Tuesday, June 15, 2010

My Heart Is In Arizona.....

Hello everyone!!!! I swear, now that I am done with school, I marvel at the fact that I was able to get anything accomplished. We have been so busy (what's new, right???) and I have not had much time to sit down and write.
That is one nice thing about FaceBook: it doesn't require that you put much effort into it, unlike blogging. ...
Now, about my trip....My good friend, Karen, and I decided that we should celebrate my graduation and her birthday by going on a "girls" trip. We booked our trip through Costco Travel, and the whole thing (airfare, hotel, resort fees etc...) came to $302 per person, and that included tax! Pretty cool, huh???
We stayed at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort and we had a blast. The Phoenix/Scottsdale area was breathtaking, and we were there early enough that things were still green (I am thinking of your comment, Chelsi...although I love the desert when it is brown too).

We arrived during a heat wave/heat advisory, with the average temperature falling around 114 degrees during the day and 90-95 degrees at night.
We weren't bothered by the heat though, because there were four pools and a lazy river (all open 24 hours), so we spent a lot of time in the water.I fell in love with all of the cacti that surrounded us, and I probably took way to many pictures of them. It was so neat to drive down the highway and have blooming cacti all around you...and the birds???? Oh my goodness, were they ever cute!!! So were these little rabbits that seemed to be everywhere....

We also went shopping, and my favorite place was Old Town Scottsdale, with its Southwestern flavor and great shops. I bought a pretty turquoise and silver ring, and an unique piece of Navajo horsehair pottery.
One really neat thing was that all of the malls and shopping centers that we went to were open; that is, the main walkway between the shops was not enclosed. Instead, there were palm trees, fountains, and large pots of plants.
Oh, and everyone was tan, healthy, and fit, unlike the people who live in WA...lol!!!! I guess that is what happens when the sun shines over 330 days per year.....We had really wanted to drive up to Sedona one day, but we never felt like driving over five hours round trip. I think that we may have to make a family camping trip that way sometime though, because I hear that it is breathtaking. Anyway, we had a nice, relaxing time, with no husbands, and no kidlets. I would love to move to the Southwest, but I am still leaning towards NM; somewhere in the high desert perhaps....
I hope that you are all having a good week, and I will be back again soon...I promise. : )

7 comments:

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

I LOVE that resort. We have stayed there many times, as our company Christmas party was always held there and we also got a standing discount on the rooms year-round as employees.

How did you like the little bars set up around the 'river'? Now that is THE LIFE! LOL

I also miss the open air mall experience. The mall right across from the resort was so much fun to go shopping in.

Glad you got to enjoy a graduation celebration. And Yes, Sedona is stunning. Chris and I rode through there only one time on the bike, but I have always wanted to go back and take Megan.

Paint Girl said...

I am so glad you got to take a vacation and just have fun with your friend!! Sounds like a wonderful time.
I love Scottsdale. Unfortunately I didn't get to do any sightseeing, too busy working at the horse show. But from what I got to see, I loved!! I would move there in a heartbeat! Awesome pictures!

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

OH yes yes yes! Move to New Mexico! I would be sooooooo happy to be neighbors with you!

And the high desert is great because you get more moisture, which means cooler temps and even snow. I like having 4 seasons. :)

You know what's kind of ironic, though? Is that John keeps talking about how cool it would be to move to Idaho. He fell in love with Idaho during his long distance trucking days last year.

I'd like to visit Idaho soon, but I'm not sure about moving there. But who knows?! lol!

Your photos were gorgeous! Love all the cacti...and the bunny, too. When I walk up to my barn most mornings, I scatter the bunnies who are either stealing hay from my barn or munching grass in the pasture. I agree...they are so cute!

I'm so envious that you had a girl's trip. What a blast! We Mom's deserve some get-a-way time.

~Lisa

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Congratulations on your graduation! You really worked hard and earned it.
Sounds like a great trip but I was just wondering- isn't Arizona the winter getaway? lol. I'm glad you had a great time. It's too bad you didn't get to Sedona, and Payson too, and the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas, and New Mexico, and...

Maybe next time.

sanjeet said...

I LOVE that resort.
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Unknown said...

Super cool you got to go down there for a visit. It is one of my favorite places in the whole world as well. As I have mentioned on my blog if I could talk Hubby into it we'd move there in a heartbeat.

Carolynn Anctil said...

What a fantastic way to celebrate. Congratulations. Bunnies are always a good sign!