Arizona 2008 Official State Visitor's Guide - (Page 51) Apache Junction sits at the base of the craggy Superstition Mountains. There, you can hike for miles without seeing a soul or search for the legendary Lost Dutchman gold mine. For those who don’t want to wander too far afield, Lost Dutchman State Park offers more contained desert hiking and, winter rains permitting, beautiful spring wildflowers. Goldfield Ghost Town is good oldfashioned tourist fun, with its saloon, mine tours and train rides. If you are serious about that Lost Dutchman gold mine, Goldfield’s museum exhibits plenty of old ‘X marks the spot’ maps that supposedly lead to the gold. From Apache Junction, it’s just up the road to more watery recreation at Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt lakes. GlenDale anD the WeSt Valley For a long time, Glendale’s major appeal was its old-fashioned, carefully preserved downtown district, which has become a favorite destination for antiques and collectibles hunters, not to mention a great place for a tea-andsalad lunch. Picture Perfect here’s a selection of places to capture great vacation memories: k White Tank Mountain Regional Park’s Waterfall Trail, early morning after a rain. It’s a short, easy hike to this spot where water appears, seemingly by magic, after a good downpour. k Lost Dutchman State Park, late February through March, for desert wildflowers at the base of a craggy mountain. Abundant fall and winter rain means plentiful wildflowers. k Top of Piestewa Peak. The reward for a vigorous hike uphill is a great view of downtown below. Early morning is best for light and cooler temps. k The LOVE sculpture, Civic Center Mall. Gather your LOVEd ones around Robert Indiana’s iconic sculpture, set on the lawn between the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts and the Civic Center Library. k Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s cactus garden, early morning. Keep walking the main trail and you’ll find even more photogenic spots at this hidden gem of a garden. Lost Dutchman State Park ©AOT w w w.ari zonaguide.com • 51 http://www.incelebrationofgolf.com http://www.incelebrationofgolf.com http://www.arizonaguide.com
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