Spring Break Family Vacation - Part 4 (The End)

Scottsdale-Phoenix-Detroit
     Enjoyed sleeping in a place with our own individual/quiet rooms and cozy beds (no offense Holiday Inn)!  Being able to do some laundry and make our own breakfast and coffee isn't all bad.  Oh, and I would be remiss (lol) if I didn't mention that our Holiday Inn rate was about $90/night and our Scottsdale Links condo was $125/night (both before taxes)!!  No comparison.  Thank you Travelocity (or the "Gnome" as G would say).  Major bargain for 2 bedrooms/2 baths/laundry/kitchen/dining room/living room/balcony...  
     Our last couple of days were spent mostly relaxing poolside in Scottsdale.  This is my idea of a vacation....although a bonus would have been cabana boys bringing drinks, etc...but it wasn't that kind of place -- and it was a family vacation.  :)   The resort had activities and the kids participated in tie dying some shirts.  They turned out pretty good and they had fun.  G also took the kids to the Desert Botanical Gardens -- while I stayed by the pool :) (I mighta done a load of laundry while they were gone!  How exhausting, right!?)  Had a great dinner at the Yard House which G knew of from his AZ travels.  We got there in time for Happy Hour and G ordered a bunch of 1/2 off appetizers like a pro!!  Also, shopped one of the neat malls in Scottsdale and mostly just relaxed.  G and the girls went to The Cheesecake Factory one night for dinner....my kids are really into that place and can't understand why there isn't one in Michigan.  Jake and I had a date night carry out dinner back at the condo.  Our last full day in AZ we headed to In-N-Out for lunch -- I had never been and I had heard from my cousin and others how good it was so we wanted to check it out.  It was yummy and now I can say I was there!  I especially liked their fries.  Then off to one of G's co-workers houses (Jenn) to pick some grapefruit in her yard.  My kids all LOVE grapefruit -- especially Megan -- and couldn't wait to do this.  We find it amazing that people can go pick a fresh grapefruit in the morning and have it for breakfast  The kids saved room in their luggage to bring some home.  Turns out we got white and red grapefruit and some lemons, too!  Thanks Jenn and Steve!! 
     That evening (our last full day), the kids went and played "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" in the activities center at the resort.  (Two of my kids are in 5th grade...  I guess they each won a round.)  Then later, they were showing the movie Tron and the kids enjoyed that, too.  The parents enjoyed a couple hours break from the kiddies.  One last night in the pool and hot tub before we headed home Saturday afternoon...
     After seven great days of nice weather, Mother Nature tried to make it easier for us to leave.  It got chilly and rainy the morning we left and there were actually weather advisories in Northern Arizona (Grand Canyon) area.  Our flight home was slightly delayed and made a connection through Salt Lake City.  (Apparently, Delta overbooked our return flight and contacted us a couple weeks before we left.  We scored a $2,000 voucher for the inconvenience of changing our return flight and making this connection!!  So, to us it was well worth it - especially since we used our miles for the trip!  Thank you Delta!)  Watched Little Fockers on the flight back and got in around 11 pm.  Back to life....back to reality!!!
     What I like about Arizona is that there are so many climates in one state...at the same time of year..and the landscape can change just within a short drive.  You can literally see snow capped mountains, pine trees, palm trees, cool rock formations, cactus, be in 40 degrees and 90 degrees in the same day with just a short drive.  As far as I can tell, the only thing missing is...the Ocean and beaches!  If they can get those, I would probably move there.  Or California (minus the earthquakes) or Florida (minus the hurricanes).  We all had a great family vacation and the rest and relaxation couldn't have come at a better time!!  We LOVE Arizona!

It's nice to have a kitchen on a family vacation

Home away from Home

Living Room - Jacob Already Watching TV!

Master Bedroom

Dining Area

The Pool
(woulda looked better if I actually got outta my lounge chair to take the picture)



Yard House=Good Food-Good Times!

Kristin took this pretty picture at the Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens
Kids in Front of Chihuly Art Glass Piece
(I love Chihuly art and met him when I worked at Guardian)

Scottsdale In -N- Out...Good Stuff!

The Kids Picking Grapefruit with Jenn and Steve



Our Last Night at the Pool
(Complete with mood changing lights)

The sad rainy trip to the airport :(

My Souvenirs - I'm a simple girl...
My "Sun" charm, magnets, pen and a cool
 Rubiks-like photo block of the Grand Canyon
(the kids fought over that like it was gold)


Don't Worry Arizona - We'll Be Back!!!



 

Spring Break Family Vacation - Part 3

Flagstaff-Sedona-Scottsdale
     Up early, packed up and on the road by 9 am.  Destination:  Sedona!!  (One of my personal favorites!)  Definitely a postcard city!!  The drive we took was on a very winding road...but also very scenic.  I did not know it, but G had promised to take the kids to Slide Rock State Park for some action.  Unfortunately, when we got there it was not yet open (which was fine with me 'cause I just wanted to go to Sedona)....!! 
     By 10 am we were in Sedona and everyone (except G) was anxious to shop the strip for souvenirs and goodies.  We were selective and went in and out most of the stores.  We knew it would not be long before G would lose his shopping "enthusiasm" (he is a terrible shopper)!! 
     By noon we were thirsty and hungry for lunch, so we stopped at a nice looking Mexican restaurant called Oaxaca.  They have a nice rooftop covered patio with a great view of Sedona....and chips and salsa!!  (If the kids weren't with us, I could have stayed all day and drank Margaritas!!!!  Next time!)  Everyone had a good lunch, bought some goodies, and then wanted to go back to Slide Rock for some swimming and fun.
     We arrived back at Slide Rock and it was open.  We walked a rocky (get it?) trail to the rocks the kids can slide down.  Unfortunately, I had patent leather wedge flip flops on and was not prepared for rock climbing....afterall....I was dressed to SHOP....in Sedona!!!  It was a pretty park and the kids said the water was freeeezing.  But, that never stopped them before.  They are in Lake Huron all the time and that can be pretty cold.  Us Michiganders are pretty hardy folk -- a little "chill" in Arizona is nothing.  There were many people at Slide Rock.  We stayed about an hour.  Long enough for the kids to take several turns sliding down the rock (by the way, don't tell the kids, but I think what gives you the ability to "slide" down the rock is the moss on the rock!!  Yuck!!).  Now we were anxious to get to our final destination.....Scottsdale.
     By 5 pm we arrived at the Scottsdale Links Resort...checked things out....  Finally, a kitchen, dining room, master suite, 2 baths, kids room, living room, balcony.  A quick swim, then dinner.  After our big Mexican lunch, I wanted a salad for dinner.  G suggested Sweet Tomatoes.  It was great!  They have a huge salad bar and lots of other goodies (Why are all the healthy restaurants on the West Coast...with all the beautiful people!!??  Coincidence?  I think NOT!)  Then off to Albertsons for groceries to stock our kitchen...  Return to our cozy/separate rooms.  Looking forward to the relaxation part of the vacation....the agenda for the rest of the week?  Pool+Sun=Fun!!  Our vacation is almost done...



Beautiful Sedona, AZ



One of the Pretty Views from the Sedona strip

Jacob and Kristin learning how the candles are made



Oaxaca Mexican Restaurant, Sedona



The 4 Little Pigs!??
(Sedona streets are decorated with these guys...)

 

Slide Rock State Park



The Rocky Trail to Slide Rock



Jacob taking a trip down the rock!



The Girls Floatin' Down the Rock



Look to the right....it's 90 degrees in Scottsdale!!



Home Sweet Home (I wish), Scottsdale, AZ



Spring Break Family Vacation - Part 2

Flagstaff-Grand Canyon-Flagstaff
     Yikes, the kids woke up at 5 am and the parents tried to stay asleep but woke up (reluctantly) at 6 am.  Obviously, we were not quite on an Arizona-vacation-sleeping-in schedule!  The kids got dressed pretty quickly claiming to be "starving" and couldn't wait to check out the breakfast buffet.  Thankfully, G is usually willing to go with the kids and let me wake up sloooowly with my little cup of coffee in the room.  I did join them, but 7:30 am seemed more reasonable to me!!  (Hello?  I'm on va-ca-tion!!??)
     By 8:30 am we were on the road to the Grand Canyon!  George and I had been to the GC years ago, but we were excited for the kids to have this experience...afterall it IS one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World!!!!  Oh, and Kristin thought that every mountain we saw was either Mt. Everest or the Grand Canyon....obviously the girl needed to learn that a canyon is deep...  So away we went on our little learning adventure!
    G kept looking out the windows a little too much instead of keeping his eyes on the road while driving...he later confessed he was keeping his eyes peeled for an authentic roadside Indian taco stand...lol!!??  It's probably best that we never did find one.  Plus, it was 9 am!!  G also informed me that we were taking the "back" way to the Canyon which would be more scenic since we would eventually be driving along the GC to get to the various lookout points.  Obviously, this is not a top secret route, but more people do come up 180 North, we took 89 North and 64 West along the GC.
     About an hour into our drive, we came upon a Navajo Tribal Park along the Little Colorado River.  It looked interesting and we were ready for a little break from driving.  Upon entry G found out it was $2 to go to the lookout point and wasn't going to pay it....I said just give the Indians the $2 and let's check it out...!!  (Seriously, $2!!??)   It was well worth it, hardly anyone was there, and it was a great sneek peek of a smaller canyon before reaching the much bigger GC.  Also, the Indians were setting up their market where they sold things like jewelry, pottery, leather goods, etc...  I bought a cute little $3 bracelet that the lady said her grandchildren made...my kids also bought some handmade goodies (remember, this is their allowance money from our new Job Charts)...  They were cautioned not to spend it all before we even got to the Grand Canyon (Jacob)!
     Back on the road around 10:45 am...the views are getting more and more beautiful. Everything looks like a picture...and we did snap a lot of pictures, mostly with our phones.  Around 11:30 am we arrived at Desert View Watchtower...our first great view of the Grand Canyon!!!!  Then Lipan Point, Grandview Point and then to the GC Village for browsing and lunch.  The General Store is a nice grocery store with souvenirs as well.  We ended up putting our own deli sandwiches together and ate outside in the village while writing postcards to the grandparents and kids' friends.  The Grand Canyon Post Office was right next door so we easily got them quickly written out and sent and people actually received them before we returned from our vacation (that may be a first)!! 
     After the Village we planned one last lookout which was Yivapi Point.   All views were spectacular and the pictures (at least mine) do not do it justice.  The kids also got a kick out of the mountain lion crossing signs along the way...like our Michigan deer crossing signs.  By far, the most moving part of the Grand Canyon experience for me (besides sharing it with my kids and seeing them in awe of something non-electronic) was the quote from Theodore Roosevelt etched in glass at Yivapi Point overlooking the Canyon (see below).
     Sadly, it was time to head back.  Believe it or not, one last stop at the National Geographic Visitor's Center for the Grand Canyon IMAX movie which is 34 minutes long.  It's a good history lesson and gives you the feeling of flying over the Canyon which is neat -- remember it's all about the kids, right!?   Finally, drove back to Flagstaff and had a late dinner at the Lumberyard Brewing Co. (what can I say?  two breweries in two nights?  possibly a record for me, but certainly not G!).  Somehow, without even trying, we got there just in time for the last half of NCAA Final Game UConn v. Butler :(    What a nice long memorable day....stay tuned for more.....

The Drive from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon

Navajo Tribal Park

Navajo Tribal Park/Little Colorado River



We Have a Feeling Mom is Going to Take a lot of Pictures!!??



Desert View Grand Canyon



Desert View and Watchtower, Grand Canyon

 

"Do nothing to mar its grandeur, for the ages have been at work on it and man cannot improve it.
 Keep it for your children, your children's children and all who come after you."
THEODORE ROOSEVELT



The Grand Canyon brings out the LOVE!

 

GRAND Canyon!!



Jacob - King of the Canyon!!??

I promise, no more breweries (after this one)!



Spring Break Family Vacation - Part 1

Detroit-Phoenix-Flagstaff
     After putting my mom in the care of my brother and our "Lucky" goldendoodle in the care of Canine College, we left for the airport around 4:30 am Sunday for our direct flight to Phoenix.  I think we started planning this trip in January...the kids had never been to Arizona and G has been traveling there for business the last couple years so we thought the kids would want to check it out. 
     The flight was relatively uneventful except that the kids did enjoy the newly installed personal tvs and headphones they each had for the ride.  Watching iCarly and Sponge Bob on tv while in the air -- what next!?  Oh, and I caught an episode of Bethenny Ever After on Bravo, too!
     We arrived in Phoenix around 9am local time, rented a nice black Kia Borrego (don't know much about Kias, but it was nice and the size we wanted) with bonus GPS and we were on the road towards Flagstaff with a sunny day ahead of us.  The plan was to stop at Montezuma Castle for some quick sight seeing on our way to Flagstaff...but after 20 minutes in the car we realized we wanted a case of water bottles, so the actual first stop was ....Target Greatland...I could have spent the whole day in there, but the family wouldn't let me (and yes, we managed to buy more than water bottles)!!
      Now, next stop Montezuma Castle National Monument.  We really did not know too much about this place but G had looked into it and it turns out it was a nice stop and a good way to break us into the Indian culture and the beautiful scenery.  There's a small visitor's center/gift shop and a walking path around the Monument with some shaded resting stops.  It was here that I discovered that Sycamore trees are pretty neat.  We probably spent an hour or so at Montezuma.
     On the road again headed for Flagstaff...arrive Holiday Inn Express approximately 3 pm (apparently there aren't many or any nicer hotels in Flagstaff--and with the free breakfast we got what we paid for-a basic hotel).  Northern Arizona is still chilly this time of year, so no shorts...yet.  Relax, unwind, unpack, check out the pool and figure out a plan for dinner.  The kids went for a quick swim while I got the room organized.  At this point we are starting to struggle to keep up with the 3 hour time change since we had been up so early.  A little tired and a little hungry! 
     We ended up at the Beaver Street Brewery for dinner and it turned out to be a great choice!  Had a nice salad and delicious wood fired pizza.  I believe I even had a beer in honor of the Brewery...and I'm not really a beer drinker.  Flagstaff appears to have a little bit of a college town feel (I believe Northern Arizona State University is in Flagstaff).   Early night...in bed around 9 pm (Midnite Michigan time)...big day tomorrow!

The Griswolds Our First Stop!

The Kids at our First AZ Tourist Attraction

The Castle

A Pretty Sycamore Tree!

Yummy Salad, Pizza and Beer