Michael McDaniel

I’ve lived in Tucson for 6 months, I grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado (8 hours drive), I’ve even photographed Antelope Canyon (2 hours away) and never made it to the Grand Canyon.

Now I don’t live anywhere near it! What was I thinking?

Antelope Canyon is an incredibly narrow corkscrew canyon in Northeastern Arizona (just south of Lake Powell). While it’s fun, interesting, and beautiful any time, the narrow opening at the top combined with the colors of the sandstone make for simply incredible color during the late morning.

Admission is limited to prevent tourist destruction of the canyon and to ensure the safety of the visitors.

this is a great place to visit. About an hour South of Tucson, Kitt Peak is home to at last 20 telescopes of various sizes and purposes. Some give tours during the day when the instruments aren’t in use. And you might even get to see the solar telescope in action.

Lake Powell is a great photographic subject. I’ve taken pictures of the lake, and of the other incredible wonders close to here. Antelope Canyon is just South of the lake, and Monument Valley is just Northeast.

When I was growing up, I remember staying on a boat at Lake Powell. The most incredible thing for me was the nighttime sky. With no lights around at all, the stars just lit up. I’d never seen so many.

...and though it’s a small town, it has charm of its own to experience in addition to the incredible natural beauty within a day’s drive.

Stroll down Main Street and check out the Art on the Corner project, featuring really interesting sculptures along a quaint, pedestrian-friendly street.

And don’t forget to see Colorado’s answer to the Grand Canyon: The Colorado National Monument is only 15 minutes from downtown. There are many other national parks close by: Arches, Monument Valley, Dinosaur Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Grand Mesa, and the list just keeps going!

When we went, we rented part of a farmhouse for a week and used it as our home base for exploring the region. Best vacation decision I ever made. We repeated the experience in France a year later. We’ll be looking to do that everywhere we go from now on.

If you can afford it, stay at the Grand Wailea on Maui. Took my honeymoon there, and it defines relaxation for me now.

To really appreciate the Apple Campus, you have to know an Apple Employee who can get you inside. I’d suggest soaking up the atmosphere at Caffe Macs during lunch, or catching the every-other-Friday-ish beer bashes.