With as much time as we have been spending in the pool, and with as much chlorine that the resort uses, our skin is pretty raw.  Both Max and Lucy and I have big red, dry spots in various places.  Since we are going to Knott’s Soak City tomorrow, we decided to take a break from swimming.  We had a ‘mello jello’ day.  We ate at the Westfield mall food court and then Toby took Max and Lucy to the Palm Springs Children’s Museum.  I went back to the resort with Roly.

Toby reported that there were some significant improvements since we were last there about 18 months ago.  A couple of new exhibits were targeted toward older kids.

Max built and raced a Connix car.

Lucy working the loom.

The days here in PS have been hot.  Yesterday at 3p it was 102 degrees.  To help Roly combat the heat, I made an apple juice popsicle for him.  The challenge was that I didn’t have anything to use as a handle.  I resolved this by using an extra infant toothbrush.  He was confused at first, but once he licked the ice, the confusion was gone.

The evenings are pleasant ( to me ), but Lucy still has trouble with the warmth.  Toby is especially enjoying the desert sunsets.

Last night we went to Boomers, a mini-golf place with go-karts and, most importantly to Max, *VIDEO GAMES*.  Lucy got 2 hole-in-one shots and Max and Toby and I all had one as well (on different holes).

Snow sledding in Palm Springs, am I kidding?  No.  We rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to an elevation of 8200 feet.  Since there was a late season snow storm right before we got here, there was still some snow on the ground.  However, the days had highs in the 60s, so while there was a reported 5 inches of snow on the morning we went, by the time we got there, the snow was very patchy and the sledding was not very good.  But we had lugged two snow sleds up the tramway, and dang it, we were going to use them.

On an irritating side note, the 3G data connection at the top of the mountain was better than in our hotel room. 

View Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in a larger map

Here is a Google Maps of the trip we took.  I guess I had my phone in my pocket for a bit too long on the tram.

On the way into Palm Springs, via CA-111, we passed a place along the road that had a bunch of quads out front with a rental sign.  Offroad Rentals has a bunch of private acreage that they have turned into a nifty ATV park.  Max, Lucy and I trekked out there and had a great time.  It was a bit pricey, but worth it.  Lucy was a little nervous at first, but the lady that did the instruction was nice and helped her out.  The throttle was a bit stiff for Lucy and so she had to take frequent thumb breaks.  Max eventually got the hang of shifting.

Desert Quad riders are too tough to smile.

We went to The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert.  This is a zoo that houses lots of animals that are native to a desert environment. 

They also have an extensive model train display.  It was Roly’s favorite exhibit.  Although, he did enjoy the shows and exhibits that featured birds.

And, of course, the obligatory zoo carousel.