On our way out of the Botanical Garden the sun was setting. Ryan and I saw the potential for a great sunset (photographically speaking) so tripod in hand, we went off the trail and found a good vantage point. Our prediction was correct- it was an incredible sunset! *** Afterwards we went to a nearby "super" Wal*Mart to get a couple styrofoam coolers, snacks, water, milk, and of course a couple boxes of Wheaties. We then ate dinner at Fazoli's and headed back to the hotel.
Ryan and I picked up our rental "family truckster", a red Ford Explorer from Hertz, and after a couple painful loops around the terminal we found Gina, Kyle, and a big pile of luggage. We loaded up and were off to our first hotel- the airport Days Inn. Of course the kids immediately wanted to go swimming.
We cruised around the area near the airport and checked out the Papago Park area (a large hill made of some really strange sandstone like rocks with cave sized holes in them). We then headed back to the hotel so the kids could swim. Around dinner time we headed off to the Desert Botanical Garden.