So I decided to hit up Bodi Arizona last month after seeing all those desert landscape photos online. Packed my dusty boots and sunscreen, then spent like three whole nights scrolling through hotel booking apps till my eyes crossed. Everything looked either crazy expensive or suspiciously cheap, you know how it is.
Finally booked this place called Coyote Inn because their pictures showed a pool with mountain views. Showed up dead tired after driving five hours only to find the “mountain view” was basically a dirt hill behind the parking lot. The pool? More like a sad puddle with floating leaves. Dropped my bags and noped right outta there.
Ended up wandering downtown near Main Street when this local dude fixing his pickup saw my lost face. Told me about Whispering Pines Lodge – said they give free cowboy hat shaped waffles at breakfast. Sounded like a joke but damn was he right! Clean rooms, actual AC that works, plus that sweet waffle iron is worth the trip alone.
Now food
First night I made the mistake of grabbing tacos near the gas station – tasted like cardboard with ketchup. Next day asked the lodge manager where REAL food was, and she scribbled down two spots:
- The Cactus Grill – Ordered their “rattlesnake ribs” (just pork, relax) with prickly pear glaze. Messy finger-licking goodness.
- Dusty Boots Diner – Looks sketchy from outside but holy smokes their green chili enchiladas made me wanna slap my mama. Got extra for my mini-fridge.
Almost starved Sunday though – turns out EVERYTHING closes early except this sketchy food truck called Rover’s Roast by the old mining museum. Their weird cactus coffee actually slaps? Dude puts cinnamon in it and I’m still thinking about it weeks later.
Pro tip: Bring way more water bottles than you think. My lips cracked like dry riverbeds even with constant sipping. And don’t trust hotel pool pics online – always call and ask “IS THE WATER ACTUALLY BLUE RIGHT NOW?” Learned that the hard way.
