All the Holiday Markets in Southern Arizona….

Made in Tucson Market booths set up along a blocked-off street

…that I could find!

After scouring the internet, soliciting suggestions, and searching down information spotted on banners and little roadside signs, I found around 100 upcoming pop-ups across a large swath of Arizona south of Picacho Peak.

Some are traditional holiday season markets and others are part of larger events or part of events that just happen to occur in November or December. Most of them are free. Many not only fundraise for the participating artists and crafters, but for other causes, community groups, schools, or organizations.

Where I could, I’ve included a few more details about what types of things you can find at the market and what other activities may be happening there. I tried to only include markets with handmade items for sale, but that’s not always clear.

Continue reading “All the Holiday Markets in Southern Arizona….”

Roadside Motel Gets Elevated

Exterior or Hotel Elev8 in Flagstaff, Arizona

The last time we were in Flagstaff we stayed in a cute, recently-renovated motel called Hotel Elev8. It was pet friendly, had free wifi and little local gifts for sale in the lobby.

Quijote the dog in front of a Hotel Elev8 sign

local gifts
Gift shop goodies!

There’s also an outdoor pool, indoor hot tub, and a sauna – in case you need to warm up or cool off.

Hotel Elev8 hot tub

When I say the place was recently renovated, I mean some of the construction was still in progress when we were there, but it was already a nice place to stay.

Landscape photography and a "renovations in progress" sign at Hotel Elev8.
Landscape photography and a “renovations in progress” sign at Hotel Elev8.

Location

Hotel Elev8 is about 10 minutes from Downtown Flagstaff. It’s actually right off I-40, which basically follows the historic Route 66.
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What it’s all about

Steamroller prints

Recently I revised the About Travelcraft Journal page. Here are some slightly rambley thoughts that expand on what I ended up putting there…

lace tatting in process

This is about exploring the world around you with an open heart. Continuing to be curious and taking the risk of trying new things. Finding the beauty and uniqueness – appreciating the particular quirks – of wherever you happen to be.

7 Magic Mountains outside of Las Vegas

It’s about uplifting independent shops and eateries, art, makers and micro-businesses.

jalapeño donuts

Even if the result is not to your taste, you can take notice of the time, effort, thought, and expertise someone puts in. You can admire the process, the craft of it. And tell a friend.

crowds at the Women's March in Phoenix, where one woman is holding up a handmade sign that says "solidarity" with a rainbow

Supporting what is individual, handmade, human, unusual, and often imperfect is to resist de-personalization. To push back against forces pressuring conformity and throwing away anyone who doesn’t fit the mold. The ones that stand to profit from treating people as commodities.

large mosaic that says "Be Kind"

Above all, it’s about striving to practice kindness to our neighbors worldwide, to nature, to ourselves.

It’s about practicing humanity.

Free Admission to Arizona Museums with the Culture Pass

Burton Barr library reading tables

Updated May 2025.
Originally posted November 2017.


Over 30 Arizona museums and attractions offer free passes to local library card holders through the Culture Pass program!

Tucson Botanical Gardens
“G’s Horn” sculpture of bronze and living plants by Robert Wick at Tucson Botanical Gardens.

What is a Culture Pass?

Culture Passes are a limited number of free admissions to cultural, historic, and other educational sites in Arizona that libraries make available to patrons. It was created by Act One, a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

Culture pass
Culture Passes from 2017 (old design)

Libraries that offer Culture Passes have a certain number available for each museum, etc.  Different libraries have a different selection and number of Culture Passes that they offer.

long reading tables with lamps and library bookshelves in the background
Great Reading Room at Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix

About 175 libraries statewide and the library districts for 11 out of Arizona’s 15 counties participate in this program.

pathway through desert plants with a mosaic of the Desert Botanical Garden logo
Desert Botanical Garden pathway

Tucson library card in front of a Tucson library

Who Can Check Out a Culture Pass?

To check out a culture pass you must…

  • Be a current cardholder for a participating library.
  • Live in the district (or be a member of the community) that library serves.
  • Be 18 or over.

 

abstract sculptures at Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson
“Measures of Separation” sculptures by Nazafarin Lotfi at Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson

How to Use a Culture Pass

Each pass is good for free general admission for two people on one visit.

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Weird Reviews: As Advertised

It’s time for the next installment of our occasional series of absurd, puzzling, and/or just plain silly reviews I found online! This time, the reviews are for four different things. I share excerpts from each review (with slight edits), comment on it, and include screenshots of the original posts.

 

Eagle Falls
Photo by Google User Dmitriy Zhuravlev.

1. Cascade

Reviewed: Eagle Falls, Emerald Bay State Park, CA

“Nice views of the bay, but windy.”

Result: 5 stars for nature, despite the fact that it’s outdoors.

Continue reading “Weird Reviews: As Advertised”