The desert oasis

Our traveling Pops! sitting poolside, enjoying the warm weather!

Hello, everybody! Yup, once again, its not Monday. We finally had some nice (well, decent) weather here in the Pacific Northwest, so we have spent the last few days out in the garden doing all of the things we don’t get a chance to in the yuck. On the bright side, I was able to weed all of my gravel!

On our journey, we left Page and headed to Mesa, one of two of our actual destinations. The entire reason for this trip was to go scout the area, as we have talked recently about a move out of the yuck and into the sun. We stayed with some dear friends we haven’t seen in years, and enjoyed the area. I never did get any pictures there, we were too busy enjoying our time with our friends, but I did find some great things to do on our next visit!

The first stop when planning a trip here is to check out their tourism site. It is packed with information and attractions, as well as community events, places to eat, and hotels. A big draw for you hikers is the Superstition Mountain hikes. This page can help you navigate the mountains, while this article is a great reference for some of the specific hikes. My kids loved walking and exploring the mesas in Page, and I think they would love this area, so its a most do on our next trip down!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My husband works in the aerospace industry, and has a huge love of planes. I do not share that enthusiasm (I cannot stave flying, I don’t have wings for a reason), but I am amazed at what mankind has accomplished in the field of aviation. With that in mind, one stop I’m very much looking forward to is the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. With planes for both world wars, and so much more to see, fly back into time and learn more about the brave men who fought for our freedom.

When you’re done with all that, it’s time to dive in and cool down! Visit Golfland, and enjoy some good old-fashioned splashy fun. I’m not going to lie, this place looks awesome. We passed it on the way to our friends, and we had commented on how cool it was! With it being in the 100s down there, I would love a day here!

This city has so much to offer, and I cannot wait until our next trip down to start exploring the vast entertainment available! Until next time!

Kendall

Vacay Monday!

Super Sonic and Shadow, our traveling Pops! at the hotel feature in Kennewick, WA

Hello, everybody! So I know the title is Monday, and it is now Tuesday, but we had baseball yesterday so I was unable to finish the post last night. Lame, I know, but there it is. Anyway. Last month, my family and I embarked on a grand adventure. We road tripped down to Arizona and Disneyland, and it was fantastic! I thought I’d share my trip, one, so that I can always go make and reread what we did, and two, so that you may find something and somewhere you’d like to visit.

We had originally planned to leave on a Sunday and drive to Boise, Idaho from the Seattle area, but we then changed our plans. We ended up leaving on Saturday and making a stopover in the Tri-cities, Washington. When I was about 10, my family moved there for a few years, and we still have friends there. We thought it was a nice way to break up that first long day, and a chance to see some people. We also were able to see our niece, which was great! I’ve done some digging, and have compiled a list of things to do there!

The Tri-cities is made up of 3 cities (duh), Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco. There are 3 rivers that run through, the Snake, Colombia, and Yakima, and each city borders at least one other one (source: Wikipedia). There are great things to do along each river, but here are just a couple for summer fun.

1. Colombia Park, located in Kennewick, is a 400-acre park. It boasts a private golf course, a disc golf course, and playgrounds. The biggest is the Playground of Dreams, built in 1999, and rebuilt in 2004 after a fire. It is a wooden castle-like structure, and is a great place for kids to run around.
2. Hyrdoplane races are held at Colombia Park each July. There are, of course, the races, but other events are put on, such as an air show and public viewing of the hydros.

If golfing is your thing, you’re headed to the right place! Because of its desert climate, golfing is a great way to spend a day catching some fun in the sun. Check out this site for more information on each course. I am not a golfer, so I cannot personally tell you anything about these courses, but I encourage you to try them out. Leave a comment below, so that others can have feedback!

I am also not a wine drinker, but we used to leave down the road from a vineyard/winery. In fact, it was the Badger Mountain Vineyard. The Tri-cities is in the heart of wine country here in Washington, and there are numerous wineries to choose from. You can check out this list here to see all that is available. One of my best friends growing up from there is actually moving back to be the winemaker for the Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard and Winery. Again, I know nothing about wine, or the processes involved, but apparently being a female winemaker is a pretty big deal, so go check them out!

Spiderman Pops! plush, our travel buddy

For those of us who have kids and need things to do to keep them entertained, there are two pages to check out. The first is a great site that is a destination for families to quickly find things to do in the area, including indoor playgrounds. The other is a wonderful site that lists all of the activities and events within the cities in one place.

And finally, there is, of course, the minor league baseball system in Pasco. The Dust Devils are the local minor league team as part of the San Diego Padres system, and are always fun to watch.

I loved living in the Tri-cities, and very much enjoy visiting. If you are ever in the area, take the time to explore, as the three cities and outlying areas have so much to offer! Until next time!

Kendall