Two students from Explorer Middle School were asked to share their favorite things in Desert Ridge.
Lauren Aston
My favorite part about Desert Ridge is the marketplace. The marketplace contains tons of fun places for people to eat and shop. One of the big attractions is Dave and Busters. Dave and Busters has an arcade, restaurant, bowling alley, and so many more fun things . The Marketplace has a lot of stores, too! You have everything from Sports Authority to Hot Topic! The outdoor mall, located in the middle of the marketplace, is a fun place for teens to hang out and have fun! There are so many cool shops! You can find Hollister, Gamestop, and the outdoor stage. For food, they have all different kinds! You can find Panda Express, Rubios, Cold Stone, Zupas, and much more. My favorite Restaurant in the outdoor mall is either Zupas or Smashburger. I like to shop at Bath and Body Works too. You can find just about ANYTHING in the marketplace, and it is fun and convenient for people everywhere.
My favorite place about Desert Ridge is the JW Marriott. The JW Marriott is a 4.6 star hotel, but is like paradise! I have been to the JW many times, and it is always a great experience. In the summer, their pools are so fun to swim and hang out in. There are 5 different pools to swim in, including the lazy river. You can also find splash pads, slides, waterfalls, and hot tubs hidden throughout the pools. In the winter time, the JW has real gingerbread houses, and they are BIG ones. You can look at them for free, and even see Santa Claus. The JW also offers the Villas, located near the actual resort. You can stay and swim there, too! The food at the JW is amazing, especially their shakes. They also have an amazing golf course! The JW is a year-round fun place to be! I love the JW and highly recommend it to out of state visitors.
Madison Vo
There are many activities to do at Desert Ridge, such as eating, shopping, or just hanging around with your friends, but my favorite activity to do at Desert Ridge is go to Barnes and Noble. I like going to Barnes and Noble, because it is a quiet place, unlike other stores, where I can read in peace. Another bonus about Barnes and Noble is that it has Starbucks, my favorite place to just have a little snack when I’m feeling a little hungry. Desert Ridge is an extremely big place, with many stores and activities I like doing, but going to Barnes and Noble is my favorite.
