In our last blog post, we wrote about Red Flags and Blue Dots: Mapping a Midwest Road Trip. We continue that exploration in this post, as we reflect on our recent 2025 USA trips. In February we traveled to Arizona; in March, we went to Nevada and Utah.
Arizona: Land of Contradictions and Connections
We’d been to Arizona previously and made the requisite visit to the Grand Canyon. This trip to Tucson was a brief respite from the cold and gray skies that permeate Louisville in February. In addition to seeking some sun, we chose Tucson because of the warmth of visiting friends who live there.
When we arrived, we had a long wait in line for our rental car. To pass the time, we chatted with Mike and Karla who were visiting from Minnesota. Larry noticed Mike’s golf clubs and Karla noticed Erlene’s book. Fairly soon into the conversation, we recognized a shared political connection. Erlene passed along the book I’d just finished to my new reading friend; Larry and Mike shared golfing stories. We parted with renewed commitment and connection for saving our democracy. Blue Dots Unite!
After procuring our vehicle, we picked up our dear Dylan—whom we met when we hosted him for a few months as he worked on the governor’s winning political campaign—at his tiny (albeit, perfectly enough) sunny yellow casita. Dylan steered us on a brief tour around downtown Tucson, including the Arizona State University campus where he’s in law school. And, we had a delectable dinner at the iconic Hotel Congress.
We stayed a couple days with Mary and Rich in their resplendent Architectural Digest-worthy home in Oro Valley, with an exquisite view of Mount Lemmon and the Sonoran Desert. Golf outings, good walks, and good talks made the visit pleasant and relaxing. We had an excellent dinner at Boca (BEST Tacos!). We tried a local favorite, the Sonoran hot dog, a specialty in Tucson. And, of course, we had to take in the local bookstore Antigone Books. Other highlights included a day trip to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with a beautiful botanical garden. We also had a lovely day in Tubac, an arts community south of Tucson and a few miles north of the Mexican border. While there, we enjoyed an excellent lunch at Elvira’s, a local favorite.
We realized on this visit that—even with all our travels—this was the first time we’d spent time in a desert environment. The stark landscape, with pops of color and plays of light, was startling and evocative. We were awed by the beauty, even whilst realizing this particular topography was not our preferred home.
Dubbed the “land of contradictions,” Arizona is home to expansive canyons, arid deserts, and evergreen forests.This visit was a reminder that diversity is a big part of what makes our country—and the world—so beautiful. We don’t have to like the same landscapes to recognize and celebrate the inherent splendor of the world and our connections in it. As well as, the urgent need to protect it.
Nevada: Vegas Is Not Our Vibe, But You Can Bet We Had a Good Time
In mid-March, we flew to Las Vegas, Nevada for a social work education conference. We’ve been to Las Vegas before—and frankly, it’s not really our vibe. In our previous visit, Larry enjoyed playing Blackjack; Erlene enjoyed a spa day; and we both enjoyed a couple shows. That one visit was enough to get our fill of the novelty of the gaudy glitz of the Strip. On our previous trip, we also visited Hoover Dam and the best dam tour we’ve ever taken. (Wink!) Very impressive.
This trip, we stayed in conference mode. One part of travel that’s sometimes overlooked is just the fun of staying in a hotel. After a long travel day, we cozied in the room that evening with a splurge on a room service burger, fries, and beer. (Food was expensive!) Over the next few days, we presented multiple times, connected with colleagues, and used our hotel room as a retreat. Although not our favorite city to visit, we enjoyed our experience.
Utah: Serenity in the Red Rocks, Solidarity in the Blue Dots
From Las Vegas and after the conference, we rented a car and drove up to St. George, Utah, which we used as home base for day trips in the famous Red Rock Country. Our first time in Utah, we were awed by the vast, blue skies and increasingly red-rocked terrain.
This area is VERY RED, both geologically and politically. The strong, conservative Mormon influence permeates. In our travels, we sometimes experience the positive contributions of religion’s compassionate hearts and community spirit. All too often, however, we see the harmful effects of narrow-minds and hypocritical divisiveness.
Our first evening in St. George, as we typically do, we sought out a local farm-to-table restaurant Wood-Ash-Rye. With fresh food, creative drinks, and attentive service, the place was packed. Seated in close proximity to another table, the occupants—a brown couple and single white woman—initiated a friendly chat. Quickly, we ascertained political commonalities. The couple had moved there from California; the woman from Wisconsin. They shared some of the challenges of living in the ultra-conservative culture—especially religious insularity and hypocrisy. However, they kept emphasizing the natural beauty of the area.
Over the next couple days, we went to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. The rugged, splendid beauty is awe-inspiring. No pictures can possibly do it justice.
It was the beginning of the tourist season. Staff were unfailingly gracious—and harried. From restaurants to bathroom cleaners, and all along the way, we were told, “Sorry for the wait, we’re short-staffed.” These parks are an incredibly precious part of our country—and global beauty. At the entrance, we saw two women holding “Save our Parks” protest signs related to recent, reckless staffing cuts by the Republican administration; we honked our car horn and waved in solidarity.
As mentioned earlier, especially in Red areas, we seek out Blue-dot businesses. On Sunday, when we returned from a lovely day in the park, we looked for a local eatery. Most restaurants were closed. We spied Pizzeria Lemone. Yum! This unique pizza place has an interesting history; the pizza was so good, we ate there the next day, as well.
We chose not to indulge in the ubiquitous dirty soda craze phenomena. In a case of emblematic irony, the LDS church prohibits drinking tea and coffee—as part of a “healthy body” commitment. However, it’s deemed perfectly fine to guzzle “dirty” sodas—with all kinds of sweet, unhealthy additions! Locals line up, from morning to night, to ingest these concoctions. Notably, Utah was the first state to prohibit fluoride in the water. As demonstrated by the prevalent billboards, there’s a glut of dentists in the state. Hmmm…wonder about that linkage.
America, the Beautiful, Bountiful, Brave
Speaking of education, as we routinely do, we sought out the blue dot of a local bookstore. The Book Bungalow—tagline, “The literary soul of our community”—is a lovely, inviting space, located in downtown St. George. We perused the shelves and soaked in the ambiance, buying a few books.
To support local writers, we purchased Canyon Chorus, by Red Rock Writers—a collective of 10 local poets.
Marie Tollstrup, “Zion Inventory”:
“When taking inventory,
I journey to nature,
A sanctuary to salvage serenity…”
America has many flaws—and these flaws are being MAGA-nified and weaponized in the current era. The cruelty and chaos can be overwhelming. We, the people, must join together in beautiful, bountiful, and brave ways. Find and magnify blue dots of solidarity—such as connections with kindred spirits and local bookstores. And, indeed, seek sanctuary in the awe of nature—even, and perhaps especially, amidst the red rocks.
