Phoenix, Arizona

We traded our timeshare week in Maui for a week at the Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix. The resort was spectacular! The highlight was the lazy river and waterslide at the main pool, but there were also really nice pools right in our timeshare complex. It was also so convenient to have the Desert Ridge shopping center right across the street. There was a movie theater, great shopping and numerous restaurants to choose from for lunch and dinner.

We took the kids over Spring Break so we could see some of the final week of Padres Spring Training. We only made it to one game, but enjoyed watching the Padres play at the Surprise Stadium. It is so nice because there are so many ballparks in the greater Phoenix area. You could go to an afternoon game in one ballpark and head to an evening game in another park. They are all within approx. 20 minutes of each other.

Matt went to Arizona State University in Tempe for his 1st year of college so he was eager to show us around the campus. What a huge campus! We loved touring Sundevil Stadium and were moved by the Pat Tillman memorial that stands inside.

Although it was a little hot, we spent an afternoon at Rawhide Western Town in Chandler (about 20 minutes from our hotel). It was the girls 1st time seeing a town from the 1880's. They loved riding in the Stagecoach, panning for gold, visiting the local jail and watching the western-themed stunt show. We were also impressed by Downtown Scottsdale and the wide variety of activities Phoenix has to offer. I think March-April was the perfect time to go. It was certainly warm enough to swim and enjoy the outdoors, but not as hot as their unbearable summers can be. We look forward to another Spring Break in Phoenix.