THE RED ROCKS RETREAT

WE ALSO STOPPED AT MONTEZUMA'S CASTLE - INTERESTING BUT NOT EXACTLY A MUST. THE SHOPPING AREAS HAVE REALLY EXPANDED, AND IF JEWELRY AND ART GALLERIES ARE YOUR THING, AND YOU HAVE MONEY TO BURN, YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY TO DO AND SPEND IN SEDONA. YOU MUST TAKE THE DRIVE UP TOWARDS FLAGSTAFF THROUGH OAK CREEK CANYON. THE TREES WERE TURNING COLORS, THE CREEK WAS RUNNING, AND IT MADE FOR PLEASANT HIKING.

NATURE IS AT IT'S BEST IN SEDONA AND OAK CREEK CANYON.

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ANYWAY, SINCE IT WAS SO QUIET, THE ROAD NOISE BECAME MORE INTRUSIVE AND IT DISTURBED OUR SLEEP - PLUS THE VETICALS WERE BROKEN AND COULDN'T BE CLOSED ALL THE WAY - LIGHT CAME IN. WELL, AT ABOUT 4:30AM, I WENT DOWN TO THE FRONT DESK AND POLITELY SAID THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. SHE WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR SITUATION AND DILIGENTLY SCANNED THE COMPUTER FOR ANOTHER ROOM. SHE FOUND US ANOTHER ROOM - FROM THIS BALCONY, WE OVERLOOKED THE POOL AND COULD WATCH THE SUN SET AS WELL - NOW EVERYTHING WAS FINE (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHECK IN PERSON TELLING ME NOTHING WAS AVAILABLE???). I WAS TOLD THOUGH THAT THERE ARE NOT MANY ROOMS WITH VIEWS AND I WOULD BELIEVE THAT STATEMENT.

MAID SERVICE ONLY COMES ONCE A WEEK, UNLESS YOU REQUEST MORE SERVICE. THEY CHANGE LINENS, TAKE OUT THE TRASH, AND VACUUM - THAT'S IT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF LAUNDRY ROOMS AROUND THE COMPLEX, BUT ONLY HAVE TWO WASHERS AND TWO DRYERS IN THEM. THEY ONLY CHARGE $.75 A WASH AND $.50 TO DRY (AND THE CLOTHES DRIED FOR THE $.50!). THE POOL ISN'T THAT LARGE, BUT I DOUBT IF THAT'S A PROBLEM AS MOST PEOPLE AREN'T THERE DURING THE DAY ANYWAY. ALL IN ALL, WE LIKED THE SUMMIT.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Not Available
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Good

IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN THAT AREA AND HAVE YOUR JEANS AND SWEATSHIRT ON AND WANT TO SIT A SPELL AND HAVE AN OK, INEXPENSIVE BITE TO EAT, IT'LL DO.

THE MENU VARIED FROM STEAKS AND CHOPS TO VARIOUS FISH DISHES WITH VARIOUS SAUCES - (EX. - ALASKAN HALIBUT WITH WASABI SOY BUTTER SAUCE). THE SELECTIONS WERE PRICED FROM $22 TO $30. JOHN HAD "RACK OF LAMB AND SALMON". THE RACK CONSISTED OF TWO SMALL CHOPS! - BUT THEY WERE VERY GOOD AND SO WAS THE SALMON. THE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM THIS TYPE OF RESTAURANT (I PREFERRED THE BUS BOY TO THE WAITER - NOT AS SNOOTY!).

EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T DRINK, THE WINE LIST IS EXTENSIVE AND I'M SURE SUITABLE TO EVERYONE'S TASTES (THEY DO HAVE A STEAK SPECIAL ON MONDAY NIGHTS FOR $15 AND THEY ARE VERY BUSY ON THAT NIGHT).

THE "STICKS" PART OF THE RESTAURANT IS ANOTHER ROOM CONSISTING OF POOL TABLES, BAR/LOUNGE, AND FIREPLACE. AFTER YOU EAT, YOU CAN TAKE LEAVE TO THIS ROOM, TAKE OFF YOUR JACKET, ORDER A COGNAC OR ASNIFTER OF BRANDY, BUY AND LIGHT UP AND EXPENSIVE CIGAR, AND PLAY POOL. THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD AND A PLEASANT DINING EXPERIENCE.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS OBVIOUSLY CASUAL. MOST PATRONS HAD JEANS ON BUT WERE STILL NICELY DRESSED. THE FOOD OFFERINGS VARY FROM BURGERS AND SPECIAL SALADS TO RIBS AND SHRIMP. WE HAD BURGERS AND FRIES AND YOU RECEIVED GOOD PORTIONS - IT'S NOT INEXPENSIVE, BUT YOU GOT GOOD FOOD AND GOOD PORTIONS. THE WAITRESS WAS FRIENDLY AND ATTENTIVE. SINCE THE ANGELS WON THE GAME THAT NIGHT, OUR EXPERIENCE AT "ON THE ROCKS" WAS AN EVEN MORE PLEASANT ONE!

JUDI'S IS KNOWN FOR ITS BBQ BABY BACK RIBS SO WE GAVE IT A TRY. LUCKY FOR US, WE WENT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT WHERE THE SPECIAL IS "ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ'D RIBS" FOR $21. THE SALAD COMES WITH ALL ROMAINE LETTUCE - VERY FRESH AND QUITE TASTY. AS FOR THE RIBS, WELL, YOU DID NOT NEED A KNIFE TO CUT ANYTHING - THE MEAT CAME RIGHT OFF THE BONES! NO PULLING APART THESE RIBS! THE BBQ SAUCE WAS GOOD - JOHN'S ONLY COMPLAINT WAS THAT IT WASN'T SPICY ENOUGH, BUT HE LIKES HIS SAUCE HOT AND SPICY. THIS SAUCE WAS MORE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR MOST TO ENJOY.

THEY ALSO HAVE HOMEMADE DESSERTS, INCLUDING THE ICE CREAM! WE HAD CARROT CAKE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM - ENJOYED THAT VERY MUCH. WE ENJOYED EVERYTHING ABOUT JUDI'S - FROM THE COMFORT AND COZINESS, TO THE FRIENDLY SERVICE, TO THE GOOD FOOD AT A GOOD PRICE!