Palm Desert California

That's me dressed for dinner in the desert at Marriott's Palm Desert at Shadow Ridge.  You start out warm in the desert thus the sleeves and cool shoes and skirt, but it's always good to have a sweater to put on after the sun goes down...it can get cool very quickly in the desert.   We were heading out that evening, though we generally fixed our meals in since we had a full kitchen. (it's the day for D in the A-Z challenge)

Looking from the living room into the dining room and kitchen beyond with the door on left where you enter.

You can eat in the kitchen or on the nicely sized patio/balcony as we did most nights.  The balcony is large enough to accommodate 4 at the table and has a chaise lounge for relaxing during the day.

It's easy to prepare a fabulous meal like the steak, grilled potatoes and veggies and bread with the convenience of the grills between most buildings.  Nice view too.  We often would have the prep done, take it with our cocktails down to the grill and enjoy the sun setting over the mountains while we were cooking dinner.

You know you're in the desert by the abundance of cactus, and in some cases pretty cactus flowers.

Master suite has nice king bed, and soak tube with bathroom and shower area beyond.

Living room with entrance onto the balcony with a sleeper queen sofa if you need more sleeping space beyond the quest suite/2nd bedroom.

The quest room/2nd bedroom is queen/king (can't remember) with sleeper sofa, small table on the right, kitchenette which is where I was standing to take this photo.  It too has an entrance to a balcony..a separate one with table for 2.  The two bedrooms are separated by the common areas, kitchen, dining room, and living room.  Very nice with 2 balcony's in case everyone in your party doesn't get up at the same time.

Fun sculptures throughout the landscaping that serve again to remind you that you're in the desert.  The kids loved sitting on them.

Colorful Mosaic ones too. 

Kids also can enjoy the miniature golf course, or adults can practice their putting.

Jack Rabbits common desert wild life are abundant in late afternoon and early evening.

Awesome place to play golf...not though for the faint at hard.  Look at the area hubby's in...grass up to his knees.  The greens are nicely manicured, but if you're off the greens....again you're reminded you're in the desert.

Beautiful grounds the course in the middle with the villas/condo's on each side; but you can see it's a wide open area, not crowded.  I was laying down on the ground to see what the ball sees, when I took this photo lol.

A wonderful resort, we've been there several times and always enjoyed ourselves.  Take HUGE amounts of sun-screen regardless of what season you go.

The blogs search window is top left, should you want to see more about this resort from other trips.

And in keeping with our A-Z challenge, here's more D posts for you.

Daniel Boone, my childhood Hero
A Turtle Play Ground in Dog Town, St. Louis
Drayton Hall South Carolina

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

#5, mixing up number, start with 506

Crystal Cove in Southern California

Here we are day 3 of the A-Z challenge.  Before we get started, let me ask if you like the collage?  Normally I post one picture after another, but wondered if this presentation when there's so many photo's works?

We're at Crystal Cove State Park Historic District, a National Registered Historic Place in California.  Newport Coast, California.  Hubby and I visited there last month.

Crystal Cove is a small, old style beach area.  Back in days when people threw up little shanty's to give them protection from the sun, and maybe a place to spend the weekends, cook out on the beach ...like the movies of old surfers.  There's not alot to do there, but it's good for a day, maybe two if you're staying in the area.  You can walk the beach a bit before it's interrupted by rocky in-passable area's where the beach is no more.  The waters too cold to enjoy a dip in the ocean; though you do see a few small children run in and out to be quickly immersed in a big towel Mom and Dad have at the ready.  There's only 2 small places to eat if you're willing to wait, and wait in line.......AND once you do, be prepared to pay twice or three times what it's worth.

Some of the area has been rehabbed into cute little cabins, though much remains to be done in the next phase.  This area has a history, a dark period for our country regarding the Japanese who used to successfully farm the area before The War.  That is a story though for a later post.  Then there's the military story that took place here, also for another post.

Many movies have been filmed here, Like Herbie, Beaches (see the photo with the fence), and before that the silent movies.

Here's a video showing the area also.  Though, having priced the cottages (some don't even have private bathrooms), at $200.00 ish a night; I think she makes them sound much nicer then they are.  Physically getting here, to Crystal Cove requires parking your car across the 6 lane Coast Highway and paying to park, then walking through the tunnel that goes under the highway.  There are lots of steps and ramps so if you're not able to walk a distance easily, that can be a problem  You can get your parking fee wave by spending at least $15.00 in one of the 2 restaurants there...and with things being pricey, that's not hard to do.  You can also purchase a park pass and take a shuttle to The Cove.

We enjoyed it because it's unique.  I would not though say- it's a destination.

 


Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

#13 start with 1916