Indio, California: Revisited

A summertime visit to Indio has somehow become a tradition for our family.  We just returned from our 3rd mid-week visit on Bonus Time.  The high was about 111 degrees and then it dropped down to about 105 on day 3.  Yes it’s hot… it’s the desert, and that’s the nature of the beast.  Just be prepared with lots of swim gear, popsicles and sun screen (we used a Neutrogena spray-on that worked like a charm).  If you visit during the summer, leave your jeans at home… just the thought of denim in the desert makes me cringe!

I took lots of photos to share, since I consistently get a lot interest in my other Indio post.

We stayed in a 1 bedroom in Building 12 (there are about 18, 3 and 4 story buildings).  Our room was on the ground floor ajacent to one of the 2 play structures and the beginning of the pond system that runs through the resort.  A large family of ducks came to greet us and ask for bread each morning, and we were happy to oblige.  Waddle a way to start the day… sorry, I couldn’t resist. Quack.

The location was beautiful and shaded in the morning.  If you have small children, however, you may want to ask for a room on a higher floor so that they don’t accidently wander into open water.  It made me a little nervous, and my youngest is 5.

When it got too hot in the afternoon, we hung out a bit in the rec room.  There are arcade games, foosball, air hockey, and 3 ping pong tables.  They also had various crafting activities each day for about $3 each.   In another effort to beat the heat, we catch a matinee at the Regal Cinemas every time we visit.  It’s about a 10 minute drive through Indio, and I can’t say there is anything pretty to look at along the way.  Indio isn’t Palm Springs, which is why we tend to stick to the resort and little else.

And now to the main attractions… water, water, everywhere!  The back pool, which was closest to us, tends to be a little less busy.  There is a hot tub that is usually empty, a large kiddie pool, and a “splash pad.”  The splash pad is a ring of fountains which successfully entertains my children for hours.  Sometimes they’re on and sometimes they’re not, so watch out.  Poolside, there are 3 shaded areas and several tables which have umbrellas, but they tend to fill up pretty quickly.  I brought my own umbrella just in case, but didn’t end up using it.

The next pictures were taken on our daily walk over to the main pool.  There are many green, Bose speakers on the paths around the resorts, which play upbeat music throughout the day.  Oh, and by the way, we always stay for 4 days/3 nights.  That seems to be just about right, and no one seems to get completely waterlogged in that amount of time.  The main pool is a similar set up to the rear pool, without the fountain.

Next to the main pool, you’ll find the lazy river… or as my adorable niece calls it, the wazy wibber.  There is no longer a charge for the usage of inner tubes.  You can also bring your own swim noodle or noodle chair, which I prefer.  Noodles would also work well for younger kids who don’t fit in the tubes.  My favorite time to ride is at dusk, followed by a quick dip in the hot tub on the adjacent island.  From what I understand, you can also “walk” the river at 8am… adults only.

I also love to walk around the resort in the evening when everything has cooled off a bit and the crickets and toads are doing their thing.  There’s nothing like feeling a warm breeze and watching the lights reflect off the ponds on a desert night. 

Hopefully we will someday have the opportunity to visit Indio in another season.  Here’s my list of things I’d like to check out when it’s not so hot:

The Living Desert http://www.livingdesert.org/ (This looks like a great combination of a zoo and botanical gardens.)

Joshua Tree National Park http://www.nps.gov/jotr/ (A bit farther down the 10.  There are some great hikes, nature walks, and rock climbing in this beautiful and unique area.  From what I understand, lots of water is essential.)

Shields Date Garden http://shieldsdategarden.com/ (We have already visited this landmark.  If you like dates and nuts, you’ll enjoy this quirky shop.  They also make date shakes… they are very sweet, and not my favorite, but a lot of people love ‘em.)

Palm Springs Village Fest http://www.palmspringsvillagefest.com/ (This would require a little drive, but it looks like a fun street fair every Thursday night on Palm Canyon Dr.)

Cabazon Outlets http://www.cabazonoutlets.com/index.cfm (Every time we pass this massive set of outlet stores, I tell myself I’m going to stop someday.  Mostly because they have a Le Creuset store… and I have a thing for French cookingware.)

Enjoy and keep cool!  And tell me what you think of the blog… is it helpful?

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