Hey There!
I’m Ashten.
The mom behind cactus chronicles.
I grew up in Florida and spent most of my life there before our family made a big cross-country move to Arizona for my husband’s job. We packed up our life with two toddlers, two dogs, and a cat and drove west — not entirely sure what to expect, but ready for adventure.
To be honest, I thought Arizona might feel like one big desert wasteland. Instead, we quickly discovered something completely different.
From the red rocks of Sedona to mountain towns like Flagstaff and Payson, the Southwest opened up a whole new world of places to explore. Coming from Florida — where you can drive five hours and still be in the same state — we were amazed at how many completely different landscapes were just a few hours away.
Before long, weekend trips and road trips became part of our routine, and exploring the West turned into one of our favorite things to do as a family.
Looking for travel inspiration or planning your next adventure?
Behind the blog
How it all started
As we started sharing photos and stories from our trips, friends and family often asked the same question:
“Can you send me your itinerary?”
Where we stayed, which hikes were actually kid-friendly, and what stops were really worth it.
I realized that for many families, the hardest part of travel isn’t the trip itself — it’s figuring out how to plan it all.
Cactus Chronicles grew from that simple idea: sharing the trips we take and the travel plans that make family adventures easier to organize.
Here you’ll find family-friendly itineraries, destination guides, and practical travel tips from our adventures exploring the West and beyond.
