Water feature, back lawn and lobby of J.W. Marriott

This is the final photo in my series on the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort. This shows the opposite view from my photo yesterday, with the scupper dropping water in to a pool next to the back lawn of the resort.

The clear blue skies are typical of Arizona. On many days our humidity can be as low as 5%. All of the lawns, water and trees, however, can cause a little more humidity. Lawns have to be watered twice a day, in the early morning and evening. If people turn their sprinklers on during a warm, sunny, dry day, as much as one half of the water can evaporate into the air before it lands on the grass.

This week we are showing photos of the whimsy of public art and the classic architecture of Chicago on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Water feature pond and scupper at J.W. Marriott

Yesterday I mentioned water features. Looking at this photo of the area below the swimming pools at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, I don't think you would imagine that you are in the middle of a desert.

This does not look like an area that gets only 7 inches (17 cm) of rain per year and some of our water comes from the Colorado River, pumped up 1,000 feet (305 m) in elevation and transported through canals more than 200 miles (322 km). In fact, the Central Arizona Project canal that brings water from the Colorado River flows through north Scottsdale very close to the Desert Ridge resort.

This week we are showing photos of the whimsy of public art and the classic architecture of Chicago on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Water feature at the J.W. Marriott

Arizona resorts like to design water features in their public spaces. It makes if feel cooler, and the sounds of fountains has a soothing effect. It is somewhat strange, however, to have so much water used for aesthetic purposes in the desert.

This fountain is alongside one of the ten restaurant or cafe choices at the resort.

This week we are showing photos of the whimsy of public art and the classic architecture of Chicago on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Palm tree lined walk to the conference center

If you stay at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge to attend a conference, you can walk to the conference center indoors through the resort, but wouldn't it be a lot more pleasant to walk down the palm-lined sidewalk to reach the conference?

A lot of people come to Arizona resorts to attend conventions and professional conferences. The ballroom at the J.W. Marriott is the largest hotel ballroom in Arizona. There are larger convention facilities in the Phoenix convention center downtown, but lots of people like to stay out in suburban locations like Desert Ridge because it is close to the desert golf courses of north Scottsdale.

This week we are showing photos of the whimsy of public art and the classic architecture of Chicago on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Adirondack Chairs in the Desert

If you stay at a Scottsdale resort, of course you want to soak up some of the warm sun. From the used towels, it looks like someone enjoyed an early morning swim, then they dried off and warmed up by relaxing in these Adirondack chairs

We have photos of the art and whimsy of Chicago this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

J.W. Marriott back lawn

Stepping from the patio I showed yesterday and walking out in back of the main resort building leads one to this spot for a pleasant vantage point to look back at the lobby. Resorts in Arizona will have both summer grass and winter grass. We do that with our lawn at home as well. That way there is green grass all year round. The flowers will be changed out several times per year also, so they are always in bloom.

In addition to the 950 hotel units, there are also lots of Marriott Vacation Club time share units for people who like to come here each year, or trade their weeks here for other Marriott time share properties.

We are showing photos of the whimsy and art of Chicago this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge patio

As nice as the hotel lobby is that I showed in my photos during the last 2 days, people come to Arizona for the beautiful weather in the fall, winter and spring. So right outside the lobby is this large patio with table and lounge chairs to relax and be served.

And if it is a little cool early in the morning or in the evening, you can still enjoy the patio. Just gather around one of the fire pits.

This is a fairly new resort. Palm trees this large were planted when they were about this large, which is usually done by lifting them in place by helicopter.

Today is Sunday, so we are showing new photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site. This week we are showing photos of the art and whimsy of Chicago, featuring public art and classic architecture.

J. W. Marriott Desert Ridge, Lobby view

Yesterday's photo looked down into the lower lobby area. Here is a photo from the lower lobby.

It is hard for a 950 room resort to feel cozy, so the approach of this lobby was to inspire a feeling of grandeur.

This week we are showing photos of the Italian village of Cernobbi on the shores of Lake Como on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

J. W. Marriott Desert Ridge Lobby

After you reach the lobby and step inside, this is the scene that you will encounter. The lobby drops to a lower level with expansive windows that allow the glorious Arizona sun to bathe the lobby with light although the windows face mostly north so they do not get full sun.

In Arizona the sun shines 90% of the daylight hours, so the J.W. Marriott lobby takes advantage to show off the sunshine that winter visitors enjoy.

This week we are showing photos of the Italian village of Cernobbi on the shores of Lake Como on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

J. W. Marriott Desert Ridge Entrance

After driving through the entrance, this is the drive up to the front lobby of the hotel. This entrance gives people an incentive to use the valet parking service, as otherwise it would be a long walk up to the entrance from the parking lot, which is about two blocks behind from where I took this photo. Of course, if you come to Arizona to play golf on a 7,000 yard golf course, who would mind walking to reach the entrance to the hotel.

This week we are showing photos of the Italian village of Cernobbi on the shores of Lake Como on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Entrance Drive

Resorts, tourism and golf are crucial to the Arizona economy. They provide lots of jobs, as people from all over the country, and internationally, come here in the fall, winter and spring to enjoy our sunshine, warmth, hundreds of golf courses, desert activities, and the hospitality of our resorts.

This is the entrance drive leading to the J. W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort. This is Arizona's largest hotel, with 950 rooms, including 81 suites.

The landscaping of this entry drive is rather unusual, as there is tall pampas grass, rather than desert or tropical plants as you see at most resorts.

I will give you a little tour of the resort during the coming week.

This week we are showing photos of the Italian village of Cernobbi on the shores of Lake Como on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.