*The advertised "heated pool" was frigid (also the kids' top complaint) and when I called to make sure that said advertisement was accurate, the young man working at the front desk answered after 18 rings, answered my questions curtly (and with blatant lies), and hung up on me without any farewell. Then when Nathan took the kids down to the pool to freeze their bummies off, and headed to the front desk to report that, in fact the pool was NOT heated, the young man had a hard time getting off his cell phone to converse with Nathan.
*The room reeked of stale cigarettes.
*The in-room refrigerator that qualified this place as an "inn" didn't function.
*There was something brown splattered on the bathroom wall. This beats the dried up spaghetti under the armoire in our last hotel. Why is it that people don't think to clean a wall when cleaning a hotel bathroom. It seems SO obvious and sensible to me. I just don't get it.
*There was a conveniently located restaurant directly on the hotel property that started filling up with hootin', hollerin' drunkards at promptly 10:00 pm and continued to escalate the level of noise throughout the night.
And they couldn't even have comfortable beds to make up for it. I didn't sleep a wink.
Enough of that....
We started out with the meteor crater. Nathan and the kids had already been, but I had never seen this huge...hole. Nathan had mentioned that it was a little windy on his last visit, but nothing he said could have prepared any of us (including him) for this tempest that slapped us all across the face as we exited our car. We made the mistake of opening two doors at once and the crosswind ripped all loose articles from our vehicle. The one we couldn't catch was a plastic bag full of styrofoam chips (of course). It literally got sucked about 60 ft. into the air in a matter of half a second. Once all the styrofoam had spilled out all over the ground, the bag went CRAZY! Everyone stopped to point...it was the talk of the town...or the crater. Also important to note- I dug a ponytail holder out of my bag, only to have it disappear into the wind as well.
Here we are approaching the crater. This is to give you an idea of the impact. See how the ground suddenly rises? Those aren't mountains...or hills. That is where the ground was pushed up from the impact of the crater. Amazing, right?+095.jpg)
Cool sign on the side of the 3 mile road that leads to the crater.+111.jpg)
+097.jpg)
Just to give you an idea! I had to hold my shirt down the whole time so my brasierre wouldn't show. I wasn't wearing a pretty one that day. The wind literally took my breath away. And I was afraid if I wasn't connected to Hazel at all times, she might float away.
Nathan tried to hold my hair down for this one....to no avail.+100.jpg)
As we are looking down at the crater, a huge shadow started to cover it. Have you seen Independence Day? I'm not going to pretend I didn't get a little freaked out.+098.jpg)
Inside the museum. Don't my kids look like wax statues? I guess it was the lighting. Creepy.+103.jpg)
After being sufficiently amazed by the crater, we continued on our way home. We decided to stop at a place called Montezuma's Castle. We have passed this place so many times, and even stopped at the Sonic located right outside it's entrance, but we have never stopped to see what it was all about. Luckliy Natalie and Richard had looked it up and were interested enough to check it out. It was pretty stinking awesome. Montezuma had never actually lived there, but it was just as interesting as if he had.
+119.jpg)
+118.jpg)
+117.jpg)
+116.jpg)
+115.jpg)
I can see why the Sinagua chose this spot. It was so beautiful and peaceful. There was a creek nearby and beautiful trees and wildlife all around.
+125.jpg)
+108.jpg)
Okay...that's the end of our forever long weekend. And now it's already the next weekend. So let's move on to more interesting things, shall we?
9 comments:
I grew up in Winslow, which is just down the road from the crater. Our yearbook was named the "Crater" and the pom team was the "Meteorettes". I just thought you might want to know that little bit of useless information.
The wind blew like that ALL THE TIME. We walked against the wind both to and from school every day for 12 years. Ahhh, good memories.
1. I have to get Avery some pink boots. So dang cute.
2. Awesome crater.
3. Never stay in a travelodge.
4. Your kids are adorable. Love them.
Cynthia- that cracks. me. up.
okay, that was funny from the first word to the last. yes, you make me laugh. wonder what that brown stain was on the wall???
you're so funny. i probably wouldn't have turned out the light at the hotel. i'm not really afraid of the dark, per se, i'm mostly just afraid of what comes out when it gets dark. heh. and omg that was some serious wind... even your jeans were poofing! the only time i've ever experienced wind like that was in wisconsin and it was -12 outside. and that is not the best time to experience that kind of wind. and your kids are so stinkin cute. you should post some pics when they're doing the crazy stuff that drives you batty. i wanna see that side of them too! haha!
Lindsey! How wonderful!
Next time be sure to stop @ "Montezuma's Well". It is well worth it (no pun intended). I love the castle, it used to be a lot more accessible to people. David even remembers when you could climb up into it.
But the Well nearby is a site far-less traveled. There's hardly anyone ever there, and it makes the experience very cool to pretend you were one of the ancients. There is a bit of a down hill hike into it, but it is a clearly marked, safe trail. No matter how hot it is, the further you descend, the more a GENTLE cool breeze will accomodate. The kids will love it.
Driving up to Payson (just outside of Pine, AZ I believe), is the Tonto Natural Bridge Monument. GO. Pack a picnic. Take hats & water bottles. Prepare to enter another world entirely. It has like 3 different eco-systems and is Amazing! Check before going if it is open.
Close to Flagstaff where you were, is Walnut Creek Canyon. Beautiful hike (a little scary at places, hold on to Hazel tight) but you can get hands-on close to Anasazi dwellings from the same time period as Montezuma's Castle (different water table, different culture so they say - seems like only the pottery is different).
Sunset Crater park nearby is also very interesting. It is a tiring hike as the slightest sun light makes the lava flows surrounding you just project heat back out at you. It might really appeal to Owen if he is fascinated with volcanoes. But worth it. Spend the night again in Flagstaff, but go go go to the Observatory for a night time visit. You will all thrill to it - stuff for kids and breath-taking sights for adults.
AZ is wonderful. There are a ton of little day-trips that you would really enjoy; old mining towns, prehistoric sites, natural wonders. I am so happy you explored a couple of our show pieces!
Is that meteor for real? I had no idea . . . and that castle thing is awesome! Is that for real, too?
I have so many comments about this post. Hilarious, of course. Dried up spaghetti at your last hotel??? Really? May I ask what you were doing kneeling on teh floor enough tot look under the armoire???? Do you inspect these rooms from top to bottom??? Don't ever come to my house and inspect!!!! :) That crater is VERY cool. Why is it sooo windy there????
Too funny Lindsey! I drive up in that area pretty often. It is OFTEN that windy. It can blow you all over the freeway sometimes. But there are a lot of fun things up there and Cindy gave you a lot of good leads and advice. A couple other near Cottonwood, are Jerome, the Verde Canyon Railroad and Tuzigoot (more Indian ruins). Also Out of Africa is there in Camp Verde and is lots of fun.
Post a Comment