Joeann's View

It’s been a very hot summer with almost no rain. So, tennis took place pretty early most days to be off the courts before it reached 100 degrees. During the month of September, the Oro Valley Community Center was still closed for indoor activities. The tennis and pickleball courts, being outside, have been available on a first come, first served…

Wanting to be safe, but missing music and going out, I was excited when I saw The Coolers were going to perform at the Gaslight Music Hall’s parking lot! Creative thinking abounds amongst those willing to forgo the “old” ways and forge new ways. Outside entertainment, from old style drive-in movies to music performances, is increasingly available in venues planned…

ALERT: Beginning October 15, the pre-travel testing program is available for travelers to Hawaii as an alternative to the 14-day quarantine. Click HERE to learn more. We have reservations for January for three weeks on the Island of Hawaii. Right now, there is still a 21 day quarantine in place to visit that was set to expire September 30, but looks like it…

Road trips are my favorite way to travel. In the time of COVID-19, they are probably the safest too. After staying home for weeks (really months now), we decided a change of scenery and some wine could change up the repeating Groundhog Days we were waking up to each day. A road trip to Willcox provided the perfect solution. The…

August was hot and dry. The COVID-19 situation in Arizona is getting better but health clubs are still shut down. Luckily the tennis courts are safe and open and the Oro Valley Community Center is not charging their monthly fee. One of the biggest downsides has been the lack of indoor plumbing while we are there. Surprisingly, after I had…

July was a hot, dry month, but we managed to get out almost every single day. I feel so blessed that this exercise is safe, available, and close by. The Community Center is currently closed with gyms being closed as our numbers of infections here in Arizona are up. This means we aren’t having to pay monthly dues and the…

Bub got a new WINO shirt, but it hasn’t hurt his game at all! Summer has come to Arizona. This morning, when we left for an 8 AM game, it was already 92 degrees! So we are playing as early as we can get a court or get out. Bub seems to be less bothered by it. Must be his…

My friend and travel blogger, Stacey Wittig, aka UNSTOPPABLE Stacey, has brought together five travel writers who each share their favorite place to stay in Albuquerque. I was happy to share my favorite, Los Poblanos Inn. Ready for a summer road trip? You can read about the lavender fields and accommodations at Los Poblanos, along with four other great places…

What fun I had last Fall on a Press Trip to Albuquerque! Together with seven other travel writers, I enjoyed the “best” of Albuquerque. We stayed at Hotel Chaco on the outskirts of Old Town in the evolving Sawmill District. There was so much to do and see, it’s going to take at least another trip to enjoy it even…

On our 2019 Summer road trip, we found a new favorite place! When we had stopped in Winslow at La Posada, I told innkeeper, Allen Affledt, that we enjoyed historic hotels including his other hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, The Plaza, and we were looking forward to visiting The Castaneda Hotel when it opened. He asked if we’d ever…