Eric Jay Toll

The National Park Service has upped its connection to its tribal partners and associates to broaden the history and story of America's national parks. Yellowstone and Mesa Verde Chaco Culture national parks are among those taking the lead. Several national monuments are making progress as well.

A flat trail and easy pace make it possible for riders of various equestrian experience to head out into the Arizona Sonoran Desert for breakfast at the outpost ramada at White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. (Eric Jay Toll / Chicago Tribune)
“Next up is the team from Chicago,” crackles the disembodied voice over the speaker system mounted above the arena.
A genuine “Yee-haw!” is heard across the dusty corral, as two men and a woman ride hard out of the gate, heading toward the small herd ...

Active ranch and ranch resort options in Arizona and Colorado range from family-ready to adult escapes for city slickers to work for their grub. Visitors dine at the chuckwagon, ride the open range and participate in a ranch rodeo before checking out. A slide show featuring photography by Eric Jay Toll.

On a July 4th weekend, I slowly circled the Hoh Campground, passing just about every one of its 72 sites in search of an empty, unreserved campsite. With the sinking feeling that my campsite would end up somewhere in the adjoining Olympic National Forest, it was stunning to find a vacant site on a turn in the road and separated from the Hoh River by a line of towering trees. The river was unseen, but I could hear it gently gurgling over some large rocks.
An old friend of mine was a multi-trip...

My bucket list trip to experience winter in Québec was made even more memorable by the excursion to Saguenay.
A winter visit to Québec has long been on my bucket list. It seems pretty offbeat to leave Arizona in February and land not far from the Arctic Circle. The trip to Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean was an unexpected detour from Carnaval in Québec Citie. Bundling up meant I was never cold despite an air temperature that never cleared 12F (-11C). The Québecoise are exceptionally welcoming hosts. ...

With a roar, we’re diving down that impossible canyon with nothing but pink sand visible through the windscreen. In seconds, we’re roaring up the other side seeing blue sky and the treetops. We head back to the Valantine family’s RVs, circled into a family campsite.
Matt and son Cary are whipping up dinner for the families, their collective sons, daughters, in-laws and many grandchildren.
“We just don’t get opportunities like this to have everyone together at one time,” Valantine says while s...

Can you compress it more?”
Her face scrunches with effort. I exhort her, “Push! Really push it!”
“Oomph! It barely fits, but I got it.”
The ski parka needed 15 minutes ago is now far too hot. We’re down to sweatshirts as we crunch across the rising, flat sandstone surface on the trail. It’s winter at Arches National Park in Utah; the hike has us halfway there and already at 4,600 feet (1,402m). Siri said the temperature was 38° Fahrenheit (3 Centigrade) in the parking lot, but we’re toasty wa...

The Canada=Arizona Business Council promotes commerce and tourism between Greater Phoenix, Arizona and Canada. In a special section for the Phoenix Business Journal, articles about Canada and doing business in Phoenix were written from interviews, research and purpose.

Why do people squiggle their cars and manhandle SUVs to get to Chaco Culture National Historical Park? Read their words, learn their reasons, and see the pictures in "Hard To Reach, Filled With The Unexpected." Multiple visitor interviews and vivid images were compiled for this article.

Photography assignment for Roadtrippers and KOA Kampgrounds to photograph Shingletown-Mount Lassen KOA Holiday campground.

Photo assignment from Roadtrippers for KOA Kamgrounds of the Grants KOA Journey campground. Please note that some photos are posted by site visitors. Images by the photographer are credited with name.

Photo assignment for KOA Journey Holbrook - Petrified Forest. Please note, some images are reader uploads. Photographers images are credited.

By Eric Jay Toll. Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
“The number of manufacturing jobs in Arizona has passed the number of construction jobs.” Sandra Watson, president and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority
“Phoenix is the only one of the top 25 construction markets to post an increase over 2019. The capital spending on construction is up 89 percent over 2019.” Christine Mackay, director, Phoenix Community and Economic Development
“We got ahead of the pandemic early, and I believe that the...