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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.  

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.

The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon

Since we booked our trip to the Grand Canyon so late we ended up staying outside the park for a couple nights.  The Grand at the Grand Canyon is located right outside the South Rim gate in a town called Tusayan.  The hotel was highly recommended and rated one of the only three star hotels in the area.  The bellman was absolutely fantastic and did not complain once about our two carts full of luggage.  The Grand was located right next to a bus service that we could conveniently take directly into the Grand Canyon Village if we chose to.  

As you entered the lobby of the Grand Hotel you felt as if you had been transported to a wilderness hunting lodge deep in the forest.  As the piano music serenades you to relax and enjoy your evening without having to leave the comfort of your hotel.  The fireplace would be the perfect place to cozy up to during cold winter months with a nice hot cup of cocoa.  The walls are filled with trophies of all the native animals you would expect to see in a hunting lodge to show of the accomplishments of the hunter.

We booked a standard two queen beds for our stay and were extremely comfortable.  Each room was equipped with a wet bar including a refrigerator, microwave and keurig coffeemaker. The rooms had a nice spacious balcony so after we got Jaxon settled in bed for the night we were able sit and relax on the balcony.

During our stay I happened to glance out our patio and saw the amazing sight of elk grazing in our parking lot.  Jax's and I rushed outside in our pajamas like crazy tourist to take pictures and just observe in pure enjoyment their beauty.

The hotel is one of the few in the area with an indoor pool to enjoy after a long day of hiking in the area.

Jaxon always seems to find a small sanctuary for himself no matter where we visit.  Here it happened to be our porch where he could work on his Junior Ranger program while we packed up for our next adventure.  

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Barstow

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Barstow has a great location just off Interstate 15 right before the junction Interstate 40.  It is also conveniently located within walking distance of the Barstow Outlets.  Just in case you want to stretch your legs after a long drive.  During our stay we booked the 1 King Bed 2 room suite with whirlpool.  This was our first night on a long road trip and we left late in the day due to my son, Jaxon's, summer class he had attended.  It was the perfect room for us as he was able to stretch out while we organized ourselves for the next long stretch of our trip into Arizona.

Our King Bed was extremely comfortable while being located in a extremely spacious room. The room included a large desk area with an additional desk below on wheels that gave you the option to extend your work space area.  This is where I was able to set up my computer and work very easily with their amazing high speed internet.

The living room had a whirlpool in the corner which Jax's found extremely entertaining. 

The wet bar area was very tight and the new refrigerator did not fit under the counter as the original did but we survived the one night. 

We were conveniently located on the same floor as the laundry room.  Since this would be the only night we had a laundry room until the following week we took advantage of the proximity and washed what we had.  The washers and dryers were immaculate which is honestly a relief when you are able to find a hotel that gives you this opportunity.

Before we headed out in the morning we were able to choose from a large selection of hot and cold breakfast items from their continental breakfast included in our stay. 

In the end the hotel was just what we were looking for and anytime we travel through this area we will have no problem calling the Holiday Inn Express and Suites our home for the night. 

Ritz Carlton Battery Park

When we began exploring the nearest hotel to the Statue of Liberty we found the Ritz Carlton Battery Park.  

What caught our attention is not only were they located right in Battery Park, so we could easily cross the street to catch our ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  They also have an amazing Statue of Liberty view.  The Statue of Liberty view rooms come fully equipped with telescopes.  Which entertained Jaxon the entire stay.  Also conveniently located near by was the hop on and off bus, Castle Clinton National Monument, The National Museum of the American Indian, Seaglass Merry-Go-Round, and the Korean War monument to list just a few things that kept us busy during our stay.

In addition to Battery Park, located directly in front of our hotel was the beginning of the 9/11 Memorial walkway that took you directly to the site of the Memorial and Museum.  I was not sure how I would feel about visiting this site especially with a small child in tow who really doesn't understand the meaning of living through such a tragic event.  Sadly, it would be foolish of me to hope or wish that he never has to experience such tragedy.  In the world we live in today it is more common then generations before.  Yet I can now say I visited the site and cried as many people have done before me remembering all of the brave people who lost their lives on 9/11.

Since we were visiting during the Fourth of July all guests of the Ritz Carlton were invited to join the hotel on the 14th floor to relax and watch the fireworks from their outdoor terrace.  We made sure to get there early so that we could have a front row seat for the Fourth of July event.

Our stay at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park was absolutely wonderful.  We could not have asked for a more convenient location in this area and having the opportunity to watch the fireworks without fighting the crowds on the street made for a wonderful Fourth of July holiday.

Westin SFO

We checked into the Westin San Francisco Airport the night before our flight to New York.  One of the reasons we enjoy this hotel so much is they are one of the closest to the Airport.  Not only do they include a 24 hour shuttle to the airport they are the last pick up.  So you do not have to worry about sitting on a shuttle as it stops at every hotel on the street estimating the amount of time it will take you to get to the airport.

We always try to reserve a larger room when we stay near the airport so Jaxon has the ability to run around before a long flight and we are able to organize our suitcases.  In this case we were actually upgraded to the Chairman's Suite.  All of the suites we have stayed in at this location have been very spacious and comfortable. 

While my husband and Jaxon spent a majority of their time at the pool.  My mother and I went to the gym to get one last work out in before our long flight.  Their gym is more then accommodating and was kept very clean and organized.  The Westin also makes workout clothes available for all of their guests.  I personally have never utilized this service but I will say has always made me curious.  

As we browsed the room service menu and found nothing I quickly called downstairs to the Grill & Vine Restaurant that was located in the lobby and asked if they could accommodate pick up orders.  They were more than accommodating not only did they take our order they also called us to notify us when it was ready for pick up.  Their menu was so extensive that it was actually hard for all of us to make decisions.  Once we picked up our food we opened a bottle of wine and relaxed enjoying the peace before the airport chaos would begin the following day.

Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage

After finding such a great Ritz Kids program in Orlando, Florida we decided to start venturing to other locations when the opportunity arises.  Since we are studying Deserts we turned to the Ritz Kids at the Rancho Mirage Ritz Carlton for our next adventure.  Palm Springs has always held a special place in my heart. There is something about this area that has a sense of calmness to it.  Even through all the extremes of the desert habitat I still find peace here.

The cactus garden in the lobby immediately caught Jaxon's attention upon check in.  We arrived early to give ourselves enough time to enjoy the property for the day and experience some of the resorts activities.  The resort has nature walks, morning hikes, night hikes among many other activities scheduled through out the week.  

We choose a Terrace Firepit Two Queens for our visit as we love being able to spend time outdoors as an extension of our (living space) room.  This room exceeded our expectations.  It had an outdoor living room under a terrace where we spent most of our time.  The terrace had a fan and during the heat of the day patio misters would turn on to keep you cool.  Each night at dusk someone would come around and light our firepit.  The room was absolutely gorgeous and more comfortable than some suites we have had in the past. 

The hotel has two pools.  We never ventured over to the adult only pool.  The family pool was very comfortable and enjoyable. Even with a full crowd it never felt confining.

There was a wide range of extra curricular activities to do spread through out the entire resort.  Jaxon was drawn to the putting green as he was having withdrawals from his golf classes.

We found this Ritz Kids was set up much different than the other location we had previously visited.  The Ritz Kids program here is only available on Friday and Saturday's.  So we made sure to come into Rancho Mirage on a Friday and Saturday so Jaxon could take full advantage of the Ritz Kids program.  During the program they read books on the desert such as Way Out West Lives A Coyote Named Frank or How Jackrabbit Got His Very Long Ears.  Anytime we have visited Ritz Kids locations they always do a great amount of reading to the children on the specific topics surrounding the location. Of course Jaxon's favorite part of the Ritz Kids was Draco, the resident bearded dragon, that he was able to observe being fed daily.  

Here is an example of one of the crafts that were created during Jax's Ritz Kids visit. Anytime we are studying a topic I try to collect as many books as possible on the subject.  On this trip one of the books we brought along was The Storm on the Desert.  Then at night we use them for reading time.  Which makes for a perfect ending to an adventurous day. 

In the past the Ritz Kids locations we had been to had a rigid activities schedule including daily themes.  Rancho Mirage was a much more laid back form of education then we were used to during our travels or even at home.  At first I was a little concerned as we had come to visit solely for the educational value of the Ritz Kids.  Since my mind is extremely structured I did not see how this was going to happen while they were playing games all day long.  Frank was the Ritz Kids counselor Jaxon interacted with during the majority of his time.  As our conversations continued we found out that Frank was a Joshua Tree Park Ranger in the past and his knowledge superseded anything you could read in a book or learn at a zoo.  His expertise on the local animals is what caught Jaxon's interest and even though he thought he was playing games the entire time his mind was soaking up all the grand stories of adventure Frank was sharing with him.  Again the Ritz Carlton has amazed me.  This location took education out of the norm and put it into a new perspective and method but was equally as successful in the knowledge Jaxon took away from the program.  

Best Western Plus Taft

If you ever find yourself looking for a hotel in Taft I would highly recommend the Best Western Plus over any other hotel in town.  When I began my search to look for hotels nearest to Carrizo Plains National Monument I found Taft was the closest town.  Taft is located in the middle of oil fields.  Driving into town was such a sight all you could see was oil rigs for miles.  Our entire experience in Taft ended up being a diamond in the ruff.  The hotel was located directly behind the main street so it gave us easy access to be able to walk around town in the evening. Growing up in a small town it was a breath of fresh air when we walked up an down the streets.  The town was very quiet and has history lining the streets.  As you strolled up and down the sidewalks every couple feet you would come to a piece of the oil industry history.  At the time of booking the hotel I expected to use it as a starting point for our journey into carrizo plains I had no idea that we would become a part of our journey itself.  We found ourselves intrigued and drawn to the town itself.  It left us wanting to return to explore more.

This Hotel included free wifi and breakfast with our stay.  There are times I am at 5-star hotels and the wifi barely works.  The Best Western in Taft had such excellent wifi that I was able to work on uploading pictures with ease.  The Continental Breakfast had more variety than most and was prepared on site.  

The Hotel only has standard rooms which made me a little nervous, since this trip my husband joined us, it would be tight.  It ended up not being a problem at all as we spent most or our afternoons at their pool which was extremely well kept and comfortable.  The rooms were extremely clean and modern.  Each room was fully equipped with a refrigerator and microwave.  

The staff at the Best Western Plus is a great example of hospitality.  During our last day enjoying the pool we met a local man who's air-conditioning had went out and was using the hotel as an escape.  As our conversation took us to our current hotel location, he informed us that he was so delighted that they opened as it was the only hotel in town that did not have a green pool.  I'd say we made the right decision.