Julia Hill, Author at Roaming Hills

Half a Day in Kobe, Japan

Come for the Kobe beef, stay for the Ropeway, Nunobiki Herb Garden, and the hike to Nunobiki Falls, all near the Shin-Kobe station.

The photogenic Himeji Castle is Japan’s largest castle and worthy of a half day trip from Kyoto or wherever your travels may take you next.

A visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum is only an hour from Phoenix and a beautiful way to get up-close with Sonoran Desert flora and fauna.

Hiking Havasupai Falls in Arizona to explore its aquamarine water is the chance of a lifetime.

Sophisticated and serene, Kyoto takes visitors back to old Japan in its Zen temples and mountaintop pilgrimages.

What do you get when you mix cacti with surreal light and music? Magic. It’s the Electric Desert experience at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Papago Park offers easy and fun hikes around its iconic red rock formations, including Hole-in-the-Rock.

Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail might be my favorite hike in Phoenix.

It’s like if Blade Runner was happy. And had amazing street food.

We spent a half day in Nara, Japan visiting temples and getting mobbed by deer in Nara Park.