Spring Archives

It’s hard to remember the cold days of winter as we approach the dog days of summer, and for much of the country, the dog days came early. Temperatures have risen to record levels seemingly everywhere. But after a few months, the Southwest spring will look and sound mighty good, with its early-season warmth, spring desert flowers, beckoning canyonlands, verdant golf courses, and Spring Training for Major League Baseball.

Indeed, while some of us shiver in the northern cold, many Southwestern RV Parks already reach full capacity. So, plan now and book early.

Desert flowers bloom in the spring. Photo: Andreas Vonlanthen

Springing into Outdoor Adventure

There is so much to see and do in the Southwest in the spring. Arizona and Nevada are at the center of the action for baseball fans and golfers. Desert explorers can add Utah’s canyonlands, New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado to their itineraries. Guided ATVing through spectacular landscapes in almost all Southwestern states.

A cactus league player slides into home. Photo: Kim Hyeseong

Play Ball!

Because of its friendly winter climate, the southwest is the perfect setting for Major League Baseball’s spring training and preseason competition. Major League ballplayers start arriving in Arizona about February 10. Several stadiums around Phoenix host the teams of The Cactus League – 15 MLB teams from the western half of the U.S. (East Coast teams form The Grapefruit League and head to Florida.)

The rookies, catchers, and pitchers arrive first and start their drills. Morning practice sessions are generally open to the public at no charge. As seasoned players arrive to hone their skills, practices remain open. The practices are casual, and fans often can talk with players and get souvenir hats and balls autographed. Games between the teams generally start around February 20 and run through March. Tickets are required for those games with seats ranging in price.

Southwest golf. Photo: Jason Pofahl

Great Time for Golf

If you prefer tee boxes, fairways, and greens to diamonds, you don’t have to travel far to find a golf course. Some of what sets Southwestern golf apart is that the game can generally be played year-round, and the scenery and design often appear part of another world.

Many courses blend into the natural desert setting and incorporate the natural topography of rock formations, gullies, and cacti into the course. The scenery can range from pine-covered mountain peaks —some still capped with snow in the spring — to brilliant red rock cliffs and canyons. The rough may be cacti-studded sand.

Photo: Don Stouder

In the rough, keep an eye out for snakes and be careful of the cacti’s spines. Some of the wildlife experiences are funny: We were playing a municipal course in Casa Grande several years ago and, if we weren’t quick enough to our balls, they kept disappearing. We would search and search, but no ball anywhere. It was getting to feel a bit spooky until we spotted a pack rat rolling golf balls into a burrow.

Fun for Adrenaline Junkies

If you prefer desert thrills to golf or baseball, the desert beckons. You can take your own ATV to many public lands, but numerous tour operators offer guided and self-guided ATV excursions. Popular areas include the Sonoran Desert and the Sedona and Verde valleys in Arizona; the areas around Moab and Bryce Canyon in Utah; and the Mojave Desert and ghost town tours near Las Vegas. In Colorado, visit the mountainous high desert regions outside Silverton, Ouray, Grand Junction, and Gunnison. And, in New Mexico, head to the Ruidoso or Red River areas or the Sangre de Cristo mountains.