Family Travel with Colleen Kelly

Colleen K

Welcome to Tucson, Arizona, one of America's sunniest cities. Located in the Sonoran desert and surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson boasts natural beauty and a buzzing downtown. The area was inhabited by Native Americans for centuries before it became part of Mexico. In 1854, Tucson officially became a part of the United States. Today, the Tucson area is home to more than a million residents, and home to one of the top research universities in the country, the University of Arizona. With a thriving arts scene and hundreds of miles of bike paths, culture and adventure await you at every corner in Tucson. I'm Colleen Kelly and this is Family Travel. Welcome to Tucson, Arizona. In this episode of Family Travel, you'll see what makes Tucson the perfect destination for your next family vacation. Grab some sunscreen and join me, my friend Colleen Donahoe and our two girls on a mom-daughter getaway as we explore the city on two wheels and later, the desert on four hooves. We explore one of the largest Aviation Museum in the world, and mix our own guacamole at the home of the chimichanga. We get up close and personal to some of the deserts native resident, and then explore their home on horseback. My name is Colleen Kelly. When I was single, I lived abroad and traveled the world. Then I became a parent, and wondered, "How would I ever travel again?" I set out to find a new way to travel and get back to exploring the world family style. I'm here to guide you on how to get the most out of your family vacation. Pack your bags and join me, Colleen Kelly, we're going on vacation. Funding provided by--

Announcer

This show is sponsored by State Farm. When the unexpected happens, State Farm is here to help life go right.

Colleen K

First things first in Tucson, we want to get a lay of the land. My friend Colleen and her daughter Katie met up with some friends to kick off the trip on their bikes.

Jimmy

Hi, everybody.

Colleen D

Hi.

Katie

Hi.

Jimmy

Welcome to Tucson bike tours. Everybody ready to do some riding today?

Katie

Yes.

Colleen D

Yes.

Jimmy

I'm Jimmy, I got your bikes ready to go. We got helmets, we got water. Before we head out on the streets, we'll give you a preview of the tour here. We'll be going through the historic neighborhoods of Tucson. Tucson is a fairly old city, we got a lot of neat old buildings, history, quiet streets, little side alleys, so a lot of neat stuff to explore. About 10 miles today, no hills. If you're worried about hills, don't worry about it. We go ahead, get on the bikes here. I got them arranged by size more or less. We can this go ahead and get the bikes, we'll walk them up to the alley, and we'll do a test ride out there.

Colleen K

With our helmets strapped on, it's time to hit the street. First up, a trek across the famous Rattlesnakes Bridge, a local favorite. The bridge is connected to a mega 55-mile loop that encircles the city. If you listen closely, you may even hear the faint rattle of snakes tail. Next, we pedal to the train station. Centrally located in the heart of downtown, The Depot is as important today as it was in the 19th century.

Jimmy

Okay, we're here at the train station. This is a really important part of Tucson's history. The train arrived on March 20, 1880 and allowed Tucson to become a city. Prior to the railroad, it was just a little dusty outpost. It also allowed us to become part of the United States. Without the train, this would still be part of Mexico. Ever since the train's been here, the city has been growing steadily ever since. All right, next we'll be going to El Presidio, El Presidio is a historic Spanish neighborhood. One of the oldest neighborhoods in Tucson. We get El Charro, oldest Mexican restaurant in the country, and let's cruise past there, right at the pretty neighborhood.

Colleen K

Although the train helped Tucson become a bustling metropolis, remnants of the old city can still be found. The highlight of our bike tour is cruising by the historic colorful Sonoran Row House. Built in the mid-1850s, the homes are a standing reminder of the city's first residents. Hub Ice Cream is the perfect spot to cool down after the 10 mile ride around the city. We grab a cone and enjoy a few moments in the air conditioning. A visit to Tucson wouldn't be complete without a trip to the home of the chimichanga. Opened in 1922, El Charro Cafe is one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in the country, and has been run by the same family since it opened. We meet with the matriarch of the family chef Carlotta.

Carlotta

Bienvenidos. Welcome to El Charro in Tucson, Arizona.

Colleen K

Hi, thank you.

Carlotta

Home of the famous chimichanga. Today, I'm going to teach you how to make guacamole.

Colleen K

I love guacamole, we wanted to learn. This is great. Thank you.

Carlotta

Yes, watch me make it. I like to use also avocados. Very important that you don't try and get those that are too thin-skinned because they don't have enough fat and the guacamole never tastes right. I have ingredients set up for you. The avocado, I've already cut it. I have onions, tomato, and jalapeno. A little bit of lime because that keeps it from getting dark. A little bit of salt. I'm going to help you add the lime to your guacamole.

Colleen K

On the menu today is the famous El Charro chimichanga. A burrito stuffed with meat, cheese, and veggies fried and then top with a special sauce. When you come to Tucson, you have to eat at El Charro. I can tell you one thing, this place has lasted a hundred years, and I can see why. Am I right girls?

Girls

Yes.

Colleen K

Next up on our tour at Tucson, a museum unlike we've ever visited before.

Colleen D

Wow, look at that view, it's gorgeous.

Colleen K

At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, nature truly is the best teacher. Set at the Sonoran Desert, the mostly outdoor museum features a botanical garden with two miles of walking trails, a zoo and aquarium, plus an art institute which features works by local artists. We are excited and a little nervous to meet a couple of the museum's residents.

Jesus

Hello everybody, how are you?

Colleen K

Hello, how are you? What is this? Oh my gosh.

Jesus

Now we have a few of our desert residents here at the desert museum. Welcome to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This is one of the animals that most people come to see. This is an example of an animal that is so typically-- I guess he has by reputation. This is a desert tarantula.

Katie

Is she harmless?

Jesus

Absolutely. Even though all spiders have venom, this animal is venomous, but the venom does not do anything to humans. You might get a little rash, you will certainly feel it. They do have fangs and they do bite. Imagine two needles going into your skin if they were to bite you, but that's it.

Colleen K

But they won't? We're fine, right?

cross talk

Jesus

Yes, I've been handling tarantulas for 20 years. You know how many times I've been bitten? Zero.

Colleen K

Wow. Really?

Jesus

Exactly. This is an animal that is so common in the desert, they live everywhere pretty much. How about if I show you another animal that is the opposite? This animal often people consider it scary because he has too many legs. We like two legs, we like four legs, but eight legs-

Colleen K

That's a lot of legs.

Jesus

-that's a lot for a lot of people. I'm going to show you an animal that is the opposite because he has no legs.

Colleen Kelly

What do you think it could be?

Jesus

You ready?

Colleen K

No legs? That's a big animal.

Jesus

This one is a very typical Sonoran Desert dweller.

Colleen K

Oh my gosh.

Colleen D

What is it?

Jesus

This is a gopher snake.

Colleen K

What do you do if you come upon a snake like this? You shouldn't you be afraid, right?

Jesus

You shouldn't be afraid. You want to touch it? You can feel the scales that are very smooth. You can feel not only the smoothness of the scales, but you can feel the muscles. Can you feel the muscles?

Coleen K

Yes.

Jesus

This is a pretty big animal, this one is probably at least six feet tall.

Coleen K

Kind of an average for this type of snakes?

Jesus

Yes, they can get really big, so they can even get up to eight feet long. They do a lot of benefits to the desert because many people live in the desert have problems with pack rats. Rats can move in to your house because you have good shelter.

Coleen K

Napoleon loves rats.

Jesus

You have food, you have all kinds of thing, but if any of you have a gopher snake around, he will take care of the rats.

Coleen K

That's great.

Jesus

Understanding who eats what and how these animals really live in the desert. At the same time, remember that they were here before. All these animals, whether it's a bug, a spider, or a snake, they were here before we moved in the desert afterwards.

Coleen K

Yes, we invaded their territory.

crosstalk

Jesus

Exactly. Learning to live with them is really the great thing to do. The more we understand the residents, which means the animals that live there, the better we live.

Colleen D

I love it. I just love the fact that were learning about snakes, and I think it takes the fear out for children and for us, which is right.

Jesus

Absolutely.

Coleen K

Thank you.

Jesus

Have a great time visiting the desert museum.

Colleen D

All right, we will.

Colleen K

Gorgeous view, we're going to check out some more.

Jesus

You picked a beautiful day, absolutely.

Coleen D

Thank you.

Coleen K

The museum hosts around 400,000 people every year, and has many educational programs for children.

Parent

We always love coming out to the desert museum because the boys loved it; getting to see the different animals. Today, they got to touch stingrays and do a whole bunch of other stuff.

Child

Yes, but it got really hot today. I am the hottest boy in the fish pond so I could get real hot. Seeing all the new animals, I have never saw them before, that was my favorite part. My favorite part was seeing the coyotes.

Parent

This is like an opportunity for us as a homeschooled family to come learn about new environments and animals that we don't see in Alaska.

Colleen K

The museum spends nearly a hundred acres in the Sonoran Desert. Proving there's no better way to learn about the desert than in the desert itself. We're trading cacti for cockpits, and heading to one of the largest aviation museums in the world. Open since 1976, the Pima Air & Space Museum features more than 350 historical military, commercial, and civilian planes. From a plane flown by the Wright brothers to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A visit to the museum means a chance to marvel at the size of the planes.

Greg

When you see kids, because kids their attention span is short, but so many of them when they walk through the doors initially, being little kids they'll sit there and they'll look at this plane there and they'd just get a, "Oh wow." They're just kind of dumbfounded. Even the high active ones, they don't run around, they're just standing there and staring at the plane.

Colleen K

The museum is interactive, offering kids the chance to climb inside the cockpit, test flight routes in an air traffic control room, and get up close and personal to hundreds of planes.

Child

There I've seen nothing before.

Female

I think it was really amazing. I've never been here before, so seeing all these, they're huge, and I didn't expect that.

laughs

Child

Loved seeing just all the planes and it was really fun.

Colleen K

Did you like going inside those?

Child

Yes, I love going in the control panels and things. Really fun, I felt like a real pilot.

Male

It's almost overwhelming, there's so much here.

Female

The woman in flight display is incredible, there's a lot more to it than I ever knew.

Child

Driving the plane.

Parent

Yes, there's a training plane that you get to get in and push all the buttons. That's really fun.

Male

It's really informative, it's an amazing place.

Colleen K

The museum also offers kids an opportunity to build their own plane. Look at this one, it's her's shorter? Yes, it's a shorter plane, let's see yours. That's good, that's a nice longer plane. Let's see your Katie, very nice. Good job.

Katie

That's my plane.

Colleen K

I think we should fly these and maybe the moms judge. What do you think?

Colleen D

Yes, for distance?

Colleen K

That sound good?

Colleen D

Distance and form?

Colleen K

All right, let's go fly them. Ready?

Katie

Yes.

Colleen D

Let's go.

Colleen K

The Pima Air & Space Museum is the third largest aviation museum in the world. You can see all kinds of planes here and even build your own. All right girls, ready for take off? Looks like Shay's went the farthest. The museum's 80 acre campus includes 6 outdoor hangars and an outdoor exhibit. It's time to saddle up and head to the dude ranch. A short 20-minute drive from downtown Tucson is all it takes to be transported to the old southwest. Nestled on five square miles of the Sonoran Desert, the White Stallion Ranch has been run by the same family since 1965. Today, the ranch offers visitors all the charm of the ranch experience and modern conveniences. We start our day on horseback, which is the only way to get practice. All right, ready to go to a cowboy cookout? I've never done this before.

laughs

Colleen K

Ranch hands pair riders with horses based on the experience level and personality. Most visitors will get to ride the same horse throughout their stay. Ready to saddle up and head up to the cookout. You ready?

Colleen D

Yes.

Colleen K

All right, let's go. Here we go. You guys sit back like this, like a real cowgirl does. I don't know what happens but I seem to get an accent when I'm out here. Cowgirl accent. A nice slow trail ride works up quite an appetite. Here at the White Stallion Ranch, to get breakfast, you have to hop on a horse and ride on a 30-minute trail, but this is what you get. It's amazing.

bell

Colleen K

I got to go, breakfast.

Russell

Eggs?

Colleen K

Okay,

crosstalk

Colleen D

That looks great.

Russell

There you go, and we have pancakes on the other side over there.

Colleen K

This morning, we're lucky to have a very special cowboy serving our breakfast. Ranch owner, Russell.

Russell

Pancakes are over there.

Colleen K

I would like it all. Thanks, Russell. Russell, you're the owner of this ranch, right?

Russell

I'm one of them.

Colleen K

This is a family run ranch?

Russell

Yes, that's my son over there. Here is the pancake cook.

Colleen K

Wow, hi.

laughs

Colleen K

We find a spot under the tent to enjoy our cowgirl breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and pancakes. I think you picked the right spot, don't you think?

Female

They have fun there. Go to a place, not a restaurant, just down at nature and have awesome food. I was wondering as we're right out here, "How are they going to be able to pull it off? Is the food going to taste good then?" I was thinking, "How it's going to be fresh, it won't be warm?" It was awesome, it was so good. The pancakes, perfect. We always enjoy a good breakfast, but definitely much more in the great outdoors.

Colleen K

It's early in the day but we've already learned one thing, everything tastes better on the ranch.

Colleen D

It's good, good stuff. It's cowboy coffee. Cowgirl coffee. Tastes better. It's better on the range, at least I think so. It's a mom-daughter getaway.

Colleen K

I'm ready to saddle, are you ready?

Colleen D

Yes.

Colleen K

That's what they say out here, right?

Russell

Yes.

Colleen K

All right, let's go saddle up girl, okay?

Shay

Okay.

laughs

Colleen K

All right, let's go. How's it feel Shay?

Shay

Feels good.

Colleen K

With our bellies full, it's time to hit the trail again. At the White Stallion Ranch, visitors can opt for slow or fast horseback rides. We decide on the slow ride which will give our ranch hand, Gabe, time to teach us about native plants and animals. Come on baby, come on Sally. Go over by Shay. You ready girls? Here we go. Getting on up. Our horses fall into a single bi-line in the trail as we soak in the hot desert sun. Hat, sunglasses, and water are an absolute must for a comfortable ride. Any trail ride at White Stallion Ranch will bring you past hundreds of Saguaro cacti, a kind of cactus you could only find in the Sonoran Desert.

Gabe

It takes 50 to 75 years to grow an arm. Then it starts growing arms according to how much water it's getting.

Colleen K

How old is this one?

Gabe

It could be a couple hundred years.

Colleen K

200 years old, that's amazing. This is beautiful out here. The Sonoran desert is also home to animals like longhorns, jackrabbits, lizards, and snakes.

Gabe

Tons of snakes.

Colleen K

Rattlesnakes?

Gabe

Yes, ma'am.

Colleen K

They're afraid of us.

laughs

Well-- Colleen K

Just avoid them, that's always good. There's nothing like exploring the desert on horseback to make you feel like a cowgirl. You know what, I love Gab. As moms we're out here with our kids, nobody's on an iPhone. We're just enjoying the nature and all this beauty in the outdoors. Don't you love it?

Colleen D

Yes, and exercise too.

Gabe

I agree.

laughs

Colleen D

That too. Let's go.

Colleen K

It's time to head back to the ranch and cool off in the pool. Although the White Stallion Ranch is all about the horses, it offers plenty of other things for families to do. Visitors can hop in the pool or hot tub, take on the hiking trails, play a game of basketball or tennis, explore the game room, or catch a flick in the movie theater. When late afternoon rolls around, it's time to head back to the stables for the main event, team penning.

White Stallion Ranch Host

Team cattle penny is something all around the country, and people do it competitively. Some people are very serious about it. Here, it's just about fun.

Colleen K

When you come to the White Stallion Ranch, you can be a part of team penning, and the whole goal is to get the cattle into the pen. We chose to be spectators throughout because you need this too, right? All right, let's watch this.

Male Speaker

Try to get around a little faster.

laughter

Male Speaker

White Stallion Ranch Host

It is based on real ranch work. It's going on at ranches, feedlots, and auction yards all over the country, all the time, separating, moving cattle. It's a competitive thing. Not so competitive here but still a little bit. Where people get to be on their own, try out what they've learned, and find out that they can really do a little more than then expected. It's just win, win, win and you know what the greatest thing from our perspective is a horse's love it too. Good job, Jerry. Stay back just a little. Perfect, just right there. Let them last first, that's good.

Colleen K

Great job.

White Stallion Ranch Host

Team penning, it is the main event here. While we have all this other stuff, I know people who come back here specifically because they are addicted to team penning. Oh my gosh. You guys are doing great.

Colleen K

We chose to be spectators today because you need spectators, right? I'm really regretting it, I really think we should have gone out there.

Colleen D

It looks a lot of fun.

Colleen K

Yes, it looks like so much fun. Next time, if any of you visit here definitely get out there and do this. It's well worth it. For now we'll just cheer. Okay?

cheering

Colleen K

Sunny days bring breathtaking sunsets. If you learned anything in Tucson, it's to step outside at dusk tonight and marvel at the beauty of this sky. It's been quite an adventure in Tucson, from exploring the historic neighborhoods of Tucson on two wheels, to spending time on the ranch. We cherished every moment in this charming southern Arizona town, we can't wait to come back. From the ranch at Tucson, Arizona, thanks for watching Family Travel, I'm Colleen Kelly. Enjoy making memories in your next family vacation. Happy trails. Funding provided by--

Announcer

This show is sponsored by State Farm. When the unexpected happens, State Farm is here to help life go right.

Colleen K

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