Happy Monday everyone! Anyone counting down the hours until Bachelor in Paradise? It is totally my guilty pleasure. It’s the perfect mix of drama, tears, love & ‘is this real life‘ to keep me entertained for 2 hours. Did you catch the amazing views we had while camping at the Mogollon Rim I posted about on Friday? I figured since I actually posted so quick I might as well finish up and share some pictures from the hike we did. Last year, I stumbled across this post about AZ Swimming Holes & have since then made it a personal goal to visit all of them before we move from Arizona next year. I can’t believe we are at the year countdown already! It seems like we were just moving here in the middle of the Summer wondering why the heck we agreed to 100+ degrees & now I’m savoring everyday never wanting to leave this amazing state. Payson has proved to be one of my favorite spots to explore: The Verde Hot Springs & Tonto Natural Bridge are just a few of the places around Payson we’ve been able to check out. Payson is about 2.5 hours NorthEast of us & the weather is about 20-30 degrees cooler than the Phoenix area.
Oh Presley our adventure girl. This amazing little human just turns into a different person as soon as we are out in the wilderness, it IS her happy place. She cries every ride home & begs us to turn around for more camping & hiking. She loves hiking & usually does most of the hike all by herself. Ellison Creek is about a 1.5 RT hike with only a few areas that require a little climbing. I would definitely recommend wearing really good water/hiking shoes as you have to/get to cross the water a few times & the rocks are very slippery.
Oh, and beware for snakes! This is actually only the second snake I have seen during all of our hikes & it was huge. We are guessing about 6 feet in total length. We all just kind of froze and waited for it to slither away. Ick ick ick. I got a picture of it’s full length but it was horrible quality probably because I was shaking like a crazy person.
As soon as we started the hike to the waterfall, Presley found a ‘tree star’ that reminded her of Land Before Time & seriously carried that thing the entire way & it even made it home with us. She refused to take any pictures without it & kept dipping it in water so it stayed wet & beautiful. (It has since been hidden in the garbage as it was cracking and curling up – nobody tell her!)

“Adventure is out there!” Our favorite quote from the movie UP. Presley proudly proclaims it usually a million times while we are hiking/camping or out on some adventure.
I put on my big girl panties & actually climbed to the top of the falls and inched my way down the ladder. Then had to figure out how to friggin swim (doggy paddle) to the shore. Guys, I don’t swim. I terrified of water – but I survived. I won’t share any pictures that show me swimming for my life; embarrassing.

Inflatable lounger available here (aff) 

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great week! XO