Maybe it’s because when I was a kid, my family never vacationed at places where one could just sit at the beach or by the pool. Instead, we treated travel as an educational pilgrimage. We went to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., toured Wright’s Home & Studio in Oak Park, IL, visited the House on the Rock near Spring Green, explored historic Williamsburg, Virginia, and even made our way to Little Norway in Wisconsin. That isn’t to say we didn’t have fun—we did. But we also learned a lot, too.
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So, when my husband and I decided to travel in the winter of 2011, we planned a trip to Phoenix, Arizona with a purpose. Rather than hop on a plane, we decided to take Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to leave the Illinois winter behind and travel first to Flagstaff, AZ.
Escaping the Blizzard
Wouldn’t you know it, just as we boarded the train in Princeton, Illinois, the snow began to fall. Even though we were traveling west, we were heading right into a major historic storm later known as the “Groundhog Day Blizzard.” Back home, the Chicago area was eventually buried under 20+ inches of snow. We settled in on the train, having reserved a bedroom with a private bath, which also included meals in the dining car. Watching the blizzard through the windows of the dining car while enjoying a warm meal, made the journey feel like a true rail adventure.
From Red Rocks to Frozen Fountains
Our final rail destination on this leg of our journey was Flagstaff. We rented a car the next morning and headed toward Phoenix by way of Sedona. The drive was beautiful; the red rocks were as majestic as I had imagined, though draped in an unexpected layer of white. We tried to stop in Sedona but quickly discovered the temperature was a biting -10°F. With very little winter gear packed for a “desert” vacation, we stayed in the car and kept moving.
Reaching Phoenix, things were starting to warm up, though it was still below freezing—the fountain in front of our hotel was frozen solid! After a long journey, we grabbed dinner and a good night’s sleep, ready to start our architectural pilgrimage the next morning.
The “Wright” Itinerary
To keep track of our trek through the world of Frank Lloyd Wright and the stunning Arizona landscape, here is how our journey shaped up. For us, Day 1 started on February 2.
Note: The links to the Frank Lloyd Wright sites listed below will take you to dedicated pages on our website. There, you will find more in-depth information about the structure’s history, additional photos, and current tour information where available.
The view from our balcony at Tapatio Cliffs Resort – Photo by Yvonne Carpenter-Ross
Day 1: Checked into Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix. We had been saving up Hilton Honors points for some time and were able to upgrade to the Presidential Suite which had a nice, cozy fireplace! We enjoyed dinner at the resort’s Different Pointe of View, which offered a stunning panoramic look at downtown Phoenix at night. (This hotel is 15 minutes/7.3 miles from the Arizona Biltmore.)
Day 2: A deep dive into the Arizona Biltmore with a guided tour and then a visit to the nearby (5 miles) First Christian Church. We returned to the Biltmore that evening for a spectacular Wine Dinner at Wright’s at the Biltmore restaurant.
Day 3: Visited the David Wright House (the famous spiral design) and explored Downtown Scottsdale. This would also be a great day to view the Scottsdale Spire and do a bit of shopping.
Day 4: The “main event”—a tour of Taliesin West. We opted for the Behind-The-Scenes Tour which, at that time, included lunch on the grounds. Afterward, we stopped at The Boulders Resort to have a look around. Traffic was a bit heavy due to the Waste Management Open at TPC Scottsdale, but the scenery and photo op was worth it!
Day 5: A “residential hunt” to view the Boomer Cottage, Adelman House, Carlson House, Lykes House, and Price House. The Pauson House ruins are not far from the Boomer Cottage and Adelman House and might be worth a photo. We finished just in time to have dinner and watch Super Bowl XLV.
Day 6: *We headed south to Chandler, AZ to visit some friends who had rented a home for the winter.
The Wright Alternative: If you aren’t visiting friends, we highly recommend heading to the ASU campus in Tempe to tour the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium.
Day 7: We were able to enjoy some Arizona sunshine (and warmth) with a round of golf!
Day 8: Headed to Mesa to catch our flight back to Illinois, leaving the desert behind. (For most, Phoenix – PHX – might be the more convenient airport to fly out of.)
You can view all of the Arizona Wright sites on our Google Map.
The Lessons of the Desert
Looking back, I realize that our trek through the Arizona desert was simply the adult version of those childhood trips my parents organized. Frank Lloyd Wright’s work reminded me that travel is most rewarding when it leaves you with more than just a souvenir. (Although my husband did buy me a very beautiful pair of earrings at the gift shop at Taliesin West which I wear often!)
We traded the 21 inches of snow in Illinois for the frozen fountains of Phoenix, but more importantly, we traded a week of “sitting by the pool” for a deeper understanding of how architecture can define a landscape. It turns out my parents were right all along—you never really outgrow the joy of a vacation that teaches you something new.
Ultimately, the only way to truly comprehend Wright’s buildings is to experience them firsthand. While photographs and videos capture the visual geometry, they cannot replicate the visceral “feel” of his spaces—the purposeful tension of compression and release, the dramatic shadow of a cantilevered roof, or the way a desert breeze moves through a room. I hope this journey inspires you to embark on your own Arizona pilgrimage. If you do, please share your discoveries by tagging your photos with #FLWsites or joining the conversation on our Facebook page.
Happy exploring—may you find your own moment of inspiration in the desert light!
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home!
