GHOSTS, TREASURES AND TRAINS

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a trip to Jerome would get my kids so excited about history, ghost hunting and treasure. When we told the kids we were taking them on a weekend getaway to Jerome, (Tommy had the sense to start bringing up the history of the town and the Jerome Grand Hotel where we would be staying) they could barely contain themselves Thursday morning and then on the trip up.


Suffice to say that the Yarnell road up the backside of Jerome is not my children's favorite road trip. To put it bluntly, Pudgie hated it and made it known the whole way up. "Daddddddyy Pudgieeee is scared. STOP NOW 1, 2, 3!" (I think he figured his counting would make it sound serious and daddy might just pull over) Once we got into Jerome my kids were speechless. The old buildings, the mountains that had been stripped and the hotel were just amazing to look at.


Once we actually got up the hill and into the hotel, the kids immediately started reading how the hotel was once the town hospital and that it is haunted. It was amazing. We stayed in rooms 33 and 31, which we later found out, are the most common for seeing and hearing spirits. We heard bumps and bangs throughout the night but no one actually talked to us and we didn't see anything out of the ordinary, unfortunately.


We spent our time shopping in the fun little stores, hunting for treasures that everyone could not live without and enjoying the days up in this little town that lives at a slower pace than most. Jax fell in love with all the rocks and gems while Binky, she just likes to shop and Pudgie man will take anything you are willing to buy for him.


On Friday night we took the Verde Canyon Railway train trip up through the Verde canyon. It was the first sunset trip of the season and it was amazing. We rode first class for 4 hours with yummy treats for us to enjoy, an outside open air car for us to sit and enjoy all the scenery and then to grow sleepy from all the fresh air. It was awe inspiring to see bald eagles soaring above us, the rapids of the river below us and to listen to the rails of the train lull us along. This was a trip that I will undoubtedly recommend to everyone. Young and old will fall madly in love with it. I think everyone was beyond exhausted after this excursion.


Saturday we packed up to head home, but not without stopping to visit the old ghost town and mine. It is more adult friendly except for all the animals the kids can pet and chase. Tommy and I enjoyed looking at all the old trucks and cars that they store up there. If anyone says they are hurting for money in those parts... they just need to sell one of those old cars that I am sure Barrett Jackson would love to get their hands on!!!


It was an amazingly fun few days together. I am not a history person at all but I absolutely loved learning about the town and the things that have happened there. I loved spending all this time together. It was just amazing watching my kids drink in the history and fall in love with architecture and a way of life, that used to be.


Here's to more summer excursions together!!!