A Piece of History

 

I have always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. It was one of the first National Parks in the U.S. and there is so much history behind it. It just seems like something pictures can't give justice to. As I was browsing hotels in the area I found two that seemed out of the ordinary. The first one is the El Tovar. It's located right off the canyon rim. As you walk out of your room the canyon is literally feet away. The way I see it, if you are going to plan a trip to see the canyon why not stay right there! The El Tovar has been opened for over 100 years but was recently just renovated. The rooms are nothing great but look decorated very cute and cozy. Wherever you are around the hotel you have a great view. Some rooms even have a balcony over looking the canyon. The El Tovar dining room and lobby have a rustic log cabin look. It looks like a cute, affordable place to stay. 

Another unique place I came cross was the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. It's located in Williams, Arizona on the way to the Grand Canyon. It was designed to resemble the old Santa Fe Railroad train depot. It looks like a very inviting place. The lobby is filled with old bits and pieces of the depot, seems like a place you can just sit back and relax. Whenever I go to a hotel I love to have a pool. The Grand Canyon Railway hotel offers an indoor pool and also has a jacuzzi. There are three types of rooms you can choose from and they all look very spacious. I hate having to share a small room with three or four other people so these rooms would be a great size. This is not your everyday hotel. It's out of the ordinary and looks like a good place to try.

Souviners- "What Was I Thinking!?"

How many times have you gone on vacation and told yourself that you won’t waste your money on worthless souvenirs? I know I tell myself that every time we travel, but what always happens? I come home with so much random trinkets that my three year old nephew won’t even play with. Souvenir shops are everywhere, in the hotel lobby, right outside the hotel, and you can always get something at the nearest gas station. There always seems to be a good idea to buy the random pet rock that says “We had a rockin’ time at the Grand Canyon!” Or we buy the embarrassing souvenir t-shirt that says “Look at my weiner” with a picture a weiner dog on the front for your brother-in-law that can’t take a joke. It seems at the time we are in the store shopping that we have to buy things just because we are on vacation and we are supposed to spend our hard earned money on silly souvenirs that will probably will never use or see again, except in our garage sale a few years down the road. Then when we get back to our room and discover that we don’t have any room for all the souvenirs, we are surprised. Then when we come home with more luggage than we left with, we wonder with in the world did we buy such useless things.

Some people will use those souvenirs, don’t get me wrong. Just because your brother-in-law didn’t like the t-shirt with the weiner dog, doesn’t mean your second cousin whose birthday you forgot about, won’t like it. At certain times, souvenirs come in handy, just most of the time they are discarded or forgotten. If you buy and use your souvenirs, then just start leaving some extra room in your bag, so you can go souvenirs shopping all you want. For those of us who just have a bad habit of spending just to be spending, try and find something more worthwhile to spend your money on. If you and your significant other wanted to go to a fancy dinner, but aren’t sure if you had enough money. Just do it. How often do you get to get all dressed up and have other people wait on you? Plus you will have something substantial to brag about instead of showing everyone at work your “super cool pet rock.” Don’t blow your hard earned money on souvenirs that will be smashed on the trip home or just forgotten about and put in your basement. It’s your hard earned money, spend it on something that you really want.

A Romantic Getaway

 

Many people love getting away with their special someone. As I was looking around I noticed a lot of cute getaway places for couples, whether it be just for the night or a honeymoon. One place that really caught my eye was The Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is located right in the Sonoran Mountains and has breath-taking views. Each room or suite has their own view of the mountains from their very own balcony. They also have many activities just for two. Together you can enjoy a moonlight massage, sunset dinners, or even a romantic hike. It seems the hotel does anything they can to make your stay as special as they can.

Another place I noticed was The Phoenician, located at the base of Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale. The whole place was very elegant and romantic. It seemed like a great place to get away with your special someone. I was surprised at how many places they had to eat just within the resort. They offer eight places to grab a bite to eat that range from ice cream to a formal sit down restaurant. The Phoenician has lush gardens and poolside patios. There are nine different pools, one with a 165-foot water slide, and private cabanas you can rent. I also noticed the great romantic packages they offer. Three that really caught my eye were the Grand Romance, The Taste of Luxury, and The Gift of Luxury. The Grand offers deluxe room accommodations, champagne, flowers, and breakfast in bed. The Taste of Luxury has superior view accommodations and great food deals throughout your stay. Lastly, the Gift of Luxury has deluxe room accommodations and special resort and spa credit. All three seem to be a bargain if you are looking for a package deal. I would check out either place in Scottsdale if you are looking for a romantic getaway. 

Fun for the Whole Family

Ever been on a family trip where everyone can't seem to get along and everyone wants to do separate things? I think we all have. The Arizona Grand Resort, located in Phoenix, offers a solution to that. There is something fun to do for everyone in the family. The main attraction would have to be the Oasis Water Park, which was voted in the Top 10 by the Travel Channel. It features an eight-story high tower with three mind-blowing slides. If you are not the daring type you can head to the lazy river or take a ride in the gigantic wave pool. The Oasis Water Park even has a 25-person hot tub. If you are looking for something else, you can try the 18-hole golf course, considered one of the most challenging in the Phoenix area, or just completely relax at the Arizona Grand Spa. There is plenty to keep busy but it offers so much more. The Arizona Grand Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond all-suite hotel and is located conveniently six miles from the Sky Harbor International Airport. There's not much more you could ask for, but a hotel isn't great unless the room is great. The resort has 640 non-smoking suites. Each was designed for "natural comfort," and has soft, white bedding. Every resort suite has a queen sofa bed, separate living room, and private balcony or patio. Hungry? The resort has three restaurants to choose from, so no one will be going hungry. They offer Aunt Chilada's, Mexican food, Phantom Horse Grill, American food, and Rustler's Rooste, old-fashioned Western food. The Arizona Grand Resort has so much more to offer, I recommend it on your next family trip to Phoenix. 

Top Restaurants in AZ

The first restaurant that caught my eye in Pheonix is one that is a little bit pricier. The White Chocolate Grill is a contemporary American dining experience. They specialize in the best white chocolate deserts that are house-made. Everything from the leather booth seating , the soft lighting, and the excellent bar help to create the classic yet sophisticated setting. They also have restaurants located in Nevada and Illinios. This restaurant does accept reservations only until 4 pm. So if you have a bigger party or if you think you may need it, you can make the reservations. They also have call-ahead seating so if you call and they are on a wait you can put your name in. They have a good size menu and also have a childrens menu so you can bring the little ones with you if you have to. They have great food, excellent service, and an excellent atmosphere. The restaurant averages 4000 customers a week. They have a very well-rounded menu that is distinctly American but you will also find some unique dishes.

Then as I was browsing some more I came across Furio. Now this website looked very interesting to me, I think the music on the website is what made me look at it longer. This restaurant is located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Another thing that made me look longer was the fact that they have all their awards posted on the left hand side of the website. They have won awards such as "Scottsdale's Hottest New Restaurant" and "Best Girls' Night Out" in 2007. Furio offers delicious Italian dishes, hand-crafted specialty drinks, and a plush lounge atmosphere. They have fresh mussels and aqua clams, home-made pastas and pizzas, shrimp, New York strip, and much much more. the dining room can provide private seating for up to 70 people. The lounge is filled with over-sized chairs that just make you want to sink into them. This warm space has enough room for 30 of you to sit for a martini with the girls or just for social dining. Then they have the bar, which is known for its smooth jazz on sunday night. It is also known for wining the "Best Happy Hour" in Scottsdale. Furios bar is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail, a signature martini, a small snack, or a late night meal. My favortie idea that this restaurant has is the Martini's and manicures on Mondays. Where you can sit back and enjoy your favorite martini and get a manicure for only $10! If you go onto the website and view the press page, you can see more about the Martinis and Manicures. Another thing that seems to make life very easy is the fact that they have online reservations. All you have to do is go on to their website and you can make a reservation right there. Just when you thought this restaurant has it all, you can also do catering with four different menu options. You can also choose appetizers and wines to be catered too. And they have hosted bar services where you can choose from three different options.