Our current home park (Mesa Spirit RV) offered a package deal that included a bus ride to a casino (including some gambling money and lunch) followed by shopping in Prescott, Az. I signed us up. We had only tried gambling once before and did not really enjoy it, but maybe house money would make a difference. The bus was scheduled to leave promptly at 7:00 AM. This crowd was ready to go and we were just about the last to board, so it was the back of the bus for us.
Cliff Castle Casino was off of I-17 about 2/3 of the distance between Phoenix and Flagstaff (112 miles). I was surprised to see how many people I recognized. Some were close to our site in the park and some I had met in the woodworking shop or the laundry room.
Miracle on 34th Street played on the video system helping to pass the time. Joani napped a little to make up for the early start.
The tour allotted four hours at the casino, which was more than enough time to gamble all of the house money. We learned a little and even managed to pocket some winnings. It was enjoyable, but I don't think either of us is even close to hooked. The high point was a really nice buffet brunch where we ate far too much. Pictures inside the casino are frowned upon, so I walked back to the entrance for a few mementos of our visit.
The bus stopped at Mortimer's Country Store where we were tempted with an array of jams and jellies, homemade candies and baked goods and ice cream. This was when our overeating at the buffet paid off - we could barely think about eating anything else!
I really have no idea where we stopped next. It was in a big hotel, high on a hill with a lobby full of gingerbread creations. Most went far beyond the traditional gingerbread house with elaborate designs - one included an entire old west street scene.
Next stop - the square in Prescott. The county courthouse was surrounded by an expanse of green space. We saw some kind of exercise class on the lawn that used Hula Hoops in slow motion - very strange looking. A lot of people were walking their dogs. Our driver said Prescott was extremely pet-friendly. Every side of the rather large square was lined with shops and bars and restaurants (still could not think about eating).
One shop stood out in my mind with some unique and beautiful pieces. It was called "Van Gogh's Ear". Of course, there were a lot of nice shops and we could have spent more time there if that bus wasn't in such a hurry (we only had 2 hours to explore the square).
Joani had a difficult time believing how many beautiful scarves were in this one shop and every scarf was the same price, $12. She spent a good while narrowing her choice down to a self-imposed limit of one. I don't think I could have been quite as disciplined if I had found the equivalent choices in, say, a woodworking store.
A quick stop for coffee and some frozen yogurt in one of the small shops - a full meal was still out of the question. Can you see the train circling on the track near the ceiling?
David was determined to find me caffeine to thwart a withdrawal headache. It did the trick!
Every tree in the square was decorated with lights that lit up as the sun started to sink in the west. By the time the bus left, it was dark and the lights gave the whole area a festive feel.
The square was loaded with dogs walking their people.
A bib for a drooling dog is brilliant. I'm thankful Sam doesn't need one!
The bus driver circled the square one last time for a parting view of the lighting magic.
The bus headed for home as they showed "It's a Wonderful Life". I heard a lot of people comment that they had never seen the movie. That explained why, when the bus returned before the movie ended, they continued to sit there even though it had been 13 and a half hours since we left that morning. We had seen the movie enough times, so we headed home to see our doggie. Don't worry about Sam though - our neighbor very graciously walked him and checked in on him several times. He was happy to see us, but he was not in any distress.
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