Vacation | Number 6's Blog

North to Alaska

September 30, 2012

For our 40th wedding anniversary we traveled to Alaska on our first cruise. We embarked from Vancouver on the Coral Princess sailing the inner passage. The first port was Ketchikan which we found on a rare Sunny day. Juneau was our next stop, the capital of Alaska by a quirk of fate. While there we viewed the Mendenhall Glacier and cruised the Juneau area watching humpback whales, seals, and sea otters.

Next we stopped for the day at Skagway. While there we rode a bus into the Yukon while viewing lots of wildlife – bears and bald eagles mostly. Then we rode the Whitehorse and Yukon Road railway back to Skagway.

We disembarked the Coral Princess at Whittier Alaska and cruised into the interior on the Alaska Railway to Denali National Park. While at the park experienced some great views of the Mountain (Mt. McKinley) and cooled off. The low temperature one morning was 23 degrees while Texas was sweltering in 104 degree heat.

From Denali National Park we took a bus to McKinley Lodge which is 40 miles from the Mountain for a couple of days of viewing the Mountain, hiking, and relaxing.

Finally, we finished up the trip with 2 days in Anchorage and the surrounding area.

Included a couple of photos below and a link to more

More photos Link

Mt. McKinley from 40 miles (McKinley Lodge)

Glacier Bay NP Entrance

Ketchikan on a sunny day – very unusual

We found the end of the rainbow and it’s in Alaska

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Posted by molson46

Oceanside/San Diego Trip

March 31, 2012

Balcony Sunset

Friday March 2: We flew to LAX with Mike and Sara today. Then we drove to Oceanside. We are staying at the Wyndham on the beach and pier for that manner. The traffic at 3PM was very heavy most of the way but I have seen worse here. The view from our 6th floor condo is terrific. We look straight out onto the beach. After settling in and watching the sunset over the water’s horizon we walked up to the local brew pub and had a before dinner drink. Next we strolled down to the Flying Pig Restaurant which is kind of out of the way and appears to be frequented by only locals who know each other. We had a terribly long wait before eating but the wait was worth it. Everyone’s meal was delicious. I had pork chops, Mike had flank steak, and Gwen and Sara had chicken and dumplings.

Saturday March 3: For breakfast we dined at Beach Break in Oceanside. It was well worth the Saturday morning wait and they have coffee for caffine lovers while you wait. Then we drove to San Diego and toured the USS Midway, a large retired aircraft carrier docked in the bay. Along with touring the ship itself the Midway has a large number or WWII and later aircraft. I could have spent the day there but hunger overcame all of us and we drove to Coronado Island where we ate at the Brigatine . Next we toured the Del El Coronado hotel. Then we drove back to the Wyndham Oceanside and chilled. For Saturday night dinner we had Thai food at a hole in the wall in downtown Oceanside. It was really good. Wish I could remember the name of the place!

Sunday March 4: we hung out at the hotel in the morning so I walked to a local coffee shop and had a large cup of Joe. Later, we drove to Ocean Beach and ate lunch at Hodads which has the best burgers in the World. Then we drove to La Jolla to view the seals. Walking back to the car we toured an open house that the owner was eying to unload for $1.6 Million. The house is a al steal based on the location and the quality of the house. Then back to the hotel to chill for a couple of hours. Our evening out was at the San Diego gas latern district. We had cocktails at the Hotel Indigo rooftop bar and then had dinner at La Pueta. Then back to the hotel to watch Sport Center.

Hodad's - the best burger in the Cosmos

Monday March 5: We saw Mike and Sara off this morning and head back to the Beach Break Diner for breakfast. We ate healthy this morning and the food was just as good as the other day. Next we drove to the Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma. Cabrillo was the first Anglo dude to step foot on California. He was Portugese and he did the deed in the 1500s. The Point Loma light house is also there. After the monument we discovered the Harbor Point Diner not far from the monument. The burgers there were close to as good as Hodad’s. Of course when you are in San Diego you must go to the Zoo. If you go be prepared to walk a lot. Much of the zoo is laid out in trails. We did get to see the pandas but all they did was sleep which is what you would expect from Pandas.

We ate dinner at Piatti’s in La Jolla. Italian and very good.

Goodbye bird friend on the pier

Tuesday March 6: Drove back to LAX and flew home. Took all day because flight was delayed. Arrived home at 8:30PM.

Another cool plane on the hanger deck

Got'a be Movie Stars, but who?

The Coronado Hotel

Our Condo from Oceanside Pier

My friend the pelican sittin on the dock of the bay (er' beach)

The movie stars again on the Hotel Indigo rooftop bar

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Posted by molson46

Road Trip Vacation: Dallas to Phoenix and Back Again

February 4, 2012

Saguaro cactus

Monday January 2: We started our vacation by driving to Las Cruces NM. The trip took 12 hours and was 711 miles. The Sun was shining all day. The temperature rose to 60 degrees by the late afternoon. So it was a good trip. We ate dinner a local New Mexican style 70 year old restaurant in a 200 year old building called “La Posta.” Tonight we are chilling out in the hotel.

Las Cruces Restaurant - our 1st night meal

Tuesday January 3: The next morning we drove from Las Cruces to Phoenix. Today was a short day on the road – only 7 hours and 388 miles. We stopped for lunch at the Village Bake House in Tucson. We both ordered sandwiches which turned out to be really tasty. Upon arrival we checked into the hotel we are camping in during our staty – the Hyatt House North Phoenix. For dinner we tried out Beckett’s Table. The style is American Comfort food. Gwen had roast chicken and I had green chile pork stew. Voted one of the 5 best restaurants in Phoenix and I believe. From my limited experience if I could only eat one meal in Phoenix it would be at Beckett’s.

the sign of the Turquoise Arches - only in Sedona

Wednesday January 4: We qdrove to Sedona Wednesday. Ate lunch at Gwen’s favorite restaurant there – Oxaca – Mexican if you can’t guess, and started to hike the Soilder’s Pass trail. However, my knee started aching and since I am not supposed to be exercising anyway until the 18th we turned around. I wanted to get a photo of the McDonalds there with the turquoise arches so we stopped there for a photo shoot. Next we drove to the top of airport Mesa for the best panoramic view Sedona. Finally, we drove by the local Wyndham. It was pretty impressive. We will have to stay there sometime.

Sedona from Airport Mesa

Can't raise corn in Sedona

Back in Phoenix we decided to go to a movie – War Horse. We grabbed a quick dinner at Claim Jumpers before the movie – okay. War Horse was a very good movie. Glad I saw it.

Heard Museum

Thursday January 5: We started out the day at the Heard Museum. It’s focus is the Southwest Indians. The museum was interesting if you like history and especially Indian history. I do so I enjoyed the museum. Others may find it really boring. After examining the menu and noticing people we coming in just to eat at the museum cafe, we decided to eat lunch there. The cafe stayed with the Southwest motif. I had the posole which was delicious. I would eat there again. We spent the afternoon at the Desert Botanical Garden. I never dreamed there were that many varieties of cactus. I enjoyed it and would recommend it except in the Summer. The best time of year is probably mid-February through March which is when most plants are blooming.

Dinner was Italian at Aielo’s. The owner is from Brooklyn and could not stand NYC anymore so he migrated to Phoenix a few years back. The food and atmosphere were good. I had the seafood linguine. It was homemade and delicious. I would eat there again but don’t order the calamari. It was tough and chewy.

Great color on this barrel cactus

Many different types of cacti growing together

Outside of Phoenix

Friday January 6: We started home Friday. This was our short driving day – only 7 hours. We drove from Phoenix to Las Cruces stopping in Tucson for lunch. We ate lunch at an eclectic place called “Feast“. It was really good food and I would definitely eat there again. The food was quite varied. For example, I ate the lamb meatball sandwich which came with a tossed green salad. We stayed at the Las Cruces Hilton Garden Inn again which I recommend if you are ever staying in Las Cruces. Friday night we ate at a Southwestern place called “Peppers” whose sister restaurant is a steak house called “Double Eagle” which also received high ratings. It is the best food I have had in Las Cruces. Of course I have only eaten at two restaurants, here and “La Posta” which was also good.

Saturday January 7: We drove from Las Cruces to Dallas today. The trip was 11.5 hours including a lunch stop at Midland. Midland is really the only place to stop along the way unless you like McDonald’s and Whataburger. Sara met us at the car rental at DFW with my car and between the 3 of us we promptly lost the car key. We found it after a half hour of taking the car and luggage apart.

Wait, the fun is not over yet! To top off our road trip vacation we dined at “Vera Cruz” in Oak Cliff with Sara and Mike and went to the Mavericks game before finally arriving home at midnight.

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Posted by molson46

Seattle/Victoria B.C. vacation

October 21, 2011

Parliament House at Dark

September 1: We 1st class to Seattle. For a flight that long 1st class is the only way to go. Sara and Mike flew with us. Mike’s dad, Don, picked us up at the airport and drove us to their house where we would be spending the 1st few days of the trip. The Nuestat’s live on Lake Shammamish. The view from their deck is beautiful.

View from Don and Karen’s deck on Lake Sammamish

I never tired of sitting on that deck and just watching the scenery and thinking.

Friday morning we rose early and went for a long walk in the woods. You could run all day here. The temperature was 52 degrees and the trail in the woods was almost like a sponge. If I lived here I would not have foot problems.

Later on we jumped in the car with Mike’s nieces and drove to Pike’s market in downtown Seattle. We arrived about 9AM which is the time of day to be there. The crowds were small and you could buy your produce, fish, and flowers and get out before the crowds. We came back around 11AM after the Duck ride and the crowd was huge. We could hardly walk at all. You just let the crowd push you along. We did do the duck tour. It was okay once but I don’t think I will go again.

Downtown Seattle from the Duck

Mike selecting some tiny donuts at the Pike’s Market donuts shop.

We ate lunch at the Pike Place Chowder House which was quite cheap. It was one of those typical walk up and order, get your food, and then go find a place to eat places that are in markets like this.

If I ever go to Seattle again Pike’s Market is a must place visit.

Unwilling participants at the Pike’s Market Fish Market

The World famous gum wall

In the afternoon we took a boat ride around the lake with a round of drinks. A great way to spend the afternoon.

Sara cooked a feat meal for dinner and we played a friendly few games of pool before retiring for the evening.

Saturday: Another great day, we had brunch at a place called Purple after the normal early morning jogs and walks. Then we visited a couple of vineyards and the Red Hook Brewery. I now know ESB stands for Extra Special Bitter and I believe it. Saturday night we ate Sushi at a joint in downtown Bellevue.

Sunday: morning trip to Shoquamie falls which is higher than Niagra Falls. We ate brunch at the Inn there which was very good. I had the muesli which was delicious but it should be for $15.00. Sunday afternoon we just hung out at the lake house and had a another great meal cooked by Sara – hamburgers, corn on the Cobb and some strange corn/pepper/bean salad. I am having a problem with my sinus here, but probably has more to do with not working and finally relaxing than the conditions here.

Started Monday with and early morning run with Sara through the woods. With the scenery, the cool weather, and the soft forest floor I feel like I could jog all day.

Mike made breakfast which was a baking sheet covered with dough, eggs, sausage, cheese, and spices. It was very good.

Their friends from New Zealand spent the day with us. We took a long boat ride. The kids went tubing which looked like a lot of fun for young people such as them. After we finished I jumped in. The water was cold but okay after the initial shock.

We had an early dinner at the Crab Shack in Bellveue and then had desert at a place called Hector’s in Richmond near the University.

Tuesday: We bid Don and Karen a fond farewell. The rest of the troop were still sleeping at 6AM. Don drove us down to the Seattle waterfront where we caught the Victoria Clipper to Victoria B.C. The trip takes around 2.5 hours and is very comfortable. It is more like riding on a train than a boat or an airplane. The seating is spacious and the rise is like riding on glass.

The Victoria Clipper ready to roll

After going through customs which was painless we walked to the hotel (Abigail’s) and checked in. The room is great! Next, we were hungry so we walked to a local joint called the Blue Fox but they had a 45 minute wait so we decided to

Abigal’s Hotel

walk down to the harbor. We found a very good Irish pub (The Irish Times Pub) on Government street. It was tastey. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the harbor area and downtown with a well deserved break at Starbucks

Victoria Harbor

For dinner we ate at Il Terazzo. It is tucked in an alley near the Johnson Street bridge. I had a seafood marinna dish which one of the best I have ever had. The sauce and pasta were fairly standard but the seafood was fantastic. For example, the mussels were the largest I have ever eaten.

We started Wednesday morning off with a great breakfast at Abigal’s which is included in the price of the room.

Mammoth at the Museum

Then we visited the Royal BC museum which was a history of BC – the land, the native peoples as they call them, and the whites. The focus was narrow enough to make a story that kept me interested and turned out to be one of the most enjoyable museum experiences I have had. After the museum we ate lunch at a little deli at the foot of Government Street (Sam’s Deli). I had the Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich and a real Greek salad wihtout any lettuce and plenty of cucumbers. Next we went on the Butchard Gardens tour. It was okay and better than the Arboretum for sure but not worth a special trip to Victoria.

Wednesday night we dined at Aura, a restaurant with an Asian flare. It was also scrumptious and I would recommend it also.

Leaving Victoria Harbor on the Victoria Clipper

We had another great breakfast Thursday morning at Abigal’s and then rode the Victoria Clipper back to Seattle. This time we sat up top and I spent a great part of the trip outside watching the sea. Very relaxing. Once in Seattle we walked 1.5 miles to the Arctic Club Hotel and checked in. We have a very special room on the 10th floor (top floor). One downer is it used to be a smoking room or someone has smoked in it. After relaxing for awhile we took a long walk down to Pike’s Market and Pioneer Square. We had dinner at a tiny Italian place at Pioneer Square called Cafe Bengodi. It was very tasty and I would recommend it to anyone.

Cafe Bengodi ain’t much to look at

Cafe Bengodi spacious seating arrangements

Thursday set a all time high temperature for September 8 in Seattle – 86 degrees. Why do I live in Texas?

Friday: We had a great breakfast at the Arctic Club Restaurant and then found out our plane was delayed 2 hours so we took our time going to the airport. We rode the light rail. The entrance was 1/2 block from the hotel and we paid $3.75 per person to ride so the transportation was dirt cheap. The Seattle airport has free WiFi. Why don’t all airports? It really makes the wait much more pleasant.

The flight home was uneventful. First class sure is nice even with the stewardesses we had on this trip. There seem to be two types. The type we had on this trip did as little as possible but were pleasant enough. The type we had going to Seattle bent over backwards to make the trip enjoyable.

Back home again on September 9 – a long long vacation for us but it seemed very short.

Victoria Harbor — A parting shot

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Posted by molson46

Mesa Verde National Park

August 19, 2011

Anasazi Pueblo from a distance

We visited Mesa Verde National Park in early July, 2011. The Anasazi really did not like company! Recommend visiting at least once even though it is really out of the way.

Plan on the visit taking the entire day. The park is about 1.5 hours west of Durango which is a great place to spend the night the day before launching your visit. While you are there you might as well spend another day and ride the train to Silverton

Riding on the train to Silverton

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Posted by molson46

A night in Amarillo

June 29, 2011

Yesterday was my 1st day of vacation. Our destinations is our usual Summer vacation to Pagosa Springs Co. This year I am driving to Albuquerque, picking up Gwen at the Airport, and from there driving to Pagosa Springs.

I really love the drive to Amarillo which is always an experience. The country is mostly empty and the vistas on go on forever. While driving I spend quite a bit of time dreaming about the Comanches and Quanah Parker who used to rule this land with an iron fist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche). I also thought a lot about the dust bowl (see the book “The Worst Hard Time” http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5128581). From there I drift off to the eternal questions of why and how we exist in a certain moment of time and place instead of another. Most of all I am most gratified the Comanches did not capture and torture me and I never tried raising crops in this rain starved land!

The drive always lifts my soul.

On a side note, I made an interesting discovery while driving – a discovery for me as I am sure hordes of others already know about it. I can play Internet radio on my iPhone and route it through the car radio. No more local radio stations!!! Enough of the diversions…

But in the end I finally arrived here in Amarillo which is almost as close to Denver in distance, climate, and attitude as it is to Dallas. I checked in at the hotel and exercised while waiting for my buddy Mike, who moved to Amarillo last Winter, pick me up for a wild night on the town – well, wild for AARP members anyway.

Mike arrives and we are off see the Helium City! First stop is at Joe’s Tacos for Dinner. I have the house special tacos which are delicious and very spicy. I highly recommend Joe’s if you are ever in Amarillo and looking for a causal meal.

Next we cruise down 6th street. We finally stop at the Golden Light Cafe for beers. It was established in 1946 and is on the list of National Historic Sites. The cafe is surprisingly small. I bet it was a booming joint after the War. The cafe is staffed by a huge crew of 2 – a lady who is really good looking. I did not expect someone like her. The guy – bartender and short order cook – was young and some what challenged.

The Golden Light Cafe

After the Golden Light we shuffled on over the Scooter’s, a biker bar and finished the night there. We were the only males in the establishment not dressed in black? However they treated us like regulars. I met a bevy on interesting characters. First was Junk Yard Dave who owns a junk yard (what a coincidence) and quite successful. He kept buying everyone beers and apparently is a regular. I think they were all regulars except us. The 2 bar maids were both good looking. Why are the bar maids in biker bars always good looking? One of the bar maids kept showing everyone her breasts! Weird behavior, but maybe normal in Amarillo which is a far cry from Dallas.

Then we topped off the night with a viewing of Mike’s late but much loved mother-in-law’s collection of at least a thousand ceramic Santas!

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Posted by molson46

New Mexico Landscape

May 21, 2011

Northern New Mexico north of Santa Fe is arid but beautiful. We drive through that part of New Mexico every year on our pilgrimage to Pagosa Springs Colorado. I always stop and take a few photos. This is also the countryside that Georgia O’Keeffe loved to paint. I took this particular photo with my Canon Film SLR probably with Kodachrome (Kodachrome is dead, long live Kodachrome).

Georgia O'Keeffe Country

That’s all, Just longing for Sunshine on a stormy Friday Night

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Posted by molson46

2 Months 2 Vacations: #2 San Antonio

April 28, 2011

Wow!! – 2 vacations in 2 months is a 1st for me! I could get used to this. Actually, the San Antonio vacation was really a long weekend – leave after work on Friday, Gwen fly home Monday night, and Marv drive home on Wednesday to babysit C2.

Mission San Jose - 1 of 5 Missions in San Antonio

We started out Friday after work by driving to Round Rock to spend the night free at the Springhill Suites courtesy of Gwen’s Marriot points. We ate at a local joint, the Blue Oak Grill which was a converted Applebees. It was kinda Cajun Food. I would eat there again, but I would not drive to Round Rock just to eat there.

We woke up Saturday morning and discovered a blue northerner had blown in with temperature hovering around 43% and the wind out of the North t 30mph. After breakfast (can’t remember what we are so it could not have been too good) we drove to Fredericksburg on the back roads, had lunch at The Brewery (German food but the beer is the highlight), and then spent some time window shopping. Fredericksburg is a great weekend visit:

It is a scenic drive to get there
It is not too expensive
It is a very relaxed atmosphere
It has lots of antic and knickknack shops
It has some good restaurants

After we were shopped out we drove to San Antonio, checked in at the Wyndham, and ate at La Fogota.

View from the Wyndham

The Wyndham is our timeshare. Most places we stay with Wyndham are real nice but they always want to give you a wlecome visit which turns our to be a sales pitch to buy more timeshare. At San Antonio they are real high pressure. I almost don’t want to go back because of them.

Sunday morning we ate a healthy breakfast in our room at the Wyndham. Then, we walked over to the Alamofor 175th anniversary ceremony of the fall of the Alamo (March 6). It seems a strange think to celebrate – defeat. However, for a real Texan a visit to the Alamo is a religious experience and on a major anniversary it is doubly so.

175th Anniversary Re-enactment

After the ceremony we ate lunch at Del Weiss Tip Top Diner. It is reported to be Tim Duncan’s favorite eating establishment which I do find hard to believe. It is a mid-50s diner in not too good a neighborhood, but the down home cooking is delicious. I think the only reason Gwen goes there is she knows I like the place.

After lunch we drove out to hike the Government Canyon trails for 2.5 hours ( I love to hike). After rushing back to the timeshare to clean up we had a great dinner at Pasenos at the Quarry and topped off the evening at the movies – The Adjustment Bureau. Pasenos was great.

Monday morning and we ate breakfast at Mi Tierra – okay but if I did not go back I would still live forever, Walked to Bank of America, got Gwen a new debit card, opened a savings account, and transferred a lot of our money into it. We had a scare this weekend with her old debit card and therefore cancelled it. We opened the savings account because if someone got access to our checking account right now there was a lot of money in it – not anymore.

For lunch we walked over to Schilo’s German Deli. I had reuben sandwich, cup of split pea soup, and a Spaten Optimator beer – delicious – would go back there in a New York Minute. It is downtown on Commerce right next to the Rio Casa restaurant which is a river walk staple.

After lunch we packed Gwen’s things and spent the afternoon at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens – very peaceful place. Put her on the airplane, put gas in the car, washed it, and then back at the hotel I ran through the King William district, tried to work on PHP, and had dinner – left over lamb shank and fruit.

I started out Tuesday by runing the new riverwalk an hour just past Pearl Brewery. Appears it may go or is planned to go to the Witte Museum. Spent the rest of Tuesday chilling out. I did venture out to take photos of the Missions. I got to all five this trip and some great picture of some weird hay bale and iron scuptures — whoop. Had dinner at Rosariosand back to the hotel to chill out.