car in sight to give me that feeling of really being off-the-grid and on vacation. Boy, I got plenty of what I wished for. I ended up so often solo on the road driving through remote areas with 3G cell phone reception at best. This is America, too.
Slightly off-topic but I loved listening to Brandi Carlisle and The Rider soundtrack (by Nathan Halpern). It really helped amplify the views of rugged landscapes outdoors while on the road.
Following passing places like Globe, AZ and Duncan, AZ , I crossed into New Mexico. It felt I was making good progress. As soon as I hit Las Cruces on the Interstate 10, El Paso and then Marfa came into close reach. The sun was about to set and my goal was to limit my driving in the dark to make sure I could see where I was driving.
Then I hit El Paso. Wow. This is a very large metropolitan area. I had no idea. It looks absolutely massive and it’s like driving the Interstate 10 in East LA where the city appears to never stop. A local told me later that El Paso looks so big from the road because it borders Ciuadad Juarez in Mexico. It’s one big metro area but only half of it’s in the U.S.
Following El Paso, I was close to the final stretch. Sun was setting to a beautiful, rose colored sky. On the Interstate 10 between El Paso and Van Horn, there was a surprising mandatory stop. The interstate was routed through a make-shift Border Patrol station filled with cameras and immigration agents. It had me confused as I had not crossed in and out of the U.S. After a short wait in line with other cars, I opened my car window to greet the border agent. He was friendly and respectful, and asked where I was heading. I explained I was on my way to Marfa from Arizona. He thanked me and wished me a happy holiday. Border security miles away from the border is proof that the authorities take monitoring the border very seriously – with or without a wall.
It was full dark now and at Van Horn on Interstate 10, I took a turn on Texas state route 90 to head to Marfa – my final destination. I took about another hour or so when I arrived around 8 p.m. I was exhausted from the drive but I was so incredibly happy I did it. It was an experience I will not soon forget. I have seen part of America that I’d never imagined seeing and my understanding of the U.S. is better because of it.
