Arizona: Scenic, Spooky and Savory
Arizona offers a broad mix of breathtaking scenery as well as some weird and unusual sights, a variety of culinary and cultural experiences, hiking trails, well known and little-known road trips, history, science, sports and much more. For many of us, it’s not our home state and we want to learn more and explore the variety of experiences available not too far from SaddleBrooke. The DesertView Library offers a wealth of information to plan your adventures or simply to read more about Arizona.
If you or your visiting guests want to explore beyond the usual tourist destinations, the Southwest Collection at the library has resources to help. One very popular book is “Weird Arizona: your travel guide to Arizona's local legends and best kept secrets.” Find additional unusual sights to explore in “Southwest Curiosities,” “Arizona Oddities,” or “Spooky Southwest.” Or pick up “Secret Tucson,” “Arizona off the Beaten Path,” or Roger Naylor’s “Awesome Arizona.”
Looking for historical information? Try “True Tales of the American Southwest” or “Mysteries of the Old West.” The library has guidebooks to ghost towns, ancient ruins, petroglyphs, and exploring the historic Route 66. There are many books about Arizona history in the Southwest collection. Learn about gunfighters, explorers, pioneers and early Americans.
If you’re more interested in the scenic beauty of the state, the library has a wide range of books to guide your adventures or reading. The National Parks collection is the only place in our library system that offers “coffee table” books—the large books offering mostly photographs, which in this collection are primarily focused on the Grand Canyon. You can find titles such as “In the Chasms of Water, Stone and Light.” This collection also has a number of guidebooks for Western national parks and beyond.
After enjoying those lovely photographs you might want to get out and explore parts of Arizona in your hiking boots. The library has a shelf full of hiking guides focused on Arizona trails. Be sure to take plenty of water when you head out! Consider signing up for a hike with the SaddleBrooke Hiking Club which can get you started hiking safely.
Prefer to travel by car? Look no further than the Travel collection at the DesertView Library. We have a variety of travel guides covering Arizona and the Southwest. Check out books like “Best Road Trips Southwest USA.”
While restaurants come and go, you can explore Arizona’s rich culinary traditions through the Library’s Cookbook Collection. Explore native foods, Mexican cuisine and more. Try a recipe or two from “Tastes and Treasures: a storytelling cookbook of historic Arizona” or “Arizona’s Best Recipes” from Arizona Highways magazine.
The DesertView Library is located on the west side of the DesertView building. The Library is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. If you’re not registered to use the libraries, it’s quick and easy when you stop in the library. The three SaddleBrooke Community Libraries are free for all SaddleBrooke residents to use. Learn more at: sblibraries.com.
Happy exploring!
As water lifeline evaporates, Arizona faces a cultural change over water use
