Palm Springs is always a special getaway for our family. It’s a place that’s been enjoyed by four generations of Kladders. It’s also special because my hair never looks better than it does in Palm Springs which is mostly because of the dry heat, but also partly do to the fancy hair products left behind by my sister in law Sandy.
This was our fourth time visiting together with the kids and we had a great week filled with both adventure and relaxation. There was golf, happy hours, tons of time by the pool, hikes, shopping, Disneyland, a visit to the zoo and plenty of outdoor dining. We loved every single minute together.
A highlight of our trip this year was hiking with Jeff’s Dad to the top of Mount San Jacinto - something that’s been on his bucket list for years. The ride to the top of the tram wasn’t a new experience (we’ve done this a few times already with the kids on past trips) but the more than 12 mile hike out and back to the peak of 10,834 feet was truly an experience to remember! It is also worth mentioning that this was not a preplanned excursion… we were hanging around the front lanai (where the mountain view of the condo is) having cocktails before dinner one of the first nights we were there when Dad simply commented his long time goal to one day hike it. So, we decided, ‘why not now?!’ Hence, why I borrowed Thomas’ dinosaur backpack, why Jeff had fancy white Adidas tennis shoes on and why Dad looked like he just got done golfing instead of climbing a mountain. We certainly didn’t look the part, but we conquered it!
We also hiked with the kids around the Palm Canyon loop which is just under three miles. We tackled the hottest part of the hike around the crest of the mountain first, then hiked back through the shade of the palm trees which was, by far, our favorite part. The kids had a blast exploring the little oasis and climbing the giant rocks.
We also took a day trip to Disneyland and in true Kladder form we made the most of it with 12 hours in the park hitting 19 rides along the way. We all had favorites including the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance and Thunder Mountain, but my absolute favorite part was the fact that both kids wanted to hold our hands the entire time. In lines, on rides and walking around the park… it was the best! The kids zonked out the minute we got in the car. The memories are priceless!
A fun part about Palm Springs that we enjoy is the outdoor dining - we love alfresco! Each time we visit we dine out at John Henry’s - a standing Wednesday night reservation for Jeff’s parents. This year Thomas fell asleep on my lap just before our food arrived - the time change got the best of him. We also took advantage of the authentic Mexican food nearby at El Mirasol, had lunch at Lulu’s California Bistro (homemade cotton candy to order!), and Tylers for burgers and shakes after our usual novelty tee shirt shopping downtown.
Another huge part of the Palm Springs vibe is afternoons by the pool. It’s just the best. The kids play, we read, have snacks and sunbathe. It’s relaxation at it’s finest. This year the kids got super into diving for the sinking rings and Grandma was a hero for spending lots of time with them in the water playing. She and Natalie even had a few swimming races across the length of the pool. Grandma won.
And surprising to no one… we made our annual visit to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. For those who don’t know, we love zoos! Something new we hadn’t see yet: the rhinos! They did not disappoint with a large two sided exhibit and a walkway over the top allowing visitors a great view from all vantage points. The rest of the animals were super active during our visit allowing us to see most all of them. The kids got super into reading the maps this year - the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
And now it’s back to Michigan and our usual routine again this week. We will miss sleeping in, the slow mornings, the hot California sunshine… and yes… that glorious dry heat! Until next time, Palm Springs!
