Seligman, Arizona – the Birthplace of Historic Route 66
Hey ladies and gents of the internet world! Seligman, Arizona was not something I’d ever dreamed specifically of visiting, but as we prepped for our trip to Havasupai Falls, it came into our radar when other nearby options were sold out. Here’s a quick bit about our short time there, must-stops, and what you can get to nearby. Leggoooo! The Cutest Boho Hotel We Found Last-Minute in Seligman About a year ago we were booking our trip when we noticed a lot of nearby places were already sold out. So I decided to check out Airbnb to check out what availability they had instead. To my surprise, they had a cute little boho-looking boutique hotel on there as well, which I promptly took the option to reserve! It looked just like the pictures. It was cute, aesthetic, and newly remodeled. And super close to where we needed to be the next day for the trailhead. I was so excited that it was not only my favorite colors, but clearly the new owner took great pride in keeping things clean and updated as well. (There was even a paper strap across the toilet that ensured it had been cleaned! Something I’d never seen before even at upscale luxury hotels). Boutique Hospitality and Small-Town Charm in Seligman There was even a nice set of chairs outside the room on the cement to watch the stars from at night, and a digital keypad to keep things modern and fast-paced! Even though the whole vibe of the town was geared more toward the 1950s, I thought it was refreshing to have a bit of a break from that all once we stepped foot back onto this quaint little property. We arrived right at opening, where Christina checked on the rooms and made sure her team had prepped everything perfectly before guests came into town. She was so kind, genuine and helpful even when we needed her help with the keypad. One of my favorite parts that I wish I got to spend more time in was the little gift shop area near the check-in desk! It had the most adorable jewelry selection and a few pieces of clothing as well. Now I love dogs and was missing my own greatly. So when her little pup came over to greet me when we walked in the door, I was more than ecstatic! There was also a sweet antique car out front. If nothing else, to keep your interest while you await your turn at the desk. If you’re ever passing through on Route 66 in Seligman, I would highly recommend staying at The Postcard Motel. It was a brief stay, but pretty perfect nonetheless. Related: Havasu Falls Hike Preparation: Our Backpacking To-Do List Exploring Seligman: Gift Shops, Ice Cream, and Small-Town Charm Once we got checked in and unloaded our luggage, we headed out to walk around the town, (which probably in total took us a whole 45 minutes to walk up and down both sides. It’s super tiny!) It was great weather, which was basically t-shirt kind of warm compared to what we experienced in Parks, Arizona just a day beforehand! It was such a pleasant walk along the sidewalks, popping in and out of local gift shops that had so much to offer! We picked up a new tee, a bracelet, and some dinner (at the same shop! LOL) which hit the spot before we had to hit the trail in the AM. Check out these cool mannequins on the rooftop! Another favorite spot was an iconic ice cream shop that we most definitely couldn’t pass up. They had this awesome car out from with a Christmas tree on it! I was yearning for some ice cream all day so it was ironic that we stumbled upon one of the best places in town! The workers there really make every effort to make you smile, it was super fun watching them squeeze fake mustard and offering real straw instead of drinking straws! Definitely check Delgadillo’s Snow Cap out if you’re ever out this way! . . As we walked back to our room, we discussed what time to get up and made sure when we returned that everything was good to go. We did some last minute prepping and showered once more before using wipes for the next few days! Then we set our alarm and turned in for the night after having some Oreos on the patio. PS, if you’re searching for the best wipes to use on your backpacking trips, we’ve tried them all. These Venture Wipes are by far our favorite so far with their size and “cleaness” feel so I’d highly recommend trying them out! I loved that they offered them in single serving packs, which we determined bringing 4 each for us for each day. (2 for the mornings and 2 for the nights). Early Mornings, Granola, and Dinos on the Road to Havasupai In the morning it wasn’t too hard to get up, knowing that we would have another 1.5 hours drive to wake up until we got to the trailhead parking lot. We passed the Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, (along with some dinos) and not a whole lot else along the nearly 90 mile stretch. Since we already had our bags packed and loaded into the rental car, all we had to do was keep out some granola packs for breakfast when we arrived. I kept these on the outside straps of my bag to make sure they were easy to get to when we needed them. I also realized that carrying the mugs on the outside straps was super handy to break out for coffee or tea when you’re getting a little chilly! Here are some of the contents of my bag only. Since he already had his packed up perfectly, I’ll
Havasu Falls Hike Preparation: Our Backpacking To-Do List
Hey friends! Soon, we will be soaring across the skies again on our way to sunny Arizona. This will be our fourth time in the last few years because we just love it so much! It’s one of my favorite states at this point in my life because of the sunshine, epic views, and different scenery we get to experience from Sedona to the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff! Today I wanted to touch base on what our weeks (and months) leading up to trips like this look like, because although it is still a vacation, a TON of preparation needs to go into it to ensure all plans run smoothly especially on a trip like a Havasu Falls hike. Shall we?! Prep and Planning for the Havasu Falls Hike and Other Adventures So before we even know where we’re going, we usually apply for multiple permits to places that are nearby one another just in case we end up getting all of them so we can hit them up at the same time! Then, once permits are approved (or not approved, boo!), we create the rest of our travel plans from there. This time though, we knew where we were going since early last year when we got permits for the one and only Havasu Falls. If you’re not sure what this is, I highly recommend checking out some pics online because it is a sight to behold, and one I’m very grateful that we soon get to see in person! We were scheduled for our Havasu Falls hike for September of last year, until the tragic 2024 flash flood wiped out most of the area only 2 weeks before our trip. It was a unexpected but we readjusted and made plans around the area anyway. We still had a wonderful time and I actually enjoyed just winging it! Check out this post if you’re up for hearing about our trek up Humphrey’s Peak! We actually found a place outside Flagstaff to camp for one of the nights, and loved it so much that we booked a tiny home there to prep for our way down into the canyon this time! We’re going to use the first two days to prepare hearty meals, make sure we have everything we need for our 4 day backpacking adventure into the Grand Canyon (where Havasu Falls is at), and enjoy some peace and quiet before being surrounded by 374 permits per day that are accepted there! Luckily, we were able to snag an early morning flight, and although it’ll suck getting up around 1:30am, it’ll be amazing to touch down in Phoenix right after breakfast! (Matt’s Big Breakfast in Scottsdale is usually our go-to!) We will then have the entire day to grab our rental car, find good food, enjoy our few hours drive, gear up at the REI in Flagstaff and checkout any cool stops along the way. Then when we check into our tiny home, we can just take one whole day to simply chill and prep before hitting the trail a few days later. On the third day, we are heading to a boutique hotel in Seligman, Arizona. This is one of the closest places you can get to the entrance for the hike. We’ll need to grab our permits and head out early so we can beat the heat of the sun as we descend into the canyon. Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? Have you hiked it? What’re your thoughts if so? Would you go back? Gear, Prep, and Post-Trail Recovery Once we’re there, we will live out of our Osprey backpacks for 4 days and 3 nights. We are loving our 48 liter Eja and Exos which carry everything we need for our trips thus far. This is probably the part I’m most excited about. We’ll be grabbing a bear canister at that previously mentioned REI and some dehydrated meals for this part of the trip, and using water from the sole water source once we get to camp. (From what we read online, there is only one area to get potable water from). *Potable water, also known as drinking water, is water that is safe and suitable for human consumption, meeting standards for purity and freedom from contaminants. I’m most eager for this part because I love being off grid and away from the notification world. Although there will be hundreds of people traveling to the same area at the same time, it’s still immersed in nature and living outdoors which is something I truly can’t get enough of. If you’d like to hear more about how this trip went, check back in the next few weeks to hear a post that goes into more detail about how everything worked out! 🙂 As for today’s post, we’re simply covering how we prepare and execute a week long backpacking-centered trip (in this case Havasu Falls), so let’s get into more of that. Once we make our way back out of the canyon, we’ll most likely be stinky, muddy, and sweaty. Ew. We are hopeful to complete our backpacking early on in the day before the sun comes up too much, and get on the road to the next adventure. (This time, being the hotel we have booked in Phoenix!) This is something we make sure to include at the end of any long hiking trail. ESPECIALLY if said hiking trail includes any backpacking. We learned quickly after exiting the Bright Angel Trail that we would need much more than just half of one day to recover before flying back home and working the next day. Not only does this allow us more recovery time, but it also gives us time and space to reorganize our messy packs, wash off any lingering dirt or mud before reorganizing our luggage, and showering like, a BUNCH so we can get back to smelling like our normal selves. After at least two days
Here’s A Few Ideas On Where You Should Start Your Backpacking Adventures
So, you’re fed up with mediocre adventures and are ready to step it up in the hiking world. I see you. No matter if you’re ready to conquer small or big backpacking trips, I wanted to drop in today to talk about my favorite ways to prepare for them, as well as list off a handful of my favorite trails to do so! I swear I could add dreads to my hair tomorrow and go for days out into the wilderness. Give me a water filter and a JetBoil and I’ll be good to go. Being fully immersed into nature’s beauty is more than ever at the top of my priority list. I’m all in for making my days easier, more colorful and fuller with any adventure outdoors that I can get my toes in. Where do you stand? Childhood Hikes to Adult Backpacking Exploration I never grew up backpacking or having backpacking adventures. I didn’t even have a single clue about what it was until maybe 5-7 years ago. (I can’t remember the exact date we shopped for backpacks, but I do recall the exciting experience of fitting and finding the perfect pack. More about how to fit a pack later in the post!) When I would go hiking with my parents as a toddler and adolescent, and as a young adult with my friends, I absolutely loved every minute of it. Looking back, I actually don’t think I realized just how much it was a genuinely loved part of my life. I remember distinctly this one memory as a 15/16 year old. I had this tiny child sized colorful backpack that I stuffed full of peanut butter sandwiches (hold the jelly, please), and smarties. (Two of my favorite snacks to this day). My best friend and I actually stayed up all night so that we didn’t miss the sunrise. This has to be one of the first sunrises I actually remembering being present with and enjoying. It’s an amazing thing, our human memory, isn’t it? My Tiny House We started out of my playhouse (a cool little mini house that was more like a shed that my dad built for me near our home), early when the sun was rising. I can still feel that memory so strongly that I could paint you a picture of looking into my tiny home to make sure I remembered everything, pulling the door knob closed after I shut off the fan, and looking out to the east where the most beautiful colors began coming up on the horizon between the woods. I remember smiling to myself as we stepped off the porch into the shale, and started up the logging road to the beautiful nature behind my childhood home. Only now can I recognize what an important part of this life that memory would be. If I had to choose a specific time and place where I truly felt in tune with my hiking aura, it would have to be this morning. Although I have a ton of memories hiking with my parents beforehand, for some reason, going out on my own (with my friend of course), felt truly like it was the first of many to come as an individual. I love that memory. Do you have something similar? At the time I didn’t realize I’d actually been halfass “backpacking.” I had even remembered to bring a safety and first aid kit, besides the snacks and water that I carried in my pack for my friend and I. We trekked out a ways until it felt like far enough, gathered some sticks and started a teeny tiny fire. I enjoyed my sandwiches around the smell of the fire (my all-time favorite smell to this day, ESPECIALLY in the morning), and made sure it was out before heading back down the trail. We were gone for hours. That was the longest of my hikes at that time, something I wish I would have made an effort to do more often as I grew into adulthood. Where To Start and the Lessons I Learned So aside from the sappy teeny me story, it’s that time in the post to share some tidbits about where and how you may consider starting your own backpacking journey. Let’s get into that. I mentioned that about 5-7 years ago is really where it began to transform my adult life. It was at this time that my husband and I decided to start to travel more (for adventure, not for relaxation). We were out in Arizona with our day packs (actually, I believe we had just camelbacks at the time, pssh, newbs…) and trekked down into the Grand Canyon a bit past Skeleton Point on the South Kaibab trail. I knew we could keep going, but knowing the dangers of the Canyon that a lot of people ignore, we made the choice to turn around and try again the next year with better preparation and training. We also booked Angels Landing in Zion National Park (for a daytrip) in Utah the year after. We had Havasupai Falls scheduled as well, but with the flash flood that came through, caused us to reschedule (for two weeks from now, actually, yay!). (Check out the videos below to get a glimpse of the before and after). And we just finished backpacking the Napali Coast in Kauai this past December. Since then, we’ve learned that getting permits is hella hard, backpacking can be intimidating if you don’t plan properly, and preparing your body for carrying 30-40 pounds up a crap ton of elevation is MUCH harder than it looks on paper. Check Out AllTrails for Your Adventure Therefore, I recommend starting out small. Get the AllTrails app and find some fun trails near you that you can practice on. Check out your nearest outdoor store to get fitted for a pack, (something else I never realized you had to do!). Our favorite store is REI, but if there are none near your city,