PUBLISHER'SLetter

Travel is one of my most favorite passions. Whether traveling abroad or getting lost on a new street while trying a different route to the office, all forms of exploration can indulge our sense of adventure.

My love for travel started when I was a young girl, having the opportunity to travel to Switzerland with my dad. It was a truly magical experience and I often reminisce about our train ride up the mountain, playing in the snow and drinking delicious lemonade topped with white flowers.

In high school, I was blessed to be a foreign exchange student in a small town called Espelette in the Basque region of France. Known for its piment d'Espelette pepper, I spent my time in this rural community on a farm, learning to milk goats and cows while my best girlfriend was drinking wine and boating in Bordeaux. I wouldn’t change it for the world. This is where I learned to connect with nature. When I wasn’t honing my skills as a farmhand, I indulged in the best cafe au laits and ate delicious vegetable soups and wonderful cheeses that came from the region. I learned to appreciate a culture and way of life that was completely foreign to what I knew back home.

My dad, being the seasoned traveler that he was, paid a visit to my exchange family a number of years after I graduated, as he wanted to see where I lived. While he was there, my host family let him know that I could come back anytime. Flash forward a number of years later, I paid them a visit once more - this time with my husband and sons in tow. We had an incredible time with them on the farm and visiting a little store in the village where I was introduced to Le Plein Natural, a French magazine focused on sustainable living. Not only was this experience maybe one of the greatest of my life, it is also one of the reasons why Green Living magazine exists today.

Even if you don’t have the travel bug like I do, we can all benefit from the exploration of territories unknown to us and inviting in new experiences unlike those already written in our personal storybooks. In this issue, I invite you to explore the many exciting destinations right in our own backyard. Whether discovering the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon or the quirkiness of Bisbee’s smallest bar; tantalizing wines from the lush Verde Valley wine country; or a mind-blowing list of award-winning restaurants that will keep your tastebuds dancing for days — our great state has some truly remarkable experiences to offer.

So what are you waiting for? Go out and explore Arizona! And be sure to tag us in your travels on your favorite social channels.

Eco-consciously yours,