California Adventure
So, for the first time in 11 years, I actually came home at a leisurely pace, and returned home actually feeling renewed and refreshed.
I had taken the week off of work the following week. This allowed me to leave the playa when I was good and ready, which was especially good since the plague had taken me down for a day. All of the following mostly occurs with Slaw, a fantastic travel partner. We each had our own cars, so it was together and fun, but still some serious alone time with all of the driving.
My travel partner Slaw and I
We started off in Reno, at the Nugget. We were too tired for seafood buffet the first night, but cable TV, air conditioning and showers treated us right. We got up the next day and went to the pool of your playa dreams.
pool, hot tub that could fit 60, individual bubble pools
after we left there, we drove down to Yosemite, which was an adventure in itself. Neither of us had ever been. One of the big issues is that you have to make sure your car doesn't smell like food to bears. Which means all of the food, and anything that might smell like food (perfumes, sun block, even empty coolers), must be removed from your car. Well, since this was a decision made after packing up the car, I did my best but was sure my car was going to be eaten by bears in the night. We also arrived after dark after the visitors centers had closed. So, yes, kind of a pain the ass. I did wind up in a canvas cabin. Slaw wasn't as lucky and slept on a park bench. We found each other in the morning though, and went on a tour.
This is what you should know about Yosemite. It is holy crap beautiful. It is "I want to get married here" beautiful, and we all know I'm not that much of a nature person. If you live in California, please go. It's amazing. And it does seem to have something for the whole family. I feel stupid that I've never been before. Yosemite is so beautiful I felt bad for every person who has never seen it. Go.
Yum.
After that, we headed over to the 1 and spent the night in Monterey. Then we drove down the 1 to return home. Again, it's all so beautiful it could break your heart. It was actually a little overcast that day but I think it saved me from just driving off the cliffs and into the water.
Scenic route
We stopped and looked. We went to Hearst Castle, although we decided we didn't want to spend another $50 ($25 per person) to see the actual castle. But we spent about an hour and a half in the gift shop and museum anyway. Then we wound up in San Louis Obispo for lunch. (Sorry turtletoes I had no idea how to contact you), then finally landed in skinny city where there was lovely conversation with pixiesunshine, peterfuhry, and hithertoo.
The rest of my pics are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27924176@N00/sets/72157594281722636/
Saturday was my return date. It was all fantastic and I do recommend taking time after the Burn to return home when you're damn good and ready (for the most part.) But I'm back at work and happy to be home.
Now I will spend the next few months just working to soak in all of the state's goodness before I go.
I had taken the week off of work the following week. This allowed me to leave the playa when I was good and ready, which was especially good since the plague had taken me down for a day. All of the following mostly occurs with Slaw, a fantastic travel partner. We each had our own cars, so it was together and fun, but still some serious alone time with all of the driving.
My travel partner Slaw and I
We started off in Reno, at the Nugget. We were too tired for seafood buffet the first night, but cable TV, air conditioning and showers treated us right. We got up the next day and went to the pool of your playa dreams.
pool, hot tub that could fit 60, individual bubble pools
after we left there, we drove down to Yosemite, which was an adventure in itself. Neither of us had ever been. One of the big issues is that you have to make sure your car doesn't smell like food to bears. Which means all of the food, and anything that might smell like food (perfumes, sun block, even empty coolers), must be removed from your car. Well, since this was a decision made after packing up the car, I did my best but was sure my car was going to be eaten by bears in the night. We also arrived after dark after the visitors centers had closed. So, yes, kind of a pain the ass. I did wind up in a canvas cabin. Slaw wasn't as lucky and slept on a park bench. We found each other in the morning though, and went on a tour.
This is what you should know about Yosemite. It is holy crap beautiful. It is "I want to get married here" beautiful, and we all know I'm not that much of a nature person. If you live in California, please go. It's amazing. And it does seem to have something for the whole family. I feel stupid that I've never been before. Yosemite is so beautiful I felt bad for every person who has never seen it. Go.
Yum.
After that, we headed over to the 1 and spent the night in Monterey. Then we drove down the 1 to return home. Again, it's all so beautiful it could break your heart. It was actually a little overcast that day but I think it saved me from just driving off the cliffs and into the water.
Scenic route
We stopped and looked. We went to Hearst Castle, although we decided we didn't want to spend another $50 ($25 per person) to see the actual castle. But we spent about an hour and a half in the gift shop and museum anyway. Then we wound up in San Louis Obispo for lunch. (Sorry turtletoes I had no idea how to contact you), then finally landed in skinny city where there was lovely conversation with pixiesunshine, peterfuhry, and hithertoo.
The rest of my pics are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27924176@N00/sets/72157594281722636/
Saturday was my return date. It was all fantastic and I do recommend taking time after the Burn to return home when you're damn good and ready (for the most part.) But I'm back at work and happy to be home.
Now I will spend the next few months just working to soak in all of the state's goodness before I go.