Moving On

Pacific Coast Highway Vacation

Traveling up the coastline of the Pacific Ocean and Highway 1: San Diego, Santa Monica, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco

Day 1:

We started our planning for Spring Break (April vacation) a few months prior to the trip with the idea of visiting the west coast with my mom. Having two boys with April birthdays (ages 7 and 9), it was the perfect opportunity to surprise them with a trip to California (and LEGOLAND!) I was lucky to find multi-city airline tickets for around $300 round trip-flying into San Diego and flying out of San Fransisco. My mom was able to rent a car and make the road trip down from Idaho to join us on our Californian adventure. We boarded the plane and were on our way to sunny San Diego.

We were all excited to arrive at the Legoland hotel. We were greeted with mountains of Legos in the lobby, disco balls and music in the elevator, whoopie cushions built into the carpet, life size Lego characters, and themed rooms.

The boys were full of energy and excitement and wasted no time finding the hotel pool. The thought of outdoor swimming in April was too hard to pass up. The swimming was made more fun with Lego blocks scattered throughout the pool.

Day 2:

After a night in the Temple of Doom suite, we made our way to the breakfast buffet. The hotel was perfectly suited for kids with the food and presentation…and even better we were steps away from the Legoland adventure park. We set off for our first day in the park to explore the adventure rides, Lego sculptures, and themed experiences.

The boys loved the ride along cars in the Lego city, and being able to drive on roads with stoplights. The best part was getting their own driver’s licenses! We were amazed by the intricate Lego statues and themed villages and displays. The Star Wars village was a favorite! We found the roller coasters to be perfectly suited for kids ages 4-12. All of the waiting areas for the rides had canopies to protect from the sun. There were also strategically placed bins of Lego blocks and play areas to keep little hands busy during times of waiting. We were very fortunate to experience a very uncrowded week and did not have to wait in any lines. The weather was also perfect in sunny Southern California.

We ended a fun day of adventure with another swim in the pool. The night was complete with an outdoor fireplace, Lego movies on the big screen, and S’mores.

Day 3:

The second day of our Legoland experience took us to the Legends of Chima waterpark. The boys enjoyed the waterslides, wave pool, and water park features. We were also able to explore a small aquarium and take a boat tour of the Seven Wonders of the World built out of Legos.

No trip to California is complete without at least one trip to In-N-Out Burger, and our trip was no different. Off to In-N-Out we went…

Day 4:

Our Legoland vacation had come to an end, and we were now ready to start our trip along the Pacific coastline. We headed up Highway 5, en route to our final destination of San Fransisco. Our first stop was the Santa Monica pier. We found an open air mall right across from the pier where we enjoyed some tasty Mexican food. After a bite to eat, we made our way to the beach and enjoyed the rollercoasters, and the sights and sounds of the boardwalk.

We were ready to get back in the car to finish our drive for the day. We ended up finding a hotel with beautiful ocean views, scenic cliff walks, and a hot tub for the kids to enjoy.

Day 5:

Back on the road today, we continued our scenic drive up the coastline making our way to Monterey. Our trip led us to a beach covered in sea lions soaking in the rays of the California sunshine.

The drive continued along following the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The views from the vistas were incredible.

Our next rest stop was Monterey Bay Aquarium. We were excited to stretch our legs while visiting this impressive, non-profit, public aquarium known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium was the perfect stop to explore and learn about the native marine life. We were ready to continue on to our next stop, Santa Cruz. We stayed overnight in Santa Cruz, and dined on the famous boardwalk.

Day 6:

On to the final stretch of our drive…San Fransisco! We arrived in San Fransisco and our first stop was to one of the many awesome play scapes. After a couple of days in the car, the boys had some energy to expend. The Seward Mini Park was the perfect place to explore. Grab a piece of cardboard and you are sure to find some fun.

We decided to splurge on a hotel room in San Fransisco since we only had a couple of nights left in town. Checking into the Intercontinental Hotel felt luxurious to us all. The boys loved the high rise views, plush bathrobes, and multiple swimming pools. My mom and I loved the proximity to shops, restaurants, and the attractions of the city. After checking in, we found our way to Amber Indian Restaurant to enjoy some Tandoori chicken, Naan, and Chai tea.

Day 7:

Today we visited Chinatown in downtown San Fransisco. The boys loved seeing all of the trinkets and displays lining the streets, and using their money to buy souvenirs.

One of the highlights of the trip was finding a fortune cookie factory that offered up freshly baked, warm fortune cookies, and a first hand glimpse into the art of cookie making.

We continued along the streets of San Fransisco by streetcar. The streetcar took us down to Pier 39 and Ghiradelli Square. Upon arrival at the pier we were greeted by more sunning sea lions, a store for Left-handed people (Bennett and Kit), and ice cream sundaes for days at the famous Ghiradelli Chocolate factory.

As we made our way back to or hotel we took in the sights of Lombard Street. Lombard Street is famous for a steep, one-block section with eight hairpin turns stretching from the Presidio east to the Embarcadero. It is claimed to be “the crookedest street in the world.”

Day 8:

Our last day in San Fransisco was spent visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. We decided to start at Marshall’s Beach to get the best view and to walk along the beach. For those that read the reviews, it is a nude beach, and we did see at least one beachgoer enjoying himself in the nude. The kids thought this was pretty entertaining. The kids did have fun climbing in the hills and playing in the sand, and the views of the bridge were spectacular on a clear day.

Next, we traveled by car to the other side of the bridge to take in the views of the city and Alcatraz.

Our Pacific Coast Highway adventure was a perfect way to spend spring vacation and to celebrate the birthday boys. From the Legoland amusement park in San Diego, to exploring the rugged coastline of California, to completing our trip in the vibrant city of San Fransisco, I could not have asked for a more memorable vacation to spend with my mom and my two boys. I will forever cherish the memories we made together on this adventure. Until next time…xo

Seattle, WA-Vancouver B.C. 2018

A family trip with city skylines, epic playgrounds, natural landscapes, suspension bridges, marine life, and acres of colorful tulips

Day 1

Being a native of Idaho, and a current resident of Connecticut, I often look for family vacations that allow our children the opportunity to explore the landscape of the Western United States. Spring break was the perfect time to plan a vacation to Seattle, Washington. We were fortunate to have my mom join us on our vacation. We arrived at Sea-Tac airport where we picked up our rental SUV to accommodate our 7 passengers. After picking my mom up from her flight, we headed to our HomeAway rental in a residential section of downtown Seattle. Our AirBnB (Urban Oasis by Green Lake) was perfect with close proximity to Seattle attractions, on-street accessible parking, accommodations for 7 people, and a bonus for the mild rainy season in the Pacific Northwest…a hot tub! The hot tub was the first stop on our Seattle vacation.

Day 2

We started our day with breakfast at Hi-Life in Ballard. Housed in the beautifully renovated Ballard Firehouse, Hi-Life had something on the menu for everyone. Next, for our first day in Seattle, we decided to visit the fish ladders to show the kids all about the salmon that make their way to the ocean every year from the rivers in Idaho. It was quite impressive to view the system of locks and ladders used and to observe all of the native birds and marine life that call Seattle home.

We then made our way to downtown Seattle to the Space Needle. A trip to Seattle in April made for no crowds and mild temperatures. A raincoat (and a hot tub) was all that was needed for the daily shower that passed through. The kids all loved the Space Needle (and gift shop), but they were completely in their element on the playscape at the base of the Space Needle. We ended up making a second trip back!

Our next stop was Pike Street Marketplace where we were took in the sites of the fish market, Gum Wall, lucky pig, and famous flying fish.

We stopped for lunch at Beecher’s to enjoy a cup of French onion soup and a grilled cheese made with fresh handmade cheese made right as you eat. We finished off our meal with a drink from the first Starbucks store originating in Seattle in 1971.

We finished up our Pike Street Marketplace experience with a trip on the Ferris wheel. To add to the harbor view and city skyline, there were two bald eagles in flight in the sky above the Ferris wheel. A beautiful day in Seattle!

Day 3

Known for the best breakfast in Seattle, the 5 Spot, in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood was our pick for our first meal of the day. We stayed in the neighborhood to take in the sites of the Seattle skyline and to visit another one of Seattle’s amazing playscapes.

After getting some energy out, we decided to pay a visit to the famous Fremont troll.

We finished up the afternoon with a trip to the Seattle Zoo. The kids had fun listening to a pack of howling wolves, connecting with a gorilla, and leaving with a full-sized (stuffed) snake.

A couple of days of sight seeing around Seattle meant we were ready for an adult beverage. We found the Fremont brewery with some local craft beers.

Day 4

When we visited the Space Needle on the first day of our trip we bought a City Pass. Today we decided to make use of all of the passes before moving on to Vancouver. Our first attraction was the Pacific Science Center. The kids enjoyed all of the exhibits, the butterfly pavilion, and the panda lover of the family got to see Pandas on the IMAX screen.

We moved on to the Seattle Aquarium and then boarded the boat for the harbor cruise for our last night in Seattle.

Day 5

When we started our drive to Vancouver we were all pleasantly surprised to learn that the timing of our trip was perfect for tulip season in Washington!

We drove up to our AirBnB (Beautiful 3bdr Suite with kitchen and 2 bathrooms) in Vancouver excited at the sight of the house. When we went to unlock the door we quickly realized our reservation was for the basement of the house. A little disappointed we wheeled our bags down the stairs and got settled in. The house, or should I say, suite ended up accommodating all 7 of us nicely, but I did learn to read the description a little better for future bookings.

We headed out on the town in search of a fun restaurant for dinner with the kids. We were lucky to find a fun Japenese BBQ restaurant, Gyu-Kaku with a grill for cooking right at the table. Overall it was a fun dining experience highly recommended for the kids and adults.

We ended the day of traveling with a drive through Stanley Park and a walk along the waterfront.

Day 6

Today we decided to explore the Canadian forests, by heading out of the city to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Capilano Suspension Bridge was originally built in 1889. It crosses 450 across and 230 feet above the Capilano River. The bridge offers incredible rainforest and river views along with the thrill of being suspended in the sky.

The Capliano Park also offers the Treetop Adventure and a new cliff walk. The cliff walk “follows a granite precipice along the Capilano River with a labyrinth-like series of narrow cantilevered bridges, stairs and platforms and only 16 anchor points in the cliff supporting the structure.” The breathtaking view helped me to briefly overcome my fear of heights to walk out along the narrow, suspended pathways.

The Treetop Adventure Park offered 7 suspended footbridges offering views 100 feet above the forest floor. The kids were excited to visit Raptors Ridge, an educational facility dedicated to public education of raptors and conservation of wildlife.

After our adventures in the Canadian wilderness, we decided to continue up the Sea to Sky Highway to visit Shannon Falls and the town of Squamish.

Day 7

Our weeklong adventure was coming to an end…we loaded in the car to head back to the United States. We had time for one last educational stop along the way home… to visit the Boeing Factory for a tour of their impressive facilities.

We had a wonderful time visiting the Pacific Northwest! Seattle was clean and progressive with environmentally friendly practices throughout the city. The temperature was mild with only passing showers of rain to keep the hills green and scenic. We were able to explore the city as well as the wildlife of the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver had an international and eclectic feel. We indulged in Asian and Indian cuisine while exploring the city of Vancouver and the mountain and ocean views the Pacific coastline had to offer.

Iceland 2019

A summer trip to Iceland complete with hot springs, waterfalls, brews, and Icelandic cod fishing.

Day 1

After a 5 hour direct flight from JFK to Reykjavik, we headed straight to the rental car kiosk. After all of the warnings about renting a car in Iceland, we decided to rent a small AWD sedan from a local company at the airport (Sixt). Our first stop on the trip…The Blue Lagoon…to soak away our jet lag from our overnight flight.

Being a native of Idaho, home of natural geothermal springs, I felt a little bit of a commercial feel, and my body longed for hotter temperatures, nonetheless, the Blue Lagoon was an iconic place to visit with its blue water and mineral salt baths. The soak was well worth the visit and gave us the perfect kickoff to our Icelandic vacation. After our soak, we headed to our first rest stop in Downtown Reykjavik. We found a reasonably priced, newly renovated hotel downtown (Hotel Odinsve). We decided to take a nap to make up for our missed night of sleep and to get accustomed to Iceland’s new time zone (+5 hours). After melting our noise machine and almost lighting our hotel room on fire (Caution: Outlet voltage converters are only meant for low wattage devices i.e. phones) we ventured out to find Grillmarkadurinn (Grill Market). This restaurant came highly recommended to us by a friend who said she would get on a plane and fly to Iceland and back just for the Ribeye!

Icelandic butter with volcanic lava salt

Ribeye, roasted root vegetables, salad, and grilled corn…the most delicious spread

Day 2

We set out the next day for some sightseeing around the city. Our first stop was Hallgrimskirkja Church. After taking the elevator to the top we were able to delight in a colorful panoramic view of the city.

We stopped in at Braud & Company for freshly baked pastries and coffee, taking pleasure in visiting a small, local business with environmentally friendly practices. We found Reykjavik to be the perfect mix of a European capital fused with a traditional Icelandic viking town.

Next we headed down to the harbor to take in the ocean views. We visited the famous Sun Voyager (Solfar). The steel sculpture on Reykjavik’s waterfront resembles a viking ship. The statue instead is a dream boat and an ode to the sun. It is said to contain within itself the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress, and freedom.

Adjacent to the Sun Voyager, was the uniquely designed Harpa Concert Hall, offering an interesting architectural design symbolic of Iceland’s fishing industry and Viking heritage. The contemporary glass structure is home to Iceland’s symphony orchestra, Icelandic opera, and Reykjavik big band, complete with panoramic ocean views.

We continued on our sightseeing tour around Reykjavik stopping in for a beer at BrewDog, a local watering hole. We were impressed by their selection of craft beer and appetizers.

Our next stop, after visiting some local gift shops, was to the National Museum of Iceland. With our ancestors being of Northern European descent (Sweden, Wales, Scotland, England, and Latvia), we were intrigued about the history of Iceland. I was also excited to learn about the discovery and the colonization of Iceland. The museum was home to many artifacts from settlement to the modern age. The museum provided a detailed representation of the past 1200 years of Iceland’s cultural history. I still find it fascinating how this remote and rugged area of the world became a flourishing country.

We stopped for lunch and a flight of Icelandic beers at a local gastropub downtown, Santa Svinio Gatropub. The lamb sandwich paired well with the selection of local beers, great music, and super cozy atmosphere.

We finished the day in Reykjavik with a trip to a local market to pick up some food and provisions for our next few days in the countryside. We loaded up in our mini red car and headed for the Golden Circle of Iceland.

We set off for the Lava Cottage (a 55 minute drive from Reykjavik) near the volcanic crater, Kerid. We were fortunate to find a HomeAway rental cottage with a private jacuzzi in the peaceful countryside. The cottage was the perfect backdrop for the Iceland sunsets, that turned into sunrises, with the sun never fully setting during our weeklong adventure.

Day 3

Our first day in the countryside we explored the geysers and waterfalls of the Golden Circle. We ended the day with a soak in Iceland’s Secret Lagoon.

Day 4

A road trip along the Icelandic coastline, ending in the town of Vik, was complete with breathtaking views of waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, basalt columns, meadows of wildflowers, majestic wild horses, green hilltops and valleys, and an idyllic church atop a mountaintop. We found a quaint restaurant for lunch, Halldorskaffi, in the fishing village of Vik. Another incredible day in Iceland.

Day 5

A great day for a hike in search of Iceland’s “Hot River” began with Icelandic Skyr yogurt and freshly baked croissants. We packed a backpack with snacks, swimsuits, and a light jacket and we were off on our adventure. We headed toward Reykjadalur, the Valley of Steam, a beautiful geothermal region near the town of Hveragerdi.

We arrived at the trailhead, parked our car, and started our hike up the mountainside. The beginning of the hike had a bit of a steeper grade lined with grazing sheep and hot pools of geothermic activity lining the trail.

As we turned the corner to the next section of the hike, we were met with breathtaking views of distant waterfalls, rolling hills, and steaming pools of rushing water. We were in awe of the intense boiling pools right alongside the path.

As we continued along the trail (maybe 45 minutes) we reached the Hot River. The temperature outside was so temperate and mild during the entire week (around 60-65 degrees F) it made the Hot River an inviting destination. We found a nice spot to soak and take in the incredible scenery.

We ended our relaxing day of soaking with dinner at Krisp, an eclectic European restaurant in the town of Selfoss.

Day 6

Our vacation was nearing an end as we left our countryside cottage and started making our way back to the city of Reykjavik. We couldn’t leave Iceland without experiencing fishing in the Icelandic waters. We decided to book a hotel room in the city center closer to the waterfront so we could fit one last excursion into our itinerary. We found a room with a view of the town center at the Center Hotels Plaza.

We decided to explore the city streets of Reykjavik one last time. We were in search of some Icelandic fish and chips, but we were lucky enough to stumble upon the best noodle bowl in the world. Welcome to Hi Noodle! We decided to indulge and save the cod for our fishing trip.

With our bellies full of noodle goodness, we made our way to the harbor to board our fishing boat to check out our luck.

We had a great time hooking into cod and haddock, and met a lot of fun people from all over the world.

And our awesome boat crew even cooked up our fish on the ride back to shore.

What an incredible ending to a vacation filled with the perfect combination of city life and countryside adventures. As two parents, traveling without children, we took advantage of the endless daylight hours to explore leisurely at our own pace. Since the sun never went down, the days were long, leaving us with plenty of opportunities to sleep, explore, rest, and adventure. We couldn’t leave Iceland without one last stop at the Grill Market for their outstanding food, atmosphere, and overall dining experience.