Mileposts/Events

Pick a Peach • Dip into Lake Powell Celebrate an Old-fashioned Fourth • Visit Indian Fairs FRESH FROM THE FARM

Sweet corn. Summer Squash. Apples. Peaches. Pistachios. July through October is peak harvest time for fruits, vegetables, and nuts in the farming country around Willcox in southeastern Arizona. You can select the produce from stores or roadside stands or go out into the fields and pick it yourself. For information on availability, locations, and whether you need to bring your own bushel basket, contact the Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, 1500 N. Circle I Road, Willcox, AZ 85643; (520) 384-2272.Y

A CAMPER'S CAMPGROUND

Outdoor lovers especially love Hawley Lake Campground in the White Mountains off State Route 260 between McNary and the Sunrise ski area. And for good reason. Besides the great hiking, picnicking, and fishing (rainbow, brown, cutthroat, brook trout), the campground's setting on the south side of its 260-acre namesake lake is simply beautiful. And on the way there, notice the stands of "Christmas" trees; one of these big beauties once decorated the White House.

Campground amenities include cabins, a trailer-RV park, a marina with rentals, a general store, and a service station. For more information, contact White Mountain Apache Indian Game and Fish Department, (520) 338-4385.

DINING ON THE DESERT

Almost every August, my wife and I head to the high mountains in southeastern Arizona to pick wild raspberries. On our way to the mountains, we cross miles of the Sonoran Desert, which is a vast storehouse of edible wild plants, according to Kevin Dahl, education director of Tucson-based Native Seeds/ Search.

Despite our raspberry treks, that's something I'd overlooked until reading "Wild Foods of the Sonoran Desert," a wonderfully informative 24-page illustrated booklet written by Dahl and published by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. Dahl has dined on wild chiles and wolfberries, but he points out that some of the most common desert plantsincluding mesquite and paloverde trees and the ubiquitous prickly pear cactus - serve up an extensive menu of edibles.

The booklet, one of five in a natural history series, costs $6.95 and can be ordered by calling toll-free (800) 7348469, or contacting the museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743-8918. Sam Negri

HOTEL BREAKS TRADITION

The Boulders resort will remain open in July and August this year for the first time in its history.

Located in a scenic desert-scape north of Scottsdale amid huge 12-million-year-old granite boulders, the resort features five restaurants and lounges, six tennis courts, a full-service spa and fitness center, two golf courses, and el Pedregal, an enclave housing shops, galleries, restaurants, and The Heard Museum North.

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Travelers on State Route 77 between Winkelman and Globe especially those heading north will see a giant rock formation that many say looks like Jesus Christ; in fact local folks call it Jesus Rock. Others say it resembles the Peanuts comic strip character Snoopy, but one person we know thinks it looks more like a stegosaurus. You be the judge. The formation is between Mileposts 152 and 153 on the east side of the road.

LAKE POWELL INFO

Information and tips about water sports and other vacation opportunities in the Page/ Lake Powell area pack the pages of a free brochure called "The Center of Canyon Country." In addition to local things-to-see-and-do, the brochure offers info on some of the attractions within a 150-mile radius of the lake, including the Grand Canyon, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, and Bryce and Zion national parks. The brochure also includes a map and activities guide, suggested tour itineraries, and a complete list of local accommodations. To obtain a copy, call toll-free (888) 261-7243.

A DESERT B&B

To enjoy a gourmet breakfast, guests at The Mesquite Tree bed and breakfast follow a short trail through the desert north of Tucson to the tea room at Tohono Chul Park, an oasislike desert garden with a gallery, gift shops, and nature trails. The B&B, part of an old Mexican-style private residence that has been featured on the Arizona Opera League Home Tour, features two bedrooms and two baths separated by a photo gallery entrance hall; and there's a spa located on a walled patio beneath a mesquite tree. To inquire, contact the Mesquite Tree, 860 W. Ina Road, Tucson, AZ 85704-4405; (520) 297-9670, toll-free (800) 3179670.

RIDE TO ADVENTURE

Carefree-based Ride-Away World Adventures offers twoto four-day guided motorcycle treks into the desert. The "P-O-N-Y Express Runs" include a ride to Sedona and another that focuses on Wild West history. Ten-day tours that include Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon also are available. Riders can use their own motorcycles or rent them for the trip. To inquire, call (602) 488-0080, or fax (602) 488-4652.

GRANDEUR REVIVED

Visitors should watch for an opportunity to attend an event at downtown Phoenix's Orpheum Theatre. For those who recall — or long for — the heyday of the "movie palaces," the recently restored Spanish Baroque Revival landmark is worth the price of admission by itself. Built in 1929 at a cost of $750,000, the Orpheum was the "most elegant and luxurious playhouse" west of the Mississippi. Returned to its original ornate splendor, the 1,400-seat theater's interior re-creates an outdoor Spanish courtyard with tiled rooftops, archways, and garden scenes.

AWAY FROM IT ALL

Guests at Dan and Susie McQuade's Old West Cow Camp sleep under the stars, travel in a real covered wagon, and savor meals cooked in Dutch ovens over open fires. The McQuade family ranch, located in Gila County in east-central Arizona, offers day and overnight trips as well as short outings and hayrides. RV space is available for those who'd rather rough it in a more cushy style. For information, call (520) 425-7650.

EVENTS Fourth of July Fest

July 4; Williams Folks in this "Gateway to the Grand Canyon" community invite visitors to enjoy a small-town Fourth of July celebration that features a parade (2 P.M.), games for the kids, and what they call the "largest fireworks display in northern Arizona." Admission is free. Information: (520) 635-4061.

July Fourth Chili Bash

July 4; Springerville-Eagar Free tours of an 800-year-old Anasazi and Mogollon ruin, and free admission to the museum that's the deal the Raven Site Ruin, 12 miles north of Springerville, is offering visitors to celebrate Independence Day. Be sure to check out the gift shop and visitors center and ask about hikes and extended stays. Information: (520) 333-5857.

Hopi Marketplace

July 4-5; Flagstaff The always interesting Museum of Northern Arizona is the setting for this annual Indian market featuring arts and crafts, demonstrations, and tribal dances as well as lectures and children's activities. Admission is $2 to $5. Information: (520) 774-5213.

Arts and Crafts Festival

July 19-20; Prescott The mile-high community with the nostalgic downtown plaza hosts another Old Town Square Arts and Crafts Festival, featuring booths filled with the kinds of treasures you didn't even know you were looking for, plus there'll also be live entertainment and tempting foods. Admission's free, so you can spend all your cash on fun stuff. Information: (520) 636-0973.

Pioneer Days

July 24-26; St. Johns Folks in this community on the Little Colorado River celebrate the arrival of the pioneers in the area with a long weekend of fun including a parade, a rodeo, Western dances, a barbecue, and an ice-cream social with musical entertainment. One of the organizers says that a lot of people park their vehicles in a one-mile-radius circle and have a cook-out, "like an old circle of wagons, with big campfires." Admission is free, and so are some activities. Information: (520) 337-2000.

PHOTOGRAPH FALL WITH ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTOGRAPHERS

Arizona is afire with color in the fall, which arrives depending upon the location and Mother Nature anywhere from October to November or even into December. For anxious leaf-peepers who want to get an early start, several Friends of Arizona Highways workshops in October offer the opportunity to capture color at such popular destinations as the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, with its untrammeled vistas; Canyon de Chelly, where cottonwoods become a sea of gold; and the red rock country of Sedona and lush Oak Creek Canyon. For complete details, contact the Friends of Arizona Highways, P.O. Box 6106, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6106; (602) 271-5904. Here are the Photo Workshop dates September through November:

Indian Art Festival

July 25-27; Pinetop The works of painters, weavers, and jewelry-makers highlight the 10th Annual White Mountain Native American Art Festival held in the resort community of Pinetop-Lakeside. There'll also be entertainment by dancers and musicians, as well as the opportunity to enjoy authentic Indian foods. Admission is $2 to $6. Information: (520) 367-4290.

Information, including dates, fees, and activities, is subject to change; telephone to confirm before planning to attend events. For a free Arizona travel kit and a calendar of events, telephone the Arizona Office of Tourism toll-free at (888) 520-3444.