How far would you travel to feel warm sun?

Twelve years ago, I drove with my two oldest sons, and a girl friend, with her two youngest sons, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Palm Springs, California.  We left our husbands behind, and went on an adventure just for the chance to catch some warm rays during our spring break.  

I love researching for travel, and finding great deals.....it does take hours, but with a little planning, its well worth it!  23 hours one way, to capture a bit of heat, after a dreaded cold winter, like -40C.      It took us three days to get there.  Montana, Idaho, Utah: stay with family, and then Las Vegas.  The change of the colour of the red rocks, with the blimp of Arizona, we touched before heading into Nevada.  My friend, had a migraine on the way down, so I happily drove with having a conversation with myself.   That was truly hard, I do so much better to talk, it keeps me awake, and prevents me from eating to keep myself awake.   I discovered how large Las Vegas really was, and that I really did need a map or a gps to find our hotel that night.   A few more hours and we would reach Palm Springs.   It was amazing to see that many windmills that cluttered the desert. 

We spend about 3 nights there, before we had to turn around, and head back home.   Our hotel was under construction, and we were being very fair, when we asked for a discount off our room, with the drilling that we endured.  They gave us a complimentary night.  The kids were introduced to virgin Strawberry Marqaritas, and the Embassy Suites, didn't disappoint with their hot breakfast made to order.   When travelling with a party of 6, I recommend either a Homewood Suites, or an Embassy suites as 6 can fit into one hotel bill.  The Homewood suites by Hilton is more family friendly, with a small kitchenette, and usually two separate bedrooms.  One with a pull out couch and two queen beds. They serve a complimentary dinner from Sun-Thurs, with also a complimentary breakfast.  Embassy Suites by Hilton, has more comfortable beds, a hot made to order breakfast complimentary breakfast and a cocktail hour.

In Palm Springs, we were both introduced to the "Cheesecake Factory", with enormous amounts of food & cheesecakes plentiful which I was too full to even try.   We looked at the plate of sliders, a young child, was supposed to eat...a dozen mini hamburgers, seemed quite extreme, and my salad was two mountains on my plate.  This secretly, started my addiction, to visiting this restaurant, in other states in future years.     This road trip, was indeed an adventure! As on our way back in Utah, my friends carrier box that was mounted on top of my van cracked open with a gust of wind.  Luckily for us, and the windshields around, that the golf club didn't hit anything.  We also lost a sleeping bag, that we remember  bouncing down the highway like a tumbleweed.   Help arrived quickly from strangers, and we managed to stop at a hardward store, to bungee cord and tape it shut, and to continue our 12 hour drive home.    Luckily, the carrier box, was still under warranty, within a few days of our arrival home, and I pitched in with the cost of losing some of the gear.   

Little did I know, this was just the beginning of my massive long road trips!

Christina