My Spirit is SKY High!

I don't ski. Truth be told, chairlifts scare me a bit. Why they don't knock you over or whack you in the back when you jump off has always been a mystery to me -- but one I plan to solve on the Arizona Snowbowl Scenic Skyride.

Located in the Coconino National Forest in the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona's highest mountain range, Arizona Snowbowl is a short 30-minute drive from Flagstaff and a popular winter destination for skiers, snowboarders and other Nordic sport enthusiasts. In the summer, however, the slopes remain active with hiking, mountain bike riding, picnics, wildlife viewing, Frizbee golf and the area's most popular attraction, the Skyride.

First stop is the Agassiz Lodge, elevation 9,500 feet above sea level. There you buy your ticket, $12 for adults and $8 for juniors and seniors. If you're hungry or need liquid encouragement, stop at the Peak Side Cafe where you can enjoy lunch, and a variety of draft beers and cocktails, inside or outside on the large patio.

After buying my ticket, I went straight to the chairlift, which was already busy with riders. I studied the people as they got on and off. None of them seemed to have any problem taking their seat on the slow moving chair. It looked easy enough, so I hopped on for the 45-minute ride to the top.

If you're not a big fan of heights, you might not want to look down. However, looking up, as I discovered, might not settle your nerves, either. The grip, as it's called, that holds the passenger carrier to the moving cable is about the size of a man's hand, and is all the prevents you and the chair from plummeting to the ground. While riders may be responsible for more accidents on chairlifts than equipment failure, it still didn't give me a lot of confidence.

So it's best to stare out at the scenery, which is breathtaking. You pass over lush green meadows, that in winter are ski runs covered in snow. You climb up into the trees like a bird, flying over Ponderosa pines, Spruce and Fir trees until they all but disappear at the end of the ride -- which is 2,000 feet higher than where you started.

Now, at 11,500 feet above sea level, it's not quite as green as before. You'll find very few trees at this altitude, but plenty of large black rocks from an extinct volcano that helped shape Arizona's Northern Plateau.

But what you're really here to see isn't rocks or trees -- it's the view. And on a clear day, you can see for miles. That may sound like a cliche, it's true

I found that the ride down the mountain wasn't as scary as the ride up. Maybe it was because I was more comfortable with the ride. But more likely it was because I was no longer looking down. I was looking straight ahead. I was so preoccupied with the amazing view that I forgot all my fears.

I arrived safe and sound at the base of the mountain. I may not ski, but I've mastered the chairlift. Winter visitors to Arizona Snowbowl only get a one-way ticket to the top and miss the best part of the ride. I'm glad I don't ski, or I might have missed out too.

Eleven Down, 39 More Adventures to Go (Yikes!)

Wow! What a year. I've been across Arizona from the North to the South, with stops at several places in between. Some I'd like to revisit, while others I'm happy to cross off my list. Here are some picks and pans from year one.

Most Spectacular Sight: Boynton Canyon The sunset from the Mogollon Rim is always beautiful, but the view at the end of the Boynton Canyon Trail in Sedona was a complete surprise. After hiking for an hour through a thick forest of Juniper, Oak and Pine trees I scrambled up a rocky hillside and above the treeline to find this. A monolith of rust-colored limestone stretching a mile or more to form the canyon wall. While there are certainly many other impressive red rock formations surrounding Sedona, this is one you won't find on your standard tour.

Favorite Food Find: Bisbee Breakfast Club Nutritionists say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I must agree. One of the best breakfasts I've ever had was at the Bisbee Breakfast Club. Located in Lowell, a township of Bisbee, the restaurant serves a hearty morning meal -- so come hungry. Skip the toast and order a big, fluffy biscuit to accompany your meal. It's home-made, as are the cinnamon-pecan sticky rolls and extensive variety of desserts. Need a jolt of caffeine to get you going in the morning, try the coffee. It's roasted locally by the Old Bisbee Roasters -- another favorite of mine. If you're not a morning person, don't worry. Breakfast is served all day, with the lunch menu available from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Worst Adventure: Cutting Down My Own Christmas Tree This was a lot harder than I thought it would be. And not as much fun, either. First, it's cold outside in Northern Arizona at this time of year. I don't like being cold. Second, finding a suitable Fir tree among the forest of tall, gangly Ponderosa pine is no easy task. And when you do, no doubt it's 200 yards or more from the road, which makes getting it back to your vehicle a strenuous task. The high mountain altitude doesn't help the situation either. My advice, leave these beautiful evergreen trees in the forest, where God planted them, and visit your local Christmas tree lot or one of Arizona's Choose-and-cut-your-own Christmas tree farms, instead. Better yet, invest in an artificial tree and place a few pine-scented candles around your house. That's what I plan to do this Christmas.

Place I'd most like to Revisit: Bisbee I wish I lived closer to this charming, old Arizona town. But at more than 200 miles each way from Phoenix, a visit to Bisbee is more than a day trip. This, however, shouldn't pose a problem for me. Bisbee has a number of unique and historic lodging establishments, some reported to be haunted. It's narrow, winding streets are lined with antique shops, art galleries, museums, fine restaurants and sidewalk cafes. There is more than enough to do in Bisbee to fill a day. At night, you can enjoy live entertainment at a number of saloons throughout town and along its famous Brewery Gulch. By the way, some of these establishments are reported to be haunted, too. But that doesn't scare me, and it shouldn't scare you. Bisbee is a great place to relax and unwind, and forget about big city life.

Year one is behind me, but I'm nowhere close to being done. I'll be doing double-time, if I'm going to complete my list of 50 Things to See and Do in Arizona before I turn 50. You are always welcome to join me.

Frank was Wright

Last month I stopped by Frank's place (aka Taliesin West). Designed in 1937-1959 by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West was his personal winter home, studio and architecture campus. But,in fact, it is more than that. It's also an art gallery and an enduring example of how to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces.


Nestled at the base of the Sonoran foothills of the McDowell Mountains in North Scottsdale, you won't notice the structures until you arrive. The buildings are designed to blend in with the natural environment. Stone from the immediate area was used in construction, as well as a color pallet that complements the desert environment. Indoors, natural lighting was used to brighten up rooms. Fireplaces warmed Frank and his guests in the winter, while expertly designed breezeways drew in cool air on hot days. Even the water is drawn from the site, from a aquifer located hundreds of feet below the ground.

But there is more to Taliesin West than its architecture -- there's its art. At every turn you will find statues made of stone or metal. Some stand alone, out in the open, while others are tucked into discreet corners of the property. Still others are grouped together so you can easily stroll among them and compare their artistic designs.

Today Taliesin West is maintained by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which provides opportunities for the public to learn about Wright's work and the importance of architecture in our daily lives -- teaching us that you can improve your surroundings without damaging the environment. Sounds like Frank was ahead of his time, promoting environmental sustainability and green building practices.