live4joy

Just got back from a serious road trip with my sis-in-law.
I have been to Scottsdale three times now in the last four months.
This time was the most fun.

Thursday I left at 7am & arrived in Scottsdale by 1pm.

This time I was in North Scottsdale, only about 10 miles from where I stayed previously.At 1pm we checked into the hotel right away, then went to meet friends at the Fairmont Princess.

http://www.fairmont.com/scottsdale/

My sister in law & I actually stayed at the Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites, kind of nicer Best Western

http://www.scottsdalebestwestern.com/map.cfm
right next to the airport & only blocks away. Walking up to the Fairmont we could not believe how many wild rabbits roamed the grounds. Rabbits and quail everywhere.The view was beautiful.

We came in time for lunch at the Fairmont LV Bistro. We looked out at the pool off the patio and were ready to start spring break. After lunch we strolled the grounds while our friends golfed. Took a quick trip back to our hotel to get ready for a late dinner.

Our first night we ate dinner and had some wine at "The Marquesa."
The Marquesa, is the resorts signature restaurant. The tall wooden Italian doors reminded me of an old church. Beautiful paintings lined the entrance. The atmosphere was relaxing and friendly. Quite an experience.

Friday we had breakfast at the Lv Bistro and swam away the rest of the day.
For dinner, again, we stayed at the Fairmont. This time tried "La Hacienda", the resorts Gourmet Mexican restaurant.
Finishing dinner at around 10:00pm we walked the grounds some more, showing out friends the pathways and shortcuts we found together the day before. There were rabbits everywhere on the pathways. (Even more than were out in the daylight)

We then left for my Moms Saturday early morning at 7am
driving from Scottsdale to Kingman.
Stopped at Wickenburg really quick
I have to say, we met the nicest locals there

http://www.arizonaguide.com/wheretogo/City.aspx?ctid=26

and

http://www.wickenburgchamber.com/

we were at my moms by 11am and off we ran again...

to Harrah's casino in Laughlin

http://www.visitlaughlin.com/ltourism/attractions/index.jsp

with my mom, her husband, his sister & her husband who were visiting from Indiana. Our stay at Harrah's was brief. A quick lunch buffet and 45 minutes of gambling. (Video Poker) I spent 10.00 winning back 9.00. That sounded like a good time to stop to me.

Then we drove to Grapevine Canyon and saw the petroglyphs again,

this time I went back further though

and found some caves and saw a few pottery pieces

we stayed for a few hours climbing around

then my step dad said we should hurry & leave if we wanted to see Oatman & Gold Road

so off we ran

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/AZ-OatmanHotel.html

Oatman is full of donkeys, it was a big gold mining town named after Olive Oatman.
Olive has a very interesting life story. You can read up on her at the link above.
Oatman has cowboy shows free in the streets before sundown

we just missed that

but came in time before the donkeys left

I guess they take off to the hills at sundown

they walk right up to you

(they want carrots...lol)

we walked into to some of the old historic buildings there

and actually saw Clark Gable & Carole Lumbard's old room

then we drove on old Gold Road by the Oatman Gold mines

http://www.gazette9.com/rt66/ogr.htm

this link is gold road

http://www.gazette9.com/rt66/grmine.htm

this is the gold mine

I guess many people have died watching the scenery on this road, its VERY narrow sometimes around the hills

look at this link and you will think I am BRAVE

http://www.gazette9.com/rt66/curves.htm

after hours of this we all drove back into Kingman

and stopped for Chili at Wendy's

Christine (sis in law) was impressed at all we did on a tank of gas

(so was I)

then we watched old family videos and laughed for 2 hours

went to bed, woke at 630am and started home soon after

we were home by 2pm

I am now trying to recover.....................................

we took lots of photos

I posted a few.

Glad to be back in San Diego. There is just something about sleeping in your own bed, in your own house.

Tags: arizona, california, nevada, petroglpyhs, road trip
Current Location: AZ-NV-CA