The Little Medical School

This Summer Camp was one class I as a mother was ecstatic Jaxon had chosen.  On his first day of class he brought home materials all with the Little Medical School logo.  Once I researched this amazing program I truly wish more locations in our area took advantage of their curriculum and services.  The Little Medical School has a list of programs available for children to learn within the medical field.  Such as, Little Veterinarian School, Little Nursing School and Little Pharmacy School being just a couple examples.  

The program includes all forms of learning.  The children do bring home worksheets and crafts everyday, along with adventures of conducting surgeries.  Through exciting entertaining play Jaxon was learning all about the human body.

Each day when they arrived to class they had a list of words of the day.  They covered new topics such as, organs, the brain, the lungs, the heart and bones were just a few that they covered over the course of a week.  Not once did Jaxon ever complain about the work load.  I heard only positive things coming from pure excitement each day.  As we drove home he would tell me stories of his medical adventures.

On the Thursday before the camp ended Jaxon brought home an invitation that he had written to us inviting us to his Little Medical School graduation.  

Along with his diploma Jaxon left for home medical coat in hand, stethoscope around his neck, smiling ear to ear.  The knowledge he picked up was unprecedented.  As a college medical student even I was impressed at the knowledge he absorbed.  When we were children it was unheard of to teach a young child any form of medical training. The future holds so many educational possibilities I can not wait to see what we might embark on next.

Mojave Resort

Fifteen years ago I was traveling to Palm Desert for a new store opening.  My company booked the Mojave resort for my accommodations.  Since that trip I have stayed nowhere else.  This hotel is truly an oasis in a desert full of chain hotels.  When you arrive at the Mojave and you are sitting in their courtyard you are able to get away from the world and sit in piece and quiet enjoying the serenity of the inner grounds surrounding you.

Each room has a small porch with two chairs and a table.  At night an employee walks the grounds turning on the porch lights to enjoy during the evening hours.  It is the perfect place to sit and have a glass of wine, enjoy dinner or as I once did answer emails.  The serenity of this location makes you feel like you are in lost in a world all of its own.  

Now that I have a child I look at the direct access to the pool in a whole new light.  To have the ability to give your child just enough freedom to where you are sitting on the porch as they swim makes them feel so grown up and entertains them as you have just a small amount of time to yourself.

Some rooms feature kitchenettes which can be requested upon booking and puts that extra touch of necessity after a long day of travels and adventures.  Mojave Resort is located centrally in Palm Desert so you can easily access The Living Desert, El Paseo, and the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument making it the perfect location to rest your head at night.  Each morning they offer a small breakfast bar with just enough to get you out the door without having to fix your own.

At the end of the day I will continue to return to the Mojave Resort and hope that my son will build memories here as I have in the past fifteen years.

Cabazon Dinosaurs

If you have ever lived in Southern California I am sure you have passed this monumental roadside attraction a thousand times, as I had in my past but never once did I stop and explore the area until today.  This roadside attraction was made famous when it was featured in Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure.  

My son is currently obsessed with Dinosaurs so what better time to get out and explore the famous roadside attraction.  Once we arrived we headed straight to the Brontosaurus which was closest to where we parked.

We had noticed an open sign from our car welcoming us inside.  Once we entered we climbed a set of stairs to a gift shop where we purchased our tickets to enter the T-Rex statue and make the climb to the top located just across the parking lot.  Admission at the time of our visit was $12.00 for Adults and $10.00 for children.

Of course each step we took towards the T-Rex held an exciting experience.  Here Jaxon is standing at the entry way to the ticket booth.

As we made our way past the gates and walked at a leisurely rate down their well manicured dirt trails dinosaur adventures surrounding our every turn.  Towards the end of the trail it appeared to be under construction soon becoming a paved path.

Once we arrived at the doorway to the T-rex we made the climb into his giant mouth just behind his fierce teeth.  As we towered over everything below it was a beautiful panoramic view of the area.  I would have loved to taken pictures except we were wired in by chicken wire surrounding his entire mouth and giant teeth.

On our way back through we found a small area off to the side for children to dig for dinosaur bones.  The sign advertised that if you found one you would win a prize.  We dug for a good ten minutes and no sign of any bones.

Of course on our way out we stopped by a second gift shop and Jaxon had no problem explaining that he was unable to find any dinosaur bones and well deserved a prize for all his hard work.  The woman behind the counter was a good sport and allowed him to pick a prize after his ride on the dinosaur.  Which made for the perfect ending in a young boys mind.

Oasis Date Gardens

I have waited for over ten years to make my way out to Oasis Date Gardens to enjoy a creamy Date Milkshake.  So much that I refused to try any other Date Shake in fear that it would ruin the famous Oasis Date Shake I had heard so much about.  I cannot express the excitement I held as we pulled into the parking lot after a long drive from Phoenix it was exactly what we needed.  On the other hand my mother and son thought I was insane for finding this culinary adventure so intriguing.  Yet this is one of the great things about traveling with people you love everyone has different interests and we all join in to experience the others joy and excitement.  

As we entered Jax was welcomed by Raul Medjool and found that posing for a picture with him was even more exciting then walking the small store located towards the back with a wide variety of food items to add to the large store located in the front full of dates.

After we ordered our Date shakes we wondered around the small store and helped ourselves to the sampling area as we anxiously awaited them to be prepared.

The shakes were everything I had ever dreamed to expect and more.  I now question why it took me so long to make the short journey out here and I will surely not wait as long for our next visit.  I was not the only one who fell in love with the Date Shake in pure shock both my mother and my son had also fallen in love with the famous treat.  We then wondered into a small room off to the side of the store to enjoy a short educational movie about the history of the Oasis Date Gardens.

Once again we had unexpectedly learned so much on a short culinary journey to a Date Farm, in the middle of the Desert, all while enjoying the most amazing creamy date shake that you could ever imagine.  

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Junior Ranger Program

Previous to arriving I printed the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Junior Ranger Program to give us a head start on our Exploration Notebook.  To earn your Junior Ranger Badge you must complete the same amount of pages as your age, in addition to visiting the touch table and being able to list three items you saw to a Ranger.  Let me just start off by saying this is a twenty-three page book that goes into a lot of detail for a younger child it is overwhelming.  Even though it is not required to complete the entire book since we are utilizing the Junior Ranger book as curriculum we usually try to attempt to complete the entire book.  So that Jaxon would not get discouraged we broke this book up into three sections.  Prior to our visit we were able to pull out, discuss and complete ahead of time pages 6, 7, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 22.  These pages included activities such as puzzle solving, crossword puzzles, we discussed our ancestors, where the Sonoran Desert is located, explored pottery and mazes just to name a few.  This gave us a great opportunity to lay a strong foundation and have an idea of what to expect upon our arrival.  We also included the wonderful pop up book Ancient Dwellings of the Southwest, which was a great conclusion to our trip since it contained a great deal of the locations we had previously visited .  Since this location was the first United States archeological preserve a great majority of the Junior Ranger book is teaching the children how to investigate in the same as an archeologist might.  Prior to entering the National Monument we read all of our safety tips for exploration on page three, and followed by reviewing the map and guide of the location on page four so that we knew where everything was located. 

As we were driving down the small country road we were able to see the towering Casa Grande Ruins in the distance.   It was like nothing we had experienced on our entire trip and immediately our bodies filled with excitement as we pulled into the gate.  No picture could be taken to explain the presence you feel when standing next to the ruins. 

Immediately following our arrival we walked the gardens located directly in front of the visitors center locating each plant and matching their names before proceeding into the museum.  

We then made our way to the theater to watch the film Case Grande: House of Many Stories.  This was a great film to help tell the story of Casa Grande and the people of its past.

During our exploration of the National Monument we carried with us the below scavenger hunt for animals unfortunately we had arrived in the heat of the day and only saw lizards during our visit.

When exploring the Ancestral Sonoran Desert homes I read Jaxon the plaques in front of each home along with the year.  Take note that the dates stated on each plaque actually have nothing to do with placing the houses in order from oldest to newest.  Due to this we got the entire page incorrect.

As you enter the museum on your left you will find a plaque that discusses the native language of the ancient Sonoran Desert people.  This plaque gave us the ability to complete page fourteen completely.

The displays within museum were fantastic and extremely well done which I somehow was overwhelmed and did not capture.  The last page we completed inside the museum was exploring trade clues on page seventeen.  This took some time as we went through the large exhibit discussing each item that they grew and had access to.  Then turned towards the discussion of what trade was and how it worked and then onto some of the items they might have traded.  Since we had not discussed this previously it took us a little bit of time to learn on site.  

After exploring outside we returned to the museum to locate yet another awe inspiring exhibit which incased a model of how the ruins might have looked in the beginning.  We then completed page eighteen of our Junior Ranger packet.

The location was a wonderful experience opening up subjects of exploration, history and preservation.  It was almost as if it was meant to be after a long trip of learning so much history it ended at a location that's main purpose was to explore ruins discovering stories of the past and how to preserve it for generations to come.

Holiday Inn Express Silver City

During our vist to Gila Cliff Dwellings we choose to stay at the Holiday Inn Express soley based upon the highly rated reviews on their cleanliness and good complimentary breakfast.  After our long day exploring Gila Cliff Dwellings we were all extremely eager to arrive at our hotel.  Upon arrival we entered the lobby to an extremely clean and well kept location with a very small business center off to the corner.

I personally was drawn to the amazing Native American painting that hung on the wall adjacent to the front desk.

We had booked a one King Bed Suite Non-Smoking.  

The room included a sitting area, Keurig coffee pot, microwave and small refrigerator all housed in a small wet bar area for us to prepare our own meals for the evening.

When tired from a long day of exploring it is always nice to end your day in a clean room that is comfortable enough to spread out while everyone cleans up and relaxes their tired feet for the evening.  The Holiday Inn Express in Silver City gives you just that.  Feeling fully rejuvenated when we woke up the next morning we made our way downstairs to make a selection from their great breakfast options.  Soon after we were on our way to our next adventure.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

To reach Gila Cliff Dwellings you have to travel on the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway.  This journey is not for the weak hearted.  The road is not recommended during the winter months as they do not plow the road on weekends.  It is extremely narrow and windy at times.  It took us two hours to reach the National Monument leaving from Silver City and traveling only 30 miles.  The Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway holds a lot of history, yet our only goal this trip was Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument.  We were told they are one of the few cliff dwellings left in the United States where you can climb inside.  Particularly due to the fact that they have very few visitors daily.  I would assume this is the case solely due to the treacherous scenic byway which is the only way in and out.  

I printed our Junior Ranger Book for Gila Cliff Dwellings ahead of time so that I could plan our day in the Park.  If you would rather pick up your Junior Ranger Book at the Visitors Center you will actually drive past the entrance of the Cliff Dwelling to the location of the visitors center and then backtrack to enter the park.  The visitors center also has restrooms, a small museum area and a gift shop.  The long drive to the National Monument gave us the opportunity to discuss what to expect and complete pages 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 prior to our arrival.  These pages covered a wide range of topics such as, habitat, the Mogollon's native language, the wide range of settlers to the area during different courses in time, and what rules to follow while visiting the National Monument.  To become a Junior Ranger at Gila Cliff Dwellings you must visit the Cliff Dwellings, explore the museum, and complete all the activities that feature a Ranger Hat symbol as seen here.  

As we were intent on making the only ranger guided tour offered daily we did not spend much time in the museum area.  The tour begins at the cliff dwellings, approximately one-half mile from the beginning of the trailhead this may not sound like much, but when you are in a hurry, in the heat of the day it feels a lot longer then you think.  As we entered the beginning of the trailhead a ranger was standing at the entrance reviewing the rules with each and every visitor prior to them making their way up to the dwellings.  The entire hike is a one mile loop divided into the lower trail and upper trail.  The lower trail is shaded and fairly easy.  We did not end up taking the upper trail due to the fact that while we were in the caves a thunderstorm moved in and it was no longer safe to take.

Once we arrived Ranger Nancy led us through each dwelling helping us imagine what it might have been like to live up high in the cliff dwellings.  The tour was a wealth of information and really helped us picture life as an Ancient Puebloans of the Mogollon area and the struggles they might have encountered.  

To be able to see up close each artifact pictured in the Junior Ranger book was truly an educational experience.  It helped us to understand why and how you knew which room was utilized for cooking not just by seeing the grinding stones pictured below in the book but by having the ability to look up and see all the soot that was covering the roof.  Children are naturally curious so if we could inspire them to investigate how or why the wealth of knowledge they are able to absorb is astonishing.

Once the tour had ended we were able to leisurely walk through the dwellings exploring each area in such detail on our own timeline left us the opportunity to complete almost the entire Junior Ranger Book.

In the last cave Jaxon choose to draw a pictograph that had been on the wall.  It was so far in the distance that we could not get a really clear picture of it but if you look real close you can see a faint red paint on the wall located right above the wall on the right.

On our return hike down from the cliff dwellings Jaxon took a seat on a bench to complete page three of his Junior Ranger Book.  This page came extremely easy for him as we were hiking down in the mist of a thunder storm so the sounds of the storm superseded anything else in the area.

As we drove back towards the visitors center we stopped at the Trail of the Past located right next to the Lower Scorpion Campgrounds to complete the page below.  The trail is a very short trail and can be done in less then ten minutes.  

The last page of our Junior Ranger book took us on a journey of reflection on our visit.   Asking us the simplest question, What did this special place mean to you, the people you know, and the people who choose to spend their time protecting it?

MothaPalooza at White Sands National Monument

We were extremely fortunate to be visiting White Sand National Monument on the same day as their annual MothaPalooza special event.  This just happened to work out perfectly as Jaxon had two very short lesson plans that needed to be accomplished on moths.  So this grand adventurous nighttime event was going to take the place of some mediocre crafting project that I would have had to most likely dig for on pinterest to accompany two books on moths.  The first of the two studies was when we were directed to read the following book, What's the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth?,  after studying Butterflies to be able to understand the difference between them.  

Upon our arrival we were met in the parking lot by an array of educational tables set up for the children to explore.  Each table was fully equipped with different topics all relating to the wildlife at the National Monument.

The most exciting event for myself as a home educator was the table that related to second book that we had to read in order to learn about moths, Night Life of the Yucca, The story of a flower and a moth.  Not only were we able to read about this amazing phenomena, we were given the great opportunity to witness the process first hand. At the Yucca Plant table they had placed a paper, basically a review for us after reading this book, but it explained the unique relationship between the Yucca Plant and the Yucca Moth.  How without each other neither would exist in this world.  The beautiful symbiotic relationship that they have reminds us how so many living things depend upon one another.

Of course Jaxon loved that they were breaking open some of the pods from the Yucca Plant so the children could see where the Yucca Moth larva was living and what they looked like.

Also on site for the preservation of another species of animals was an amazing man who saved bats for a living.  Having him on location discussing the safety of bats gave everyone who attended the opportunity to see the bat up close in a rare vision of him holding and handling the bat seen below in the towel.  Later that night he released a group of bats that he had rehabilitated ealier this year.  

On this evening we had the distinguished pleasure of listening to a lecture by Eric Metzler.  I remember when I attended college and there was always those hand full of teachers everyone fought to get into their courses because they made you want to learn, they challenged your mind in a way no one else had.  I can imagine that Eric Metzler was that teacher.   His passion for moths and all other living things left you wanting to learn more.  This remarkable man came to White Sand National Monument to volunteer his time to study the moths of this area.  In his time here he has unveiled many new species of Moths while learning so much more about existing species.

Following the bat release everyone was welcome to drive in their cars out to the Big Dunes Nature Trail for a moth sheeting event.  A moth sheeting event is where black lights are placed to attract Moths to the sheets for viewing purposes only.  I was so excited about this event for so many reasons.  First when would you ever be able to see moths up close like this ever again.  Second,  when would I ever go walking in the desert sand dunes of New Mexico at night.  The excitement as we exited our car, flashlights in hand was unbelievable.

As we made our way towards the first sheet we began seeing so many exciting insects.   Below you can see a Darkling Beetle and a Walking Stick.  We stopped and observed both these insects for sometime before moving onto new discoveries.

As we came to the second sheet we were able to observe our first moth with a whole new appreciation for these creatures we watched the beauty they hold as they sat under the light with total stillness.

As we approached the top of the dune we found yet another fluorescent light set up against a giant rock formation where we found another handful of giant moths along with some even more exciting creatures.

We had recently studied in depth about animal adaption.  Yet I can honestly say I had never seen in such obvious the color adaption animals make to their environment until we came to white sands.  The lizards, moths, frogs and many other creatures here have adapted to the color of the dunes and appear almost completely white as the sand.  We stayed and watched the frog for a short period in awe of its color and transparency up against the sand dune.

We then heard all kinds of commotion to find that someone had found a scorpion.  As Jaxon's interest took a running start across the dune to the gathering of park rangers all observing the scorpion hunt for its pray under the fluorescent light held by the rangers.

I do not know if I could ever attend an event that will hold as much excitement, knowledge, and great educators as I did that night.  I will however hope and dream of returning another year to attend Mothapalooza.  Next time it might even be the reason for our journey.  

Fairfield Inn & Suites

During our visit to White Sands National Monument we decided to stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Alamogordo.  

Located in the lobby was a small business center adjacent to the front desk equipped with computers, printers, high speed internet access, along with a fax machine.  The hotel offered free wifi throughout the hotel.

Once we checked in I wondered over to the market to see what they might have to offer.  The entire area was empty with tags showing me all the great variety and choices I could have if they had been well stocked.

As we made our way to the elevator we passed the indoor pool available to all guests during their stay.

During our stay we booked a kitchen suite.  Meaning our room came with a fully equipped kitchen including a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and twin burner stove.  It was perfect since we had not been able to replenish our kitchen since our stop in Santa Fe.  While we were able to take advantage of a full size refrigerator we found it very difficult to use the small corner stove behind the microwave.  The kitchen claimed to be fully equipped yet when we arrived we found what they considered kitchen supplies all thrown on top of each other in a pile under the sink.  It did not appear to be very clean nor fully stocked.  When we went to pull out some utensils there were only random left overs in the drawer, one fork and two spoons, so we ended up passing on using any of their supplies.

Our room came with a separate living room.  This made for a great escape in the evening for us while Jaxon was tucked into bed we could sit and discuss the adventures we had experienced that day and all the feelings they had brought us.

The room included a king size bed and a television in the separate bedroom for our comfort and Jaxon's enjoyment.

Even though we were unable to utilize the kitchen to it's full potential the room still gave us the space to relax for the evening so that we would be refreshed and ready to go the following morning.  

Junior Dunes Ranger at White Sands National Monument

I had really no expectations when we planned our stop at White Sand National Monument.  Once we arrived we found the beauty of the dunes to capture our mind in a stillness I have never experienced.  The wonder and questions I had during our visit are still not completely answered.  White Sand National Monument is one of the most unusual places I have ever visited.  It is one of the few magical places that draws you in and makes you want to return over and over.  Not just for all the questions but for the adventure that lies in the dunes awaiting your discovery.  

Prior to our arrival I downloaded the Junior Dunes Ranger Activity Book for the White Sands National Monument giving us the ability to begin completing the required activities needed to earn our patch.  The Junior Dunes Ranger Activity Book is broken into three groups based on age.  We completed the entire Lizard activities within the book.  Located at the top of each page you will find the symbols that are required to complete that page in order to receive their Junior Ranger certificate, badge or patch and become a Junior Dunes Ranger.

Prior to arriving at the monument we completed the Desert Safety page discussing the importance of packing properly for a desert hike.  For this discussion we were able to complete both pages even though it was not required of his level I felt he really needed to understand how to prepare for the desert heat.  We also reviewed Nature Manners discussing how to respect the park and other visitors by having good manners.

Upon our arrival we began our journey in the garden located directly in front of the visitor's center.  Then making our way indoors to explore the museum, gift shop and gather information for our day of adventure.  This gave us a great beginning and orientation for what to expect during our visit to White Sand National Monument.  It also brought to our attention the unique geology that exists in the region.  White Sands National Monument is the largest white gypsum dunefield in the entire world and though it is called White Sands it is actually crystals that cover the miles and miles of breathtaking landscape.

Once we headed out on our journey to the dunes we had Jaxon fully equipped with a clipboard to begin his Scavenger Hunt completing two pages of our junior ranger program in the process.

The most exciting discovery we made was observing the lizards of White Sand National Monument.  A large majority of animals that live in the dunes have adapted overtime and shimmer white to match the gypsum dunes they inhabit.  We sat and observed the lizard above as he dug himself a burrow to escape the heat of the midday hot sun.

When we made our way farther into the dunes it appeared to be miles and miles of untouched land as the untouched ripples invited you to come explore.

After our visit to the Monument and learning so much about the Soap Tree Yucca I have now come to admire their beauty from a distance growing wild in the interdune area. I am fascinated that they hold such a beautiful symbiotic relationship with the Yucca Moths.  

During the heat of the day with temperatures reaching at least 100 degrees we imagined the sand to be scorching hot.  Yet when we got out to explore the area next to the trailhead we found the sand was cold to the touch we were actually able to walk barefoot through it during our adventures and not be affected at all.

When choosing a hike we choose the Interdune Boardwalk since it incorporated many different educational exhibits along the way.  

Half way down the platform are seats to sit and observe the natural surroundings.  Taking in the stillness of the dunes, watching for any wildlife that might be out braving the heat of the day, and having the ability to take your time in the shade and read through all the wonderful educational exhibits about the Monument.

After completing our hike we raced back to the courtyard at the visitors center to attend Skins & Skulls in hopes to learn about all the animals of White Sands National Monument.  We did not realize that this Ranger Program was just a table set up to explore at your own pace.  So since we had completed exploring the table within five minutes we decided to interview Ranger Emily to complete our Meet the Ranger page located in our Junior Ranger Book.

After completing the required pages and receiving our patch the fun began.  It was time to go sand sledding!  We headed to the top of the dunes and enjoyed sand sledding for our first time.  It was as if we had all the dunes to ourselves.  When we reached the top as far as our eyes could see were rolling hills of white. 

White Sand National Monument is a great natural wonder of this earth and I am so glad that we discovered it during our travels.  I sometimes wonder what attracts people to specific National Parks.  Why do we all flock to Yosemite, Yellowstone or Grand Canyon?  Why do so many of us overlook such grand adventures as White Sands National Monument.  

Rodeway Inn White City, NM

During our visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park we wanted to stay closest to the National Park as possible since we would be attending the Bat Flight Program that ended at sunset.  The Rodeway Inn is the only hotel that is located at the entrance to the Park all the other hotels in the area are at the least 18 miles away.

Our only disappointment at this location was that we didn't have enough time to explore their awesome waterpark located on property.

We booked a two queen bed non smoking room for the evening.  Since this is an older hotel the rooms were giant at no time did I feel like I was confined to a standard room.  I have actually stayed in Suites that were more confining then the room we had.  Which was a great luxury to have as our stay was brief and quick with a lot that had to get accomplished very quickly during our coming and going.

The hotel guest room was extremely well kept and clean.  It was fully equipped with an iron, ironing board, TV, coffee maker, microwave, and a small fridge with freezer.

Prior to our departure in the morning we were able to enjoy a complimentary breakfast we picked up in the lobby as we ran out the door to continue on our adventures.  The unique part of this breakfast was that they offered juice in a box so that I was not concerned about Jaxon spilling a small unstable cup in the truck.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Junior Ranger

During our study of Bats last Halloween we completed the first of two Primary Thematic Units on Bats.  The first Thematic Unit was focused on the book Stellaluna.  This was a fantastic introduction for children to the world of bats as it compares bats to birds.  It shares the similarities and differences and through the thematic unit we learned that bats are actually mammals not birds. When I read through our second thematic unit it included a great deal of discussion on Carlsbad Caverns and exploring the bats that lived there.  When planning our road trip through New Mexico I was excited to have the opportunity to complete our Bat study by observing Carlsbad Caverns Bat flight program.  It is such an amazing feeling to be able to take what you read in a book and have it come to life right in front of your eyes.  

It turned out that Carlsbad Carverns had so much more to offer than just a bat study.  Prior to our visit I downloaded and printed the Carlsbad Caverns Junior Ranger Book for ages 7-12 so that we could lay a strong foundation for our visit.  To become a Junior Ranger at this park you must complete 7 out of the 14 activities listed on the first page.  Since we have been studying bats prior to our visit I was able to incorporate pages 2, 5, 9, 10 and 11 into our daily work.  This told us the story of the Carlsbad Caverns, gave us a list of vocabulary words to prepare us for our visit, taught us about the habitat surrounding the caverns and what rules to follow during our visit.  Once we arrived we proceeded straight to the counter located to the right of the entrance to pay $5.00 a person to enjoy the children's audio tour that is offered.

Prior to descending down the trail we stopped at the gift shop located in the visitors center and picked up an explorer helmet for Jaxon.  This ended up being the perfect purchase.  As we climbed deeper and deeper into the cave it grew darker and darker.  At times there was very little light to guide our way.  This helped settle Jaxon's nerves about being on an adventure in a dark cave.  It did not settle our nerves as everytime he would turn to speak to us he would absolutely blind us with a stream of bright light.

I cannot express enough how amazing the childrens audio tour is.  The story is told by a young bat who lives in Carlsbad Caverns.  He takes you on a journey of exploration as you descend the 750 feet into the earth to learn about the Caverns he calls home.  He entertains your every moment as he leads you through the twists and turns of the 1.5 mile Natural Entrance Trail.  

To keep Jaxon busy during the entire walk we carried the Cave Scavenger Hunt.  It helped him locate and learn about all the different cave formations he saw on his adventure.

Once we reached the bottom we came to a cross in the road if we turned right we embarked on a whole new journey through the Big Room which is also included on our audio tour but not required to complete the Junior Ranger Program.  If we turned left we ended up in an area that provided restrooms, elevators escorting visitors back to the Visitors Center and a small cafe with table, chairs and souvenirs for purchase.  Since we were on such limited time we ended our audio tour here and proceeded to the cafe area.  Due to the extreme drop in temperature and an ill prepared mother Jaxon was cold so we purchased him a sweater and used the restroom then making ourselves comfortable at a table to work on our Junior Ranger book before making the journey back up to the surface.

I would make sure to leave a good amount of time to return by elevator, as the line was quite lengthy and took a good thirty minutes to reach the elevators.

Once we returned to the visitors center we joined Ranger Leah as she presented an amazing slide show called Batty for Bats! Learning all the basics of the bats of Carlsbad Caverns with her extreme enthusiasm made for an entertaining program.  Ranger Leah has a long history of working with young children and it truly showed as she entertained and dazzled Jaxon with her stories of bats full of facts.  

Since Ranger Leah worked so well with children we took this opportunity to complete page six of our Junior Ranger book "Ask a Ranger".

After leaving Leah we took a short half mile walk through the Nature Trail exploring all the different plants of the Chihuahaun Desert as we completed page 7 of our junior ranger program.  This was our first visit to the Chihuahan Desert and the start of our exciting desert habitat study.  

The half mile trail quickly became exciting as we began discovering centipedes and millipedes along the way. 

Once we completed the short loop we headed back inside to join Ranger Nikki for her program Discover the Night Sky.  This ranger program was directed to an older audience than Jaxon could comprehend but I as a parent found it very informative as her entire talk revolved around a book she had read as a child.  Find the Constellations is a great book that I am truly excited to incorporate into our curriculum.  The book is a wonderful beginning guide into the grand world of constellations.  It takes the child on a journey to discover the constellations in the nights sky. Once you hunt the night sky looking for the constellation you are able to turn the page then revealing the location of the constellation.  I find it to be a fun interactive book that entertains while you learn something new.  I strongly feel that exposing our children to concepts and words during their childhood help them to recognize the same concepts later during their education.  So maybe Jaxon did no fully understand anything during this Ranger Program but surely the next time he is learning about constellations he will at least remember the general notion.

Following the program we had the great pleasure of having Ranger Nikki present us with our badge prior to running off to the next Ranger Program.

The next ranger program was directed at a much younger age group.  As we wandered into the room we met Ranger Lindsay a seasoned Ranger of many National Park Deserts.  She would be leading us today through "Who Lives in the Desert?".  We eagerly listened to Ranger Lindsay read us stories of the Chihauhuan Desert and the many creatures that reside there.  

Finally the grand finale.  The whole reason we had made the journey south to Carlsbad Caverns was finally here. We all hurried to the amphitheater to find the best seats for our last program of the day The Bat Flight Program.  We took a seat and listened carefully to the rules.  Unfortunately the number one rule is no photographs.  So I cannot share with you a visual of how I felt as the bats took flight over our heads making their nightly journey out into the sunset to find food.  Watching a sunset alone is a moment that is breathtaking but adding hundreds of thousands of bats flying into the sunset as they take flutter past you into the nights sky is a majestic sight.  If everyone remains silent you can hear them and if your lucky they will soar directly above you.  This is an amazing site I would definitely recommend as I hope to return again one day to feel this breathtaking moment once more.

The Stables at Tamaya

Jaxon had always had a love for horses even when his only time to ride was in Griffith Park at the pony rides.  He has always asked to ride more but there are little opportunities for him to do so at his age.  When we arrived at Hyatt Regency Tamaya and realized they had stables on property we were excited until we once again found out the minimum age was seven years old.  I approached the front desk asking if we were able to book a private lesson for Jaxon since he is under the actual trail riding age.  The front desk contacted Tamaya Horse Rehab's owner Connie Collis with my request.  Connie didn't even hesitate to accommodate Jaxon the following day with private lessons.  With great excitement and a little disappointment that we had not brought his wranglers, boots and hat we joined Tamaya Horse Rehab the following day for our first lesson.

During Jaxon's first lesson I found a flyer in the office and while attempting to keep myself occupied while he rode I began to read the story behind Tamaya Stables.  Below is the actual flyer telling the struggles of horses needing help through out New Mexico.  During our visit I met many volunteers helping care for these horses.  It was truly inspiring and if I lived closer I would have probably volunteered my time to help care for these amazing animals in need of help. 

Upon our arrival we met Starlight the horse he would be riding.  Starlight had kind eyes and a loving heart but just enough spunk and mind of her own to keep Jaxon on his toes so he would never be bored.  We also met Jasmine at this time an amazing teacher who was stern enough to keep Jaxon in line but compassionate enough that he felt completely comfortable and wanted to return daily.  If we lived in New Mexico I guarantee we would never be leaving the Tamaya Horse Rehab and Jaxon would have most likely become their youngest volunteer.  

His first day of lessons included him learning how to mount, how to balance and control his body , how to stop and steer the horse and the most important lesson learned at the end of the day is how to show your horse love and appreciation through praise and care.

We returned the following day to spend the day doing obstacle courses that Jasmine had set up.  The activities forced Jaxon to steer the horse while completing a different activity with his arms.  Below you can see him steering Starlight towards the fence as he had to grab the rubber chickens all in a row, collecting them to return to Jasmine.

When we arrived on our last day Jasmine had a surprise waiting for Jaxon.  She had decided he was ready to go on a Trail Ride with everyone else.  To capture the look of excitement and joy on Jaxon's face would never be possible.  He couldn't believe his ears as he climbed up onto Starlight and followed Jasmine out of the stables on his first Trail Ride grinning from ear to ear.  

Jaxon's journey to the Rio Grande was the perfect ending to an absolutely amazing experience that could never be repeated nor could he have asked for more.  It saddened me as I watched him struggle to find the words to say goodbye.  

Sometimes in life it is not always about the journey but who we meet along the way.  Who we need in our life at that time and what they bring to us as friends, companions, teachers and human beings.   On this trip Jaxon needed to explore new passions and in the hands of Starlight and Jasmine he found not only a new passion but friends.   Friends he hopes he can return to and see again and again through out his life.  Yet if for some reason he cannot, knowing the impact that they both made on his life is something that no other person could ever repeat and they will forever hold a place in his heart.

Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa

Last year we began Jaxon's Thematic Unit study on Native American's by studying the book The legend of Bluebonnet.  This was a great introduction into Native American history. It is such a huge part of our countries history and I truly feel we do not study it enough in our education system.  So this year we embarked on our first Native American road schooling journey while using the excert of the same Thematic Unit by studying Arrow to the Sun a Pueblo Indian tale.

Our entire southwest road trip all started with Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa and the amazing cultural activities they offer for children.  We had heard great reviews about their programs and were extremely excited to finally be able to enjoy the resort while Jaxon learned about native americans through fun and exciting cultural activities.  

As we drove up to the grand entrance we were overwhelmed with excitement for what the future of the next week would hold for us was unknown.  As we turned the corner we looked around in awe of the wonderful architecture that was created to resemble an authentic Native American Pueblo.  One of the many things that make the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa special is that they are located on the Santa Ana Pueblo Indian Reservation. We were then greeted by the amazing valet service who patiently unloaded our truck with my sons help the entire time without ever becoming frustrated. 

As we entered the lobby we were instantly drawn to the grand room just beyond the entrance filled with couches to lounge on while playing games with the family or enjoying a quiet cocktail by the fire with someone special.  As you gazed past the couches full of families enjoying games of chess and uno you could see in the distance rows of cottonwoods shadowed by the enormous Sandia mountains in the distance all framed with perfection by stormy summer skies New Mexico has to offer.

During our stay we decided on a Junior Suite since it would be the focal point of our Native American studies this year we wanted to make sure we had enough room to spread out and do any school work that was necessary during our stay.  

The Junior Suites have a separate living space that comes with an additional restroom and balcony.  Also giving us the option to stay in on the nights when we were all completely exhausted from the days activities.

Our bedroom had two double beds and a balcony that looked over the courtyard.  The room amenities included a coffee maker and refrigerator.  We choose to pay an additional fee daily to have a microwave which sometimes is well worth the money when it makes daily meals with a child just a little bit easier.

When we are in search for a place to stay having a great pool is a a huge contending factor for us.  Jaxon loves to swim and having a waterslide in addition to a standard pool can entertain him for hours.  Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa took the pool experience to a completely higher level by providing the children with poolside entertainment daily.  Each afternoon the recreation team would have a list of activities for the kids to together enjoy by the pool.  We have been to resorts that say this before and it will usually hold my sons attention for about five minutes.  Not Tamaya they have completely out done themselves with daily waterslide races, water balloon throwing contests, water soaking fun and more.  Every afternoon after we had completed all our activities for the day we would make our way down to the pool to all enjoy some relaxation.  Jaxon would immediately check the daily activities calendar and then head to the waterslide anxiously awaiting the next game to start.

The Tamaya also has an adult only pool for those who would like to pass on all the excitement at the family pool.  The Kiva Pool was located right beneath our room so you are able to see it pictured here.

During our Native American curriculum it incorporated a list of different art projects and cultural activities for the children to enjoy including Sand Painting.  This worked great with the resorts Srai Wi activities.  Srai Wi means "my children" in the original language of the Tamayan people.  We took part in almost every activity they had to offer.  The Srai Wi activities are organized by the resorts cultural staff and offered a range of amazing learning experiences for Jaxon.  

Here Jaxon is studying and creating his own Sand Painting which we learned were originally performed only by medicine men during the healing process.  Jaxon actually brought our Arrow to the Sun book for inspiration and created an amazing tile.  This activity is actually suggested for ages 9 and up.  I signed myself up for the activity and then just assisted Jaxon anytime he needed assistance which was actually not often.

Leather Stamping was something Jaxon has experienced previously with his father.  On numerous occasions Jaxon and his father have used leather stamping to personalize items for Christmas gifts.  This time Jaxon had the joy of making something he could take home and surprise his father with.  This is a one hour class with the minimum age being ten.  I can see why they would require a child at age ten for the a huge reason being if the cultural staff had five children and the parents sat by and watched rather then participating it would make for a very difficult activity.

One of my absolute favorite activities offered was the Adobe Brick Making experience.  It was an experience I could never replicate and was so glad he was able to participate in such an amazing cultural activity.  Here the children worked in a group to create just the right mud mixture to each be able to form their own individual adobe brick.   Using the same techniques as the people of the Santa Ana Pueblo have for generations.  For this activity I would highly recommend attending in the beginning of your visit to allow your brick to completely dry out before you leave.  I am in the process of looking for just the right shadow box to display Jaxon's as artwork in my house.  This is a one hour class that is recommended for ages five and up.

One of the more simple activities we took part in was Gourd Painting.  Gourd Painting is a one and half hour activity for ages three and up. This activity gives them the ability to design and paint their own gourd to take home.  Jaxon decided to paint all different types of Native American pictographs on his gourd.

One of the more interesting activities we participated in was the Painted Ponies.  Until we arrived we had no concept of the depth of this activity.  This activity is to educate and recreate on a personal level The Trail of Painted Ponies.  A short version of this story is that the Trail of the Painted Ponies is one of the most successful Public Art projects in history.  This project invited many artists in the Santa Fe area to paint life-size horse sculptures that were then placed through out the entire state of New Mexico to raise money for non-profit organizations.  After being told the story we were then given a small version of the horse sculptures to create our own painted pony.

After learning about the program we had the amazing pleasure to walk the lobby and see the properties own painted pony which had been created by an artist from the Santa Ana Pueblo.

Our next activity brought us back to what we had just learned during our visit to Bandelier National Monument.  During this family experience ages 3 and up are given a very short explanation of what a petroglyph is prior to being given the opportunity to paint a treasure box with your own personal interpretation of petroglyphs.  For us it was a great follow up activity to reiterate what we had just learned only a few days earlier.

Jaxon's artistic interest led us to participate in the adult class Wine and Watercolor.  This class took place on the back porch where students were able to gaze at the towering Sandia Mountains in the distance. They would be the subject the class would be painting.  This class was a new experience for Jaxon as he had never painted with watercolors previously.  The instructor was an amazingly patient woman who taught us all a valuable lesson that day. Everything in watercolor is fixable. 

One of our first mornings at Tamaya we had the grand pleasure of meeting Mary.  For our remainder of our stay we looked forward to turning a corner to see her smiling face.  She always took the time to stop and have a conversation with Jaxon.  So many times in the adult world we are so concerned about pleasing adults we forget about the younger generations that value and learn manners from simple greetings and conversations directed at them.  Just the small amount of time it takes to listen to their adventures of the day makes them feel that much more special.  Mary was our instructor when we learned the ancient Santa Ana tradition of bread making.  The bread making class while fun was a little too simple for the amount of cooking and baking we do at home.  All and all Jaxon had a wonderful time and Mary made it just a little more special as she taught Jaxon to make his bread into shapes before placing it in the traditional Huruna Oven.  

Once you return after an hour Mary is there to great you with your hot bread and if you opted not to take the bread baking class don't worry she will serve you a sample of the hot bread smothered in your choice of amazing flavored butters they have to offer.  Jaxon enjoyed the bread so much we returned each day that Mary was handing out samples of hot bread.  As we enjoyed our bread we sat on the lawn relaxing and enjoying the Native American dancing that would perform on these days.  Towards the end the dance troupe would even invite all the guests up to dance along side of them.  Jaxon found this to be extremely entertaining and fun to be able to join them in their Native traditions.

Something Jaxon had longed to learn was archery.  His excitement when we attended the basics of archery could not be captured in a photo or words. This was an excellent class recommended for ages 9 and up.  The class showed Jaxon that not everything is as easy at it looks.  It took him the entire first class to learn how to shoot the traditional bow properly.  If it had not been for horseback riding he might have returned daily to master this activity. Here we had the great pleasure of meeting Eugena.  She herself hunted as a small girl using archery.  She was astonishing with children.  We actually attended activities hoping she would be there so we could absorb all of her knowledge as we would listen to her tell us stories of growing up on her reservation.  

On the Saturday Evening before our departure we joined Emmett Garcia a Native American author who wrote Coyote and the Sky and Sister Rabbit's Tricks.  As we listened to him tell his stories as all his ancestors had done before we listen with enthusiasm and excitement.  This was the perfect ending to an amazing trip.

This blog entry could go on and on as I have so many wonderful things to say about this property and the people here. With no expectations this resort is one I wish I could recreate in every place I visit.  The property is beautifully done and well kept, the rooms were very comfortable, the pool has everything you could ever want and more.  The Srai Wi Activities help us to understand and experience the Native American culture as it should be by knowledgeable people who want to share with you their traditions.  I wish other resorts could learn from the passion that comes from all the people we have met during this journey.  In todays world I travel so many places and people are there for one simple reason a paycheck.  They don't have passion and it shows during our interactions with them.  The passion that exists at Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa is felt when you walk through the door.  It's not only one person you meet on your adventures at their resort is starts at the valet service when you arrive and continues as you check in at the front desk and spend your days at the pool.  It was one of those vacations that you wish you could revisit year after year.  Yet would it ever be as amazing as the first time you experience it?  I will have to let you know.

Bandelier National Monument Junior Ranger

Our exciting journey through the Indian Reservations opened up a whole new educational experience into the Native American culture.  This laid a great foundation for our entire road trip through the southwest.  As we embarked on the next leg of our trip it brought us even further back in history to Bandelier National Monument.  To take an adventure through the Ancient Pueblon history would fulfill a long time dream of my mother's to climb the many ladders to the top of the Alcove House.

We arrived extremely early so that we were able to drive our own vehicle into the park.   Bandolier National Monument is one of the few monuments that during peak season visitors who arrive during operating hours must ride a mandatory shuttle into the park.  Arriving prior to 9:00 am gave us the opportunity to drive our own vehicle into the park and continue our journey on after Bandolier National Monument through the Jemez Mountain Trail.

Bandelier National Monument is the only park I have currently found that has broken it's Junior Ranger Program into four age groups consisting of Pre K to 1st Grade, 2nd Grade to 3rd Grade, 4th Grade to 6th Grade, and Deputy level being 7th Grade and up.  Offering a different patch for each age group makes it exciting for children to return to the park often embarking on a new adventure each time they return.  We downloaded our booklet at home prior to our visit and will be walking you through our journey of Bandolier National Monument for the Pre K to 1st Grade age group. Before we even set out on our adventure we were able to compete pages 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15.  This taught Jaxon how to respect and protect the monument during our visit, what animals live in the surrounding habitat, and what the ruins would have looked like when the Ancestral Puebloans called them home.  

Prior to our departure we picked up a trail guide at the Visitor's Center for $1.00 to guide us through this small piece of amazing human history.  As we began our journey down the main loop Jaxon kept him self entertained by playing Bandelier Bingo.  

It did not take us long to complete as for every corner we turned we were surrounded by wildlife.  

As you turn the corner looking up at the enormous mountain you see in the distance small holes not yet realizing that each one was eloquently carved out by a human being.

 As we took the 1.2 mile trail it led us past an intact Kiva and through what remained of a small village area before descending up the hill to the base of the cliff dwellings.

 When you reach the base of the cliff dwellings you have the opportunity to climb numerous ladders into a number of the homes that still are intact today.  

When we arrived in front of the Long House we sat on the bench to discuss what the difference was between a petroglyph and a pictograph while completing page 9.  This was Jaxon's first encounter with any form of a petroglyph.  It was the beginning to many new petroglyph discoveries along our quest of learning.  He now studies them with ease trying to put meaning behind each individual picture he finds.

Once we completed the leisure walk around the main loop we returned to the visitor center to walk the gardens and learn how the Ancient Publeon people used each plant in their daily lives. 

When we finished we headed back to the Visitor Center to turn in our completed Junior Ranger Book and be rewarded with an amazing Patch showing the accomplishments of our day learning through the Monuments awe inspiring historical site.

After completing our Junior Ranger Program we set out to conquer the Alcove House.  

The Alcove House trail is 2.7 miles long reaching 140 feet above the canyon.  Which can only be reached by the four sets of steep ladders and stone stairs that take you on a journey from terrace to terrace up the mountain.

In the heat of the day we began our climb.  We were extremely relieved by each terrace we reached stopping to catch our breath and drink some water before resuming our climb to the next knowing we were just a little bit closer each time.

Once we reached the Alcove House we felt a great sense of achievement as we looked down below at the people who choose not to take the challenge.  As they wait at the foot of the mountain for their loved ones they appeared to be ants.  Giving us great perspective on how life must have been for the twenty-five people who once occupied the Alcove House.  The climb they choose to make everyday to fetch water, and gather food.  

Homewood Suites Santa Fe - North

After a week in the Grand Canyon and making the all day drive to Santa Fe we found the perfect location to refuel, do laundry and replenish our kitchen at the Homewood Suites Santa Fe.  We choose this exact location due to the proximity to Bandolier National Monument which is where our adventure would continue the following day.  It was located a meer 30 miles to the entrance of the National Monument right next door to the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder.  The Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort included an onsite Spa and Resort, Casino, four restaurants and a Golf Course all located right next door giving you the option to make a short walk to enjoy the facilities offered.

At the time of arrival the hotel was hosting their nightly evening social.  A majority of roadside hotels now serve hot breakfast, but an evening social with alcoholic beverages was a great surprise at our time of arrival.  This made for a wonderful evening off from cooking a meal. 

When we arrived to our room we found a small bag located on our kitchen table welcoming us to the hotel.  Inside contained two protein bars each attached to a bottle of water with an enclosed welcome letter inviting you to make yourself at home.  

We booked a two queen bed one bedroom casita suite non smoking for our night.  The room was extremely spacious and comfortable.

The fully equipped kitchen included a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and twin burner stove.  The perfect size to spend the evening replenishing our lunch supplies before the next leg of our trip.

While we were at the hotel we took full advantage of the laundry facilities which was kept extremely clean.  The following morning restocked and refreshed we headed downstairs to enjoy a hot breakfast before beginning our next adventure.  During all of our travels we found the Homewood Suites to be one of the only hotels that went above and beyond what was expected.  

Navajo Interactive Museum

Since the next leg of our trip is all about Native Americans our first stop was to explore the Navajo Interactive Museum.  Since there was not a lot of information online I was not sure what to expect when we arrived.  While planning our visit I found the workbook by Evan-Moor History Pockets Native Americans,  it contains nine different tribes within the book including the Navajo of the Southwest.  The activities within this book are very short but cover a lot of topics that lay a great foundation to build on for future lessons.  When we arrived we were asked if Jaxon wanted to be a detective during his visit and of course that sparked his interest immediately.  We were then escorted to a theater where we watched a short video on the Navajo Indians and their beliefs on how they entered through four worlds before settling here.  It was a great introduction for Jaxon to understand their spiritual beliefs.

As we entered the museum we were overwhelmed with the well placed displays all set up in one large circle.  We were in such awe at the exhibits we were not sure where to begin.  As we did not want to miss one single thing it was wonderful to have the worksheet to guide us.  We began our journey in the center of the museum where there was a Hogan set up that you could enter.  This gave Jaxon a great opportunity to see what life might have been like to live in one as a family.  

Inside the Hogan was another short film showing how the Navajo Indians wove their beautiful rugs from start to finish.  This was an amazing new concept to Jaxon and I wanted to make sure he could appreciate how much hard work went into making these gorgeous rugs so following our visit we read the book The Goat in the Rug by Geraldine.  This book begins with a two page spread showing all of the tools that are needed to craft a rug and then tells the story of a Navajo Weaver named Glee 'Nasbah.  I highly recommend this book as it is a wonderful addition to the study of the Navajo rug making.

Upon our exit of the Hogan we found a small table where we made ourselves comfortable to begin answering the questions on the museum of mystery adventure.  

Located through out the exhibit there are signs perfectly placed as pictured below giving you clues to the answers to complete your mysteries of the museum.

Upon leaving the museum Jaxon turned in his page and got a prize for completing the entire expedition.  

Once we arrived at the hotel that evening we followed up by reading A True Book The Navajo by Andrew Santella and by completing the workbook projects for The Navajo of the Southwest located in the Native American history pockets.

Bright Angel Cabin

Our last night in the park was at Bright Angel Cabins.  We booked a Rim Cabin and the view from our cabin was just one of the many reasons it quickly became our favorite accommodations the entire trip.  We all completely agreed that when we return we will stay here the entire time.  In addition to an amazing view the cabins gave Jaxon some extra space to wander independently outside, rather than being trapped inside a hotel room for the night.

Our cabin had two entrances a main door that was connected to a boardwalk which led to a row of other cabins and an independent door that lead to the canyon view side of the cabin.  All I needed was a chair and a glass of wine and I would have never left the canyon view in the evening.  Unfortunately they do not provide chairs outside but next time I will remember to bring my own.  

The room was a little tight but organized correctly made for the perfect fit for us when we included the outdoor space where Jaxon spent the majority of his time.  The bed was a double and we did have the option to bring in a rollaway bed which we declined so not to take up the little space we had available.

I woke up in the middle of the night and looked out of our window at a sky filled with stars.  Something I forgot was so beautiful, as adults we are so busy that we never take the time to stop and look up at the night sky.  Next time we return I will be planning less early morning adventures and more late night star exploring.

Our cabin was located right across from the Lookout Studio and was in close proximity to the main Bright Angel Lodge.  The Bright Angel Lodge houses two restaurants and our ultimate favorite was the ice cream shop which we visited on numerous occasions.

Upon our day of check out the most amazing thing happened.  I was standing in front of our cabin waiting for the bellman to pick up our luggage.  As I walked out to gaze out over the south rim one last time before departing I looked up to see the most graceful gliding creature I had ever seen, the California Condor. We had spent our entire Earth Day curriculum studying their conservation and it had been on my personal list of things to experience ever since we had learned about these amazing creatures. I am not a birdwatcher by nature but I stood there for a good ten minutes just watching the pair glide over the Grand Canyon winds enjoying themselves.  It had made for the most surreal ending to an amazing trip.

Grand Canyon South Rim

Unless you have visited the Grand Canyon I cannot put into words the excitement and beauty the canyon holds when you gaze out across the rim.  This trip we are exploring the South Rim and all the excitement it has to offer us while completing our South Rim Junior Ranger Program.

One of the many reasons I enjoy traveling to National Parks are the many Park Ranger Programs they have to offer.  We all learn so many new things as we explore the parks along side the rangers, soaking in all of their knowledge of the area.  Below is an example of what is offered during the summer months.  This trip we actually attended almost all the programs listed below with the exception of one or two.

One of our absolute favorite Ranger Programs was the Nature Walk that departed from the Park Headquarters daily during our visit.  We had the pleasure of joining Ranger Ronnie during her two hour exploration of the forest that is in between the park headquarters and the south rim trail.  She was so fantastic that two hours felt like ten minutes and i could have followed her around all day.  

She took us on an exploration of the entire area and the same walk we had made to the Park Headquarters that took ten minutes took two hours making our way back towards the rim trail.  We dissected owl pellets, smelled trees, looked for animal tracks and discussed the different fauna and flora of this elevation.  She held the attention of adults and children the entire nature walk.  It takes a special person to appeal to all generations.  So many times I have attended walks and talks and someone in our group was lost or overwhelmed with boredom.  This was not the case on this adventure to the rim.  If I ever return I will seek out any Ranger Programs she might be leading and return daily just to soak up the knowledge she has to share.

The other amazing Ranger Program we attended was the Fossil Walk that took place near Bright Angel Trailhead lead by Ranger Joel Kane.  This upcoming year Jaxon will be studying Rocks, Minerals and Fossils which is a foreign subject in my area of knowledge.  So when we sat down and Ranger Kane explained the different types of rocks in the simplest definition within the first five minutes I was ecstatic.  Light bulbs were going off the entire time I listened to Ranger Kane as he explained so well I wondered how I had never understood any of these concepts previously.

After deep explanation he led us to an area right next to the trail full of fossils.  From a distance I would have assumed this area was full of boulders not until we stopped and took a closer look did I see all the fascinating fossils from times of earths past.  If I had been making my way up the trail, that runs parallel to Hermit Road right past the Angel Bright Trailhead entrance, I would have walked by unknowingly missing so much history.  This is one of the many reasons I so enjoy attending Ranger Programs they always seem to take you off the beaten path exploring what you would have missed otherwise.

Jaxon could not contain his excitement to actually be hunting for fossils on his own and not in a excavation kit he had purchased at the local education store.  This was so much more to be outside exploring as if he himself was a Paleontologist on a search to answer questions from the unknown.

Located a short walk from El Tovar is the Hopi House.  The Hopi House was designed by Mary Colter and is famous for it's architecture.  While I found it be a beautiful building I found it much more interesting to walk around inside and gaze at all the amazingly crafted Native American arts and crafts for purchase.  

As we explored the Native American crafts inside the Hopi House it was solely by chance that a poster caught my eye displaying scheduled performance times for a Navajo Native American Dance Troup for 1:00 pm that day.  I was so excited to have Jaxon experience his first actual authentic native american dance it would completely set the stage for our next adventure further east through Navajo Nation.  Jaxon was in complete awe over the entire experience and just continued asking if they were real.  It is such a great feeling as a mother for you to see your child experience something that will change how they look at the world and history of our country.  

As we rushed down the Trail of Time to make it to the Ranger Program that was taking place at the Yavapai Geology Museum we actually ran right past a grazing elk and had to double take as we stopped for a brief second to take in her beauty before continuing our journey.

Once we began to venture away from the village we found ourselves at the Tusayan Museum and Ruins.  This would be our first official introduction to Native American ruins on our journey across the southwest.  We arrived early with great excitement and anticipation. 

As we made our way to the museum it happened to be the perfect introduction to the tribes we would later learn more about.  In the museum a single glass display case gave visitors the opportunity to observe pictures along with items that represented each individual tribe.

While at the Grand Canyon we learned repeatedly about the split twig figures you see above.  It is thought that they were once children's toys.  They were found by archeologists in caves that date back between 2000 to 4000 years old.  We were lucky enough to find a kit showing Jaxon how the children of the ancient civilizations had made them.  When we returned home and were reviewing and discussing our adventures discovering the history of the Grand Canyon we sat down and took the opportunity to create a couple together.

By the time we were done touring the museum the Tusayan Ruins Ranger led program was just about to begin.  The program took us on a journey through the Tusayan Ruin walk trail which lays a great introduction to the Ancient Puebloan People and how they might have lived long ago.  It guides you through the farm area introducing you to the three sisters, the different storage areas used to store their food after harvesting, the living areas they shared with their families and two Kivas.  

Almost everything we had just learned was new to us.  I had studied Native Americans but not at this depth.   Until this trip I had never heard of the three sisters, or a Kiva.  This is one of the many reasons I love the decision we made to embark on an education based on experience.  To have the opportunity for Jaxon to learn from so many different subject from knowledgeable people is a great gift.

Our last stop prior to exiting the park was the Desert View watchtower.  Perched on the rim of the canyon stood an amazing piece of history which I would have completely passed if it was not for a flyer catching my eye discussing a Cultural Demonstration series featuring a Hopi Potter and Painter.  This perked my interest as we made our journey to the watchtower to embark on a cultural experience.

Upon our arrival Jaxon was drawn to Bobby Silas the Hopi Potter and Painter who was demonstrating his tribes techniques and had no problem discussing and sharing with my son the culture and history he had learned to perfect through the years.  He was such a compassionate person to give my son the attention he did and took the time to explain and teach Jaxon all the techniques and ways of his tribe.  As we left with new knowledge of the Hopi Tribe we left an amazing awe inspiring experience as we pulled away from the Grand Canyon we all felt a small piece of sorrow.  

El Tovar

No trip to the South Rim village would be complete without spending sometime at the ionic El Tovar Hotel.  We were lucky enough to be able to stay one night at the hotel and explore it inside and out.  This hotel is located directly on the south rim of the Grand Canyon and has been seen in famous photographs and movies for decades.  Such as, the National Lampoon's Vacation during their visit to the Grand Canyon. Once you arrive the hotel does have bell service to assist you with your luggage.  They will even store your luggage and deliver it directly to your room, without you being present so that when you finally end your day of adventure your luggage is waiting for you.  However, El Tovar does not have it's own parking lot so we arrived early an were able to find close parking.  I have to note once we found close parking we never moved our truck the entire time we stayed in the village out of fear that we would lose our parking spot.  The hotel had easy access to the El Tovar dining room located in the hotel lobby.  Along with a comfortable lounge where we spent one afternoon with Jaxon to escape the heat while we waited for our room to be ready.

We booked a Deluxe King room which was located in the corner of the hotel.  The one thing I would request in the future would be a higher floor room.  We looked out our window to the back porch and at no time did we have any privacy at all.  That being the case we actually kept our curtains closed the entire time we were in our room.  The room was equipped with a Keurig Coffee Maker and a Refrigerator.

Located only steps from our room on the back porch were daily Ranger Programs.  It made for the perfect mid-day break for us.  Jaxon's favorite were the critter chats which I highly recommend for young Junior Rangers.  These talks only lasted about twenty minutes and at the end they would preform a Junior Ranger ceremony for anyone who had completed their Junior Ranger Activity Book.  We utilized this time to run back to our room, grab lunch, change clothes and work on our Junior Ranger Activity Book.  At the same time it also gave us a break from the hot sun as we sat back and relaxed on the porch.

While El Tovar is the most famous hotel in the park I was not as easily impressed and expected a much more grand lodge than what it was in reality.  Yet in my absolute honest opinion nothing within the park could ever compare to the beauty of the canyon.  So while a large part of the Grand Canyon village focuses on architecture and buildings I find myself still choosing locations within the park that give me the capability to gaze across the canyon.  That is a view that cannot be replicated.  So at night when I retreat to my hotel room to take in our adventures of the day I would always choose the hotel room no matter what level of stars, history or architecture it holds that gives me the ability to look out over the canyon just one more time before I retire for the evening.  Eager to see what adventures tomorrow will bring.