IN and Out! Busy place!

Staying at the HGV Sedona Summit- finally get there about 3 pm - room is not ready- it was a little painful / staff are strange and it feels weird. But we finally get to our room at like 4:45 pm- but the connecting room is still not ready. It was an annoying way to start us off/ but room is spacious!!girls have their own side w patio and kitchen and table sofa and queen bed! #spoiled

Our side is same- but bigger, king Bed and not the same stellar view- but still good. We too #spoiled

Tried to be efficient and ordered some stuff on Amazon and shipped to hotel direct and Amazon says it delivered and hotel claims they never received it . #annoyedithinkhiltonngotit

John and Jen hit local Safeway for food while girls get organized and hit Infiniti hot tub for a bit.

Dinner out tonight at Rascals - https://rascalrestaurantsedona.com

Stars are beautiful!! And many!!! \240❤️❤️

Everyone is Ty Ty and ready for bed.

Exhibit A w a view- all of the bottles Jen put in the carry on…..

Beautiful Infiniti hot tub

Our very own Clark Griswold

Sunset before dinner on patio at hotel

The famous Elote Cafe for dinner! \240 \240 \240Did not disappoint. Lauren’s pick.

Pink Jeep

Pink Jeep of course

45 degrees down…scary- everybody waits in line for it.

Breakfast was comical- We thought we had full size Jimmy Dean frozen breakfast Sammie’s for the week- then took them out of the box….

We noticed that the McDonald arches here are turquoise…

Pink Jeep Tour Day!

A lot of fun, very rugged, a few scary 😱 parts and an easier way to catch the scenery of Sedona vs a hike. We took the scenic rim broken arrow combo- wow! Tour included the infamous Shnebly Hill road which is essentially only available to do via a tour operator or a serious vehicle w the experience to drive on this incredibly off-road trail. It DEF has changed from when I did it 25+ years ago and more.

Went to Subway for lunch today- EVERYONE s favorite except Jenny. Family joke- Subway Subway- Subway- just can’t get enough!

Couple nexts to us during leisure pool time at the resort spilled her Doritos in the pool because the wind picked up and then Kate witnessed her eat one out of the pool-ewww

Dinner at Elote Cafe in town

Julia and Lauren enjoy the hot tub underneath the starry sky and Jen kills a spider 🕷️ for Kate in the room.

Nigh nigh time

Part of the Mayhew Lodge \240homestead

Homestead continued

• John was very slap happy after the hike- I asked if they were drinking on their hike or what the heck lol
• Stopped at Don Hoels cabins for a quick espresso stop- cute and quaint. Picked up local made lemonade for the week. Next stop- another recommended local coffe shop- India garden- spread the wealth!

Skipping ahead…a new favorite memorable moment/photo to add to the books…..

From our patio ❤️

Pic from the ACTUAL West Fork Loop trail

Another shot from the west fork loop trail

• The afternoon was filled w pool time and wine time- shopping on the main drag in Sedona.
• finished w Chinese takeout from Szechuan China! In the room and then more pool time for some and patio time for others and sunset views!

DH winery stop

Sunset

Boynton Canyon/Subway Cave Hike

• Creepy meth guy with creepy white mini-van- drive around the lot a few times then finally parked in an illegal spot. Told people you’ll get a ticket if you go to Subway cave and other stupid things. See "exhinit A" below. Ive \240captured the license plate should i not be here when they return from hike in approximately 30 minutes.
• woman w dress and designer purse - headed on trail
• Jen started a short trail to vortex - but turned around- slightly dizzy and toe still hurts. SHOOT!
• Lots of flies while Jen waits at trailhead- enjoying the views
• Kate and Lauren were pumped for some serious vortex happenings- ie- crying, back pain, wind and more!
• Jen meets a man who went to the masculine side of the vortex to play his flute

Jen’s view at trail head

Exhibit A- Creepy Meth guy’s van

Midway to Boynton Canyon Subway Cave

Pretty Butterfly!

Subway Cave ! They made it! Culmination of the hike.

John and Jen hit Chapel of the Cross- beautiful chapel built into the rock and design assisted from WI own Frank Lloyd Wright

Chapel

Bell Rock and the sisters rock to the left

A cool 100 degrees at 7 pm

Sunset At Airport Mesa Road. Gorgeous!

Sunset again before dinner.

• Julia made friends with 6 old people at the tranquility pool today
• The Hudson for delicious dinner! Kate’s pick.

Cool HUGE cactus at the golf course

• driving range oak creek canyon country club- John L and Jen along for the ride

Laurens first round of golf!

Scenery was just gorgeous

• Golfing at canyon Mesa golf club w awesome views- Lauren’s first time golfing- Jen enjoyed scenery and driving her own golf cart
• Breakfast burritos for lunch from a drive thru place- so delicious
• slide rock state park- waited in line for 30 minutes - at capacity so they let cars in as others leave. No foot traffic allowed in either- ONLY cars.

Nice views- slippery rocks- natural water slide that Lauren and Julia enjoyed. Really hotttt but found a shady spot. Lots of people!

They literally have a sign too that says “Have a Poop Plan” seriously? John’s poop plan was to fart and gross us all out. He’s really good at that.

Slide Rock State Park

After Slide Rock we attempted to check out nearby Grasshopper Point- another similar concept - but did not end up doing that. Good story right???

Back to resort to chill- nap or shower or hit pool- everyday is different.

Dinner 2 nite is Hideaway House pizza- cute casual Italian place. We opted to stop in and order it to go. Great views.

Also stopped at Safeway to snag more groceries. Exciting stuff!

Hideaway House Patio

Hideaway House Patio view out

After we were done eating- cleaning up- John took out the garbage and came running inside to tell us to hurry up and look at the gorgeous sunset! Agghhh we totally forgot to be outside for it. So we all ran between our patios until we finally decided to run outside to grab photos and see it before it disappeared! IF you are reading this and don’t see pics- I haven’t added them in yet..waiting to receive them from girls.

Sunset at the resort

Julia took this photo of us - impromptu-I \240did not ask her too ❤️

Cathedral Rock Vista

They DID it!

Meanwhile - Gimpy- Back at the ranch - did her own little hike …it was VERY strenuous walking on the street a few blocks. I’m kidding! In case you’re wondering. Toe is better but still not wise to cram in to a hiking boot and attempt a real hike.

Our bathroom sink…….its a video- play it!

As spacious as our hotel room is- this place does have its flaws- rickety dishwasher, bad faucets, Lauren saw a MOUSE in the room so we had to have them come set out a trap, customer service is so-so and the bathroom at the pool has a broken handle held together by a screw that fell out when I used it the other day. I could go on and on- it’s all fine and good but this is a Grand Vacation and they’re trying to hit you up to become an owner….theyre not selling it very well. Not the best Hilton we’ve ever stayed at but the location and views make up for it.

Video Clip! \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 This is what John does while we shop

Today (after sunrise hikes) was dedicated to shopping. First stop Tlaquepaque and then we hit the standard tourist trap shops. Girls were in heaven as they were all hippy dippy, crystals, trendy and fun. Right up their alley!

Kate found a shirt today….

Zoom in on this one- we are on the steps.

https://www.tlaq.com

Fancy high end shopping center designed to highlight local artists and work. Combo of high end galleries shops and some more casual affordable items set in a beautiful setting. Restaurants too.

Talaqupaque courtyard

Another courtyard

Jewelry shop- shows the look and feel of the center - OH and I may have found my souvenir here…..

John wanted me to include this for some reason…a print he took a photo of in one of the touristy shops….this one’s for Johnny!

Our oasis at the end of the day- Tranquility Adult Pool- we actually have kids old enough to enjoy this 21 and over pool! OK so Julia is 18- but nobody knows the diff and this pool has stories!! We all visit every single day of this trip.

Slummin it tonight with hot dogs on the grill

On the Devil’s Bridge hike

Last hike of the week! Devil’s Bridge- A little scary if you ask me. They have so many stories of stupid people. Once you get to the end of the hike, you can actually stand on top of the bridge, which is about 8 feet wide, but it drops off into the canyon so if you lose your balance, you’re screwed.

• guy w drone
• a Dad (not John) \240telling 12 year old to jump 3 feet
• Woman doing yoga pose

Crazy clouds at the Sunset Pool w a view

21 years old and Lambbie has to come on vacation

Kate and Lauren Looking at everyone walking the bridge and getting nauseous - John could not watch.

Lauren at top of the bridge and she’s still alive

Kate at the top of the bridge and SHE’s still alive.

Stopped at the Sedona Wellness Cafe after the hike. Jen dropped K L and John off this morning for the hike. Jen went back to hotel and then picked them up after.

https://sedonawellnesscafe.com

Lovely place. John needed some calming stones to relaxxxxx

Came back to chill at pool then made lunch on grill - OH SO HOT- we cannot even describe

Cooking chicken on the grill in 108 degree heat- nothing better! We are gluttons for punishment.

Speaking of punishment- Lauren said that if you want to punish kids- you should send them to a wellness retreat- no smoking, no alcohol, curfew, quiet time and you can’t leave during the retreat and more….😂 OMG we were dying.

Award winning Distillery break- absolutely beautiful- absolutely hot 🥵

https://www.redwalldistillery.com

Dinner at The Vault tonight- very good AND they have wine from Flowers - the vineyard we went to in Cali! ❤️

Today we finally slept in! Last day! No hiking. Got a late checkout of only 1130 am but we’ll take it. John made us an awesome “George Webb” breakfast in the room. Yummmmmmm

Packed up and headed to the pool to hang out until we leave - around 6 pm. Stopping for dinner at a BBQ joint in Cottonwood on the way to Phoenix. Have a redeye home tonight.

Met a cute old couple in the pool. \240Guy about to turn 90- wife is 80- they talk a lot so we are calling them Bumpa and Grammie 😂 Very nice lots of stories. Jen listened to them for a long time and now it’s Julia’s turn. We are just killing time until we leave. It might actually rain! ☔️

Never thought we would see dark skies in AZ OR hear thunder OR get drizzled on! It’s happening!

A recurring theme this week is old retired people making John and I wish we were there- almost….home stretch!!!

It’s official we got kicked out of the pool because there is lightning 8 miles away- waiting for it to hopefully pass.

We discovered girls have “George Costanza” wallets omg