It’s summer: come take a virtual vaca with me. All of the Arizona fun, minus the killer heat.
“Goldfinch was in northern Arizona where they got cold winters and snowfall, sure, but the land was still harsh and unforgiving. Lakes were man-made and reserved for tourists who had gold credit cards and Grand Canyon tickets tucked into their wallets. Some Goldfinch residents had above ground pools and the one community swim center was overrun come summer. But Jack Cooper was of the lowest caste, the kind that kept cool on a hot day by running in sprinklers or visiting the Flagstaff mall for its air conditioning, not by lounging around fancy swimming pools.” – Capture Something Wild
In case you haven’t heard, my newest book is a contemporary WESTERN. I am so excited! Capture Something Wild is based in Arizona, my adopted home of nearly 8 years now.
When I first moved here, I was not sure how I would feel about living in the desert. I imagined my husband’s home state to be a far cry from the lush, beautiful, humid south where I grew up. In truth, though, Arizona is a lot more than just one stereotypical ecosystem. Travel north and you can find snow. Travel south and cacti rules the land. Where I live in Mesa, there’s a really interesting mix of suburbia with farm land and ranch culture. It’s kind of awesome.
While Goldfinch (the city where Capture Something Wild takes place) is fictional, I looked to some of my favorite Arizona cities for writing inspiration. Here’s a fun little breakdown of my favorite AZ stops so you can get a better idea of my next book’s setting.
Flagstaff.
This is by FAR my favorite city in Arizona. It’s like its own state! Here you can find beautiful green trees, cooler temps, mountains, an adorable little college (NAU), and all the delicious food you could ever want to eat. My husband and I recently took the kiddos up to Flagstaff to escape the Mesa heat. They loved hiking and getting to see so many beautiful plants and animals.
Lehi.
Lehi is a tiny little community nestled away here in Mesa, AZ. It’s old school farm territory, complete with all the horses, cows, and chickens that your heart could ever desire. I leaned on Lehi heavily while I was researching what I wanted Goldfinch to look like. It’s a super cute community and I highly recommend visiting during Lehi Days, an annual rodeo presented by the local Mormon church. You’ll feel like a legit cowpoke.
Heritage District – Gilbert.
One day maybe I’ll convince my husband to move us to the Heritage District in downtown Gilbert, Arizona. I love it here! It’s got the perfect small town feel, but all the arts, food, and entertainment you could possibly desire. Once upon a time I used to perform with Hale Center Theater in Gilbert and after shows I loved to stop by Postino. You have to visit!
Scottsdale.
This stop is definitely not the Old West many people picture when they think of Arizona. Instead, Scottsdale is a shopper’s paradise. It has a huge, bustling mall and just about a million tiny locally-run stores. Child star Frankie Muniz even has his own olive oil shop here, which is a fun little place to check out on a lazy afternoon. Visit Scottsdale if you need a break from ranch life and want to get back to modernity for a minute.
Tucson.
Of course, no trip to Arizona is complete unless you travel down south and visit Tucson. The biggest draw here is the University of Arizona’s campus (go Wildcats, booooooo Sun Devils!). Many bonus points given for all the legit Mexican food, as chips and salsa just happens to be my favorite food combo.
If you’re ever in Arizona, let me know! I’m still partial to my home in the South, but this ain’t too bad of a place to live for now.
Be sure to check out my newest life updates here, where you can see some of my other summer travels.
xoxo
Brittni
