S’more Bagpipes

It’s almost Spring Break- the biggest national faux holiday!  I don’t know about you but I am SO ready to get out of town.  Last year, we had an amazing Spring Break trip to Scottsdale, Arizona.  We stayed at the greatest hotel for kids- the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. 

http://www.kierlandresort.com/

We love Starwood Hotels and even have the Starwood American Express card so that we can accumulate even more free travel.  We were able to stay at the Westin Kierland using their cash and points option whereby you use say 4,000 points per night (versus 10,000 for a free room) and pay a reduced rate of say $40-80 per night.    When Starwood has this option available, it is a great deal!

The activities for kids at this hotel were terrific.  In addition to a great pool with a lazy river and a water slide, the hotel publishes a list of family activities every day.  One day, the Phoenix zoo came and did an one hour presentation with animals for the kids.  There are nature walks and a ton of games by the pool.  The mud pie eating contest was especially fun to watch!

The best activity was the resort wide scavenger hunt.  The kids are given a lanyard and a list of things they have to find all over the hotel.  When they find a given item, they are given a pen for their lanyard.  There were a total of say 12 items so this scavenger hunt took over an hour- a good time was had by parents and kids alike. 

Who knew that there were Scottish roots in Scottsdale?  I didn’t!  On the weekends, there is a delightful bagpipe player who plays on the edge of the golf course.  My kids were mesmorized by him.  My husband and I sat and had a drink under a heat lamp while the kids were on the golf course with the bagpipe player- again, a good time had by all.   Of course, we had to go to the giftshop and buy the bagpipe cd.  And then… S’more making.  At one of the outdoor firepits, the hotel hosts S’mores on the weekends. 

When we ventured out, we had a fabulous dinner at White Chocolate Grill- as if a meal could be bad with a name that good!

 http://whitechocolategrill.com/

We also loved the Scottsale Arts Festival- a HUGE outdoor art festival that went on for blocks and blocks.  The weather was glorious so it was a perfect day to wander and browse.  Throughout, there were art activities for the kids.  http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/arts_festival_geninfo.php

Finally, we tripped upon a great park with old trains for the kids to play on.  http://therailroadpark.com/index1.htm 

Overall, a great time was had by all.  We would definitely return to the Westin Kierland.

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