Greece - Part 3 : Paros

Paros

 

Every place in Greece we visited got a little more quiet and, IMO, a little more beautiful.  

Iconic Paros Town

We landed in Paros and had prearranged a car from Paros Trust Rental as advised by our host, Apostolis.  Dimitri met us at the port with a sign and we walked to the car.  It was so easy, I’d highly recommend you reach out to them if you are renting a car in Paros.  We were staying just outside of the port at Villa Ble Paros so our host, Apostolis came down to the port on his scooter to meet us and guide us back to the house.  

Villa Ble Paros

View from our house

The house and the view were so beautiful.  Just a 10-15 minute walk from the port, we appreciated staying just outside of town on a beautiful quiet property.  Each morning we got pastries from the nearby shop and had breakfast on the patio, we were able to do laundry and hang dry the items out on the line, and just really enjoyed the stay.  While I found that I personally enjoyed the town of Naoussa over Parikia, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.  Having a car meant it was easy and quick to get around and the parking is easy everywhere. 

As a side note, everyone on Greece uses WhatsApp so make sure you do too.  Also, our visit to Paros was days 6-8 on our trip, so we intentionally picked a place with a laundry washer as we each only brought one carry on luggage for the whole 16 day trip.

Kolymbithres Beach

Since we arrived early, we dropped our stuff, got settled, then headed to Kolymbithres beach for some relaxing.  This beach is known for its lunar-like landscape and unique features.  The kids had fun in the water while we wandered around and lounged on the sand.  Eventually it was time for food. 

Naoussa Town

Ragout at Almond in Paros

Greek Wedding Celebration

The first night in Paros we headed to Naoussa town. Many blogs will tell you Naoussa is a party scene or tourist trap, and maybe it’s more crazy in July/August, but we found it just the right amount of charm and liveliness.  We even stumbled upon a Greek wedding celebration at one of the open air restaurants and it was so much fun to watch.  As we wandered around, we paused to have cocktails at a cute cafe before heading to Almond in Paros for dinner.  We stumbled upon this restaurant and the atmosphere drew me in.  The food was really good and I had the ragout which was amazing. While here we also picked up a few cheap beach mats.  These proved clutch for the next 7 days in Paros and Milos.

Byzantine Path

Our first full day in Paros we visited a few small towns and hiked part of the Byzantine Path, the oldest ‘road’ in Paros at over 1000 years old.  We started in Lefkes. It’s only a15 minute drive (the island isn’t big) and I recommend just parking at the free parking area.  I thought we could get “closer” to the start of the hike and accidentally took us down a road so tight I wasn’t sure we’d make it out without damaging the car.  After that stressful experience we went back to the parking area and was pleasantly surprised to find clean public bathrooms right below the steps. 

Once finally parked we wandered the streets and admired the view from the Church of the Holy Trinity up on the hill.  From here you can see the Byzantine path and to start you just head down that way till you see the marked sign. 

Walking this path we could feel the history and imagine ourselves as traders walking to the market to sell and trade our goods.  The kids had fun discussing what they would have brought and traded as we walked.  Note that this isn’t a particular lot long or hard walk but it is uneven as you are walking along some of the original marble, which Paros is known for mining.  (Side note, you can still visit the marble quarries on Paros but we didn’t on this trip).  

After ~2 miles we came to the edge of Prodromos town. As you wander into town you’ll come across 1 of 2 cafes and around the corner is the bus timetable.  We weren’t fully sure how we wanted to get back to Lefkes, but found that the next bus was about 45 minutes out and that seemed perfect (note they only come every 2 hours or so).  So we wandered, found some cats (so many stray cats in Greece) and then hopped the bus back to our car (2.50E/pp cash).

After getting the car we drove to Marpissa which is one of the cutest, most iconically Cycladic villages we visited.  We’re taking white houses with blue doors, pink flowers, tiny stone alleyways. We ate lunch here at Charoula cafe which was so delicious - Greek salad, kebab, tzatziki (best, we had) and they even gave us little free ice cream pops at the end. We spent the next hour or so wandering, finding cats, and enjoying the small town.  If you're in Paros, you must visit and you must eat here.

Piso Livadi Beach

Lastly we headed more south to Piso Livadi beach.  We enjoyed lounging and swimming on this beautiful beach with its crystal clear turquoise waters.  Simply gorgeous. 

Aliki Beach Area

Balcony Tou Aki

The next day, our second on Paros, was our beach day.  We started at Golden Beach (Chrissi Atki beach).  Parking is easy, just go near any beach club like Blue and you’ll find the lots.  The sand is soft and the water clear for what seems like miles in all directions.  Unfortunately the winds were also strong off the north side and though we were south, the fine sand of the beach kicks up easily and sand blasted us too much for comfort.  So after some time in the water we decided it was necessary to find another beach that was better protected. We were also getting hungry, so we headed for Aliki beach and had lunch at the recommended Balcony Tou Aki.  The food was delicious and the table was right on the water.  It was perfect.  Making it more perfect was the kids running off to the beach while we sat and finished our wine.  We ended up staying at this area for much of the afternoon.  I was able to pick up a bucket and two shovels and the kids had so much fun on the beach trying to catch fish, digging, and finding cool rocks.  The beach is also partly protected from the wind with more compacted sand so it was less prone to being picked up by the wind.  

Santa Maria Beach

Our last day in Paros was a long day, as our ferry to Milos wasn’t until 6:30pm.  I wanted to spend it at a beach club, lounging on comfy chairs under an umbrella.  After visiting the church of 100 doors in Parikia (Panagia Ekatontopiliani), we headed to Santa Maria beach and it did not disappoint.  Clear blue waters, nice sand, and a beach club for drinks, lounging, and food.  We opted for a front row chair set (50E) and picked a corner chair so we could easily watch the kids, view the water, and make sure we were up wind from anyone smoking.  We stayed until about 4:30 when we had to head back to port.  

After meeting Dimitri to drop the car, we wandered around and I picked up a Hamman towel that is simply lovely.  It may be my new favorite for its quick drying and ability to quickly repel the sand.  Though we didn’t have enough time this trip to visit the island of AntiParos we know it’s an easy day trip that we will definitely do next time!

On to Milos! 

Greece - Part 2 : Santorini

Oia, Santorini

Oia, Santorini

We flew from Athens to Santorini via Sky Express.  Though we didn’t pay to choose our seats, it was fine and we were assigned together on this tiny little prop plane for the short 45 minute flight.  Obviously parents claimed the windows on the 2x2 plane and we had no issue staring at the blue waters and volcanic islands as we went.  

Santorini is an island in the Aegean Sea formed when a volcano erupted and sank half the island.  What’s left is a crescent shaped island with sweeping views.  The land itself, like most Greek islands, is brown and volcanic or desert like, set in juxtaposition to the bluest waters you’ve ever seen. 

We opted to stay in Oia, the picturesque “instagram” town, in a tiny cave house set into the hill.  It was worth the splurge and it is vacation after all.  Though we did have a chance to see other towns and there are some amazing resorts on the island to also consider. 

Artia Mansion Cave House

The place we stayed was Artia Mansion.  It was really hard to choose a room on the island but I picked this for the balance of “cave feel,” the view of both the sea and the town, and the price (one night here was the total we paid for 3 nights in other places and that was on the cheaper end of options in Oia).  Overall the room was very cute, the kids took turns in the cave bed, and the patio was nice to sit each morning.  The host left us some yogurt, bread, jams, and other breakfast items to enjoy each morning. Like Athens, Santorini was very hot, so while the kids liked the “warm tub” I could see trying to get a place with a bigger pool if we came in the summer again.  Overall I give it 4/5 stars and would consider staying here again but would also look at other options or even a resort.  (Note if you go for a resort you’ll need to rent a car though parking generally seemed doable in each town with a short walk to where you wanted to go).  We didn’t get a car and instead used our host services to pick us up at the airport and take us to the ferry on the last day. 

Ammoudi Bay Swimming

Our first afternoon in Oia we walked around and eventually headed down to Ammoudi Bay for swimming.  The decent is 250 steps down… the ascent is 250 steps up… we did this 3 times during our stay.  As a side note, you can get a donkey ride back up for 10E each but it’s cash only and I kept forgetting to bring any.  When you arrive at the bottom, you’ll cross though a few restaurants and carefully swing past a fence.  Then it’s a short walk around the rocks until you come to the obvious rocky swimming hole.  There is a small current and it’s open bay, so make sure you can swim, but man it feels so refreshing on a hot day.  And the water is so clear! (Note that I packed goggles and one towel for the trip).  

That night we found a spot to watch sunset and then ate at Roka for dinner.  One consistent we found in Greece was that we didn’t really individually eat that much at each sitting.  We’d usually get 1-2 salads/appetizers and then 2 main dishes for the 4 of us, and it was plenty of food.  Roka was good but what stood out was the atmosphere and the aperitif Masitha.  So good and unique that we got some to bring home.

A note about sunset on the caldera in Oia.  Yes, it can get crowded, in fact Oia can get very crowded, but we found that we were lucky in early June.  The cruise ships were present however it only ever felt flighty “full” rather than packed.  We also didn’t watch the sunset from the old castle because we were worried about the crowds, but in retrospect I think we could have without much trouble.  While the sunset was lovely, we have some amazing sunsets in California and Hawaii so I didn’t put too much effort into seeing it each night.  Also it wasn't cloudy, which tends to bring more beautiful sunsets.

Caldera by Night

Nighttime however is, in my opinion, when the caldera view really comes alive.  After dinner at Roka, I wandered around town myself, looking at shops.  Just then I rounded a corner on a pathway and came upon a perfectly picturesque spot of the town covered in the night glow of the full moon and tinkling lights of the cave houses. It took my breath away.  The pictures don’t do it justice.  I had to go back to grab the family just to see the amazing view.

Start of the Fira to Oia Hike

Our first day in Oia, we headed out to hike from Fira to Oia along the Caldera. This beautiful, and hot, 10km hike is very popular and it was obvious why, with stunning views the whole time.  To reach Fira we hopped on the bus in Oia and got off in Fira.  It’s 2E/pp each way and was pretty easy once it arrived (island time so timetables are more guidelines than rules).  After grabbing breakfast in Fira we started off.  Most of the way it’s fairly flat with two large hills to climb as we got toward Oia.  Sunscreen, big hats, and neck fans helped keep us cool, though we still ended with red faces and in desperate need of ice cream.  There are many blogs online that provide great detail about the hike so I’ll just say that the key is staying close to the caldera edge and staying out of the “town Main Street” unless you need to stop in for food or water.  There are also helpful sign posts if you kept an eye out for them as well as a few churches along the way to find shade shelter for a few minutes.  

Side note, it’s not advised to drink the water on the islands so we bought a lot of spring water during our stay.  You can pay anywhere from 0.28E to 4E for a 1.5L bottle.  Yea, crazy.  So find markets to stock up when possible.

After 6.2 miles in the heat we made it back to Oia.  The hike was not the hardest we’ve done but it was hot and the kids did great. We made our way to Pitogyros for lunch.  Let me just say this place is amazing - best meat ever (and I used to live in Texas).  We got the mixed meat platter and the chicken gyro platter on day one then returned for the lamb kebabs and chicken skewers the next day.  

Ammoudi Bay Fish Tavern

After much needed rest in the AC, we showered and headed back out.  Jeremy and I left the kids to rest while we wandered the town for a bit and grabbed drinks at Karma.  We all then headed down to Ammoudi bay for dinner at Ammoudi Bay Fish Tavern.  I made reservations ahead of time and asked for a table near the sea (as opposed to up on the terrace).  About an hour before sunset was perfect to see the glow on the other restaurants and the hill.  The sun-dried and grilled octopus was amazing. 

Vista Yachting Catamaran Tour

Sunset from the boat

Day 2 in Santorini we woke late, wandered around town taking pictures, ate lunch at Pitogyros then spent the afternoon and evening on a catamaran touring and swimming in the caldera.  Everyone says you need to do a catamaran tour on Santorini and after having done a semi-private tour for sunset, I’d have to agree.  We opted to go with Vista Yachting on their Platinum Tour because of the food and drink selection and small group (18-20 people).  We had an amazing time and there was plenty of room on the boat for everyone.  We relaxed on the nets, on the bow, on the bean chairs, and the kids even had a chance to drive the catamaran!  We swam in the waters and ate delicious freshly cooked food including seafood pasta, grilled chicken and pork, and tzatziki. Sunset was magical and the weather perfect.  The company also provided our transfer to and from the hotel area.

Nutella Pancakes

Ferry

Our last morning in Oia we woke early, took more pictures, and just enjoyed the view before heading to the ferry.  We opted for the super jet fast ferry from Santorini to Paros and a similar 'fast ferry' from Paros to Milos later in the trip.  These are the quickest way to travel.  You really only need to be at the port 30 minutes ahead of time (and maybe even 15).  We sat and had breakfast at a cafe (Jesse got his staple Nutella pancakes) and then got up to board once the line started moving.  What’s impressive is how quickly they load.  The Seajet was a huge ferry with a large platform opening to load in cars followed by hundreds of people in a matter of 5-10 minutes.  They are pulling away from the port before the massive ramp is even closed.  You drop your luggage where they tell you then head upstairs.  It was all quite pleasant and easy. 

On to Paros! 

Greece - Part 1: Athens

Greece.

There is no way I can possibly capture how amazing our trip to Greece and Rome was.  16 days, 5 locations, 6 flights, 2 ferries, and 2 boat trips.  We adventured, we learned, we hiked, we swam, and most of all we relaxed and enjoyed time away. 

The first part of our trip saw us leaving home and heading for Athens.  By coincidence we happen to take off when Max was 11 but land when he was 12.  Birthday at 30,000 miles! 

Athens 

View from the apartment

Landing in Athens we used Kostas Transfers to take us between the airport and the apartment, Pari's House in Plaka Athens, where we were staying.  The transfer service was great and easy to communicate via WhatsApp.  The apartment (via booking.com) was beautiful and perfectly located in Filomousou Eterias Square, central to everything, and had a small balcony overlooking the Acropolis. It was quiet, clean, had an amazing view, and had AC (and also incredibly priced).  

Athens was hot.  A few quick recommendations.  First, bring or buy a large sun hat.  I got one and lived it for the next 16 days.  Next, get an umbrella or parasol.  We didn’t and I wish I would have just bought one from the beginning.  So many days I wish I had one for me and the kids. Also don’t be ashamed to bring and use neck fans.  We had 4 small ones that we used on many days and it’s what got us through many hot excursions. 

The first night we wandered around the neighborhood, saw many cats (...so many cats in Greece), strolled through streets lined with shops, bought a few things, and settled on dinner in the same square as our apartment, eating at Ionos Mediterranean Greek Cuisine.  They had the second best tazaki we had all trip and really good lamb kieftiko.  We also celebrated Max’s birthday with a stack of Nutella pancakes and candles. 

Day 2 we headed to the Acropolis.  You should prebuy tickets (we did for all our sites) and either go early or late afternoon about 2 hours before closing.  Before heading up we had breakfast at the restaurant in the square owned by our host, John, called Plakaki Cafe.  Delicious food, good coffee, amazing yogurt with honey and fresh fruit. (We came back each day for breakfast and John even gave us Aparol spritz in the afternoon to enjoy).

Heading up to the Acropolis by 10am it was super hot already even with the neck fans and hats (remember that note about wanting a parasol.  Also remember to bring water and there is only 1 refill station at the top). Before we left I’d downloaded Rick Steves Audio Europe app and select tours for many of our sites, including the Acropolis, to each phone.  We entered from the south slope, climbed the hill looking at a few sites not on the tour, then made our way to the main entrance area on the left before starting the audio tour.  I felt the Rick Steves tour was very complete but may also recommend considering a small private tour to get even more history.  Even with the heat, and chasing the shade, the Acropolis was very interesting and rich with so much history; even the kids said it was their highlight of Athens.  

Coming down the hill, sweaty and tired, we found ourselves at Klepsydra Cafe under trees and a misting fan eating some of the best pork and chicken gyro plates we had all trip.  

That evening, after a quick rest in the AC of our apartment we headed out to the Ancient Agora.  Make sure you look where the entrance is, we made one wrong turn and wound up walking around the perimeter of the whole thing before we even started.  We paid the entry fee and again listened to a Rick Steves audio guide as we strolled.  Finally it was cooling off.  It was very interesting learning about how the role the Agora played in Greek society and the aqueduct and drainage systems.  There's also a small museum that's part of the audio tour which shows off an ancient shield and where we learned about the early voting system of the time.  For dinner we grabbed a bite at a place off Adrianou street that wasn’t bad but not memorable. 

Day 3 was our 2nd and last full day in Athens.  After breakfast, we wandered around the city early, seeing many sites like the Arch of Hadrian, Roman Forum (from the outside), Syntagma Square (including the changing of the guard which happens at 15 minutes before the hour), the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Library, and the Holy Metropolitan Church.  We had lunch at Psaras Tavern, which was lovely but overrated, and dinner at Old Ithaki.  Here we had a delicious Greek salad as well as a really tasty gorgonzola and grilled pear risotto. I'll note the outdoor cafes are wonderful, especially at night, however as a non-smoking American who isn't used to eating with smoke, we had to make careful selections to ensure we didn't have smoke in our faces at dinner.  There were a few times this was bad enough we had to either move or leave before ordering.

And with that our stay in Athens was over.  The kids got two little statues of the Acropolis and I found a dress and some light weight pants.  Athen's is a city rich in history and culture with cute neighborhoods that are fun to wander, but 2 days is just the right amount of time.

On to Santorini! 

Top Ten Hikes of all Time (and some Honorable Mentions)

Over the last week I've had the opportunity to hike at some amazing places in California.  More than once I said to myself, "yep, this makes the top ten."  Which got me thinking, what does my 'top ten' list look like?  So on the long 8 hour drive home from Palm Springs, here's what I came up with.  These are all hikes not 'destinations,' which is why you'll find Lower Antelope Canyon but not Antelope Canyon on the list, as I feel that lower is more of a hike while upper canyon is more of a destination.

Top Ten Hikes

(in no particular order)

• Mist Trail (Yosemite NP)
• Upper Yosemite Falls (Yosemite NP)
• Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare (Cinque Terra, Italy) 
• Narrows (Zion NP)
• Bright Angel Trail (Grand Canyon) 
• Castle Crags (Castella, CA)
• Pipiwai Trail (Maui, HI)
• Murray Canyon and Seven Sisters Falls (Palm Springs, CA)
• Ladder Canyon (Palm Desert, CA)
• Hidden Waterfalls (Montezuma, Costa Rica)

Honorable Mention 

• Angels Landing (Zion NP)
• Hidden Valley (Joshua Tree NP)
• Tahquitz Canyon (Palm Springs, CA)
• Mile 6 Hike (Road to Hana, Maui)
• Lower Antelope Canyon (Page, AZ)
• Kalalau (Hanakapíai) Trail (Kauai, HI)
• Cataract Trail (Marin, CA) 

What's on your list?

Spring Break 2025 - Palm Springs & Joshua Tree

For spring break this year we stayed in California and headed south to the greater LA area.  This was largely driven due to the exorbitant costs of flights to Hawaii and Costa Rica, but I'm really glad everything worked out this way.  

Part 1 - Grand Hyatt Indian Wells

We started the trip with two nights at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells near Palm Desert.  The place was beautiful and we had a room overlooking the pool area with a king size bed and a L shape pull out sofa.  The kids found the couch comfortable so we didn't even use the pull out.  

The grounds had multiple pools, hot tubs (both adult and family), lazy river, and two large twisting slides.  I also appreciated that we could awake slowly, meander down to the pool area around 8/8:30 and still find plenty of chairs to grab for the day.  (Unlike Cancun or Hawaii where they get snagged up by 7am).  The food at the Hyatt was expensive, however the pool lunches were also quite good, so at least you got what you paid for.  I highly recommend the fish tacos.  For breakfast we ate at the market (not the $40/pp buffet) though we probably could have bought a few things for the room from the grocery store in town (we did this for beer as a $12 beer at the pool was $2 at Ralph's).  For dinner we ate one night at the resort (Carmocha) and one night out at Katsuyama down the road.  I definitely recommend eating out; while the food at the Carmocha was good, we spent about $200 for 3 plates and one drink and left still feeling hungry.  

I'll also note the daily kids activities, like bingo and watermelon eating contest, as well as the evening pool movies.  We also enjoyed walking the grounds, the free bikes, and the game lawn where we had some epic games of giant Jenga. The game lawn also had some foosball and ping pong tables and giant connect four.  

Part 2 - Joshua Tree

After 2 1/2 days at the resort it was time to head to Joshua Tree.  We stayed at an Air BNB called "Desert Julep" with an outdoor hot tub and cowboy pool, wrap around porch, and master loft.  It's also located just outside of the west entrance to Joshua Tree and 2 block from 'downtown'.  

The place was beautiful and we wished we could have spent more than two nights there.  We really enjoyed the evening hot tub soaks while looking up at the night sky and sipping wine.  The photo to the left is from the hot tub. The kids are now at an age where they can come out and relax with us and we had some really lovely conversations.  

Day 1 - Hiking

Of course our main purpose for visiting was to see the park.  So we spent most of our two days there.  The first day we headed to Arch Rock and Heart Rock and actually met up with some friends of Jesse's who were also in the park for Spring Break.  We scrambled around boulders, meandered through valleys and just spent a lot of time enjoying the area.  Pro tip - fresh bread from a market & some salami & baby bell and laughing cow cheese make a great and easy hiking lunch.  

Heart Rock

Wandering Around

Arch Rock

After lunch we parted ways with our friends, who were headed back into town, and drove down to the Cholla Cactus Garden.  While the trail itself was closed, we were able to park on the side of the road and check out the very unique cactus that grow in this area.  From there we headed to Skull Rock where we scrambled around some more and took in the views.  Every time I turned around Jesse was up on some other type of boulder, declaring Joshua Tree the best park he's ever visited.  That evening we headed to town for some shopping at Coyote Corner and pizza.  (The pizza wasn't so great, so nothing to write home about there).  

Day 2 - Hiking and Bouldering

Hidden Valley Hike

The next day we went back into the park, this time via West Entrance which was just down the road from our Air BNB, and started with the Hidden Valley hike.  This is definitely a must do if you're in the park.  It's only about a mile round trip but takes about 1 hour because you'll wind up stopping to explore some side trail or scramble up some boulders.  

From there we headed to Trashcan Rock and did some bouldering.  Well, Max and I bouldered, Jesse and Jeremy took the time to scramble around the rocks.  I'll say a few quick things about bouldering in Joshua Tree.  First, the rocks hurt.  Everything is very sharp as the rock itself is made up of thousands of smaller rocks.  This put a pretty quick cap on the length of time we spent bouldering before our fingers were screaming in pain.  Second, it's beautiful.  It's been years since I'd had the chance to boulder outside and I forgot how much I really enjoyed climbing outdoors.  I also really enjoyed spending time with Max watching him work out the problem.  We did the traverse and then walked around the whole area finding other little problems to work out.  I didn't have a guide book with me, as I knew we'd only be there a short while, so I can't tell you more the exact problems we did.  

Leaving Joshua Tree we knew we hadn't seen everything, but we also know that we will be back someday.  I'm eager to have the energy at night to drive into the park for star gazing or heading to Key Views for sunset. 

Part 3 - Palm Springs

Aerial Tramway

The last part of our week found us in Palm Springs.  Here we stayed at another AirBNB, which was nice but not noteable enough to call out.  Upon arrival, around 3pm, we dropped our stuff and headed to the Aerial Tramway.  We got lucky as there was no wait and we were able to jump on the very next arriving tram (about every 12-15 min).  I would recommended tickets in advance, however you cannot buy them day of.  The tram is a really cool experience.  It's about 12 minutes up (and back) and the floor rotates about 3 times so no matter where you are standing you get to see all directions.  This also means people aren't trying to push or move around the tram.  The views are spectacular, and not just of the town, but also all the different climates that you pass through on the way to the top.  In fact, it was about 60 degrees at the bottom and snowing at the top!  Yes, snow.  We were the last ones allowed outside to the top observation area before they closed it and we were glad to have our puffies and hats.  It was also beautiful from the top overlooking the town.  After a quick hot chocolate for the kids, we took the tram back down. Once at the bottom we watched a few videos of the history of the tram before heading out.  Overall its about a 1 hour activity but worth it if you're in the area.  

ATV & Tahquitz Canyon

We started our first full day with some ATV riding.  The only place that allows kids to have their own bikes is Off Road Rentals of HW 111.  They do have smaller bikes for kids but Max and Jesse were both old enough and tall enough to use full size adult ATVs and picked up shifting pretty quickly.  After a short safety video we were off tooling around the sand and dunes.  There are several areas to play and drive around.  To say that the kids had fun would be an understatement.  Jesse was a mad man, laughing and screaming with joy the whole time.  They had so much fun that they begged us to go back the next day and even used their own money to pay for the second experience. 

After ATV riding we stopped for a quick lunch back at the house and then headed to Tahquitz Canyon.  To note, last entry is at 3:30 (this time of year) and you must have at least 1 liter of water per adult and 1/2 a liter per child (they check).  After paying the entry fee, we headed onto the trail.  The whole hike is about 2 miles which makes for a nice quick afternoon hike, though it is also mostly exposed.  After about 1 mile of hiking we reached the waterfall and pool at the end of the trail.  The water is snow runoff, so much like Yosemite, it's quite cold.  Still, there were folks venturing into the pool and Max even got himself fully in a few times. While we were hiking back down we were lucky enough to see a group of big horn sheep!  I like to pretend they were mountain goats.  

We ended the evening walking around downtown Palm Springs and grabbing some burgers at Coachella Brewing, sitting outside on the deck by the fire and doing some people watching.  We also swung by some of the sites, including of course, Marilyn Monroe.  And, of course, we ended the night with a dip in the hot tub (which was a common theme of this trip).

Ladder Canyon

The next day we awoke very early and headed down south to Ladder Canyon.  We knew we wanted to be one of the first ones into the slot canyon so we planned to arrive there by 8am.  (We managed 8:15).  I'd got up early enough to make togo breakfast burritos and we swung by the grocery store for a fresh baguette for our lunch.  

*Note, make sure you check the weather before venturing into this canyon.  It is a slot canyon and any little rain in the forcast anywhere in the area can cause a flash flood.  Don't do it.*

The drive south was fine, but the real interesting part comes in the last 5 miles which are over a very bumpy dirt 'road' which is clearly marked as 4x4 only.  Our Nissan Murano made it just fine, but it hadn't rained in weeks and there wasn't any deep sand parts when we went.  The canyon is on BLM land so you're also able to camp there if you'd like.  We saw a few people doing this and I have to imagine that the sky at night is incredible.  I also happen to note that when we ended the hike it was only 78 degrees out and it felt like 90, so those tents were probably toasty during the day.  But, I digress.  As you travel into the canyon area, you'll pass a bathroom (the only one) and have to continue on for another 1-2 miles until you come to the trail sign and the end of the road.  Park here, grab your stuff and head into the canyon.  

I'll note a few things here that were highlights for us, but if you're going to take this hike, I recommend reading this blog.  The hike is about 6 miles round trip (per our GPS) and takes you through an amazing slot canyon, up onto a ridge with breathtaking views, then back down into a larger 'painted' canyon before finishing up the loop back where you started.  Also, I'm a huge fan of hiking in keens, but this is not the hike to do it.  You're hiking through mostly rock and sand, which isn't pleasant in keens.  As the name implies, there are a handful of ladders you'll need to climb and descend to get into and out of the slot canyon.  Though they may feel a bit sketchy, we found they were all fairly stable and the ladders were part of the fun and excitement of the hike.  I'll also note that Max and Jesse both put this hike in their top 5 of all time hikes.

The hike begins by entering the slot canyon about 0.4 miles into the big canyon.  Keep your eyes peeled and you'll see the first ladder off to the left of the main trail.  (there's also the start of many rock arrows leading the way).  This first entrance you can either use the 'up' ladder, scramble the boulders, or use the hidden 'cave ladder' which of course Jesse found and used.  That one was quite the squeeze for Jeremy and I.  Upon entering the canyon you're overtaken by how unique the passage is.  Jeremy and I have been to Antelope Canyon before, but this is just as amazing and was the first time the kids had been in a slot canyon.  We had so much fun following the narrow path and using the ladders to get up and around.  After some time we exited the main slot canyon and entered another slot canyon with lower walls.  From there we were dumped into an open area that required some scramble up to reach the ridge (don't worry, you aren't lost).  

At this point we took the time to enjoy the amazing views, take some photos, and look down upon the canyon we'd just exited.  The ridge hike is just as unique as the slot canyon and part of what makes this whole hike so great.  We also appreciated the winds as the day was warming up (it was still only 10:30) and the sun was starting to bake on us.  

After walking about 2 miles across the ridge (again, watch for the rock arrows), we headed back down a precarious trail into Painted Canyon. 

Painted Canyon

Take one look at the walls of the canyon and you'll understand.  This third part of the trail is a large wash out area and can be done by itself by skipping the slot canyon and just walking straight from the trail head.  We found all types of different rock in the canyon along the hike.  The kids were also excited to come upon two more ladders (and a rope) that lead us into the last parts of Painted Canyon.  

We ended the hike after about 3 hours, who's counting, and about 6 miles total.  When we got back to the car there were about 15 other cars in the parking lot, so we were happy to have started early.

Palm Springs

We spent the rest of the day ATV riding, again, and hanging out at the house.  For dinner we went back to Clandestino for the second night.  The food is great, drinks are great, and the weather was perfect for this outdoor restaurant.  

Indian Canyon

On our last day we spent the morning hiking in Indian Canyon before driving home.  The hike through Murray Canyon and Seven Sisters Falls is incredible. Pictures don't just do it justice. It makes my top 10 hikes of all time and is about 4 miles round trip. This hike through desert canyon quickly drops into a palm spring oasis with a flowing snow fed stream between canyon rock.  Simply stunning.  The trail itself ducks in and out of the palm oasis and across the stream several times, ending in a small pool and mini waterfall.  Overall the trail is easy to follow and only has a few challenging spots where you'll have to watch your footing.  We spent some time here having lunch and relaxing before heading back down the canyon.  

Indian Canyon

After Murray Canyon we drove up the road further to the trading post and the West Fork Waterfall area.  This is a short downhill jaunt off the parking area and another great way to see an oasis if you aren't up for the Murray Canyon hike.  

Before heading out of town we stopped at the The Sandwhich Spot for lunch (highly recommend).

And with that we wrapped up a great week off and an unexpectedly fantastic week in Palm Springs area.