Road Trip – Part 3 and Last

Loved the strong architectural flair of Phoenix and Scottsdale. After 14 years of cookie cutter architecture in Orange County, CA and in Las Vegas, this was refreshing. Sure, Phoenix has its strip malls too (my personal vexation in the urban landscape), but most of these are designed with a twist, something new and refreshing to delight the eye.

This is not surprising, since Frank Lloyd Wright designed and established Taliesin West there, a self-sustaining community of apprentices and architects who would learn and practice the philosophy of organic architecture by sharing in architectural work, building construction, and the related arts. His legacy lives on. To our great dismay, Taliesin was closed on the day we wanted to visit, but we did manage to visit the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, which is the only hotel in the world to which Frank Lloyd Wright contributed.

Besides the inspiring architectural sights, we made a stop at the Phoenix Art Museum that is hosting the much sought-after Rembrandt exhibit. It was a good exhibit, but not entirely satisfying. Just a few Rembrandts and none  of the really well known pieces. Nonetheless, the free audio guides did make the visit interesting and informative. Even the kids got into it! On till May 6, 2007.

The other exhibit at the Museum was really fascinating: Curves of Steel.

This exhibit explores the streamlining of automobile design in the first years of the last century. Beautiful, glossy, mesmerizing. And this is from someone who has never really exhibited any particular fancy for car design. I wanted to buy the souvenir book but the store was closing!!!! A great design source.  You need to see this. On till June 3, 2007.

On the drive back home, we discovered the really charming historical town of Prescott, AZ and had dinner in the original Palace saloon.  The city is known as the first territorial capital, and has been home to a few illustrious characters of the Wild West era, The Earp brothers among a few of them.  Worth the detour if you are traveling in the area! the place is filled with antique shops.

I am loving Arizona!