NoAlice?Rabbit,Hatter&Chessie Do a HolidayTrip.NEW11/27 1 More Day&I crush on Snowmen

[Alysa]

You are reading two of my favourite books from last year. I've been using the library a lot and I told my husband that I wouldn't buy any more books until we moved into our "forever house" unless I couldn't live without them because we already have sooo many books and I'm going to need a library room of my own. But after reading them I went out and bought both of these. You'll love them!
And Paper Source does look so fun! We don't have any in Canada alas, so I'll have to check them out on our trip. Think there are any in Buffalo or near Vero in Florida?

 

[solana131]

Hey there! Since you were so good to come visit me on my PTR...I figured I ought to say on yours! Loving it so far....all your great pics of your many trips....making me jealous! Especially the Cali ones. The farthest west I have been in Colorado. It's hard with a hubby that hates to fly

Anyway the experience did teach me that you really can't control anyone else's behavior just your reaction to it and learn to breath deeply...

So true! Been dealing with this alot lately

realized how much fun and support was always here in addition to it just being a really positive place with lots of lovely upbeat people who all have a disturbingly intense interest in all things Disney and are quite possibly addicted to Disney...

Also something I found out here. Love the TR/PTR threads, but some of the other boards can get rough I swear some people only come on here looking for a fight. Learned my lesson and now I don't stray from these boards

But...it's going to be ok... because even though somethings are changing...some things never will and she'll always be with is in spirit even if she's not in body...

Also I realized she had 7 years with Eric and I alone before David came along...and it might be nice for three of us to have a trip...

This part actually made me tear up a little. My little guy just started Kindergarten this year and I can already see this in the future! But you seem to have a great attitude about it all and you are right, she had lots of time with you before David, so now this is his time.

We've been to Maine before-mostly the very Southern part...Ogunquit, the Yorks, and Kennebunks and I really, really like it...the beaches are very natural-beautiful, definitely cold-(too cold for me at least to swim...) but great to walk on and get your feet wet...there are the lighthouses and most of all there is the lobster...

Yay Maine Love it here...especially this time of the year!

Yeah and I decided to change our last day cause we really do need more Epcot time... so I made ressies at Via so we will prob do the pub on first day...

Good plan. Via Napoli is so amazingly yummy....you don't want to chance missing it.

Now I don't know if it was just my imagination or the border crossing seems a little ... oh I don't know ... police like? - I'm guessing there was a time prior to 9/11 when it was pretty mellow but now the world's a different place..

Oh my gosh, you are so right! We went up to New Brunswick last summer and they were very very "police like" even at that tiny little crossing. They were asking my then 4 year old son all kinds of questions. Totally inappropriate in my opinion! He was so petrified of them that he wouldn't answer. They asked him his name and if we were his parents....I turned around to tell him it was okay to answer them and they yelled at me for it. Honestly....we teach our kids not to talk to strangers and now he is just supposed to give one all his information and chat them up?? It was horrible. But we made it through and glad to see you did too

Now I just have to think about how many breakfast ressies I want and where...

May I suggest Kona at the Poly?? My favorite breakfast ever! Yum! The Tonga Toast is famous, but I also love the Macademia Pineapple Pancakes...

Okay, so all caught up now and subbed in....can't wait for more

 

[TMGosizk]

Reading about your trip to get pumpkins has inspired me! I announced to my husband this morning as he was getting ready for work that we are going pumpkin picking and decorating the house for fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving this weekend! He is oddly (but wonderfully) as excited as I am this year!

You mentioned in your post about wanting to go to Bucks County to get pumpkins...is this Bucks County in PA by chance? I'm originally from up near Williamsport (and if you're not in PA you will have no idea where that is! ), and just love reading about people's travels in PA because I miss it so much!!

Also really enjoying reading of your travels to California! The Disney Family Museum is now on the "must visit" list!

 

[eandesmom]

I have the Night Circus on my kindle (thanks to Jackie's recommendation lol) and plan to read it on the trip.

I love fall as well and will bounce along with you in your pumpkin glory. I've decorated the house but alas, no pumpkins yet.

We don't have a Paper Source. We used to have Paper Zone, which sounds pretty similar but sadly, they went out of business about a year ago. Heartbreaking really.

 

[Flossbolna]

Just wanted to jump in quickly to say hi! I am reading along and am very much enjoying your California TR! I did a very similar trip, just the other direction in 2005. But we had more time and did it at a more leisurely pace and got to enjoy Big Sur for two days. Hearst Castle was spectacular. I think of it as the American version of Neuschwanstein.

I was supposed to be back in California this fall, but work did not cooperate...

 

[eandesmom]

It's all your fault.


We booked a couples getaway in Dec to San Fran last night! Ok just flights so far but my parents are in to watch the kids and we've got plane tickets.

AND

I got agreement to fit in the Walt Disney Family Museum and the Tea Garden.

I agreed to something plane related on return

Is it terrible that I've no idea what I agreed to?

 

[mnmrmustard]

I love the change of seasons and fall/halloween is a personal favorite. Thank you for helping me to get in the mood with your wonderful pictures and the story of your trip to Merryman Farms

The time is ticking down pretty quickly for our trips - only 20 days until we start leaving our countdown HP picture clues laying around the house

 

[inkedupmomma]

subbed! But haven't read much! Will be back! LOVE the owl stuff! Kayla is OBSESSSSSSSSED with owls!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I can't say that October makes me bouncy, but I do enjoy all the festive colors. Sometimes even of the color of the ski seems bluer as if I am looking at it through a filtered lens.

Yes the colors are really intense... like their super saturated with pigments ... I was feeling a bit unbouncy the last couple days --- too much rain and humidity...



And I do get a mad craving for the pumpkin cappucino at Wawa. I usually mix it with the pumpkin coffee so I can feel a little less guilty about drinking all those calories. I have never had the Starbucks pumpkin latte, but our vendor at work sells the Seatle's best brand of coffee and their pumpkin latte is to die for, so I'm thinking its pretty similar. Thank goodness they don't sell that stuff all year long.

Yes ... honestly some of those drinks really are more like desserts than a coffee... but they are really good treats on occasion... I don't usually like flavored coffee I usually like it straight up and fairly strong...(French Pressed is my favorite...) but in the fall through December all bets are off.. I did find some Pumpkin Flavored Dunkin donuts coffee at Target... that is really pretty good... Poor Eric who loathes flavored coffee had the misfortune of pouring himself a cup this past week and he was not happy when he starting drinking it... .....

Oh yes - I do plan to use my DVC points at the Grand California. I'm thinking maybe fall 2014. Always planning ahead.

You will love both the GC and Disneyland...Planning Dis vacations is a lifestyle choice for many of us... There should be a club for it... wait there is- it is called Disboards...

You are reading two of my favourite books from last year. I've been using the library a lot and I told my husband that I wouldn't buy any more books until we moved into our "forever house" unless I couldn't live without them because we already have sooo many books and I'm going to need a library room of my own. But after reading them I went out and bought both of these. You'll love them!

I am reading both of them now simultaneously and enjoying them very much .. We have created a library room (that doubles as a guest room on our first floor) because I too have a bit of a book addiction... and well they just start to add up and before you know it... I've tried to go on a book buying freeze and use the library also... but it is hard... I had a book tragedy two years ago when we had water damage in that room... I lost most of the books on one whole bookshelf... I was really crushed... homeowner's covered the room damage and we did get something towards the books but I hated loosing them...

And Paper Source does look so fun! We don't have any in Canada alas, so I'll have to check them out on our trip. Think there are any in Buffalo or near Vero in Florida?

I don't think so but you can order online... their things are really good quality... ... You probs have some cool Canadian paper/craft stores...???

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey there! Since you were so good to come visit me on my PTR...I figured I ought to say on yours! Loving it so far....all your great pics of your many trips....making me jealous! Especially the Cali ones. The farthest west I have been in Colorado. It's hard with a hubby that hates to fly

Thanks for coming over... If you have the desire to go to California- try to go....there is something for everyone ... Hmmm... there must be something there that your DH would want to see... you have to find their weakness... In addition to Disneyland...and of course who wouldn't want to go there, the coast is beautiful, you have San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego ...they're all so different -he's bound to like one of them...



So true! Been dealing with this alot lately

It's hard and a real "grown up" life lesson when you realize that you can't control others behavior... just the way you react to it and how you conduct yourself...



Also something I found out here. Love the TR/PTR threads, but some of the other boards can get rough I swear some people only come on here looking for a fight. Learned my lesson and now I don't stray from these boards

You know I've seen that "roughness' mentioned in some other trs/ptrs... I haven't seen it as much because I usually stay here and maybe sometimes in the dining/restaurant reviews when I'm curious...Wow... if I head into other parts of the boards I'll be careful...


This part actually made me tear up a little. My little guy just started Kindergarten this year and I can already see this in the future! But you seem to have a great attitude about it all and you are right, she had lots of time with you before David, so now this is his time.

Those early years are really special so enjoy them... Time seemed to really fly by with Ems in high school ... She's an awesome young woman and I know she's got a great head on her shoulder ... David is a delight in his own right and it'll be fun to do a trip with just him this time... whole new perspective...



Yay Maine Love it here...especially this time of the year!

Maine is lovely... I'd love to see more of it- I haven't been there in the fall before... I'll bet it's gorgous...



Good plan. Via Napoli is so amazingly yummy....you don't want to chance missing it.

No Way do I want to miss Via Napoli


Oh my gosh, you are so right! We went up to New Brunswick last summer and they were very very "police like" even at that tiny little crossing. They were asking my then 4 year old son all kinds of questions. Totally inappropriate in my opinion! He was so petrified of them that he wouldn't answer. They asked him his name and if we were his parents....I turned around to tell him it was okay to answer them and they yelled at me for it. Honestly....we teach our kids not to talk to strangers and now he is just supposed to give one all his information and chat them up?? It was horrible. But we made it through and glad to see you did too

I'm sorry that's awful...poor boy...I agree- great strategy...terrify the child and then expect him to cooperate... sigh... I can have a very dry sarcastic sense of humor - but I've learned to just chill in that type of situation so I don't wind up in border crossing jail or airport security jail or some horrible place like that... that would make the situation much worse to have the kids see their mother dragged off by security...



May I suggest Kona at the Poly?? My favorite breakfast ever! Yum! The Tonga Toast is famous, but I also love the Macademia Pineapple Pancakes...

Hmmm... the Kona... they do have really good breakfast... it's been years but that's a great idea... I saw your Pancakes...they did look good...

Okay, so all caught up now and subbed in....can't wait for more

Thanks...

Reading about your trip to get pumpkins has inspired me! I announced to my husband this morning as he was getting ready for work that we are going pumpkin picking and decorating the house for fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving this weekend! He is oddly (but wonderfully) as excited as I am this year!

ooo post pictures on your ptr- I can't get enough pumpkin pictures ... We're going to decorate for Halloween this weekend too...

You mentioned in your post about wanting to go to Bucks County to get pumpkins...is this Bucks County in PA by chance? I'm originally from up near Williamsport (and if you're not in PA you will have no idea where that is! ), and just love reading about people's travels in PA because I miss it so much!!

YES... The Bucks Country I'm talking about is in Pennsylvania... about an hour outside of Philadelphia... Yeah PA! (Granted it doesn't have the glamour of Florida or California... but it's very pretty during this time of year... where were you from originally?

Also really enjoying reading of your travels to California! The Disney Family Museum is now on the "must visit" list!

Glad to help anykind of Dis enabling...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I have the Night Circus on my kindle (thanks to Jackie's recommendation lol) and plan to read it on the trip.

LOL... I'm really enjoying it... she always has good recommendations... she should get a cutback from the publishers...

I love fall as well and will bounce along with you in your pumpkin glory. I've decorated the house but alas, no pumpkins yet.

Hmmm... I never thought of it but I wonder if there is anywhere in the US where there aren't pumpkins? That would be sad...

We don't have a Paper Source. We used to have Paper Zone, which sounds pretty similar but sadly, they went out of business about a year ago. Heartbreaking really.

That is sad...

Just wanted to jump in quickly to say hi! I am reading along and am very much enjoying your California TR! I did a very similar trip, just the other direction in 2005. But we had more time and did it at a more leisurely pace and got to enjoy Big Sur for two days. Hearst Castle was spectacular. I think of it as the American version of Neuschwanstein.

Hi there... How is everything across the Atlantic? Yes if possible Big Sur deserves more time... this was a quick trip down the coast and a compromise with Eric ... we had done it over more days before but for some reason he was in a hurry to get to LA... Yes I've only heard good things about Hearst Castle and Neuschwanstein...

I was supposed to be back in California this fall, but work did not cooperate...

I'm sorry that it didn't work out...maybe you'll be able to do a shorter trip somewhere in Germany or elsewhere in Europe??

It's all your fault.


We booked a couples getaway in Dec to San Fran last night! Ok just flights so far but my parents are in to watch the kids and we've got plane tickets.

AND

I got agreement to fit in the Walt Disney Family Museum and the Tea Garden.

I agreed to something plane related on return

Is it terrible that I've no idea what I agreed to?

HA... You didn't need much convincing... you were ride at the edge...you just needed a teeny little nudge...

I'll up any enabling that I might have been responsible and raise you one...

-the fabulous trip you guys have coming up...Remember Food and Wine... that you're sure to write fabulous trs about and make me feel that I need an October Disney trip next year or the following &

-the fact that you live in a part of the country that I reallllllyyyy want to visit... Hmmm Seattle and Mt. Ranier much? not to mention your relative proximity to Vancouver...


BTW...Congrats on your couples weekend... you'll have a fabulous time...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I love the change of seasons and fall/halloween is a personal favorite. Thank you for helping me to get in the mood with your wonderful pictures and the story of your trip to Merryman Farms

I love the change of seasons... it sets a whole rhythm to the year... (I feel a whole Circle of Life moment coming on here...

The time is ticking down pretty quickly for our trips - only 20 days until we start leaving our countdown HP picture clues laying around the house

I know!!! Your photos are awesome btw - I can't wait to see how long it takes for the girls to notice...

subbed! But haven't read much! Will be back! LOVE the owl stuff! Kayla is OBSESSSSSSSSED with owls!

glad you're here... Owls are awesome... I like Kayla more and more...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Its's 54 Days Until Our Trip...

&

That means... some sort of countdown...

But first, last night we went to see Frankenweenie in Imax...
We all liked it very much... but we are also big fans of Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride...

It is definitely very very quirky but so are all of Tim Burton's films...there were some very funny spoofs/jokes on the original Frankenstein as well a variety of other classic horror movie...and it also has that sensitivity in its main character, Victor, that most of Burton's films have...

When I ran into the rest room I asked Eric to take some photos of the posters hanging (I'm also a big fan of Burton's drawings)... Unfortunately I didn't check until this morning...

Awww...honey seriously... I love you but don't you know I might need to post this? ...





Anyhow...

In keeping with the 3 is a Magic Number

(at least for this trip)

I thought it would be fun over the next eight weeks

to have a Disney film night each week...

featuring

Disney Trios...

(I actually came up with a list of many more than I thought I would...)

Some are really obvious leading characters

and other having more supporting roles

But all are important to the flow of their stories...

The First Film was inspired by Dinner Ressies for our first evening...La Hacienda de San Angel...

(A restaurant that we've never been to before...)

Some Clues...

(For the record... I offered to make fajitas and I am a pretty good cook but the boys wanted Chipotle... )

Oh boy... that is just such a stereotypical and possibly sad representation of a really rich culture...if you are of Latino heritage-you have my apologies...I am slightly ashamed of myself...... but it kind of works for my purpose here...

Yes,

The first film is

The Three Caballeros...Donald, Jose Carioca and Panchito...

(and it actually is representative of all of South and Central America...)

Some of cartoons on this DVD are quite sweet... some had the mix of animation and live action-very progressive at the time...It was also pretty progressive that Disney had a whole crew of animators and artists go to Latin America to get inspiration from the culture...

and if I was going to be one of the Caballeros I would want Jose Carioca, the suave Parrot Brazilian night club singer

But am probably much closer to Donald...

(Panchito is a Mexican rooster who shots off his gun quite a bit...I'm a little unclear as to whether he's a gaucho or cowboy OR some sort of bandit?)

Anyhow while we were watching David and I made a pretty quick paper chain to start our 50 day countdown on Wednesday...

I used some Nautical themed paper in honor of our stay at the Beach Club... and we put on some Disney stickers on some of the links...

This is one of our cats, Teddy who is probably thinking about getting into the paper chain... His sister Alice is missing in action ... she's hiding out way more than usual today... I think we entertain our cats very much... we're like people tv for them...

I'll put it up and make a whole Disney shrine of sorts...which I'll post... and yes I've probably gone over the deep end....

I hope to post a little more either tomorrow or Monday about the Los Angeles portion of our Cali trip...

54 Day Dance... less than 8 weeks...

​

 

[DisMomAmy]

I finally found some time to get all caught up! I'm really enjoying your mini-trip reports... especially Quebec. You probably drove right through our area on your way up to Maine. I've only been to Quebec once, on a high school trip. Tim & I would love to plan a trip up there but we want to wait until the boys are a bit older. I think they would be bored. They need to go, go, go.

Your Disney plans look great too! It's such a nice time of year to go. We were there last year in mid-November so we just got a taste of the holidays.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I finally found some time to get all caught up! I'm really enjoying your mini-trip reports... especially Quebec. You probably drove right through our area on your way up to Maine. I've only been to Quebec once, on a high school trip. Tim & I would love to plan a trip up there but we want to wait until the boys are a bit older. I think they would be bored. They need to go, go, go.

Hey Amy, we love NH... we've been there 3-4 times... love the lakes and mountains...very pretty state Quebec was really fun... I think Ems def got more out of it though... David did enjoy being use his little bit of French...-he has it in school and he has an awesome accent... (his ability to mimic is uncanny), the countless crepes he got to eat and the exhibit on the Samurai...but I can't say I didn't bribe a bit with some well timed small toys, books and even candy...

Your Disney plans look great too! It's such a nice time of year to go. We were there last year in mid-November so we just got a taste of the holidays.

I'm really looking forward to the CP and the Osbourne lights... BTW...don't you have your girls trip coming up in 3 days or so? ... I hope you all have a fabulous time... Food and Wine and MNSSHP... amazing...

 

[MEK]

Woo Hoo for less than 8 weeks!

I love your movie night idea and I can't believe the boys wanted Chipolte over home cooking. Shame on them.

I'll be back later tonight to see your pics. I especially love any pic that has a cat in it.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

52 Days to Go

... and 2 days until we can start to cut the links on our chain...

Before that I thought I'd give more detail on our Cali trip last year...


I last left you in Big Sur...

Leaving the Ragged Point Inn

& getting ready to drive and become immersed in the Ultra Intensity that is

Los Angeles


Ah Los Angeles...

Hmmm... What to say about Los Angeles...?

To begin with, I can honestly say at this point that I truly like and enjoy my experiences in LA now that I understand it a bit better and embrace it on its own terms and not try to put my preconceived expectations on it....


The first time I went to LA (this last time was my 3rd time) I was quite frankly overwhelmed and I little bit underwhelmed.

I went with some kind of 1940s view of a Hollywood and Los Angeles that I guess in some was never was but always is...

I remember initially being very disoriented- it isn't at all like a traditional Northeastern City with a clear plan and a easily designated center-which of course is what I'm used to, also the way most-well all of the European Cities I've been too have been laid out...(even San Francisco has a much more traditional layout)

Having said that, there is a vibrancy and creativity there that if you step back and look for... you can find....
In the Architecture, the Art, the clothing and the food...( I think because "LA" is a newer city-compared to New York -in some ways it has a freedom to not have to be bound by traditions and can break out and being really innovative...)

&

The Pacific Ocean is right there...

&


And there is movie history all around to be found....


So onto our experience with LA this year...

The traffic was wretched getting to LA... it actually took us at least double the time I allotted... so we didn't get into the City until after lunch starving and I grabbed my itinerary and found the first place on my list -Lemonade... (Lemonade is an awesome chain -maybe about 5 of them now) that is set up like a really cool cafeteria -Wish I had pictures -was too hungry to think... They have lots of healthy really great salad, sandwiches, soups, a couple of entrees... and yes Lemonade...

We went to the one on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice-which we would be coming back to in two days to check out the beach and the whole Venice Boardwalk...

After we engulfed our food we checked in and all kind of crashed....at our hotel... The Hotel Angelo... in fact we hadn't done this yet on this trip... but we kind of all just wanted to hang out and watch some tv and a movie and swim... our lunch was late and filling enough that none of us really wanted dinner but we did want

ice cream....

(Now being a huge fan of both the Cooking Channel and the Food Channel-wait do I have that right? hmmm anyway one or two of my favorite shows are Unique Eats and Unique Sweets...LOVE THEM... if you haven't seen them and like food... take a look...each episode features about 5-6 dishes/desserts that you can get in places all over the country...-I've used it to try new places in New York, DC, Boston, SF and now LA... so anyway-there was a really awesome ice cream place that I wanted to try but was just too tired to move... Hatter being the awesomest husband and greatest guy was willing to bring some back... and I believe I requested a milkshake that was fabulous-creme brulee flavored...Rabbit got somekind of small sundae and Alice had a chocolate covered banana -she sometimes has lactose issues and I think we were out of Lactaid.... anyhow...It was all quite yummy... and we all went to sleep knowing we had reservations for the Warner Bros Studios Tour at 9:20 the next morning...

Well...

Sometime in the middle of the night... I wasn't feeling well at all... it wasn't the ice cream's fault... It was just basically time for me to have my "this vacation is longer than a week-almost two weeks- and that means I have to get sick at least once...)

So sadly I had to miss the Warner's Bros Tour that I had booked tickets for three months ahead and that everyone came back saying it was just awesome...
To make matters even worse, I had made lunch ressies for a place called Pizzeria Mozza which we'd been to before and I'd absolutely loved...

I will throw in a few photos they took but not entirely sure what's going on...(even though they told me about the tour and its awesomeness several times...I woudn't know...)

Sigh...well they came back after lunch and I was feeling a bit better so I was able to go out in the afternoon with them...

We were going to Mann's Chinese Theatre & the Hollywood and Highland Center and just drive around and see some of those iconic sites...

The first time we went to the Hollywood Walk of Fame I was a little less than impressed... I had read that it was a little "seedy" on the edges but I couldn't really picture it...(I know it's naive but having been to the Great Movie Ride...well I kinda thought-well you know...but it's not exactly like that...

This time because I knew what to expect I was much more into it and more warmly predisposed....

We also went next door to the Hollywood & Highland Center which had the Kodak theatre attached to it-that's where they do the Academy Awards show...(You can do a tour of it- but we didn't) H & H is really a glorified mall but I think its campy and interesting and over the top plus you can get a view of the Hollywood sign there...

(We were teasing Eric later that he was Papa Crepe...)

(Ok... you have to trust me but Em's head is kind of blocking the Hollywood sign...)

(That's the Disney El Capitan behind Emily across the street...(with the Soda Fountain and Gift Store attached...





We did the tour inside Mann's theatre and honestly that made a huge difference for me... I'd been in the Disney restored El Capitan across the street and it was stunning and the inside of Mann's didn't dissapoint... unfortunately they were showing a film at the time so we mostly saw some of the other spaces... There are so many glamorous period details in this place...

Afterwards... since I was still feeling a little woozy, we grabbed dinner at the Counter...which is a great upscale burger place... you make your own creations on an order form and they make them up for you... great sweet potato fries and bison burgers... all their burgers are good including the tuna...

and went back to the hotel to swim and relax because the next day was going to be packed...




Next Up: Disney Concert Hall, the Getty Villa and Venice Beach...​

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Woo Hoo for less than 8 weeks!

I love your movie night idea and I can't believe the boys wanted Chipolte over home cooking. Shame on them.

I'll be back later tonight to see your pics. I especially love any pic that has a cat in it.

Hey Mary Ellen, I think I was writing while you were posting...David is off from school today for Columbus Day so I'm home...

Thanks on the movie nights... I think it'll be fun... and thanks for commiserating on my Chipolte dilemma... actually I like Chipolte for fast food-its fresh and relatively healthy but really...I'm a pretty good cook...I was a little insulted...

My cats Teddy and Alice are brother and sister and about 3 years old... they're both cute but Teddy is definitely a pretty boy... He'd be a bit of a dandy if he was human... actually I think he's a bit of a dandy even as a cat...

 

[eandesmom]

HA... You didn't need much convincing... you were ride at the edge...you just needed a teeny little nudge...

I'll up any enabling that I might have been responsible and raise you one...

-the fabulous trip you guys have coming up...Remember Food and Wine... that you're sure to write fabulous trs about and make me feel that I need an October Disney trip next year or the following &

-the fact that you live in a part of the country that I reallllllyyyy want to visit... Hmmm Seattle and Mt. Ranier much? not to mention your relative proximity to Vancouver...

BTW...Congrats on your couples weekend... you'll have a fabulous time...

You are right, I didn't need much convincing. Now to figure out where to stay. We know where we WANT to stay but aren't thrilled with the price point of it.

You do need to visit Seattle. Too bad Em isn't interested in the UW!

so we didn't get into the City until after lunch starving and I grabbed my itinerary and found the first place on my list -Lemonade... (Lemonade is an awesome chain -maybe about 5 of them now) that is set up like a really cool cafeteria -Wish I had pictures -was too hungry to think... They have lots of healthy really great salad, sandwiches, soups, a couple of entrees... and yes Lemonade...
Afterwards... since I was still feeling a little woozy, we grabbed dinner at the Counter...which is a great upscale burger place... you make your own creations on an order form and they make them up for you... great sweet potato fries and bison burgers... all their burgers are good including the tuna...

and went back to the hotel to swim and relax because the next day was going to be packed...




Next Up: Disney Concert Hall, the Getty Villa and Venice Beach...[/CENTER]

Some yummy sounding places I will need to remember! I haven't done the whole walk of fame, etc stuff since I was little and the kids never have.

Hmmn.....

 

[Flossbolna]

You did more or less the same stuff as what we did on our trip to California in 2005!! And I totally get what you are saying about LA. Originally I had no intention of going there because I had heard so many people coming back with just what you felt like after your first trip. But my friend said that if we are there we need to see at least some of it. And it was just so wonderful, just as you said so vibrant and creative and not at all bound by traditions etc. I came back telling every one that the thing I loved about LA was how "modern" it was! We did not do as much interesting dining as you did, but we stayed in hotel just behind the Kodak Theatre, so did quite a bit of sightseeing there, took the WB studios tour (I guess I better don't tell you how awesome it was... So sorry that you felt lousy during vacation!!), went to the beach and to the Getty museum.