Posts for Category Adventure Tours

• ‘Family’ makes Phoenix hiking tours great by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  11/06/2023... From Goodfellas to the Godfather trilogy, I love all mob movies and TV shows. The most famous scene from them all is so legendary it has been aped for comedic relief in a number of programs from a wide variety of genres – including in the TV mob classic The Soprano’s. Surely you have seen Al Pacino, as a mentally tortured Michael Corleone in Godfather III, complaining about his failed attempts to leave the mob life. “Just when I thought I was out,” the countless Pacino impressionists have said with a rising level of anger, “they pull me back in!” I hate to admit I felt that same sort of anxiety initially while needing to help a friend with a Phoenix adventures tour last spring. However, the experience reminded me what’s great about both our relationship and a certain iconic challenge in our industry.
• Be my guest on Phoenix hiking tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  10/24/2023... Everywhere I went this summer during vacation in Colorado, I kept hearing the name and seeing the brochures of Irwin Guides -- the rags-to-riches adventure tour company that turned into a billion-dollar international business. Since I am the type of person who believes in signs, I finally stopped wrestling with the decision and went ahead to follow my fate by booking a mountain bike tour with Irwin. I am SOOO glad I did!!! By becoming a guest again instead of a guide allowed me to take a long hard look at myself and my own Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours outfit.
• Reasons to remember our Phoenix hiking tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  09/14/2023... As the movie “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” made hilariously clear, “Post-It Notes” are one of the greatest inventions of all time. Some people also use desk calendars, written to-do lists or magnetic notepads on the fridge to remember the most crucial – but easily forgotten -- details in their life. Still others utilize the “Reminders” Apps on their phone or computer to recall these essential but maddeningly escapable action items. Whatever your chosen method, though, be sure to jot down somewhere these most important facts about Phoenix hiking tours if considering an unforgettably memorable, once-in-a-lifetime adventure with the Wild Bunch Desert Guides.
• Phoenix hiking tours: Early birds avoid the heat by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  07/29/2023... Arizona’s annual blast furnace is back in the national headlines. Already known as the hottest big city in America, Phoenix is experiencing a record-smashing heat wave that has created havoc, including third-degree burns for victims unfortunately coming into contact with the broiling pavement. So, how do Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours manage such sweltering conditions?
• Avoid Phoenix hiking tours last-minute challenges by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  04/04/2023... For the second straight year, the Phoenix adventure tours season has been one for the record books. But while 2022 was memorable for a seemingly endless stream of bookings, the 2023 calendar year has been remarkably inconsistent and maddeningly unpredictable. The most troubling trend? The rise of last-minute requests for guided Phoenix hiking tours and guided Phoenix mountain bike tours.
• Kids Day every day on Phoenix adventure tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  03/23/2023... The thrills rival any amusement park roller coaster. The surroundings are more beautiful than any theme park, too. If only your kids could be part of the unforgettable experience you are enjoying with the Wild Bunch Desert Guides! (Sigh) … But wait! They can! Avoid being the parents who mistakenly leave the children back at the resort! Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime family outing together on either guided Phoenix hiking tours or guided Scottsdale mountain bike tours.
• Phoenix adventure tours ‘Elite Eight’ by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  03/12/2023... “March Madness” in Arizona means much more than the college national basketball tournament. The state always plays a part in “The Big Dance,” but other events such as Spring Break and Major League Baseball’s Spring Training also attract a glut of guests to The Valley of the Sun. Perfect for this time of year is our annual “Elite Eight” list of must-do Phoenix adventure tours for those visitors to dance about during their trip – whatever the reason may be.
• Phoenix hiking tours wins with Super team by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  02/11/2023... The top two teams in the NFL square off Sunday in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium right here in my backyard in Glendale. However, with all due respect to the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, the best team in Arizona this weekend can be found as usual in the Sonoran Desert showing visitors the best of the old Southwest. The Wild Bunch Desert Guides deliver once-in-a-lifetime experiences on their championship-level Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours.
• Phoenix hiking tours safest Super Bowl bet by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  02/02/2023... The long-awaited matchup is set. For the first time since 2017 – and only the 14th time in history – the top seeds from both the AFC and NFC are meeting in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are squaring off in what should be an instant classic right here in my backyard at State Farm Stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Ariz. So, everybody asks these days, who you got? My politically correct answer: I’m rooting for everybody to have a “Super” time during their visit to the Valley of the Sun. But if you are a gambler looking for some action? Here’s the hottest inside betting tip in town -- Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours with my Wild Bunch Desert Guides is a fun-in-the-sun proposition I like to call “Laurel’s lock.” We are even offering a “Super” discount for hiking with us – whether or not you are in town for the NFL finale!
• Phoenix hiking tours: Happy New Year! by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  12/31/2022... Laurel Darren resolved long ago to avoid making New Year’s resolutions. However, the Wild Bunch Desert Guides owner does have a 2023 promise for guests. Her small mom-and-pop specialty shop will continue offering the same great Phoenix hiking tours and Scottsdale mountain bike tours made famous by five-star reviews. The Wild Bunch draws those raves regularly for homespun hospitality, superb customer service and customizable adventures.
• Date Night ideas in Phoenix? Try Phoenix adventure tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  12/05/2022... The perfect pairing of comedic geniuses Tina Fey and Steve Carell makes the mistaken identity and madcap misfortune in the movie “Date Night” a truly hilarious experience to watch. But make sure to avoid a sad sequel yourself – especially when looking for romantic things to do in Phoenix during your next vacation or couples’ getaway. Here are some super cool Date Night ideas in Phoenix from the owner of five-star rated Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours. Best yet, this list of things to do in Phoenix for couples offers real-life adventures better than any film can conjure up.
• Gobbling up Phoenix adventure tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  11/22/2022... Go ahead and pile on the turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Throw some cranberry sauce and stuffing on there, too. And you always have to save room for pumpkin or pecan pie – or better yet both, I always say. But understand that my plate already is full as we sit down for Thanksgiving dinner this year. Feast on these many blessings from my Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours to understand why this Phoenix adventure tours owner is extremely thankful this Thanksgiving holiday.
• Sunrise or sunset: Phoenix hiking tours shine by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  11/12/2022... “Don’t let the sun go down on me” was one of Elton John’s biggest hits in the 1970s. A George Michael cover of that classic also was a No. 1 worldwide smash in the 1990s. However, the tune has completely changed for guests on Phoenix hiking tours. Instead of pining about a curtain-dropper, Valley of the Sun visitors celebrate the ultimate showstopper splashing a palette full of Easter egg-colors on their once-in-a-lifetime vacation memories.
• Vote for Phoenix hiking tours fun by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  11/01/2022... Tired of all the campaign ads on TV? Weary of the non-stop political rhetoric? I’m Laurel Darren, the owner of Wild Bunch Desert Guides, and I approve this message -- because I’m asking for your vote when the ballot addresses fun for the whole family. After all the venom and vitriol leading up to Election Day 2022, we all could use a getaway to get unplugged and get back to nature with our loved ones on one of our Phoenix hiking tours or Phoenix mountain bike tours.
• Phoenix hiking tours: No tricks; just a treat by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  10/18/2022... Phoenix hiking tours or Phoenix mountain bike tours from the Wild Bunch Desert Guides are a real treat for guests of the small mom-and-pop specialty shop. Totally private, completely customizable experiences stressing safety and homespun hospitality make these Phoenix adventure tours a great addition to Trick-or-Treat buckets any time – not simply this Halloween.
• Things to do in Phoenix in February by Laurel Darren - Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  10/08/2022... Arizona’s “Valley of the Sun” is a popular destination for everybody from Snowbirds to Spring Breakers to escape the worst of the winter weather. That has helped make Phoenix the epicenter for a “Frantic February” of annual events ranging from Major League Baseball’s spring training to the PGA Tour’s party-hearty Waste Management Phoenix Open to the world-renown Barrett-Jackson Car Collector Auction. But whatever your reason for visiting one of the world’s top vacation destinations, here are some travel tips and things to do in Phoenix February 2024.
• A ‘Dream Team’ behind Phoenix hiking tours success by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  09/26/2022... Jordan. Bird. Magic. Those first ballot Hall of Famers were among the biggest name standard bearers of the NBA's first Olympic basketball "Dream Team." The members of my personal "Super Squad" are hardly household names, but their love and support has helped me get through the toughest of times -- and turn my Phoenix adventure tours into something truly special.
• Phoenix hiking tours: ‘Nightmares on Cactus Street’ by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  09/15/2022... From “Psycho” and other classic Hitchcock thrillers to Stephen King chillers such as “The Shining,” horror films consistently rate among the most popular of movie genres. The great horror director Wes Craven often spoke of the feelings of fear, dread and danger as an addictive elixir keeping fans clamoring for more on the big screen. People simply seem to love sitting in a darkened theater on the edge of their seats for a rollercoaster ride of shocking surprises whether watching monsters, killers or psychological thrillers do their worst to unsuspecting victims. However, neither Freddy Krueger nor Michael Myers nor Pennywise is what keeps me up at night these days.
• Phoenix hiking tours: How I spent my summer vacation by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  08/25/2022... The Labor Day Holiday weekend used to be the finish line – and that still is a week away. However, the final strains of summer vacations have already played out in much of the country. So, what did your favorite Phoenix adventure tours operator learn during her working summer break from Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours? Offering Colorado summer hiking tours for the first time has brought back a lot of memories – and revealed some key differences.
• ‘Groupies’ limited on Phoenix hiking tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  08/08/2022... Movies such as “Almost Famous” and “The Banger Sisters” put Rock N’ Roll groupies in the spotlight. However, this Blog addresses “groupies” of a different kind – with corporate outings, both large and small, trickier propositions than one might think for Phoenix hiking tours and Scottsdale mountain bike tours. That is especially true for a small mom-and-pop specialty shop with limited resources such as the Wild Bunch Desert Guides. Group outings for Camelback Mountain hikes are also impossible for any Phoenix adventure tours operator of any size because of safety concerns.
• Phoenix hiking tours vow: ‘Every step I take’ by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  07/31/2022... Ever get the incredibly calming feeling of having a Guardian Angel peering over your shoulder? The founding owner of Phoenix hiking tours operator Wild Bunch Desert Guides can relate to having a watchdog keeping her safe with every move she makes. Now, she honors the memory of her little angel with every step she takes guiding Phoenix adventure tours – and by showing off the natural beauty they experienced together on so many hikes in Phoenix and beyond.
• Phoenix hiking tours: Here comes the Boom! by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  07/02/2022... Fireworks are the major attraction on the Fourth of July. However, an Arizona adventure company owner offering Phoenix hiking tours and Scottsdale mountain bike tours loves Independence Day for so many other reasons. Here are some thoughts as beautiful as all the colorful explosions across the sky this holiday.
• Summer Phoenix hiking tours: Why so early? by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  05/25/2022... Sweltering heat dominates summertime activities in Arizona. Phoenix hiking tours and Scottsdale mountain bike tours are limited to early morning hours to avoid the worst of the triple-digit temperatures. Adventure tours guides also take advantage of this downtime to take much-deserved vacations during this June 1-Oct. 1 offseason.
• Phoenix hiking tours: Sun still shining by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  04/10/2022... I am a huge fan of the Rocky Balboa film franchise and its fictional philosopher in the boxing trunks. Among the many gems I was reminded of so far this year? “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows,” the Rock has said. During the busiest of busy seasons for Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours, I also got to successfully test his theory that life is “about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
• Group mentality of Phoenix hiking tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  03/23/2022... With new COVID cases recently dropping down to zero, Arizona tourism thankfully is what’s spiking in the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix/Scottsdale adventure tours are experiencing the busiest busy season many can remember. But the glut of guests has created a large problem for large group and corporate outings seeking Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours. Here is the fix for the Wild Bunch Desert Guides.
• Phoenix adventure tours: Cheers to ‘frequent flyers’ by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  03/12/2022... The song from “Cheers” is absolutely right. People do love “to go where everybody knows their name” – because everybody enjoys being made to feel important and special with superb service and tremendous treatment. That is why repeat patrons are a sure sign of success in any service industry. “Regulars” become the core of any great business by showing great loyalty to their favorite people, places, and products. However, for Phoenix adventure tours, “comebacks” become extended members of the Wild Bunch Desert Guides family – just like these folks featured in our latest Blog.
• 'Elite Eight' of adventure tours Phoenix/Scottsdale by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  02/25/2022... With Spring Breaks fast approaching, there is no need to wait until “Selection Sunday” to choose the must-do adventure tours Phoenix/Scottsdale. If planning a “March Madness” dance to Arizona, these are the “Elite Eight” stops to make during your visit to the “Valley of the Sun.”
• Adventure tours Phoenix/Scottsdale: It’s a wonderful life by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  01/31/2022... Despite mounting troubles, George Bailey concluded in the classic Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Wild Bunch Desert Guides owner Laurel Darren discovered the same truths during some recent personal challenges away from adventure tours Phoenix/Scottsdale – and she has several Angels to thank for that.
• Phoenix adventure tours? Priceless by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  11/16/2021... To borrow the set up from a famous and much imitated advertising campaign: Plane tickets for a family of five to Arizona? $1,460. A week’s stay at one of those posh all-inclusive resorts? $5,200. A guided Phoenix hiking tour with the Wild Bunch Desert Guides? $575. The looks on the faces of your loved ones while hugging a cactus and witnessing the incredible otherworld landscape during one of these memorable Phoenix adventure tours? PRICELESS.
• Just what the doctor ordered! Phoenix mountain bike tours next by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  09/29/2021... What did I do on my 2021 summer vacation? Instead of a back-to-school story, this is my return-to-business tale. Here is how a return to competitive mountain bike racing has more than prepared me to tackle the challenges to come from the “busy season” for tourists at my small business of offering guided Scottsdale hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours.
• Oktoberfest of Phoenix adventure tours awaits by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  09/07/2021... Beer, brats and Lederhosen are the usual fixtures at any Oktoberfest celebration. However, guided Scottsdale hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours also are part of the party this fall in Arizona. Wild Bunch Desert Guides owner Laurel Darren observes her October Homecoming from a summer full of rest and relaxation that has recharged, refocused and reinforced her commitment to providing once-in-a-lifetime memorable Phoenix adventure tours.
• Phoenix hiking tours: Vacation destination by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  07/20/2021... So, where does an adventure tour company owner go on vacation to take a break from the workaday grind and seek their getaway thrills? The answer might surprise you! The providers of guided Phoenix hiking tours and Scottsdale mountain bike tours are just like everybody else when chasing the ever-elusive physical, mental, and spiritual healing powers of recuperative rest and relaxation.
• Phoenix Adventure Tours salute our heroes by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  05/28/2021... Memorial Day is more than a long holiday weekend to mark the beginning of summer with an avalanche of activities. Mountain biking & hiking on Phoenix adventure tours is among the many freedoms Americans enjoy because of the sacrifices made by our war heroes. Never forget who blazed the trail to your fun.
• Phoenix adventure tours: Eight great memories by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  05/23/2021... A man with a prosthetic leg scaling Camelback Mountain. A first-time bike rider learning fundamentals on the fly. Guided Scottsdale hiking trips or guided Scottsdale mountain biking tours with either the famous or the fascinating. These are the Eight Great Memories from my company’s Phoenix adventure tours.
• Phoenix adventure tours: Beat the summer heat by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  05/02/2021... The Wild Bunch Desert Guides are offering an online booking discount along with the annual roll out of special summer start times for the safety of our guests from June 1-Oct. 1. Read on to get discount details and understand how a highly rated Phoenix adventure tour company handles the heat of the summer.
• 'The kids are all right' on hiking & biking tours by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  04/11/2021... The scenery is unbelievably beautiful. The experiences are unforgettably memorable. If only your kids could be part of your guided Phoenix hiking trip or guided Scottsdale mountain biking tour. But wait! They can! Here is how families can enjoy the same thrills together with the Wild Bunch Desert Guides.
• The Business of Love: The Adventures of Bonnie & Clyde by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  03/21/2021... Life is an adventure, but especially when you own an Arizona adventure travel tour company. The demands of the industry make long-term personal relationships a tough business. An understanding significant other is a requisite for success in both business and love.
• Survival drive delivers lessons in gratitude by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  03/13/2021... When the CoVid-19 pandemic began a year ago in March, I was worried the dream of owning a small business was over for me. However, my Arizona adventure tour company not only survived, but is thriving a year later – and I have a front-line job to thank for saving my small mom-and-pop specialty shop, as well as my sanity. Here’s how I got from that perilous Point A to the paradise of Point B.
• 'March Madness' underway: Here's 'Elite Eight' Arizona adventures by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  03/06/2021... “Selection Sunday” is fast approaching. Spring Break also is upon us. If planning a “March Madness” Spring Break dance to Arizona, these are the “Elite Eight” adventure you must consider during your visit to the vaunted “Valley of the Sun.”
• Cancel culture: Why there is a refund policy by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  02/20/2021... A cancellation policy is a necessary protection for a small business in the service industry. However, as an Arizona adventure tour company owner, I am torn by putting myself in other people’s shoes when a last-minute cancellation crops up. We all have been there as a customer, right? But there have been a few nightmarishly notable reasons for a strict 48-hour no refund policy in the past for the Wild Bunch Desert Guides.
• Open love letter to the real superheroes of the Sonoran Desert by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  02/13/2021... As “The Devil Woman,” I get to be a superhero to tourists by delivering fun and adventure during their visits and vacations to Arizona’s “Valley of the Sun.” However, the unsung heroes for me are the super team making my Wild Bunch Desert Guides a success. Together those talented pros and fantastic human beings make either a guided mountain bike tour or guided hiking adventure an amazing experience.
• This woman’s adventure tour company truly a ‘wonder’ by Laurel Darren, Wild Bunch Desert Guides
  01/21/2021... I am lovingly referred to as the "Devil Woman" because I bring the heat as a hard-working taskmaster with a wicked sense of humor, devil-may-care demeanor and fun, adventurous spirit. Those super powers serve me well as the leader of the Wild Bunch Desert Guides, a band of do-gooders fighting a never-ending battle against boredom, lethargy and the "crime" that is the CoVid-19 pandemic.