Summer Vacation Time - San Diego, Hotel Del Coronado, Catalina, and of course DL

[NLD]

Where are you staying in Yosemite. We did that trip (of course with Disneyland for a half and half stay) a few years back. Yosemite is heaven on Earth. One of my most favorite places I've ever been. We have stayed in Monterey twice as well. In Yosemite we did the Yosemite View Lodge which is just outside the park by a mile or so. In Monterey we have done the Holiday Inn just north and Sanctuary Beach Resort (highly recommend) which is also just a few miles north of Monterey (think a couple of exits up). Have you ever been before? What are you trying to see?

Hi, yes I've been before, but dh and dd have not. (Lived in So Cal the first ten years of my life, and when I was in college family took a couple trips back to central and southern CA.)

Yosemite is gorgeous, I am hoping dh falls in love. We just don't have "real" mountains on the east coast! Have to figure out a way to get an ultra wide angle lens before the trip...

Thanks for the hotel ideas. For Yosemite, we're staying at the Wawona inside the park near the south entrance / Mariposa grove.

Not sure yet on Monterey, so will look into your ideas. At this point it looks like we'll have about three full days in Yosemite and one full day in Monterey. Hoping to see the Monterey aquarium, just do some gazing at the ocean and then drive down PCH a little.

 

[Chicago Mo]

you constantly amaze me with your shots!!! Beautiful family too!!!
What lens are you using?

 

[DisneytheKid]

Great thread!

 

[3inthefamily]

Thanks for the elevator tip!

Just found out that one of my favorite old movies, Some Like it Hot was filmed there! I heard they have a little museum on sight...have you seen it?

 

[KCmike]

Hi Mike

So glad to have found your trip report! I have been marvelling at your photos on the Photography board for a while now so very happy I get to see more!
I too have a Canon 60D which I will be taking to Disneyland in October. My hubby just bought it for me so I would have plenty of time to get to know it before we leave. I used to work as a photographer about 20 years ago, so a DSLR is a whole new world to me! Happy to say I am out and about and have taken some amazing shots so far! that 10-22 lens is something I may just ahve to start saving for. I have 2 lenses so far and am really hoping for a third before we go.

Can't wait for the rest of the report and more of those amazing pics!

Sue

Thanks for joining Sue. Love my 60d so far. What two lenses do you have?

DL in October is so much fun. You will get to see the Haunted Mansion overlay.

 

[KCmike]

you constantly amaze me with your shots!!! Beautiful family too!!!
What lens are you using?

Combination of different lenses (10-22, 18-135IS, 55-250IS, 50mm 1.8).
Thanks so much for the kind comments.

 

[KCmike]

Hi, yes I've been before, but dh and dd have not. (Lived in So Cal the first ten years of my life, and when I was in college family took a couple trips back to central and southern CA.)

Yosemite is gorgeous, I am hoping dh falls in love. We just don't have "real" mountains on the east coast! Have to figure out a way to get an ultra wide angle lens before the trip...

Thanks for the hotel ideas. For Yosemite, we're staying at the Wawona inside the park near the south entrance / Mariposa grove.

Not sure yet on Monterey, so will look into your ideas. At this point it looks like we'll have about three full days in Yosemite and one full day in Monterey. Hoping to see the Monterey aquarium, just do some gazing at the ocean and then drive down PCH a little.

Sounds fun. Love the Monterey area and that drive is amazing.

 

[KCmike]

Great thread!

Thanks!

 

[KCmike]

Thanks for the elevator tip!

Just found out that one of my favorite old movies, Some Like it Hot was filmed there! I heard they have a little museum on sight...have you seen it?

They use to show it non stop on one of the channels. It wasn't on this past time. There are several things in one of the shops about the movie though. It really is a fun movie. Some of the older movies are famous and well received and yet I don't care for them all that well. This is not one of them. It has to be one of my all time favorites! It is so hilarious.

 

[KCmike]

Here is a link for a free $2 MP3 Credit on Amazon. Here is the link:

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/76752/amazon.com-2-amazon-mp3-credit

 

[KCmike]

One more deal I found...

I am a fan of the Zac Brown Band and their new cd is out. Amazon has it for only $3.99. In fact they have all their mp3 albums for that price right now. If you haven't listened to the last album "You get what you give" then you should check it out.

 

[KCmike]

Alright a few more from the first night and then on to the other side of Coronado as we ended up walking the entire length of island. It took us about 20 minutes are so and even though the weather really never got any higher than upper 70's we were a little tire after the walk. There are shops on the other side of island as well. Looked like the same nick knack and novelty items that were sold close to us. Still fun to look around though. We ended up getting a quick bite to eat before we headed out on the ferry. You can buy your tickets for the ferry by using a credit card and picking the time you wish to go. The ferry is wonderful and easy to get onto but the ride is so quick. It would have been nice to cruise around the bay but the purpose of using it was indeed to get to downtown San Diego. We were using it to jump over and see the USS Midway naval battleship. It has been retired but it was still very impressive. I highly recommend it to anyone that has ever thought about visiting it. There are several coupons just about everywhere that can reduce the rate. One of my favorite things about the tour is that can be self guided. They also give you a radio and headphones for the tour. When you hit a spot there will be a number on it and you type that number into the radio and it explains what is going on in this part of the ship. An extra feature is an actual person that was on the boat has been recorded talking about that area of the ship. This was so unique! It really added to the tour. These people would also give you certain inside aspects like what the guys were thinking at that time or bets they would make with each other. Alright on with the show...

The guys would bet on how long it would take for the anchor to be pulled up. They would count each ring/the sound of each one as it came in.

View of the Coronado Bridge from the ship

 

[KCmike]

Random Disneyland/DCA Shot:

 

[PrincessInOz]

Beautiful sunny days! That UWA lens is coming in useful. Love some of the panoramic pictures.

I love the Midway....although it has been years since I've been on it. Your pictures are reminding me that I need to do a visit next time I'm in SD.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[I'm mikey]

Here is a link for a free $2 MP3 Credit on Amazon. Here is the link:

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/76752/amazon.com-2-amazon-mp3-credit

Love slickdeals, i look at it almost everyday. the only problem is i see to
many things i want to buy.

Mike, your san diego pictures are just beautiful, especially the sunset pics that 10-22 lens is awesome. the pics are so sharp.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We are leaving in 10 days so we may be there around the same time. I'll look forward to seeing all your amazing pics when I get back. I have twins too- they are 18 now and entering college this fall. Time does go fast. We may have already had our last family vacation last summer since they are not going with us this trip. They need to find jobs.

 

[KCmike]

Love slickdeals, i look at it almost everyday. the only problem is i see to
many things i want to buy.

Mike, your san diego pictures are just beautiful, especially the sunset pics that 10-22 lens is awesome. the pics are so sharp.

Thanks Mike. I can't believe how beautiful San Diego really is especially on the beaches.

Beautiful sunny days! That UWA lens is coming in useful. Love some of the panoramic pictures.

I love the Midway....although it has been years since I've been on it. Your pictures are reminding me that I need to do a visit next time I'm in SD.

Thanks for sharing.

I am loving this lens as well. Too bad I had to return the rental. I just don't think I would use it very often at home.

 

[KCmike]

We are leaving in 10 days so we may be there around the same time. I'll look forward to seeing all your amazing pics when I get back. I have twins too- they are 18 now and entering college this fall. Time does go fast. We may have already had our last family vacation last summer since they are not going with us this trip. They need to find jobs.

That's sad. I know as they get older they don't want to be with Mom and Dad as much as we want them to. I remember being 18 and actually meeting my wife. When I think back like that and know that my oldest will be turning that age it really scares me. We ended up getting married at the age of 22.

At the same time I can't wait to travel alone with my wife. We still want to see Maine, New York , and the Boston area. I have two free round trip flights on Southwest still in the bank. I would secretly love to get back out to California next winter for DL at Christmas and maybe take a drive up the coast again.

Have a great trip!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I am loving this lens as well. Too bad I had to return the rental. I just don't think I would use it very often at home.

If your DW loved the look of the pictures, I'd be dropping huge hints to add this lens to the collection. I have it in my bag and its become my second most used lens.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Mike, I am really enjoying you shots, looks like they may have to last me for another year. Keep em comming>

Jack