December 23, 2024 • 19 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today's episode is all about our recent weekend
trip up to Flagstaff, arizona,to take our kids to the Polar
Express.
So listen in if that issomething on your bucket list.
Hi, I'm Raya.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I'm Dwayne, and we are your hosts of the Travel
Party of Five podcast, where weshare how we travel as a family
of five around the world.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We will also share how we use points and miles to
travel as affordably as possibleand sometimes even completely
free.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So if you're wanting to travel more with your family
but you're not sure how, we'dlove for you to listen in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So welcome to our podcast, where we hope you learn
a thing or two to get youcloser to your next trip.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Really quickly, before we jump into today's
episode, I'm going to quicklydraw the winner of our $50 gift
card raffle.
And as a reminder, that was ifyou left a podcast review and
submitted us a screenshot to ouremail, you were entered to win
a $50 gift card raffle.
So I've entered all of thenames into a random, uh like
(01:30):
wheel generator and I'm going todo it.
Right now I'm going to spin itand it is Angie.
Congratulations, angie.
It is Angie.
Congratulations, angie.
I will be sending you an email.
(01:50):
By the time this episode airs,you will have already received
the email.
So if you haven't checked youremail, go check and we will get
you the $50 gift card of yourchoice.
Thank you so much to everyonewho entered, and now on to
today's episode.
Hi, friends.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Thanks for tuning in.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Welcome back, yes.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Happy holidays to you guys.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Merry early Christmas .
Yes, this is our last episodebefore the end of the year and
it's probably going to be ashort one, but we wanted to do a
quick episode on our recentweekend trip up to Flagstaff,
arizona, because we took ourkids all three of them to the
Polar Express.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Which is in Williams Arizona.
Actually, yes, About half anhour Was it east North?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
It is west.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
West.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
West of Flagstaff.
So we used points.
We stayed at the Hyatt PlaceFlagstaff.
It's actually the second timewe've stayed at that property
this year and it just it's an,it's new, it just opened this
year, yeah, and so we.
It's a category two Hyatt.
It's the only Hyatt option inFlagstaff, and so category two
(03:03):
you're looking at anywhere from6500 to 9500 points a night.
Um, december is generally offpeak, but sometimes on peak
because it's a ski town, yeah,so, um, we stayed two nights.
We drove up friday and droveback early Sunday and it's a
(03:26):
completely fine hotel.
It's great for families.
It's not luxury, but no high atplaces.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, definitely not luxury.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
One thing that people ask us a lot is how we fit five
people in one hotel room, andso I've been trying to answer
that question, as we stay indifferent rooms because it's
it's a little different everytime, and so this particular
hotel room, I think we had twoqueen beds and then there was
also a sofa bed, and so when youpulled out the sofa bed, there
(03:57):
was still like a.
The sofa bed was kind of like acorner couch.
So you pulled out the sofa bedinto the bed and there was still
like a loveseat section of acouch left.
And so what we did in thisscenario is our boys slept on
the couch bed like the pulloutcouch, and then we set up the
little loveseat couch sectionfor our four year old daughter,
(04:20):
and so we put like a sheet downand, you know, a pillow and
blanket there for her, and so weput like a sheet down and you
know, a pillow and blanket therefor her, and then Duane and I
each had one of the beds toourselves and one of the boys
ended up taking turns sleepingwith one night with me, one
night with him.
But that was, you know, enoughroom for five people easily.
It's a really good option forfamilies.
All Hyatt houses and Hyattplaces in general are good
(04:42):
options for bigger families.
They generally have a pull-outsofa bed plus one or two regular
beds.
Right, and this hotel's in agood location.
It's close to everything and wewould totally go back there,
yeah for sure.
They have an indoor pool, whichwhen we were there in March, we
(05:06):
didn't go in the pool, but Iremember going in there and
feeling like it was really warmand steamy.
Uh, so we brought our bathingsuits and thought it would be
fun for the kids to be able toswim.
Um, the water was freaking cold.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yes, I didn't even get in.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I couldn't get in all the way.
I went halfway in and then Isaid nope, I can't do this same
with our daughter, and our boysswam for maybe 15 minutes, but
it didn't last very long.
It was cold.
I don't think it was heated itwas definitely not heated and
there's no hot tub.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
So just as a side note, don't know why they don't
have a hot tub there, which ispretty crazy to me.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Probably because it's a Hyatt place, so they do have
breakfast.
Generally at a Hyatt place,your breakfast is free, same
with the Hyatt house.
However, some places have beencharging for breakfast now.
Some places have been chargingfor breakfast now, and so when
we were there we noticed therewas a sign that said like there
(06:10):
was like a hostess checkingpeople in.
Yes, for breakfast, specificallyFor breakfast, yes.
And so I asked because theytold us breakfast was
complimentary, which you know wehave globalist status, so
that's normal.
Complimentary, which you knowwe have globalist status, so
that's normal.
But I was curious like how,like number one, what are other
(06:30):
people paying?
And like how are they deciding?
Like is it just not globaliststatus?
And I'm pretty sure that thewoman at the checkout or like
reservation desk told me that ifyou are discoverist and higher,
it's free, and discoverist ishigh, it's lowest status so it
was free for us yeah, it wasfree for us.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I mean listen I did um, yeah, it's not the best
breakfast you'll ever have no,and if I were gonna pay, I
wouldn't eat there no especiallyif I have to pay for.
All five of us like no but I'mpretty sure it was eight bucks a
person.
I could be wrong, don't quoteme on that, but I heard it was
(07:10):
eight bucks a person.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I feel like that's what I've also heard.
So I mean, for a family of fivethat's forty dollars a day.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Again.
I mean you can get cereal.
There's bagels, but like thehot food, was you know?
Speaker 1 (07:25):
it's mediocre at best , and I mean it's fine for kids.
Our kids think it's for themost part great.
They like to eat the cereal andyou know all the little
pastries and bagels and whatever.
It's great for a free breakfast.
It's not good if you have topay.
That's my two cents.
So, anyways, we were there fortwo nights and our plan on
(07:49):
Saturday night was to do thePolar Express.
We bought tickets over thesummer.
We've been once before, but atthe time that we went we only
had our oldest, and so he's theonly one that's been, and we
really wanted our younger two toexperience it before they get
too old.
And so, um, that was the planfor saturday night.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
But we also wanted something to do saturday morning
, and so we decided to dobarizona, which is also in
williams yes, it's basically adrive-in zoo where you stay in
your car and drive through thezoo where, like, the animals can
just come up to your car ifthey like yeah, like wolves,
(08:33):
bears, and so we've been tobarizona once before.
We went in the summer of 2020,and so this was our second time
so when the world was closed,it's only one of the few things
you could do, yeah we like droveup.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
It's a three-hour drive from phoenix.
We drove up in the morning,stopped at a gas station like
the kids ate lunch in the backof our van, we did the zoo part
and then we got back in our vanand drove back home and we were,
we didn't stay anywhere, wejust yeah, we were trying to
social distance but also get outof the heat of the phoenix
(09:10):
summer.
So, and we really enjoyed it,it was a really fun time.
Um, I think that, it beingwinter, the animals were a
little more sleepy this time, do?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
you think.
I mean yes and no.
I mean there were, there weredefinitely some action.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
I mean we saw the wolves, the bears, the wolves
walked right next to our car youhave to roll up your windows
when you're in the wolf partbecause they're wolves and the
bear part.
We saw several bears sleepingin trees, which was pretty funny
actually, in the tree likelooking so uncomfortable but
snoozing away.
Yeah, um, williams is about ahalf an hour drive I think duane
(09:51):
already said this fromflagstaff and it's an easy drive
, so super easy.
We popped over there.
They also have a walk throughzoo area, so prepare to get out
of your car at the end and, like, bundle up if it's cold and you
can walk through.
They have a couple of jaguarswhich are our 10 year old is
obsessed with, so he liked thatand I don't know.
(10:14):
They have some other animals,like some kind of moose or
something.
Elk, what were they?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yes, they were moose what were they?
Speaker 1 (10:26):
yes, they were moose, and so you know the kids like
to see all the animals and theyhad um otters and all kinds of
stuff.
So it's it's fun for kids umhelo monsters yeah, so would
definitely recommend barizona ifyou're up in that area yes,
definitely recommend it.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
It is a little bit expensive, though.
I thought they would charge bythe car, but they charge per
person.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Yes, so it was like what, 150 dollars?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
yeah, it was something like that yeah, it's
not.
It wasn't cheap and and youonly drive through for what took
us like maybe 40 minutes.
Oh I don't even think yeah,maybe half an hour to get
through it.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, so yeah, but I mean totally worth it yeah, I
think it's fun to do once in awhile.
Um, let's talk about the polarexpress.
So the way the polar expressworks is you buy the tickets in
advance and then it's a train.
You get on a train it's basedoff the.
The book, yes, the book thekid's story, the book, the movie
(11:25):
.
Um so like probably have yourkids watch the movie in advance,
and so you, you basically go,you get on a train, they serve
you hot chocolate cookies.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Um, you know the they do a little dance.
Yeah, there's two servers onthe train that do a little dance
.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
You know everyone sings christmas songs yeah, you
drive to the north pole and yousee santa's village and which, I
must say, the first time wewent in 20.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
What was that?
I think it was like 2017, maybeI don't know if they had just
started it, but the north polewhen we got there was pretty you
know what it was 2016?
Yeah, yeah it was the northpole was made out of like
cardboard boxes.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
It looked like someone just it was magical for
a two-year-old but like, notmagical for us.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
It was pretty bad and it got a little upgrade yes, it
did get a little upgrade, likeit doesn't look like cardboard
anymore, it looks like someonebuilt it with like wood.
So I mean it definitelyupgraded it.
I think again, like she saidit's, it's for the kids.
Um, yeah, you basically justride this train.
For what?
Half an hour to the north pole,maybe 40 it's 40, it's it's
(12:46):
like 90 minutes total.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
So, yeah, it's around 40, 45 minutes there, and then
you go back.
You, um, santa, comes on thetrain, he hands out bells, um,
which is, you know, part of thestory.
And I will say the hotchocolate.
It's more like warm chocolate,it's not actually hot, and if
(13:08):
you are going to do this, Iwould just recommend like
bundling up and also maybebringing a blanket or two,
because I was freezing theentire time and so was our
daughter.
It was cold.
You're inside in the train, butit's not heated.
So it was cold.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
You're inside in the train but it's not heated.
Yeah, I mean it wasn't thatcold.
But we had the same problem thefirst time we went.
The windows fog up and it getsfoggy.
You have to constantly wipe thewindow to see out of it.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
But, yeah, I mean, overall, kids loved it.
Yeah, the kids had a great time.
They really liked singing thechristmas carols and they, they
enjoyed it, and so that's reallythe point.
Um, I will say it's not cheap.
I think it was around 350dollars for definitely not cheap
the five of us to go.
Um, they have packages andthere's a hotel like the grand
Canyon railway hotel, I think iswhat it's called.
(14:06):
You can stay right there, whichI guess would be fine, but I
mean, it's like expensive.
It's like three to $400 a nightwhen they're doing the polar
express.
So, uh, that was a no for me,and so that's why we used points
instead to stay at the Hyattand drove the 30 minutes and it
was completely fine, like noissues whatsoever.
(14:28):
So if you want to do it but youdon't want to spend that kind
of money, that's what I wouldrecommend doing is staying in
Flagstaff.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Yeah, if I had one piece of advice, I would just
say take an earlier train.
We did the 730 train, which Ithink was a little bit too late
because the kids were tired onthe train.
They were tired yeah, and thenas soon as we got in the van to
drive back, two of them knockedout.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, that's true.
They do have a 5.30 also thatwe could have taken.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Is there only two trains a night?
I think so.
Yeah, Definitely take the areup late.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, our two of ours were pretty tired.
Um, and then I think so as faras food, just really quickly
like we have gone to fat olivesin Flagstaff a few times now and
we really enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Um, the pizza pizza and the burrata.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Yeah, they have a good burrata appetizer.
The pizza is really good.
Their um pastas are like notnot as good, but the pizzas are
good, so we enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I feel like the first time we went, we we got a pasta
.
That was.
That was pretty good.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
This time it was we got a fettuccine and it was.
It was all right.
Yeah, it was all right um, butpizza for sure is is pretty good
yes, and do you remember thename of the other place we ate
at before the Polar Express?
It was a brewery of some kind.
There's a lot of breweries, ohWild something.
(16:02):
It was called Beaver StreetBrewery and we had dinner there
and that was good too.
We enjoyed that.
Yeah, duane went from I'm notvery hungry to getting a steak.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
And I ate it all After I said I was going to save
some to eat later.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah, he was like the steak will be great to eat
later, and then it was gone.
So, yeah, good food all around.
We enjoy Flagstaff.
It's a nice little getaway.
But I will say my toxic traitis that I look at the weather
app and I think, okay, 32 atnight and like 55 during the day
, like I'll be fine, like Idon't really need a winter coat.
And then I don't bring a wintercoat and I am freezing every
(16:42):
time.
And so don't be like me andbring a winter coat.
Yep, I brought winter coats forall the kids, but for me I was
like, oh, this light jacket willbe fine.
It was not fine.
So that's my advice.
I was in shorts a couple of days, dwayne was wearing shorts,
although you were going to wearshorts on the train and you
(17:04):
changed and you were happy thatyou did.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Oh yeah, it was cold that night.
Yeah, Even driving back it waslike 20.
It got down to like 27.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
It cold that that night.
Yeah, even driving back, it waslike 20, it got down to like 27
.
It was pretty cold, yeah, so,um, anyways, okay, if you are
visiting flagstaff and you wantto do the polar express hope
that was helpful buy the ticketsin advance, um, bring a blanket
bundle up and be prepared tosing.
Yeah, yeah, do we.
Oh, you wear, you can wearjammies too.
Our kids wore jammies, wedidn't.
(17:35):
Yeah, there was a lot offamilies in jammies, though.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Matching jammies.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, what were you going to ask?
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I was going to say did we do a podcast on snowball?
We did yes About how we thoughtthat we could hack it without
any lessons and instead we justhurtled down the mountain like,
so yeah, that's.
I was just bringing that upbecause that's.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Another thing you can do is snowball goes, yes,
skiing or snowboarding it's alsoanother thing they're known for
yes, earlier this year in march, duane and I went and attempted
and we have a whole podcastepisode on it.
So if you want to hear aboutthat adventure, um, I would
recommend listening to thatepisode, because we almost tied.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Yeah, yes, we did.
As a matter of fact, we went inwhat March?
Yes, it was March 1st.
I hurt my arm and it recentlyjust started to feel better.
And this is what 10 months,it's December, yeah, like nine
months later, yeah, so, yeah,like Dwayne couldn't lift his
arm above his head for manymonths.
Yeah, I mean seriously, like upuntil a couple of weeks ago, I
(18:45):
couldn't do that.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yes, again, because we were hurtling down the
mountain without any lessons,because we just thought, like,
we'll figure it out, it'll befine.
It wasn't fine.
Anyways, okay, um, I hope thatyou have a fantastic rest of
2024 and a wonderful new year,and we will catch you back here
(19:08):
in 2025 with I don't know some,some 2025 goals and our kind of
plans and strategy, because, uh,we don't have any points left.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
We've used them all to book our 2024 travel, so so,
yeah, we'll see how many cardswe have to open up next year.
If we can, yeah, if we can, ifthey let us Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Merry Christmas, happy new year.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
We'll see you in 2025 .
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Bye, have a good one.
Today's episode is all about our recent weekend
trip up to Flagstaff, arizona,to take our kids to the Polar
Express.
So listen in if that issomething on your bucket list.
Hi, I'm Raya.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I'm Dwayne, and we are your hosts of the Travel
Party of Five podcast, where weshare how we travel as a family
of five around the world.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We will also share how we use points and miles to
travel as affordably as possibleand sometimes even completely
free.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So if you're wanting to travel more with your family
but you're not sure how, we'dlove for you to listen in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So welcome to our podcast, where we hope you learn
a thing or two to get youcloser to your next trip.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Really quickly, before we jump into today's
episode, I'm going to quicklydraw the winner of our $50 gift
card raffle.
And as a reminder, that was ifyou left a podcast review and
submitted us a screenshot to ouremail, you were entered to win
a $50 gift card raffle.
So I've entered all of thenames into a random, uh like
(01:30):
wheel generator and I'm going todo it.
Right now I'm going to spin itand it is Angie.
Congratulations, angie.
It is Angie.
Congratulations, angie.
I will be sending you an email.
(01:50):
By the time this episode airs,you will have already received
the email.
So if you haven't checked youremail, go check and we will get
you the $50 gift card of yourchoice.
Thank you so much to everyonewho entered, and now on to
today's episode.
Hi, friends.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Thanks for tuning in.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Welcome back, yes.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Happy holidays to you guys.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Merry early Christmas .
Yes, this is our last episodebefore the end of the year and
it's probably going to be ashort one, but we wanted to do a
quick episode on our recentweekend trip up to Flagstaff,
arizona, because we took ourkids all three of them to the
Polar Express.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Which is in Williams Arizona.
Actually, yes, About half anhour Was it east North?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
It is west.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
West.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
West of Flagstaff.
So we used points.
We stayed at the Hyatt PlaceFlagstaff.
It's actually the second timewe've stayed at that property
this year and it just it's an,it's new, it just opened this
year, yeah, and so we.
It's a category two Hyatt.
It's the only Hyatt option inFlagstaff, and so category two
(03:03):
you're looking at anywhere from6500 to 9500 points a night.
Um, december is generally offpeak, but sometimes on peak
because it's a ski town, yeah,so, um, we stayed two nights.
We drove up friday and droveback early Sunday and it's a
(03:26):
completely fine hotel.
It's great for families.
It's not luxury, but no high atplaces.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, definitely not luxury.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
One thing that people ask us a lot is how we fit five
people in one hotel room, andso I've been trying to answer
that question, as we stay indifferent rooms because it's
it's a little different everytime, and so this particular
hotel room, I think we had twoqueen beds and then there was
also a sofa bed, and so when youpulled out the sofa bed, there
(03:57):
was still like a.
The sofa bed was kind of like acorner couch.
So you pulled out the sofa bedinto the bed and there was still
like a loveseat section of acouch left.
And so what we did in thisscenario is our boys slept on
the couch bed like the pulloutcouch, and then we set up the
little loveseat couch sectionfor our four year old daughter,
(04:20):
and so we put like a sheet downand, you know, a pillow and
blanket there for her, and so weput like a sheet down and you
know, a pillow and blanket therefor her, and then Duane and I
each had one of the beds toourselves and one of the boys
ended up taking turns sleepingwith one night with me, one
night with him.
But that was, you know, enoughroom for five people easily.
It's a really good option forfamilies.
All Hyatt houses and Hyattplaces in general are good
(04:42):
options for bigger families.
They generally have a pull-outsofa bed plus one or two regular
beds.
Right, and this hotel's in agood location.
It's close to everything and wewould totally go back there,
yeah for sure.
They have an indoor pool, whichwhen we were there in March, we
(05:06):
didn't go in the pool, but Iremember going in there and
feeling like it was really warmand steamy.
Uh, so we brought our bathingsuits and thought it would be
fun for the kids to be able toswim.
Um, the water was freaking cold.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yes, I didn't even get in.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I couldn't get in all the way.
I went halfway in and then Isaid nope, I can't do this same
with our daughter, and our boysswam for maybe 15 minutes, but
it didn't last very long.
It was cold.
I don't think it was heated itwas definitely not heated and
there's no hot tub.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
So just as a side note, don't know why they don't
have a hot tub there, which ispretty crazy to me.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Probably because it's a Hyatt place, so they do have
breakfast.
Generally at a Hyatt place,your breakfast is free, same
with the Hyatt house.
However, some places have beencharging for breakfast now.
Some places have been chargingfor breakfast now, and so when
we were there we noticed therewas a sign that said like there
(06:10):
was like a hostess checkingpeople in.
Yes, for breakfast, specificallyFor breakfast, yes.
And so I asked because theytold us breakfast was
complimentary, which you know wehave globalist status, so
that's normal.
Complimentary, which you knowwe have globalist status, so
that's normal.
But I was curious like how,like number one, what are other
(06:30):
people paying?
And like how are they deciding?
Like is it just not globaliststatus?
And I'm pretty sure that thewoman at the checkout or like
reservation desk told me that ifyou are discoverist and higher,
it's free, and discoverist ishigh, it's lowest status so it
was free for us yeah, it wasfree for us.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I mean listen I did um, yeah, it's not the best
breakfast you'll ever have no,and if I were gonna pay, I
wouldn't eat there no especiallyif I have to pay for.
All five of us like no but I'mpretty sure it was eight bucks a
person.
I could be wrong, don't quoteme on that, but I heard it was
(07:10):
eight bucks a person.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I feel like that's what I've also heard.
So I mean, for a family of fivethat's forty dollars a day.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Again.
I mean you can get cereal.
There's bagels, but like thehot food, was you know?
Speaker 1 (07:25):
it's mediocre at best , and I mean it's fine for kids.
Our kids think it's for themost part great.
They like to eat the cereal andyou know all the little
pastries and bagels and whatever.
It's great for a free breakfast.
It's not good if you have topay.
That's my two cents.
So, anyways, we were there fortwo nights and our plan on
(07:49):
Saturday night was to do thePolar Express.
We bought tickets over thesummer.
We've been once before, but atthe time that we went we only
had our oldest, and so he's theonly one that's been, and we
really wanted our younger two toexperience it before they get
too old.
And so, um, that was the planfor saturday night.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
But we also wanted something to do saturday morning
, and so we decided to dobarizona, which is also in
williams yes, it's basically adrive-in zoo where you stay in
your car and drive through thezoo where, like, the animals can
just come up to your car ifthey like yeah, like wolves,
(08:33):
bears, and so we've been tobarizona once before.
We went in the summer of 2020,and so this was our second time
so when the world was closed,it's only one of the few things
you could do, yeah we like droveup.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
It's a three-hour drive from phoenix.
We drove up in the morning,stopped at a gas station like
the kids ate lunch in the backof our van, we did the zoo part
and then we got back in our vanand drove back home and we were,
we didn't stay anywhere, wejust yeah, we were trying to
social distance but also get outof the heat of the phoenix
(09:10):
summer.
So, and we really enjoyed it,it was a really fun time.
Um, I think that, it beingwinter, the animals were a
little more sleepy this time, do?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
you think.
I mean yes and no.
I mean there were, there weredefinitely some action.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
I mean we saw the wolves, the bears, the wolves
walked right next to our car youhave to roll up your windows
when you're in the wolf partbecause they're wolves and the
bear part.
We saw several bears sleepingin trees, which was pretty funny
actually, in the tree likelooking so uncomfortable but
snoozing away.
Yeah, um, williams is about ahalf an hour drive I think duane
(09:51):
already said this fromflagstaff and it's an easy drive
, so super easy.
We popped over there.
They also have a walk throughzoo area, so prepare to get out
of your car at the end and, like, bundle up if it's cold and you
can walk through.
They have a couple of jaguarswhich are our 10 year old is
obsessed with, so he liked thatand I don't know.
(10:14):
They have some other animals,like some kind of moose or
something.
Elk, what were they?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yes, they were moose what were they?
Speaker 1 (10:26):
yes, they were moose, and so you know the kids like
to see all the animals and theyhad um otters and all kinds of
stuff.
So it's it's fun for kids umhelo monsters yeah, so would
definitely recommend barizona ifyou're up in that area yes,
definitely recommend it.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
It is a little bit expensive, though.
I thought they would charge bythe car, but they charge per
person.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Yes, so it was like what, 150 dollars?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
yeah, it was something like that yeah, it's
not.
It wasn't cheap and and youonly drive through for what took
us like maybe 40 minutes.
Oh I don't even think yeah,maybe half an hour to get
through it.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, so yeah, but I mean totally worth it yeah, I
think it's fun to do once in awhile.
Um, let's talk about the polarexpress.
So the way the polar expressworks is you buy the tickets in
advance and then it's a train.
You get on a train it's basedoff the.
The book, yes, the book thekid's story, the book, the movie
(11:25):
.
Um so like probably have yourkids watch the movie in advance,
and so you, you basically go,you get on a train, they serve
you hot chocolate cookies.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Um, you know the they do a little dance.
Yeah, there's two servers onthe train that do a little dance
.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
You know everyone sings christmas songs yeah, you
drive to the north pole and yousee santa's village and which, I
must say, the first time wewent in 20.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
What was that?
I think it was like 2017, maybeI don't know if they had just
started it, but the north polewhen we got there was pretty you
know what it was 2016?
Yeah, yeah it was the northpole was made out of like
cardboard boxes.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
It looked like someone just it was magical for
a two-year-old but like, notmagical for us.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
It was pretty bad and it got a little upgrade yes, it
did get a little upgrade, likeit doesn't look like cardboard
anymore, it looks like someonebuilt it with like wood.
So I mean it definitelyupgraded it.
I think again, like she saidit's, it's for the kids.
Um, yeah, you basically justride this train.
For what?
Half an hour to the north pole,maybe 40 it's 40, it's it's
(12:46):
like 90 minutes total.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
So, yeah, it's around 40, 45 minutes there, and then
you go back.
You, um, santa, comes on thetrain, he hands out bells, um,
which is, you know, part of thestory.
And I will say the hotchocolate.
It's more like warm chocolate,it's not actually hot, and if
(13:08):
you are going to do this, Iwould just recommend like
bundling up and also maybebringing a blanket or two,
because I was freezing theentire time and so was our
daughter.
It was cold.
You're inside in the train, butit's not heated.
So it was cold.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
You're inside in the train but it's not heated.
Yeah, I mean it wasn't thatcold.
But we had the same problem thefirst time we went.
The windows fog up and it getsfoggy.
You have to constantly wipe thewindow to see out of it.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
But, yeah, I mean, overall, kids loved it.
Yeah, the kids had a great time.
They really liked singing thechristmas carols and they, they
enjoyed it, and so that's reallythe point.
Um, I will say it's not cheap.
I think it was around 350dollars for definitely not cheap
the five of us to go.
Um, they have packages andthere's a hotel like the grand
Canyon railway hotel, I think iswhat it's called.
(14:06):
You can stay right there, whichI guess would be fine, but I
mean, it's like expensive.
It's like three to $400 a nightwhen they're doing the polar
express.
So, uh, that was a no for me,and so that's why we used points
instead to stay at the Hyattand drove the 30 minutes and it
was completely fine, like noissues whatsoever.
(14:28):
So if you want to do it but youdon't want to spend that kind
of money, that's what I wouldrecommend doing is staying in
Flagstaff.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Yeah, if I had one piece of advice, I would just
say take an earlier train.
We did the 730 train, which Ithink was a little bit too late
because the kids were tired onthe train.
They were tired yeah, and thenas soon as we got in the van to
drive back, two of them knockedout.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, that's true.
They do have a 5.30 also thatwe could have taken.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Is there only two trains a night?
I think so.
Yeah, Definitely take the areup late.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, our two of ours were pretty tired.
Um, and then I think so as faras food, just really quickly
like we have gone to fat olivesin Flagstaff a few times now and
we really enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Um, the pizza pizza and the burrata.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Yeah, they have a good burrata appetizer.
The pizza is really good.
Their um pastas are like notnot as good, but the pizzas are
good, so we enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I feel like the first time we went, we we got a pasta
.
That was.
That was pretty good.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
This time it was we got a fettuccine and it was.
It was all right.
Yeah, it was all right um, butpizza for sure is is pretty good
yes, and do you remember thename of the other place we ate
at before the Polar Express?
It was a brewery of some kind.
There's a lot of breweries, ohWild something.
(16:02):
It was called Beaver StreetBrewery and we had dinner there
and that was good too.
We enjoyed that.
Yeah, duane went from I'm notvery hungry to getting a steak.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
And I ate it all After I said I was going to save
some to eat later.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah, he was like the steak will be great to eat
later, and then it was gone.
So, yeah, good food all around.
We enjoy Flagstaff.
It's a nice little getaway.
But I will say my toxic traitis that I look at the weather
app and I think, okay, 32 atnight and like 55 during the day
, like I'll be fine, like Idon't really need a winter coat.
And then I don't bring a wintercoat and I am freezing every
(16:42):
time.
And so don't be like me andbring a winter coat.
Yep, I brought winter coats forall the kids, but for me I was
like, oh, this light jacket willbe fine.
It was not fine.
So that's my advice.
I was in shorts a couple of days, dwayne was wearing shorts,
although you were going to wearshorts on the train and you
(17:04):
changed and you were happy thatyou did.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Oh yeah, it was cold that night.
Yeah, Even driving back it waslike 20.
It got down to like 27.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
It cold that that night.
Yeah, even driving back, it waslike 20, it got down to like 27
.
It was pretty cold, yeah, so,um, anyways, okay, if you are
visiting flagstaff and you wantto do the polar express hope
that was helpful buy the ticketsin advance, um, bring a blanket
bundle up and be prepared tosing.
Yeah, yeah, do we.
Oh, you wear, you can wearjammies too.
Our kids wore jammies, wedidn't.
(17:35):
Yeah, there was a lot offamilies in jammies, though.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Matching jammies.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, what were you going to ask?
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I was going to say did we do a podcast on snowball?
We did yes About how we thoughtthat we could hack it without
any lessons and instead we justhurtled down the mountain like,
so yeah, that's.
I was just bringing that upbecause that's.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Another thing you can do is snowball goes, yes,
skiing or snowboarding it's alsoanother thing they're known for
yes, earlier this year in march, duane and I went and attempted
and we have a whole podcastepisode on it.
So if you want to hear aboutthat adventure, um, I would
recommend listening to thatepisode, because we almost tied.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Yeah, yes, we did.
As a matter of fact, we went inwhat March?
Yes, it was March 1st.
I hurt my arm and it recentlyjust started to feel better.
And this is what 10 months,it's December, yeah, like nine
months later, yeah, so, yeah,like Dwayne couldn't lift his
arm above his head for manymonths.
Yeah, I mean seriously, like upuntil a couple of weeks ago, I
(18:45):
couldn't do that.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yes, again, because we were hurtling down the
mountain without any lessons,because we just thought, like,
we'll figure it out, it'll befine.
It wasn't fine.
Anyways, okay, um, I hope thatyou have a fantastic rest of
2024 and a wonderful new year,and we will catch you back here
(19:08):
in 2025 with I don't know some,some 2025 goals and our kind of
plans and strategy, because, uh,we don't have any points left.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
We've used them all to book our 2024 travel, so so,
yeah, we'll see how many cardswe have to open up next year.
If we can, yeah, if we can, ifthey let us Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Merry Christmas, happy new year.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
We'll see you in 2025 .
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Bye, have a good one.
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