Detour: Hopping Down Highway 89

If you travel the back road from Wickenberg to Prescott, up the Yarnell Hill, keep an eye out for this stone-faced amphibian -- a hop, skip and a jump past the small town of Congress. "Rocky" as he's affectionately called by the locals, has been perched atop a hill on the west side of Highway 89 since the 1920s, when a nearby homesteader grabbed her two sons and they applied a few buckets of bright green paint to the frog-shaped rock formation. Although the family has long since left the area, nearby townspeople maintain their lovable green mascot, much to the delight of travelers who continue to stop and pose for a photo with the enormous greenback -- including my Uncle Bill and I.

Detour: Remember the Alamo (Lake)

Night was filled with a number of unique sights and sounds. A million stars flickered like fireflies dancing against a black backdrop that covered the night sky. The moon, only a sliver of white light, was peeking out to watch the performance. The “hoot” of an owl, the “howl” from a pack of coyotes off in the distance and the distinguishable two-pitched “hey-haw” from the wild burros coming down from the hills were the only sounds I could hear. It was the music that serenaded me to sleep in the desert at Alamo Lake State Park.

Alamo Lake State Park is located in a rugged stretch of the Arizona outback, nestled below the Rawhide Mountains Wilderness. Yet, it is only a two and a half hour drive northwest of the sprawling metro Phoenix area. It’s highly acclaimed as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the state and is stocked with a wide variety of warm-water fish, including large-mouth bass, catfish, bluegill and crappie. But if fishing isn’t for you, there is still plenty to do. The area attracts visitors for camping, water skiing, desert hikes, bird watching and, for some, a chance to ride quads and dirt buggies along the maze of dusty trails that extend from the lake.

It’s best to visit Alamo Lake State Park in the Spring and Fall, when temperatures are mild. Summer’s sizzling heat can reach above 110 degrees, while night time lows in winter can plummet to near freezing. But do visit Alamo Lake State Park. Its spectacular views and abundant native wildlife are unique features of the Sonoran Desert best enjoyed in person.

Note: Because of Arizona's extreme financial crises, Alamo Lake, along with many other State Parks will soon close. You can help keep them open, for all to enjoy. Donate to the Arizona State Parks Foundation.