Papago Park Activities with Tori
Allow me to introduce you to one of my best friends: Tori! A few days ago, Tori took me out to the Desert Botanical Garden and Hole In The Rock, some super cool spots that I’ve decided to group under Papago Park Activities. This area has so many different activities and attractions, so it was fun to explore a few of these places with Tori, learning a little bit more about her along the way!
For our first (and only planned) stop, we went over to the Desert Botanical Garden. This attraction in South Scottsdale is known for its variety of native plants, showcasing the beauty that is found across our Sonoran Desert. On this particular afternoon, I picked up Tori and we made our way out to the Desert Botanical Garden. Tori and her family have a membership, so we were able to get right in and start exploring. From the entrance, it didn’t seem like the property had a large footprint, but I quickly found a way to get lost among the twists and turns of the 140-acre property. Tori has done a number of summer camps and different programs at the Desert Botanical Garden, learning a lot about the flora and fauna, as well as what the organization does for the community. Tori and her family have spent much time at the gardens, but she specifically noted the times she went with her great aunt.
Since neither of us had much going on for the rest of the day, we talked about heading over to the Phoenix Zoo, which is directly next door to the Desert Botanical Garden, but the tickets are pretty expensive. Instead, we opted for the free option, Hole In The Rock. This rock formation is a small part of Papago Park, and requires a two minute hike to reach the summit. When you reach the opening, you’re greeted with breathtaking, sweeping views of South and Downtown Phoenix, the airport, and Tempe. If you’ve driven through the Papago Park area, you’ve definitely noticed these interesting mountain formations that stick out from the one’s we’re used to seeing around town. I’ve never been to this place before, but I’m really glad Tori took me here too. Even though it was pretty early in the afternoon, there was a decent crowd gathered, including a very nice woman who took our picture! It sounds like sunset is the prime time to come to this spot, so I will definitely be back with more of my friends. There are plenty of natural spots to sit and relax, so this could be a cool place to relax and enjoy the outdoors for a little while. Tori noted how out-of-place Papago Park seems. “It’s so close to home, yet you feel like you’re in a completely different world!”
Tori has lived in Phoenix since she was born, but she recently moved away to attend Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi. She’s majoring in Finance & Banking, and has really been enjoying her time in college. Tori and her family have deep Arizona roots as both of her parents grew up in Phoenix as well. She’s shared some of her favorite memories with her family, particularly outdoors, and believes that Phoenix is special for its unique weather and landscapes. “It's just a place where you can experience the outdoors, enjoy what's going on, and live in the moment. There's so many different opportunities… and you really can’t run out of things to find and experience.” Tori decided to take me to the Desert Botanical Garden and Hole In The Rock because they are great examples of what we have to offer in Phoenix. She has many stories to tell about her experiences in this area, and was very excited at the prospect of introducing me to the opportunities available.
I got to know Tori while she attended Shadow Mountain, and we got pretty close as the years went on. She was also a DAAPS student, and graduated last year. Her capstone project focused on the stock market; she traded some of her own money to get experience in how the market can fluctuate, etc. One of my favorite memories with Tori is when we went out to take yearbook photos of the golf team. The course gave us a free cart, so we were able to swerve around the golf course while getting some good shots for the yearbook.
It was so much fun getting to see Tori while she was in town! She had a pretty long winter break, so we had a bunch of time to catch up and go on some more adventures. She was a little caught off-guard by my final question, but would bring ABBA’s discography with her to a deserted island.
