| A couple of weeks ago, we gathered with a lot | | | | some nearby stairs. |
| of Jeni's family in the Palm Springs area for a | | | | The Tram |
| spring vacation. It wasn't technically Palm Springs - | | | | After breakfast, most of the family went into |
| we stayed a few miles away in Rancho Mirage, at | | | | Palm Springs and took an aerial tram 2.5 miles up |
| the Rancho Las Palmas Resort. | | | | into the snowy mountains. The older kids loved |
| The Drive | | | | playing in the snow and seeing the stunning views |
| Our drive up to the resort was a little difficult. Our | | | | from so high. |
| son Will doesn't like riding in the car seat, whether | | | | The Refrigerator |
| it's a five-minute jaunt to the mall or a | | | | We didn't think Will would enjoy the 8.5 minute |
| two-and-a-half hour expedition to Palm Springs. | | | | ride up so high - he's only 15 months old - so we |
| We stopped at several points along the way to | | | | stayed at the resort. Instead of going to the |
| calm Will down. Because we left at nap time, he | | | | snow, we let Will explore our refrigerator. It's |
| was finally able to fall asleep after about an hour | | | | pretty much his favorite pasttime, whether at |
| of driving. | | | | home or on the road. But be careful! We ended |
| The Resort | | | | up with a $50 charge on our bill because the |
| After our difficult ride up there, we pulled into | | | | resort said we lost some of the minibar food! |
| Rancho Las Palmas and found a gorgeous resort | | | | Dinner |
| with a golf course, tennis courts, and an | | | | There are dozens of restaurants - all cuisines and |
| enormous pool. After checking in, we drove our | | | | all price-ranges - within a couple miles of the |
| car around and pulled up next to our room. That's | | | | resort so that night, we all went to dinner at a |
| much easier for a family than parking your car in | | | | Mexican food place a couple miles down the road |
| a far-off parking lot. | | | | called Las Casuelas Nuevas. Daddy got lost on the |
| The Rooms | | | | way there, thus doubling the amount of time Will |
| Our rooms were very nice, with an amazing view | | | | spent in the carseat, but he blames a faulty |
| of the golf course. After bringing up our bags | | | | Google map for the mistake. |
| (you can have a bell hop help you if you want), | | | | The Service |
| we changed into swim trunks, met up with Will's | | | | As far as we're concerned, this is the only |
| auntie and cousins, and took a dip in the pool. | | | | downside of the resort. Whether we asked for |
| The Pool | | | | extra sheets or a well-done hamburger or a |
| Let's just say it's one of the best kids' pools you'll | | | | lemonade at the pool, the service was almost |
| ever see. It's called Splashtopia - so you kinda get | | | | invariably bad. The resort is either severely |
| the idea. It's half pool, half water park - almost all | | | | understaffed or not well managed, but it's clearly |
| of it designed for kids of all ages. | | | | something they need to improve. |
| The Restaurant | | | | The following day, we packed up our stuff and |
| The next day, we all gathered at one of the | | | | then headed to the pool for a few more hours of |
| resort's restaurants for the complimentary | | | | relaxation. Will and his cousins couldn't spend |
| breakfast. The food is pretty average, but the | | | | enough time there. About noon, though, we threw |
| setting is beautiful and there was plenty for Will to | | | | everything in the car and headed back to Los |
| do after he got bored of sitting and eating. We | | | | Angeles, all wishing we could spend just one more |
| ran across the grass to the golf course, watched | | | | day in our desert paradise. |
| and chased ducks, and climbed up and down | | | | |