We've been cooped up in El Centro all week (which isn't a horrible thing....we're just used to having more options available to us since we're spoiled Houstonians!), so after a particularly horrible day of children not being happy with anything that wasn't their idea (not to mention throwing fits in Target, Wal-Mart, and near the golf area of our RV Park. It was fun watching the old biddies playing golf stare at us....said NO MOM EVER!), I decided we'd take a road trip to Yuma, AZ.
I'd found the website Yuma Mom while we were still living in TX, so at least I had a good start to plan our trip. I decided we'd do a park since I didn't feel like paying for something. All parks are great and new, but I found the mecca of all parks--I called it "Castle Park", but its official name is West Wetlands Park. It was literally a gold mine people! We were literally there for 1 minute before one of the boys said, "I wish daddy was here!". It was truly a blast and I'm so glad we found it! We'll definitely take daddy back because we already want to go again!
I made sure I gassed up before leaving town because let's face it: this Texas girl DOES NOT want to get stuck in the desert! The wind was blowing sand across the road and everything looked hazy as we got started on our trip--turns out that's just what life is like in the desert. Hey--it's all new to me. Still figuring out all this dirt, sand, clay stuff I'm living in now!
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| It got a lot cloudier than this. I'll call it a small sand blizzard! (Really it was nothing...but I like to exaggerate!) |
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| Dunes! |
We get to drive through the Imperial Dunes Recreation Area where people go dunebuggy-ing (I just made up that word...if anyone feels like looking up the official word, feel free...I have more things on my to-do list!). It was only our 2nd time through (first was on our way into El Centro last week), so it was neat to see it again, but with not so many people on their dunebuggies!
Here's my official review:
Pros:
- Beautifully built (or rebuilt...since it was destroyed by arson a few years ago and completely rebuilt!)
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| Pic doesn't do this place justice--it's huge! |
- Tot Area for ages 2-5--which was actually a large area with its own swings, slide, attractions, etc. Many parks have dinky tot areas or nothing at all---or a tiny slide RIGHT next to the large slide. Riley loved playing in this area for a while and even Bennett liked it for a bit!
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| Just part of one of the 3 castle areas. |
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| Different view of the Tot Area--it really is huge too! |
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| Tot Area |
- Sand (rock) area with a few climbing rocks and digging toys--of course my kids spent a good 30 minutes in this area!
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| Love those diggers! |
- Colorful, engaging, and fun for all ages
- Huge--which, if you have a 4 and 5 year old is extremely important!
Cons
- Huge--hard to keep an eye on your kiddos unless you follow them through the maze of the castles
- Restrooms--have to walk away from this portion of the park to the actual pond area behind the parking lot. Not a huge con, but depending on the kid, the day, etc. it could be bad news for someone!
- Con only for our visit--there were two 15-passenger vans that showed up full of rowdy teenagers and their caregivers. These kids were literally ALL over the place, climbing over things, tearing down the slides, etc. They didn't hurt anyone, but even their caregivers were pushing/pulling/throwing just like they were...I wasn't impressed. The rules specifically stated no food inside the park and not one adult/child had an issue with that except this group. They ran around eating and throwing trash on the ground. I just don't have the ability to tolerate people like that. This park was beautiful and it was apparent that most people felt the same way I did and kept the area nice.
We had a blast and can't wait to go back with daddy! I'd highly recommend this park for any and all ages--just put your kids in neon colors so they're easy to find and you're good to go!
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