California Dreamin'-A 14 Day Odyssey to San Fran,Yosemite & DL! 8/2013 COMPLETE!1/9!!

[ProudMommyof2]

WOW! so incredibly beautiful!! I just love reading your TRs for the great insight and tips. May I ask a question?

Trying to decide btw a trip much like this one vs Hawaii for summer 2015. Which would you do first if you had the option? My big hesitation re: Hawaii is the flight. RI to Florida is the farthest my kids have flown. I am wondering if doing a west coast trip first is smarter?

Thanks for any insight and for taking the time to share your wonderful trips!
Pam

 

[podsnel]

I am thoroughly enjoying your TRs - both this one and the New Years Fantasy TR. Keep it coming!!

Jodie

Thanks Jodie! I love writing them-love reliving the trips-really it's alot of fun writing TRs (must be- I would not have written so many if it weren't!).

WOW! so incredibly beautiful!! I just love reading your TRs for the great insight and tips. May I ask a question?

Thank you and of course!

Trying to decide btw a trip much like this one vs Hawaii for summer 2015. Which would you do first if you had the option? My big hesitation re: Hawaii is the flight. RI to Florida is the farthest my kids have flown. I am wondering if doing a west coast trip first is smarter?

Thanks for any insight and for taking the time to share your wonderful trips!
Pam

Hawaii is hands down my favorite place on earth. When we went (the summer before this one) it was the furthest my kids had ever flown, too. Still is! But the flight was direct to HNL, it took 10 1/2 hours, and it REALLY was not bad at all- I guess when you are mentally prepared that you will be in the plane for the day you are more comfortable with it. We were lucky enough to be able to use miles for that trip, but we did upgrade to Premium seats for extra $$- so we had lots of legroom, our own tv screens with tons of programming and loads of movies- it REALLY was better than I thought (and my kids would say the same). They played games on their phones, ate some food, watched some movies- really pretty much what they do all the time, except on an airplane instead of downstairs in the dungeon, lol! They would also say they liked the Hawaii trip more than California. BOTH trips were great- but Hawaii is...Hawaii! It is pure paradise. Especially Kauai- and Maui (which we went to on our honeymoon). If the flying thing is the only thing holding you back, I would just go for it- really not THAT much farther!

I hope you will let me know what you decide! Clearly- we would do either vacation again- BOTH are EXCELLENT for families, I think.

 

[englishrose47]

The views are breathtaking !! Afternoon Tea as welll Oh my we are getting fancy !!!

 

[RGirl]

Well, with you flying off on multiple locations, it looks like I managed to forget to come in here and check for updates! Thanks for checking in on my TR!

I love the hotel on the way to Yosemite - places like that are so fun. It feels great to do something a little different from the usual city hotels.

A PAY PHONE?????

The Yosemite pictures are just amazing. The lodge is beautiful too, and the room looks pretty huge. It’s so weird to me to be seeing these kinds of pics on the DIS - it’s so West, so home to me.

OMG - the dirty feet pic! You should have posted a warning or something!

I gotta tell you - I am so impressed at how y’all make the most of your vacation. I can’t believe all the different things you did (and I’m sure will do in future updates). Don’t you ever get tired????

 

[chattadisser]

What an awesome update! I think the hotel looks wonderful...it's smack dab inside one of the most beautiful places on earth! I can't wait to take this trip when my girls are a little older.

I like to think of the dirty feet picture as just an example of an active day!! I tell my girls, if you come home dirty then it means you've been having a good time.

Christine

 

[eandesmom]

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Especially the feet. We are Keen fans...I know the look of those feet well on hikes. But they rock.

LOVE the bridge pictures, what a lovely drive in and I think it was worth every and any pennies to stay there. Cute tea.

But I really love...

ranger duck.

So gorgeous, worth all that white knuckle driving for sure. What an experience and kids old enough to remember!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I'd so stay at Awanhee, love hotels like that. When in Williamsburg we stayed in the old buildings. For the price they weren't that posh, but to stay where Thomas Jeferson stayed when he attended William & Mary meant so much.

I would love to stay at the lodge at the Grand Canyon, but the wait is so far out.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I love the "feel" of this place. Maybe it reminds me of places I've been as a kid. I know the Awahnee isn't glamorous, but I do love the kitchy oldtime feel. Thanks for sharing. Cool that you got to take a tour!

 

[rentayenta]

Jelly.


Beautiful photos. Dirty feet. Lovely hotel. And I agree, you cannot beat the location.

 

[pharmjenn]

I just got caught up on the last 2 months of posts. I missed a lot.
Reading that you stopped at Red Robin on the way out, I thought to myself, that is probably Pleasanton. Then the next photos of the pass over to Stockton and I knew exactly where you were.
Can't wait to hear about your dinner. I have had the weekend brunch a few times, and it is incredible. Never stayed at the Ahwahnee though, we camped or stayed offsite. How incredible.

 

[dvc4life]

That place looks amazing. And one of the last photos reminded me of a Dirty Dancing type resort. People sitting out on the lawn, wandering around, enjoying! What fun.

 

[Shazzasmd]

Great report. Makes me want to visit California, and stay at The Awahnee!

 

[scottny]

Gorgeous photos from your hike.
The bathroom was very nice.
YIKES! Those feet. LOL
The tour looked so nice.
I am caught up again.

 

[dizneeat]

Hi Ellen!
All caught up here. Your TR brings back so many wonderful memories for us as we toured some of the NPs in the west in the 1990s.

 

[pillow]

I was tickled (my grandma's word) to learn recently that I could DOWNLOAD library books from my local library . . . FREE!! Yippee. I didn't even have to get out of my chair, and I could read all the Jack Reacher books I wanted, and I didn't even have to pay a download charge (I like free. I am cheap). Well . . . I downloaded my first book (yep - Jack Reacher series), and a few days later, I started enjoying reading about my favorite hunky character. One day, I went logged on to my ipad to find that my book had been snatched away from me! It was only a 1 week loan - boo. Now I have to wait until the current reader is finished (I am on the waiting list) before I can finish my book. Unfortunately, I am not a very patient person.

I'm telling you this cause I'd love it if you would HURRY IT UP, WOMAN! I need something to read!!

Jodie

 

[DWGal210]

So, I thought I posted but I guess not. I am getting caught up on your TR and LOVING IT so far!! I will go back to read more but wanted to let you know I was here!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

The scene of the future crime...

Was this luxurious? No. But it was unique, and it was rustic and nice, I thought (The Ahwahnee gets shot down alot of TA- mostly because you are paying Four Seasons prices and not getting Four Seasons luxury- but really? This is an historic hotel in the middle of one of America's finest parks- a worthy trade for luxury, I think).

Looks great to me. But then again, I like rustic.

We saw some bikers go over this bridge- I was VERY jelly!

Mmmm...jelly.

I bet you ran back to get Timmy on a bike again.

Love the scenery!

 

[podsnel]

The views are breathtaking !! Afternoon Tea as welll Oh my we are getting fancy !!!

Of COURSE fancy- pointed my pinky AND EVERYTHING when I ate my chocolate chip cookie!

Well, with you flying off on multiple locations, it looks like I managed to forget to come in here and check for updates! Thanks for checking in on my TR!

Helloooooooooo Roni!

I love the hotel on the way to Yosemite - places like that are so fun. It feels great to do something a little different from the usual city hotels.

Hotel Charlotte is SO CUTE!!!! We loved that town- and I would go back ESPECIALLY to see the very, very nice people who live there!

A PAY PHONE?????

I KNOW!

The Yosemite pictures are just amazing. The lodge is beautiful too, and the room looks pretty huge. It’s so weird to me to be seeing these kinds of pics on the DIS - it’s so West, so home to me.

Well, ya know, I'm a different kind of DISer.

OMG - the dirty feet pic! You should have posted a warning or something!

Totally made me LOL on that comment- THANKS for the giggle!

I gotta tell you - I am so impressed at how y’all make the most of your vacation. I can’t believe all the different things you did (and I’m sure will do in future updates). Don’t you ever get tired????

Thanks (again)- yea, sure- I get tired- we get tired- you will see a LOT of down time for some (not me, of course ) coming soon.

What an awesome update! I think the hotel looks wonderful...it's smack dab inside one of the most beautiful places on earth! I can't wait to take this trip when my girls are a little older.

YES!! FANTASTIC choice!

I like to think of the dirty feet picture as just an example of an active day!! I tell my girls, if you come home dirty then it means you've been having a good time.

Christine

LOL- It is all relative-

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Especially the feet. We are Keen fans...I know the look of those feet well on hikes. But they rock.

I KNOW! Best hiking shoes ever- trying to figure out what we need for Alaska-

LOVE the bridge pictures, what a lovely drive in and I think it was worth every and any pennies to stay there. Cute tea.

Thanks girlfriend, i totally agree-

But I really love...

ranger duck.

CRAP! I knew I should have asked for another!

So gorgeous, worth all that white knuckle driving for sure. What an experience and kids old enough to remember!

Gotta go back with your awesome fam, my friend- Can't wait til you write about it!

I'd so stay at Awanhee, love hotels like that. When in Williamsburg we stayed in the old buildings. For the price they weren't that posh, but to stay where Thomas Jeferson stayed when he attended William & Mary meant so much.

Where did you stay, Doris? Evie is going and would love to know!

I would love to stay at the lodge at the Grand Canyon, but the wait is so far out.

ALWAYS keep checking and be vigilant- Joan got it (I wanna say) 6 months out. People cancel EVERYDAY.

 

[franandaj]

The room looks very nice, I'm not sure why folks give it grief. You have to pay for natural beauty!

The little hike sounds nice. I'm hoping that we can get there next year and enjoy all the natural beauty. I'm looking forward to hearing about your wonderful dinner!

 

[podsnel]

I love the "feel" of this place. Maybe it reminds me of places I've been as a kid. I know the Awahnee isn't glamorous, but I do love the kitchy oldtime feel. Thanks for sharing. Cool that you got to take a tour!

I thought it was so nice, too- stay tuned- there will be more tours-

Jelly.


Beautiful photos. Dirty feet. Lovely hotel. And I agree, you cannot beat the location.

It was extremely wonderful! Hey- isn't tomorrow March? Doing anything special in March?

I just got caught up on the last 2 months of posts. I missed a lot.
Reading that you stopped at Red Robin on the way out, I thought to myself, that is probably Pleasanton. Then the next photos of the pass over to Stockton and I knew exactly where you were.
Can't wait to hear about your dinner. I have had the weekend brunch a few times, and it is incredible. Never stayed at the Ahwahnee though, we camped or stayed offsite. How incredible.

That's so funny! Is that right near you? We considered doing the brunch- but decided we would rather explore the park when we got there. It does look impressive, tho!

That place looks amazing. And one of the last photos reminded me of a Dirty Dancing type resort. People sitting out on the lawn, wandering around, enjoying! What fun.

It did have that feel- like you were at a REALLY nice summer camp-

Great report. Makes me want to visit California, and stay at The Awahnee!

Great idea!

Gorgeous photos from your hike.
The bathroom was very nice.
YIKES! Those feet. LOL
The tour looked so nice.
I am caught up again.

Wait til you see the pics from our last day- unreal.The bathroom is going to have a little accident.