Between Tucson and Phoenix is the small community of Casa Grande. Surrounded by desert and agricultural lands Casa Grande does not have the hectic jammed in feeling of the larger cities nearby. It is because of this that snowbirds flock to the beautiful Fiesta Grande RV Resort, perfectly located near the outskirts of town.

When you first drive into Fiesta Grande RV Resort you will be impressed at the long, wide entrance driveway leading to the office. You will likely be surprised to see a long parking strip capable of holding several RVs that might be lined up for registration, so unlike places you may have been where you perhaps park on the street blocking everything.

Next you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the friendly staff who go out of their way to guide you through the packet of information about the park and its 767 sites. After this, you are guided to your site, and carefully parked in the proper place.

Some resorts make long lists of activities, which sometimes do not fully materialize when you arrive. At Fiesta Grande RV Resort you can find an active quilting club, two swimming pools, a hot tub, a billiard room, a computer center and active computer club, fitness gym, and craft rooms and many meeting rooms in two different sites in the park for a myriad of room-oriented activities. Outdoors are the shuffleboard and horseshoe courts, mini-driving range for golf, putting green, and pickle ball.

They have a shiny wood parquet dance floor and dancing plus a myriad of great entertainers. For whatever spare time you have left over, their full-time Activity Coordinator will fill it in with a wide programme of classes, dinners, tours, and other projects. This park is known for fun and activity. All day long, from early till late, people are walking, and biking, with stops to visit others along the way.

The park is full of mature trees of many species offering a shady break when required from the warm sun. They are just part of the relaxing atmosphere. Its quietness is not interrupted by jet planes and constant helicopter noise such as found in southern cities.

Aside from being a pleasant peaceful park, its location is great for explorations. South a few miles is Picacho State Park enclosing part of Picacho Peak, an ancient volcanic formation. The hiking trail to the peak, while a bit strenuous offers great views of the surrounding desert. Incidentally, Picacho is Spanish for peak, so the English name is really calling it Peak Peak!!

Drive northeast of Phoenix to the Superstition Mountains where ancient lore speaks of a gold strike found by a Dutchman and then lost. The Lost Dutchman Mine has drawn many, many people seeking the fortune reputed to be there, and many supposedly vanished. A rugged crooked mountain drive penetrates these mountains on a route called the Apache Trail. This was the route of an old stagecoach trail from Apache Junction and running through the Superstition Mountains. It’s paved to Tortilla Flat, and there are some rugged camps there. The best reason for going on this trip is the magnificent scenery you will see as you enter steep canyons with high cliffs, and top out on higher country for great distant views.

Eventually the road becomes rough gravel and descends into a deep canyon and then curls back out of it to ultimately reach a large reservoir, held in by Roosevelt Dam. This reservoir traps mountain snows and lets water out for irrigation. On the west end of the trail is Goldfield, a well-kept historic mining camp, dating back to 1890. It is a great place to inspect close-up the mining machinery of days gone by at the Mammoth Mine.

On drives from Casa Grande you will see it’s a town surrounded by mountains and desert basins. Some areas are covered with prickly pear cacti, and the sharp needled jumping cholla which is a plant to stay away from. Its sharp segments are said to jump to grab on to you. Well, maybe not, but once they get on you they stay and unless you use a comb, or two sticks to remove them you will find them stuck on your fingers too.

Almost everywhere is the monumental, great saguaro. For some of the best saguaro forests, drive south from town on Indian highway 15 where you can see many multi-armed saguaros. Of course, you are not far from Tucson and the Saguaro National Park. While in that area, take time to visit the Old Tucson Studios and walk in the ghostly tracks of famous western movie stars such as the great John Wayne.

Casa Grande is a nice central place to be in, and Fiesta Grande RV Resort is great place to hang your hat for a while.

Have you stayed at Fiesta Grande RV Resort? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!