Before the holidays last year, we started to plan our spring break trip for 2022. Originally, we talked to the Lastivkas and planned to go to some spring training games with them for spring break. Then the MLB lock out happened and the Lastivkas said they didn't think they could swing the trip with other things they had planned for 2022. Danny and I contemplated going other places, but we didn't really put serious thought into it. We then thought, "Why don't we still go to Arizona anyway?" Specifically the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. It would be warm, it was someplace we hadn't been to as a family, there's lots to do... So we booked the trip! We left early in the morning on Monday, March 28th and came back late on Friday, April 1st. Check out what we did below!
While in the rental car, I saw this fitting street name and had to snap a pic!
The early flight and time change worked in our favor on the way to Arizona - we were there in time for breakfast! Danny LOVED Matt's Big Breakfast when he went to Phoenix with his dad and uncle years ago, so we had to go back.
The food was pretty good, but definitely not the best breakfast we had while on our trip. And yes, practically every breakfast order Colin had while we were out was enough food for a grown man.
We then went to our hotel - we were too early to check in, so we changed into some hiking clothes and went to the nearest hiking trail we could find. Little did we know it would be the most difficult hike of our entire trip. It started out relatively easy.
Check out this elevation change! It got to the point where you had to grab the railing to help pull yourself up the hill.
Poor Colin got super scared to go any higher. He didn't think he could do it. Danny gave him a good "coach" pep-talk and he got through it.
This girl hardly cooperates for pictures anymore😑
He made it!
Like, check out this terrain!
No joke
The kids did great - especially considering we went into the hike totally blind and oblivious to how difficult it would be.
Colin was passed out by the time Cadence and I were ready to go out to dinner - the hiking and time change were rough!
We were infatuated with all of the cacti everywhere
We found a fun Mexican joint for dinner - Colin didn't want to play along
The next morning, while the kids were still waking up, Danny turned on the bedside lamps - he had me cracking up because his shadow looked like Alfred Hitchcock!
I thought this apartment building looked really cool with all of the plants on the balcony. I couldn't get over how pretty everything was in Scottsdale - especially for not having a lot of grass or trees. There were beautiful flowers everywhere. I also felt that everything was so clean. Even the highway - no litter and the exit ramps were either painted or stamped with cacti or lizards, or something neat like that.
The next morning, we hit up the breakfast place called, Snooze. It was recommended to us by my co-worker, Michelle. It was definitely the kids' favorite breakfast restaurant of the trip. I took a picture to send to Michelle. My blueberry Danish pancakes were to die for.
Next we went to a less intimidating trail to hike.
We were able to dodge the rain the entire day. It started to rain right as we got back to the car!
Tom's Thumb
O-H-I-O (with a cactus)
You can see the clouds dropping rain in the distance
We rewarded ourselves with In-N-Out Burger - the kids loved it and wanted to go back
I snapped this photo of the interesting choice of artwork in the hotel bathroom - I knew my co-workers would get a kick out of it. We have been haunted by the odd bathroom art in a restaurant near our office!
Nice views from our hotel room
The rooftop at the hotel had a pool and boujee areas to sit - we were hanging out before taking the kids to Ocean Prime for dinner
The next day, we made our way to Sedona. On the drive, we couldn't get over how much the landscape changed - the dessert went from having cacti, to being pretty barren with what looked like dead plants, to having trees!
Cadence used my phone to get some pretty neat pictures during our drive.
The red rocks were gorgeous. This hike was the easiest of our hikes, but it was pretty long around the butte!
We were told to make sure to stop by Slide Rock - Danny was the only one who braved the water. It was icy cold and the air temp was only in the low 60s. We thought that if Danny did it first, the kids would follow. They both contemplated sliding down the slippery rock slide, especially Cadence, but neither got in. I only got videos of the occasion, but here are the photos I took.
After breakfast the next day, we did some walking around this neat little area that reminded us a lot of Easton. Cute shops and restaurants surrounded by a waterway and pretty plants.
Both kids fell asleep on the way to ride UTVs
The area where we rode around was called New River
Danny did most of the driving - good thing, too. Once we hit the trail, it was a bumpy ride!
Cadence spotted some wild donkeys!
We all took a turn behind the wheel. The kids did really well (I didn't take any photos - we don't need any evidence floating around out there).
That night we walked around the shops near the hotel in Old Town Scottsdale and made sure to grab some gelato at a place recommended to me by my cousin, Lindsey. She said she thought it might've even been better than the gelato they got in Italy. It was definitely worth the stop!
Danny took Colin down to the field before the game and Colin scored several autographs.
They humored me with a sibling photo
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