About Health & Travels

Practical, health-conscious tools and guides for families exploring Arizona and the Southwest.

Founder & Editor

Mark Stephenson, RN

I am an Arizona father, Registered Nurse (RN), and long-time outdoor enthusiast. I created Health & Travels because traditional travel guides frequently skip the exact practical details families need to stay safe—like accurate heat risks, shade availability, bathroom locations, water refills, and realistic kid stamina limits.

Combining my clinical background in health and safety with years of hands-on Arizona trail experience, my goal is to give parents straightforward, reliable information so they can explore Arizona with confidence.

Plan your next Arizona family day

Start with a guide, choose an outing that fits your family, then use Sage to build your day.

Explore Arizona with kids
Choose by age, season, drive time, shade, bathrooms, and trip style. Start with our Papago Park guide or Estrella Mountain guide.
Build your day with Sage
Our interactive destination and trail application designed specifically for families to filter activities by kid age, shade, heat exposure, difficulty, and drive time.
Get the Health & Travels newsletter
Arizona adventure ideas, seasonal reminders, and practical planning tips delivered by email.
Explore Arizona Hikers Association membership
Community resources, printable trail checklists, and member benefits for outdoor enthusiasts throughout Arizona.

What matters in our guides

A scenic photo is only the beginning. Our guides focus on the decisions parents need to make: how much walking to expect, where facilities are available, how exposed the route is, and when to turn around.

See our editorial and verification standards for our approach to sources, technology, and corrections. Check the park or land manager’s current notices before leaving; conditions and access can change after a guide is published.

My nursing background informs my interest in safety. These guides and Sage itineraries provide general planning information, not individual medical advice or a guarantee that an outing is safe for every family.

Questions or a detail we should correct?

Email helpme@healthandtravels.com or use our contact page. Include the guide name and the detail you noticed so we can review it.

Some links may earn us a commission. Read our affiliate disclosure to understand how those links support Health & Travels.