A Must Staycation in Arizona

If you're looking for an affordable, chic, trendy hotel that will tend to your every need, visit Hotel Palomar in downtown Phoenix. In June, my mom and I decided to take the kids on a last minute staycation, booking this hotel the night before we left. You might think we're a little crazy for heading to Phoenix in the middle of summer; however, our Lincoln is NOT fond of his car seat, so any drive more than and hour and a half frightened me. I figured there was a lot to see and do inside so we wouldn't be facing the heat too much. We planned to visit a couple museums, eat out, and enjoy the pool, so the high temps weren't a a major factor. 

This hotel was full of special touches, starting with walking into our room. On the table, we found a note to Adeline and Lincoln and goldfish in a bowl. The handwritten note explained that "Ralph" the goldfish was there to keep us company during our stay--how cute!!! Of course, Adeline loved this gesture.

Across the street and around every side of the hotel are endless restaurants to choose from. We only had to leave the hotel one time in three days; everything we needed was onsite or within a couple blocks. Cityscape is across the street from Palomar, and includes bowling, music entertainment, restaurants, a CVS, splash pads, and several choices for food. US Airways Center is also right across the street from the hotel. Hotel Palomar really is the perfect location. 

After we settled in, we ate lunch at Cityscape and then put the children down for a nap. Unfortunately, I accidentally locked Addie in the adjoining room (oops!), so she was pretty traumatized when she woke up and I couldn't get in with the key. The hotel staff rushed right up to fix the door, even bringing her bubbles, plastic jewelry, and a few free breakfast coupons. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and ate a scrumptious meal poolside. We also enjoyed a complimentary cocktail and appetizer, provided in the evenings. The pool was filled with beach balls and rafts, which Adeline loved, so I spent most of the time pushing her around in a giant alligator raft. 

After dinner we watched the movie Home  in our hotel room and talked with Tim on FaceTime, since he was away at a conference. The movie was adorable and Adeline loved seeing her daddy. 

The next day we drove to Scottsdale to visit Butterfly Wonderland, which sports the largest butterfly atrium in the world. The museum tour begins with a 3D movie about the life of a butterfly. It was visually stunning and really cute to watch Addie trying to catch the butterflies that appeared to be flying in front of her. Then, we spent time in the butterfly emergence gallery where you actually get to see the butterflies transforming and breaking free. This was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed. Watching the metamorphosis process reinforces that only God could have created such beauty! After that, we looked at ants, spiders, and scorpions, and then stuck our hands in an stingray tank, where they would swim up and touch your fingers. We spent the rest of our time in the atrium, marveling at the butterflies. You have to visit this museum!

The kids were exhausted by the time we were through and Adeline quickly passed out in the car. The picture of grace ;)

That evening we ate dinner at a cool restaurant and then played at the splash pad. Lincoln's body tensed with excitement and his little fists opened and closed as he touched the water. I love experiencing all the "firsts" with our kiddos! And of course, Addie enjoyed each single water spout out there. 

The next morning we visited the Children's Museum. It was HUGE and Adeline explored every square inch. The highlight for her was painting a cute child-size pink castle. Lincoln mostly watched, but we found a cool chair for him to feel like a King while he sat on the sidelines. 

We had such a wonderful time at Hotel Palomar and in the surrounding Phoenix area. I'll definitely stay here for future Phoenix trips (especially if I can get that $80 military rate again!). It's nice to know you don't have to go far from Tucson to enjoy some new and fun experiences. Next time, I want to check out the Musical Instrument Museum and the Arizona Science Center.