Arizona, we are so back.

With my first month of travels in 2025 under my belt, I am very happy to report that I have made my way back to the desert. The first destination on my nomadic journey that I have visited twice. 

Following the holiday season in Michigan I found myself packing up my car for the 14th time to embark on a nearly 2,000 mile cross country journey back to Phoenix, AZ.

Having the free will and the ability to travel just about anywhere, you might be asking yourself right now why I would be visiting a destination in which I have already been.

To which I would respond is a great question.

 

After having lived in a plethora of environments, I knew that I wanted to experience another snow-free winter, but didn’t necessarily want to spend the winter months on the shores of Florida. Yes, there are a handful of other destinations here in the US that would have fit the bill perfectly for this time of year, but I felt drawn back to the desert. 

 

After spending the winter months here last year, and experiencing all that this beautiful state had to offer, I knew that returning would be a safe bet. It is also hard to say no to sunny and 68-72 degree days. Yes, every single day is actually that nice. 

My ideal weather tbh. Seasonal depression, who?  

Outside of the perfect weather, Phoenix is pretty centrally located making it the ideal place to reside and take weekend or day trips. The food scene is fabulous and there is a ton of incredible hiking in the area. 

I will be honest, there was some guilt that came with choosing to return to a location that I have already been. I feel that I am in a state of constant competition with myself. Pushing myself to see as much as I can, do as much as I can and it almost in a way felt like a set back knowing I wouldn’t be exploring a ‘new’ place. 

 

That feeling lasted all of 5 minutes because as soon as I got back to this city and state, I was very much so happy to be here. I decided to stay in the same casita as last year, both the space and the landlords were too great to not circle back to. 

As someone that deals with constant change, I cannot even begin to express to you how comforting it was returning to a place in which not everything was unfamiliar. 

I knew where I would put all of my things in the unit, where my clothes would go in the dresser, how to get to the grocery without using my GPS. All of the things that can make transitioning into a new space stressful were essentially eliminated. 

After spending nearly six weeks with my family for the holidays, I knew getting back on the road and adjusting to being on my own would be difficult. It is always hard leaving home, especially after being there and getting comfortable for an extended period of time. 

 

Returning back to Phoenix was the perfect stepping stone to get me back into the swing of traveling and will help get me excited and geared up for the exciting stops that I have coming up in the next few months. 

With all of that being said, this is a big state and while I covered a LOT of ground the last time that I was here, I didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all of the things I wanted to do and see in Arizona. 

During my first month back in The Grand Canyon State I hiked over 15 miles, spent a weekend in Sedona, took an impromptu trip to Zion National Park and visited some of my favorite bars and restaurants.

 

Your follow up question to asking why I was returning to Phoenix might be: would ever consider moving here? 

Short answer. No. I wouldn’t say never, but I don't see myself establishing permanent residency here. 

 

However, spending the winter months here is absolutely something I could get behind.

 

It is no wonder that approximately half a million snowbirds relocate to the desert each year. 

With that being said, this is my second winter here, does that officially make me a snowbird as well?

Arizona, we are so back!