Real Estate Blog - A trip to Arizona is better than a Dry martini

Home : Blogs : Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL : Weston Florida Real Estate Blog, Neal"The Real Deal"Bloom

A trip to Arizona is better than a Dry martini

Another Localism post written by Neal Bloom

Recently my family decided that we were going to take our first real vacation in ten years. Since we moved to Florida back in 1999 we really haven't traveled anywhere other than a few days down in the Florida Keys. After spending four months trying to figure out what to do we decided to go to Arizona so I wanted to tell you what a wonderful trip we had and what a great place it is to visit.

Arizona is located in the Southwestern part of the United States. It is very dry and since it is located in the desert and the humidity level is very low it rarely ever rains. The climate usually consists of hot summers and mild winters. One of the things I liked about traveling there was it is only a 4.5 hour flight. Another interesting note is that they do not observe daylight savings time so if you live in Florida for example you will lose three hours instead of two.

Our journey began at the Pointe South Mountain Resort located just off of interstate 10 and Baseline Road in Phoenix. This luxury resort was built on a virtual desert habitat. Each room has their own unique views. There is an awesome water-park that has a wave pool and 3 water slides plus a few Jacuzzis. There is also the lazy river which runs though-out the waterpark grounds. You can do all this and still can enjoy the beautiful mountain views. The resort also has a championship caliber 18 hole golf course...6 restaurants....an athletic club and spa. The hotel also has plenty of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space to suit any corporate function.

Guess who?

Our first adventure was our trip to the Phoenix Zoo. Due to the fact that summer days can reach as high as 105 degrees.....the zoo does not expose all the animals to the hot temperatures so we were not able to see all the zoo had to offer but still had a great time. The Phoenix Zoo is home to many different varieties of animals representing many different species. They come from many regions anywhere from the dessert of Arizona to Colombia and Indonesia. If you are ever in the Phoenix area you should bring the the whole family to visit the zoo.

The next night we decided we would try visiting an old western town for dinner and a show over at Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse. That was fun for us as we got to watch a real cowboy do some fancy shooting and then get some grub over at the steakhouse. If you ever have the chance to visit the area you cannot leave without experiencing the most beautiful sites of Grand Canyon National Park with its chiseled views of many different colorful rock formations with high cliffs and detailed views of the Colorado River. If you get a chance to visit there you will soon realize the unique temperature changes as it can be 69 degrees on top of the canyon and 105 degrees if you are adventurous enough to hike down to the bottom.

Since we were staying in Phoenix we decided to charter a private plane to fly us right to the canyon and also circle around the entire top so we could take photos of the most incredible sites.

So if you are ever thinking about a trip where you can do some site seeing as well as relaxing I would definitely recommend that you pick Arizona as your next vacation spot. Check out Go-Arizona.com for your vacation needs.

For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom-Realtor® /Keller Williams Properties

1625 N. Commerce Parkway,Suite 105

Weston FL 33326

(954)608-5556

Posted by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL on 06/22/2007 08:13 PM

Comments (46)

arizona vacations, arizona, phoenix, pointe south mountain resort, phoenix zoo, grand canyon, visit arizona

Originally posted at: Weston Florida Real Estate Blog, Neal"The Real Deal"Bloom : A trip to Arizona is better than a Dry martini

This post has been included in Arizona Information
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism

46 Comments on A trip to Arizona is better than a Dry martini

JUN

2007

It looks like you guys had a great time! the pictures are great!

Neal, enjoyed the pictures, glad you had fun. Have fun this weekend. Don't drink too much ! ha !

Hey Neal, it sounds like you all had a great time! I love those pictures!

Neal: Well, we finally get to read and see what you did on your vacation. I would have loved to fly over the Grand Canyon as well! I bet the water park was a welcomed relief too! Thanks for sharing your vacation with us!

Neal with an "a" - Looks like it was a great trip. I took my oldest daughter on a mother-daughter trip to Scottsdale several years ago and it was great...I'm just trying to remember if it was as great as a dry martini.....um :-)

Neal, it has not been 10 years for me without a vacation, but it is going on 5. My brother lives in Arizona so maybe it is about time to go see him and take in some of the places that you wrote about.

Monika,

Yes we did and it was our longest outing in 10 yrs.

Missy,

Thanks I guess it was worth buying a good camera.

Stephanie,

I figured it was a good time to post to localism..something worth posting with real enjoyment.

Sakky,

did you notice the sweet sally sign? I swear I told my wife i took that because I thought of you when I saw it. We also landed and walked around ...I have a lot more photos but did not want to "clog" the web.

Hey Melody with a Y,

We flew over Scottsdale and it was a bit rough in the air but i took plenty of photos to keep my mind off of the turbulance.

Hey George,

Go take it while you can..I have to admit that I am happy to be back. I'm not sure I could always be on vacation..I might go crazy.

JUN

2007

all I can say is.... it is about time we see these.... thanks for sharing looks like a blast :)

Thesa,

You were just waiting for me to post this..I thought it was a good reason to post this now as I keep reading other posts that are just more worrying about what others are posting. I might only be posting localism stuff from now on.

Neal, I loved Arizona. In another lifetime I used to have to travel to Scottsdale for a Salesmeeting one time a year. What a beautiful place it was. And the GOLF... don't get me started..

Matt,

I did play a round there..I only took like 2 pictures of the course but it was like playing on top of a mountain..hey I am getting ready to leave..will I see you later?

Neal,

Looks like an Awesome trip! The Grand Canyon must have been amazing, your photos are great! My kind of resort "luxury".:) Thanks for sharing!

Suzanne,

I had so many more photos that I took but I did not have time to add them..I might later..this post took time because I was having problems positioning my photos for some reason.

That was one heck of a vacation Neal! Funny how people from the east coast go west and people from the west go east! How or What made your decision to go to Arizona?

Danny,

No idea..we couldnt figure out where to go..I wanted to go to Hawaii but did not think I could be away for 2 weeks and the travel is killer. Funny I live in Florida under water and now got to be on a mountain top looking down instead of looking up!

Glad you enjoyed your stay in our fine city! EVERYONE should see the Grand Canyon once in their life. It's an amazing thing.

Stopping by from the AR blog tour, gotta run! Drop by the Phoenix Real Estate Guy if you get a chance!

Neil, What great pictures, i know how it feels to finally go on vacation, it's been years for my family and me right now, looks like arizona could be a nice choice though.. Thanks and have fun in orlando over the weekend.. Tom

I lived in the Phoenix/Scottsdale are for 5 years. Your post is making me want to go back! Glad you had a great vacation and great to see the beautiful pictures!

Phoenix is a great area with lots to do but way too warm for me after May.. I remember being there in July and it was 120..

Hey Neal.....great localism post of our great state and city. I've recently shared on my blogs some spots close to Mesa which is about 1/2 hour east of where you were staying. That resort is beautiful and the view of South Mountain is awesome. It was 111 yesterday, but with the lack of humidity, it is about 15 degrees cooler than that to our bodies. That's what the weather people say. It is hot.....very, but I was out showing yesterday. You go from one cool spot to another. It's not like I would play golf in that weather. My husband on the other hand.......actually he just goes early. You do become aclimatized though so it's all good. Plus no winter visitors which frees up the stores, the freeways, etc. :-) It is a beautiful state!! Thanks for the photos.

Jay and Francy,

I did it since I was not sure I would get a second chance.

Tom,

Thanks for stopping by.

Chris,

Thanks and I am glad you enjoyed reading it.

Kaye,

Long time no speak...July is indeed very hot!

Teri,

I am glad you like it..I know I do not work in your area but whats a better way than to do a localism post on something I enjoyed doing and give it more exposure.

You will have to visit the south side of Arizona next time you come! This state is too big for one vacation that is for sure, but glad you liked it!

Lexa Montierth

JUN

2007

I spent the better part of a day in lazy river some years ago. I loved it. I think the wine helped. I was jello at the end of the day. Nice post, great pix.

Thanks Neal for all your kind words about our great state. My kids love to "vacation" at the Pointe - there's nothing better than their waterslides! While it may a little too hot to golf in June, July, August or even September - plan a trip October - March and you're guranteed to have the best golfing game of your career! (Just make your reservations before you arrive)... Come back again ya' here!

Neal,

it looks like you all had an awesome experience in AZ. I love the pictures...the views from the plane especially, I have been to AZ before and there are some marvelous sites to take in.

I'm glad you had a chance to get away from your routine. That is important...we need a vacation too from the day-to-day and have not done it in about 5-6 years.

Lexa,

Thanks and maybe I will!

Laurie,

I had a few but not wine...lazy river can put you to sleep and so can booze!

Calie,

I did play golf and it was not too bad..only 97 that day but still had fun. The hotel was awesome!

Gwendolyn,

I am glad to be home but still was happy to get a real vacation!

JUN

2007

I split my time between Fla and Northern Az. I love the dry climate. I feel ten years younger, but I end up looking ten years older within a few days.

Hi Chris,

I read some where on your blog you spent time there and you look great so I think you must be mistaken.

Interesting climate there.

Sedona

Say hello to my little friend. (Steve, the roaming gnome in Sedona Arizona)

JUN

2007

Chris,

Why do I remember this shot...did I see it on your blog?

I have some great shots from the plane when we flew over Sedona.

I don't know!

Maybe it was a revelation or just a dream! I have seen that statue somewhere.

The travelocity gnome, maybe? I had a pet gnome before they made it popular. I had one named Gunter and he is lost. Steve, his fraternal twin, wanders the earth in search of him.

Is that yours on your property or is that just a shot from somewhere else? Oh by the way off subject.....what happend to your whip? I did not see it in Orlando..I was so looking foward to it. LOL!

My whip was being used by someone else. That is why I got a ride with Colleen. I was dropped off at the party, it was outside briefly.

Yes, steve is on my porch.

Very cool..Steve would not do any good on my porch as he would probably become the home of the snakes...frogs and lizards. And guess who would have to keep it maintained.

JUL

2007

Neal

it's sound like you really enjoyed your trip. I LOVE Arizona. I have lived there twice and would love to buy land in Sedona and retire there to raise horses. Arizona is a lot like California climate wise. You can be in Phoenix and have 113 degrees in the shade and at the same time Flagstaff will be at 75. If you are an individual interested in the Native American culture, old west history, mining and many more interests Arizona is definitely the place. It is not unreasonable to say that even two vacations there would net you new and wonderful experiences. This was such a good post and I enjoyed the trip with you. :)

I'm reading your blog and the memories keep coming back to me. We just got back from our vaction to Pointe South Mountain Resort for the second year in a row and we are already planning for our third next year! It's a fantastic resort and the kids loved it too!

David N. Slavin, ABR www.SellMyHouseDave.com

Roberta,

What..are you and David hanging together? LOL! ..I just saw both on my other posts..what an honor! We had a great time and although I had to decompress after the flight..it was a great experience.

David,

Very cool that you enjoy that place. My wife picked it and it was a nice place. The rooms were not updated but the bellman told me they just sold it 2 weeks earlier and were going to renovate...the pools are awesome!

What can I say? I keep good company! :)

Seriously it was interesting going from underwater to above sea level...and the heat was dry and how can they just ship water in? I was always intrigued by all the mountains in the background just like when I was in CA and NV. I always wondered if they could ever know ck them all down. Man when it was hot ..I burnt my feet from not wearing my watershoes and they have signs warning you and the faster I ran the hotter my feet were.:)

OCT

2007

Neal - Great family vacation in Arizona for sure! You know after living here for 33 years, I finally made it to the Grand Canyon with my youngest. I have no idea why I took such beauty for granted. So glad your family enjoyed AZ and all it's beauty. Did you get to visit any Ghost-towns? We have a few.

Greetings from AZ.

Neal: Looks like you guys had a great time. I loved all the pictures that you took. Next time don't wait so long to go on vacation.

Hi Candace,

It was interesting and different from Florida and NY. I took a chance by going all the way there..it was a long day but I told my wife we might not ever get there again. We went to the western shows but didn't make the ghost towns...the Zoo was hot enough- check out the rest of this quest:)

Thanks

http://localism.com/article/123684/NEW-EXPERIENCES-SOMETIMES-WE-JUST-HAVE

Diane,

Funny..this post was in the grave until Candace saw it..I sent it to her when I found out she was from AZ...she then was kind enough to read it...thanks...I'm ready to go somewhere again!

This blog does not allow anonymous comments