Pirate's Cove

We had a "Daddy Surprise" trip over Labor Day weekend.  Daddy surprises can be anything from an ice cream run to a trip.  This time, we told the kids we were going somewhere amazing for Labor Day but wouldn't tell them where.  The clues we gave them were that it involved water, it was next to a lake but didn't involve the lake, that we were going with cousins, and that they would be living in their swimsuits for a few days.  And with that, we hopped in the car.

We drove 6 1/2 hours south, just outside of Las Vegas and overlooking Lake Mead, to Pirate's Cove.  (I pulled some of these pictures from the internet because they do it far more justice than my little snapshots.)

Pirate's Cove is a home/compound that one of the founders of NuSkin built for family and friends.  We lucked out that Sharples are friends with some of those 'family and friends,' and so we were invited along this time.  This place is unlike anything I've seen before!  There are 4 or 5 'houses' around the perimeter of the site, each house having a central gourmet kitchen and 5-6 bedrooms.  The entire central part of Pirate's Cove is a massive playland, with multiple pools, water slides, hot tubs, a pirate boat and mast for jumping off of, indoor basketball court, adult-sized teeter totters, fire pits, hammocks, tons of little nooks and lounge areas …. It was amazing, and so, so fun!

This is pretty much the only thing Elle did the whole time … hiked up the stairs to the top of the water slides to slide back down again. :)

It was really fun to be there with Paul & Alison, too.  Our kids match up so well, which made the trip even more fun.

Elle & I slept outside one night ...

… and the kids couldn't wait to get in the water in the morning, even in their pajamas. :)

There were pirate statues, pictures and paraphernalia everywhere.  And also, mannequins dressed in pirate clothes … including the mannequin we named Scarlet, who was in our bathroom.  Kinda weird to take a shower with Scarlet looking at you. 

Look closely … where do you even buy a skull toilet brush??

The whole place was magical.  What a fantastic daddy surprise. :)

On our way home, we went to see Hoover Dam.  That massive bridge alone was worth the detour.

One last detour to see the Valley of Fire, and it completely lived up to its name.  It felt like we were driving on Mars.

Wonder what the next Daddy Surprise will be? :)