I was looking for National Park campground information online when I came across this:

“Bunk in a Fire Lookout Tower – These are mostly historic fire lookouts once used by wildland firefighters, like 55-foot tall Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout located at 10,000 feet.”

I’ve seen these towers in the distance, perched over Arizona forests, and thought how awesome it would be to see the view from there. I had no idea it was a possibility (without years of training and a Forest Service job) until I read that. I also hadn’t thought about them no longer being in use.

I guess nowadays fires just send a text-?

The catch:

“Most offer panoramic views of mountains, forests and wildlife but may not offer electricity, running water, or road access.”

You may have to pack in all your food, water, and gear. You may also have to climb down a ladder to use the bathroom.

Inconvenient, but still, I’d stay in one for a night.

How about you?

—

How to find fire towers you can stay in on recreation.gov:

Type “camp” in the search box.
Under category, choose “campgrounds.”
Under looking for, choose “lookouts.”

—

Images via recreation.gov (except #2).

Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout, Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming.
Via iOS7 Text generator.
Bald Butte Lookout, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Oregon. “The lookout was built in 1931 and served as a Forest Service fire detection site for over 50 years. It was constructed from an Aladdin L4 ground-mounted lookout kit in which all of the pieces were pre-cut in six-foot lengths or less so the entire kit could be packed by horses into the remote site.”
(+ top/featured image) McCart Lookout, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana. “It has been restored to reflect a lookout of the 1940s, including the stove, furniture, dishes and other small touches.”
Screenshot.

This is our monthly curated roundup of maker/artist/explorer events!

Angle brackets (>>) point to related info on our site.

U.S.

National Park Service Centennial

Aug 25. There are programs throughout the United States to celebrate the Park Service’s 100th birthday.

Now – 2017. Art Quilt Tour: 13 art quilts created in celebration the National Park Service Centennial are touring the National Parks they depict now through 2017.
Read on to find out about celebrations in Arizona, Hawaii, and Massachusetts!

+Arizona

>>June in Arizona is not the end of the world! Here are some events that show life goes on, even when it’s really hot outside…

Maurice Sendak art exhibit

Now – Jul 17 at Burton Barr Central Library. 50 original pencil drawings and other early images from Where the Wild Things Are author and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

IN FLUX Cycle 6

Now – Dec at various Phoenix-area locations. Temporary, site-specific public art installations by local artists.

Meet an Astronomer

Jun 17, 7:30pm at Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff. Meet a Lowell astronomer and ask astronomy questions! There will also be real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects displayed on a large outdoor screen.

Part of new “Meet an Astronomer” series Friday and Saturday evenings in June, July and August.

Classic Saturdays

Jun 18, 10am at Heritage Library, Yuma. A free weekly event featuring classic movies and movies filmed in Yuma.
>>Our trip to Yuma.

The Tucson 23: A Mexican Food Festival

Jun 18, 6pm at JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa, Tucson.

Tucson Movies in the Park

Jun 24, Jul 8, Jul 22, Aug 5, Aug 19 at Reid Park, Demeester Performing Arts Pavilion, Tucson. Free admission.
>>Ongoing Phoenix-area movie events.

Bites Donuts Pop-up

Jun 26, 8am at Peixoto Coffee, Chandler.
>>You’ll want coffee with that.

Sewing Classes with Oxford Dogma

Jul 6, 6pm. Simple Zipper Pouch at TechShop Chandler.
Aug 3, 6pm. Sew a Waxed Canvas Shave Kit at TechShop Chandler.

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration

Jul 9, 10am at Heard Museum. Art exhibition by the Phoenix Fridas, live mariachi music, and cake!
>>Last year we saw artwork by members of the Phoenix Fridas at Burton Barr Central Library (Phoenix).

CraftHack

2nd Mondays, 6pm at Gangplank Chandler. Free monthly meet-up of artists and crafters. Learn something new or bring your own project to work on!

Jul 11: Seed “Bombs” and Seed Tape
Aug 8: Project TBD

Hilton Indoor Fine Art Festival

Jul 16, 10am-6pm at Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort.
Juried fine arts festival with artisan displays from around the region and live strolling acoustic violin, jazz and bluegrass performances.

National Park Service Parks in the Pines Birthday Bash

Aug 20, 10am-5pm at Flagstaff City Hall Parking Lot. Celebrate the National Park Service’s centennial with a free park fair, photo booths, and cake.

Yuma Jazz Company: Lutes Summer Jazz Series

Now – August 19 Friday nights at Lutes Casino, Yuma.
>>We saw YJC perform when we were in Yuma. We also had lunch at Lutes Casino.

+California

The Junk Show

Jul 10, 8pm at Copper Still, Los Angeles. A monthly comedy-focused variety show at the bar inside Jaraguá Salvadoran restaurant.

#BlogHer16: Experts Among Us

Aug 4 – 6 at JW Marriott LA Live, Los Angeles. BlogHer annual conference.

Aug 6, 10:30am. Mobile-Readiness Blog Review Geek Lab: I’ll be leading this interactive small group session. (See online schedule.)
Watch for a BlogHer registration discount in our next newsletter!

+Colorado

Animalia exhibition

Now – August 21 at Loveland Museum/Gallery, Loveland. Art with animals as the subject, which explores their complex relationship with humans.

July 8, 5:30 pm. Thought to Finish: Natural Artist Laney will produce a wildlife painting in front of viewers from beginning to end.
“The Rat Race” sculpture (and photo) above by Ken Newman will be included in the exhibit.

+Hawaii

Volcano Art Center

“Where people, art, and nature meet.” Educational center and fine arts gallery with handcrafted work by over 300 local artists, as well as a performance series and rain forest tours in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Jul 15 – Aug 7. “Quilts in the Forest, Quilts in the Park” at Niaulani campus: Volcano Art Center’s first annual quilt show, in celebration of the 100th birthday of both Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the National Park Service.
Mondays at 9:30am. Weekly Forest Tours at Niaulani campus: Free, one-hour guided tour to learn about Niaulani rain forest and other rare native Hawaiian rain forests.
Photo above by volcano art center on Flickr.

Free Ukulele Lessons

Now – Dec 26. Monday mornings at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Visitor Center. Learn to play basic cords on the ukulele!

+Indiana

Outdoor Concerts in Indianapolis

There’s a great round-up of free summer concerts on the Visit Indy blog.

Now – Aug 3. Summer Under The Sails at The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Wednesday evenings and midday Thursdays.
Jun 22, 8pm. Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra with Fireworks at Garfield Park. Part of Indy Parks 2016 Summer Concert Series.
Now – Dec 16. Fountain Square 3rd Friday Music Series at New Day Craft monthly.

>>Our visit to Fountain Square.

+Massachusetts

Bring the Park to the People!

Aug 20, 1-4pm at Eagle Park, Lowell. Interactive pop-up museums with crafts and informational materials, neighborhood tours, and a community weaving project in celebration of the National Park Service’s 100th birthday.

+New York

Point of Vision: Celebrating Women Artists in Fantasy and Science Fiction

Now – Aug 20 at Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators, New York.

The Great Food Truck Derby

Aug 19, 4pm at Hayground School, Bridgehampton. At least 15 New York City and Long Island food trucks serve food and drink during the Community farmers market. Event benefits Hayground schoolyard projects providing culinary arts training for local kids. (Graphic via Edible East End.)

+Virginia

Virginia Craft Brewers Fest

Aug 20 at Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows. Celebration of Virginia’s craft beer industry.

>>Over 60 participating breweries, including South Street, which we visited in Charlottesville.

+Washington

Graphic Masters: Dürer, Rembrandt, Hogarth, Goya, Picasso, R. Crumb

Now – Aug 28 at Seattle Art Musuem. Exploration of how six historical artists used prints and drawings to express personal sentiments.

+Washington DC

Objects Out of Storage

In conjunction with the ongoing Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project, the Objects Out of Storage program temporarily displays related objects with talks from experts at National Museum of American History about once a month.