LIVE REPORT! Ultra-exclusive ABD (Adventures by Davey) trip (Update! 8/22 post #77)
- Thread starter Mouse Skywalker
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Tink rules
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You awake yet??? Come on.. the day is young and Daveywood is calling you!!! 
Mouse Skywalker
<font color=green>The Force is strong with this Po
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I'm awake, but the rest of the family isn't! Yes, I can feel the call of Daveywood!You awake yet??? Come on.. the day is young and Daveywood is calling you!!!
Cue the angels singing...
OK, I gotta use the photo while I can.
On tap for today is the Getty Museum - where my sister-in-law works. We're going to get a tour by the "Cool Aunt."
Tink rules
<font color=teal>The kids in my family sometimes t
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You know... COOL AUNTS RULE!!!! (I should know... I am one!!!) 
Mouse Skywalker
<font color=green>The Force is strong with this Po
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Day 2 of our extreme ABD, Adventures by Davey, trip was a full day at The Getty Center an art museum, built from marble blocks, perched high in the hills overlooking Los Angeles. This is where the Cool Aunt works, and she was excited to have us come out to visit.
We arrived, and Evie (DD10) was quick to point out the Boy with Frog statue at the entrance could use some shorts. Yes, The Getty is a place where you can get quite an education in anatomy
The building of The Getty itself is gorgeous, a beautiful work of architecture that competes with the beauty of the art inside. You flow from inside spaces to outside spaces easily. An example of the views you get of the LA from the overlooks of The Getty. Looking west, you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
My favorite part of the museum was the outdoor Central Garden filled with flowing water, flowers, and ornately designed hedges.
Sculptures ring the garden to form Art over LA
There was also a neatly manicured lawn where children would roll down the hill. My girls took the opportunity to sunbathe. Come on! Get up! Its only Day 2 of ABD! You cant handle the extreme ABD!
Inside, my favorite gallery was the paintings especially the Impressionist Gallery. My favorite painting was Edouard Manets The Rue Mosnier with Flags from 1878.
This was the most expensive painting in the gallery Turners Modern Rome Campo Vaccino from 1839. It was purchased for the Getty in 2010 for a record $45 million dollars.
Around 3:00p the girls were art saturated and started to trudge through the museum. Im tired, my feet hurt, stop touching me Heads hung low, and we knew it was time to leave. No more art would be absorbed.
On the drive home, we stopped at nubi, a frozen yogurt place, near the Cool Aunts place. This place has amazing restorative powers, and seemed to instantly bring our children back to life.
They even had a delicious Dole Whip that rivaled what you might find in a Disney Park.
Thats it for Day 2. Today, Day 3 of our ABD Trip, were driving down to San Diego for a visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Very excited!
We arrived, and Evie (DD10) was quick to point out the Boy with Frog statue at the entrance could use some shorts. Yes, The Getty is a place where you can get quite an education in anatomy
The building of The Getty itself is gorgeous, a beautiful work of architecture that competes with the beauty of the art inside. You flow from inside spaces to outside spaces easily. An example of the views you get of the LA from the overlooks of The Getty. Looking west, you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
My favorite part of the museum was the outdoor Central Garden filled with flowing water, flowers, and ornately designed hedges.
Sculptures ring the garden to form Art over LA
There was also a neatly manicured lawn where children would roll down the hill. My girls took the opportunity to sunbathe. Come on! Get up! Its only Day 2 of ABD! You cant handle the extreme ABD!
Inside, my favorite gallery was the paintings especially the Impressionist Gallery. My favorite painting was Edouard Manets The Rue Mosnier with Flags from 1878.
This was the most expensive painting in the gallery Turners Modern Rome Campo Vaccino from 1839. It was purchased for the Getty in 2010 for a record $45 million dollars.
Around 3:00p the girls were art saturated and started to trudge through the museum. Im tired, my feet hurt, stop touching me Heads hung low, and we knew it was time to leave. No more art would be absorbed.
On the drive home, we stopped at nubi, a frozen yogurt place, near the Cool Aunts place. This place has amazing restorative powers, and seemed to instantly bring our children back to life.
They even had a delicious Dole Whip that rivaled what you might find in a Disney Park.
Thats it for Day 2. Today, Day 3 of our ABD Trip, were driving down to San Diego for a visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Very excited!
WaltD4Me
<font color=royalblue>PS...I tried asking for wate
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Wow...the Getty looks amazing. What an incredible view. Cool Aunt has a cool job! Great pics, thanks for sharing! Can't wait to hear about Safari Park...have a great day!
PS....Are you going to the Walt Disney Family Museum on your adventure?
PS....Are you going to the Walt Disney Family Museum on your adventure?
Buttercup26
Mouseketeer
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Sounds fun! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to hear more...
Mouse Skywalker
<font color=green>The Force is strong with this Po
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Thanks for asking about my leg Amanda. It's holding up pretty well. For the most part it doesn't give me any trouble - except for running. I take lots of ibuprofen though.
Mouse Skywalker
<font color=green>The Force is strong with this Po
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On Friday, August 12th we were scheduled to check in to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for a "Roar N' Snore" camping sleepover. We decided to hit the road for a leisurely drive from LA to San Diego.
Stopped at Laguna Beach along the way for lunch. A simply gorgeous sandy beach with rocks and coves.
We saw 4 dolphins swimming in the water just beyond the breakers. And a rock island off the shore was populated with seals.
For lunch we found the "Pizza Lounge" with all types of California pizza – I just had to try the chicken and peaches slice, and it wasn't the abomination some East Coasters would have you believe.
We continued further south along CA Route 1, and had to stop at Dana Point. My wife, Dana, had to have a t-shirt from Dana Point, and we found the “Killer Dana” surf shop fit the bill.
Made it to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park around 4:00pm.
We checked in for our sleepover camping experience “Roar N’ Snore” or as our family liked to call it – "pick your own dinner" safari. We envisioned driving along the savanna and pointing to the zebra we'd like to have them prepare us for dinner. Mmmmmm zebra...
Of course, like everywhere for our ABD "Adventures by Davey" trip, they rolled out the welcome mat for us...
Continued in the next post...
Stopped at Laguna Beach along the way for lunch. A simply gorgeous sandy beach with rocks and coves.
We saw 4 dolphins swimming in the water just beyond the breakers. And a rock island off the shore was populated with seals.
For lunch we found the "Pizza Lounge" with all types of California pizza – I just had to try the chicken and peaches slice, and it wasn't the abomination some East Coasters would have you believe.
We continued further south along CA Route 1, and had to stop at Dana Point. My wife, Dana, had to have a t-shirt from Dana Point, and we found the “Killer Dana” surf shop fit the bill.
Made it to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park around 4:00pm.
We checked in for our sleepover camping experience “Roar N’ Snore” or as our family liked to call it – "pick your own dinner" safari. We envisioned driving along the savanna and pointing to the zebra we'd like to have them prepare us for dinner. Mmmmmm zebra...
Of course, like everywhere for our ABD "Adventures by Davey" trip, they rolled out the welcome mat for us...
Continued in the next post...
Mouse Skywalker
<font color=green>The Force is strong with this Po
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Once we checked in at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park we were led back to the Roar N' Snore campground. Dinner was waiting for us
hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken. We couldn't believe there was no zebra or tiger on the menu.
After dinner we settled into our campsite overlooking the East Africa savanna. Just an amazing view... we could see giraffes, rhinos, gazelles, and all sorts of animals right in front of us.
We were escorted on guided backstage tours by a zookeeper where we saw tigers...
At the California condors exhibit some people were grossed out at how the condors were scavengers, where Evie (DD10) piped up we eat dead animals! We were able to meet and pet a desert tortoise and a South African Spring Hare (I thought it looked like a Jackelope), and the elephant enclosure visit. Interestingly, we learned that Steven Spielberg toured the Safari Park and based a lot of the look of "Jurassic Park" on it, there were even some scenes filmed in the park.
After the guided walks it was time for a campfire and smores.
Before "lights out" there was once last, optional walk to the lion enclosure. My daughters and I took the walk, and it was amazing. We went inside the lion building, a male and 2 females were on the other side of the glass, and the male started roaring. It was powerful and scary to be that close to an adult male lion actually roaring at us.
Now it was 10:30pm and time for bed. Have to say there was a little more snoring than roaring heard during the night, and it wasn't coming from me.
Saturday, Aug 13th
Wakeup call was at 6:15am... 6:15!!! Actually, it wasn't that hard to get up.
We had breakfast, and off for our behind the scenes tour. We were led by a zookeeper through the East Africa Savanna exhibit. We walked where the public could not go, and were able to get right up close to the animal enclosures. All the animals were active, could see giraffes, cheetahs, a mother black rhino and her baby.
We exit past the lion enclosure, the male and 2 females were out investigating perfume the zookeepers sprayed in the enclosure Paris Hiltons Just Me. The lions were very active, playing, sunning.
We had our final animal encounter with an American alligator, and was able to pet it.
The Roar N Snore camping experience ended at 9:30am. We were escorted to front of the park to pick up our luggage, and were allowed to re-enter the park to stay as long as we wanted.
One thing we had not seen while camping were the gorillas, so we headed to the gorilla enclosure.
There was a 30 year old male sliverback gorilla
Mother gorilla was holding her baby (Monroe) who was born in June 2011
We learned the mother hasnt let go of the baby since it was born.
After we left the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, we drove into San Diego to the Harbor took a brief tour of the WWII Aircraft Carrier USS Midway.
We then took a relaxing guided tour of the harbor via boat past Coronado Island, under the Coronado Bay Bridge, and past the naval yard.
We had a full day, and the family was beat. We were able to check into our San Diego hotel, and had dinner at a diner named Rickys Family Restaurant
Rickys had fresh and hearty food. In fact the food was so fresh that the gum on the bottom of the table is still squishy."
Next up... SeaWorld San Diego
After dinner we settled into our campsite overlooking the East Africa savanna. Just an amazing view... we could see giraffes, rhinos, gazelles, and all sorts of animals right in front of us.
We were escorted on guided backstage tours by a zookeeper where we saw tigers...
At the California condors exhibit some people were grossed out at how the condors were scavengers, where Evie (DD10) piped up we eat dead animals! We were able to meet and pet a desert tortoise and a South African Spring Hare (I thought it looked like a Jackelope), and the elephant enclosure visit. Interestingly, we learned that Steven Spielberg toured the Safari Park and based a lot of the look of "Jurassic Park" on it, there were even some scenes filmed in the park.
After the guided walks it was time for a campfire and smores.
Before "lights out" there was once last, optional walk to the lion enclosure. My daughters and I took the walk, and it was amazing. We went inside the lion building, a male and 2 females were on the other side of the glass, and the male started roaring. It was powerful and scary to be that close to an adult male lion actually roaring at us.
Now it was 10:30pm and time for bed. Have to say there was a little more snoring than roaring heard during the night, and it wasn't coming from me.
Saturday, Aug 13th
Wakeup call was at 6:15am... 6:15!!!
Actually, it wasn't that hard to get up.We had breakfast, and off for our behind the scenes tour. We were led by a zookeeper through the East Africa Savanna exhibit. We walked where the public could not go, and were able to get right up close to the animal enclosures. All the animals were active, could see giraffes, cheetahs, a mother black rhino and her baby.
We exit past the lion enclosure, the male and 2 females were out investigating perfume the zookeepers sprayed in the enclosure Paris Hiltons Just Me. The lions were very active, playing, sunning.
We had our final animal encounter with an American alligator, and was able to pet it.
The Roar N Snore camping experience ended at 9:30am. We were escorted to front of the park to pick up our luggage, and were allowed to re-enter the park to stay as long as we wanted.
One thing we had not seen while camping were the gorillas, so we headed to the gorilla enclosure.
There was a 30 year old male sliverback gorilla
Mother gorilla was holding her baby (Monroe) who was born in June 2011
We learned the mother hasnt let go of the baby since it was born.
After we left the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, we drove into San Diego to the Harbor took a brief tour of the WWII Aircraft Carrier USS Midway.
We then took a relaxing guided tour of the harbor via boat past Coronado Island, under the Coronado Bay Bridge, and past the naval yard.
We had a full day, and the family was beat. We were able to check into our San Diego hotel, and had dinner at a diner named Rickys Family Restaurant
Rickys had fresh and hearty food. In fact the food was so fresh that the gum on the bottom of the table is still squishy."
Next up... SeaWorld San Diego
Peaches on pizza!?!?!
Tink rules
<font color=teal>The kids in my family sometimes t
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great update!!!
6:30??? that's 9:30 in Upstate NY time!!!
6:30??? that's 9:30 in Upstate NY time!!!
WaltD4Me
<font color=royalblue>PS...I tried asking for wate
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It's probably just the lighting, but the chicken on the pizza looks a tad pink-ish, making it look like salmon and peaches pizza. Yuck.
The sleepover safari sounds very cool....except for that 6:15am wakeup.
The sleepover safari sounds very cool....except for that 6:15am wakeup.
Disneygrl36
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Love the concept of this trippie Dave! Very funny stuff.
The Getty looked amazing. The safari park sleep over experience surely made you the "cool Dad" with your girls.
Can't wait for more!
The Getty looked amazing. The safari park sleep over experience surely made you the "cool Dad" with your girls.
Can't wait for more!
I'm glad to hear the leg is healing. It must be super frustrating for an active person like you to have such a bad injury!
I love that Evie told everyone that they also eat dead animals!!!
my kind of girl!
Your overnight sounds amazing!
Amanda
I love that Evie told everyone that they also eat dead animals!!!
my kind of girl!Your overnight sounds amazing!
Amanda
connie1042
DIS Veteran
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Love San Diego. Lived there for a few years. Have fun. Can't wait to hear more.
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