On Thursday, November 16, Grant and I flew from Long Beach to Sacramento, and then drove up to Lake Tahoe. (We rented the same type of car we had in Orlando last summer. ) Also, the car had satellite radio, which was awesome.
It was freezing in Tahoe! We stayed at the Marriott vacation club there. Our room was extra cool because it had a fireplace. Once we checked in, we drove over to Harrah's and had dinner, and then went to Raley's to do some grocery shopping.
The next day, we lounged about in the morning, and then walked to Harrah's and ate at their buffet for lunch. Their buffet is on the top floor of the hotel and has floor to ceiling windows that have spectacular views of the lake and the mountains. After our late lunch we walked around through the area and down to the lake.
On Saturday, we checked out of our hotel and drove to Chico. We checked into the Marriott Residence Inn. Then we drove over to see Grant's old apartment, and then we walked around Cal State Chico. - Wow - what a beautiful campus! This was my favorite part of the trip because I have always wanted to see where Grant spent his first year of college. The town is beautiful - I can't believe he ever left - although I am certainly thankful that he did!
We had dinner at his favorite Chinese restaurant which was really very good!
On Sunday, we left Chico and drove back to Sacramento. We had all afternoon, so we went to the capital building which was very interesting - I loved seeing where the meetings are held in the big galleries. I think it would be awesome to see it when it is in session!
When it got dark, we went to Old Town Sacramento, and walked around, buying some candy, looking at the trains, and eating dinner.
Our flight home was short and sweet, and our landing at Orange County was super bumpy. Right in the middle of the plane braking, our row's oxygen masks popped out of the overhead compartment! How funny! Only our row!
What a relaxing weekend - a nice way to chill before the end of the trimester and report card time!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Universal Studios mini trip
The weekend of October 13 - 15, Grant and I spent a the weekend at the Universal Shereton Hotel. Our October date was the Universal Halloween Horror Night, and we decided to just make a weekend out of it.
On Saturday we had lunch at the Saddle Ranch Chop House just outside Universal Studios - OH MY GOD, they had the best sweet potato casserole in the world as a side dish.
We spent about 4 hours in the park and then went back to our hotel to rest before the evening's events.
Universal Halloween Horror Nights was fun - but nothing compared to Knott's, of course. However, one really cool thing was the maze that was down on the movie lot - through the "war of the World"/"Ghost Whisperer" plane crash set, and the Bates motel... so cool!
It was a nice weekend - It was great to not have to drive there and back on the same day!
On Saturday we had lunch at the Saddle Ranch Chop House just outside Universal Studios - OH MY GOD, they had the best sweet potato casserole in the world as a side dish.
We spent about 4 hours in the park and then went back to our hotel to rest before the evening's events.
Universal Halloween Horror Nights was fun - but nothing compared to Knott's, of course. However, one really cool thing was the maze that was down on the movie lot - through the "war of the World"/"Ghost Whisperer" plane crash set, and the Bates motel... so cool!
It was a nice weekend - It was great to not have to drive there and back on the same day!
Alaska - The rest -
Wednesday, Aug. 30 - Icy Straight, Alaska
This was, quite possibly, one of the coolest ports, because it was so rural and not built up. We tendered in to Icy Straight, and when you get off, the locals greet you and give you a wood chip that they invite you to burn in toe community fire; to become a part of the spirit of Icy Straight. The little town is tiny and cute. The cannery was interesting. However, I really loved the forest walk - the trees were immense, the feeling of calm and peacefulness was so enveloping that you could almost physically notice your heart quieting. So amazingly beautiful.
Today was gray and a bit drizzly, so we went back to the ship a little early.
That evening, we took come casual portraits - one of Grant and I turned out really cute. Dinner was, as usual, delicious. The evening's show was a singer/entertainer named Glenn Smith. He was okay - some of his references Grant and I didn't really get, but it was fun all the way around. They we stayed in the theater for the Love and Marriage game show - which I always love to watch!
Day 6 - Ketchikan
Ketchikan, to me, seemed like it could have been one of my favorite ports. The initial street was lined with the regular cruise port stores, but a street or two back and you were in a cute little town that fused the old fashioned 1898 Gold rush era with modern America. Unfortunately, we didn't get as much time to explore as I would have liked because it was raining pretty hard, and it was windy. Enven with a ponsho on my jeans were soaked after an hour.
SO after a little bit of walking around, we went back on the boat. It was freezing, it was raining... so Grant and I went into the pool and jacuzzi! So fun. This was the first cruise were I ever actually went into the pools, and the salt water really didn't bother me at all. To the contrary, I actually enjoyed the buoyancy it provided!
After our swim we went back to out to our cabin to get ready for dinner which was delicious. Then we saw the production show Piano Man, which I really enjoyed. I love when they play a lot of good music, which they did in this show. (However - no Copa Cobana during the Bari Manilow part!!!)
Tonight was the midnight gala buffet, so of course we went through to take some pictures, and then have a little snack. Chocolate covered strawberries.... yummm...
Friday, Sep 1st.
Our last full day of cruising was through the Inside Passage, which meant much of the afternoon we had land on both sides of the ship. This cruise was very scenic!
After brunch in the WindJammer, we got our Bingo tickets so that we would be ready to play. We walked around the ship, enjoying the views on deck, and then played afternoon bingo, which we lost. We spent part of the afternoon packing - yuck! - and relaxing, and enjoying our balconies. Dinner was wonderful, and the juggler at the farewell show was very talented and very enjoyable. Sigh - I always get sad on the last day!
On Saturday, Sep. 2nd, we got off the ship and Vancouver with no trouble. Our original plan was to check in at the airport and leave our luggage and then rent a car for the day since our flight didn't leave until six. However, due to the way customs works here, you have to take your luggage with you through customs, and once you are through customs you can't leave the airport. Luckily, the rental car we had ordered was all out when we got there, so they gave us a choice of a convertible or a minivan - the minivan of course had plenty of room for all of our stuff.
Armed with Grant's GPS, we explored a bit of downtown Vancouver, with stops at Granville Island Market - and lunch at Bridges, and then a drive around and walk through Stanley Park. Very cool. We had also wanted to check out the University where the 4400 was filmed, but we ran out of time.
Overall, this was a fantastic trip!
This was, quite possibly, one of the coolest ports, because it was so rural and not built up. We tendered in to Icy Straight, and when you get off, the locals greet you and give you a wood chip that they invite you to burn in toe community fire; to become a part of the spirit of Icy Straight. The little town is tiny and cute. The cannery was interesting. However, I really loved the forest walk - the trees were immense, the feeling of calm and peacefulness was so enveloping that you could almost physically notice your heart quieting. So amazingly beautiful.
Today was gray and a bit drizzly, so we went back to the ship a little early.
That evening, we took come casual portraits - one of Grant and I turned out really cute. Dinner was, as usual, delicious. The evening's show was a singer/entertainer named Glenn Smith. He was okay - some of his references Grant and I didn't really get, but it was fun all the way around. They we stayed in the theater for the Love and Marriage game show - which I always love to watch!
Day 6 - Ketchikan
Ketchikan, to me, seemed like it could have been one of my favorite ports. The initial street was lined with the regular cruise port stores, but a street or two back and you were in a cute little town that fused the old fashioned 1898 Gold rush era with modern America. Unfortunately, we didn't get as much time to explore as I would have liked because it was raining pretty hard, and it was windy. Enven with a ponsho on my jeans were soaked after an hour.
SO after a little bit of walking around, we went back on the boat. It was freezing, it was raining... so Grant and I went into the pool and jacuzzi! So fun. This was the first cruise were I ever actually went into the pools, and the salt water really didn't bother me at all. To the contrary, I actually enjoyed the buoyancy it provided!
After our swim we went back to out to our cabin to get ready for dinner which was delicious. Then we saw the production show Piano Man, which I really enjoyed. I love when they play a lot of good music, which they did in this show. (However - no Copa Cobana during the Bari Manilow part!!!)
Tonight was the midnight gala buffet, so of course we went through to take some pictures, and then have a little snack. Chocolate covered strawberries.... yummm...
Friday, Sep 1st.
Our last full day of cruising was through the Inside Passage, which meant much of the afternoon we had land on both sides of the ship. This cruise was very scenic!
After brunch in the WindJammer, we got our Bingo tickets so that we would be ready to play. We walked around the ship, enjoying the views on deck, and then played afternoon bingo, which we lost. We spent part of the afternoon packing - yuck! - and relaxing, and enjoying our balconies. Dinner was wonderful, and the juggler at the farewell show was very talented and very enjoyable. Sigh - I always get sad on the last day!
On Saturday, Sep. 2nd, we got off the ship and Vancouver with no trouble. Our original plan was to check in at the airport and leave our luggage and then rent a car for the day since our flight didn't leave until six. However, due to the way customs works here, you have to take your luggage with you through customs, and once you are through customs you can't leave the airport. Luckily, the rental car we had ordered was all out when we got there, so they gave us a choice of a convertible or a minivan - the minivan of course had plenty of room for all of our stuff.
Armed with Grant's GPS, we explored a bit of downtown Vancouver, with stops at Granville Island Market - and lunch at Bridges, and then a drive around and walk through Stanley Park. Very cool. We had also wanted to check out the University where the 4400 was filmed, but we ran out of time.
Overall, this was a fantastic trip!
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