Trick-Or-Treat & Birthday Sweets! Oct 2013 PTR *NEW* 11/4 TR Link Posted!

[khertz]

I can't be the only one who is constantly asked if we ever vacation anywhere else besides Disney World, right? I'm surely not. So I thought for fun I'd post some pictures of those "other" vacations we have taken that are not to the Land of Mouse (one of which is coming up next week!). Hopefully this is not too boring or lame, but without much other planning happening at the moment, this is all I have! lol Starting next weekend, I'll be making ADR's so it will be a little more Disney-fied around here by then.

First up is Seattle, WA! We took this trip in February 2008, and it came about because DH wanted to go skiing. I was not crazy about making an entire vacation out of skiing, so we settled on going to Washington to visit his aunt, uncle, and grandmother on his dad's side, and would spend one day skiing out there while the rest of the time would be spent with family and visiting Seattle (they actually live in Camano Island, about an hour outside the city if I'm remembering correctly). That trip, we did indeed spend a day skiing at Snoqualmie Pass, but also spent a day in Seattle to visit the Pike St. Market, go up to the top of the Space Needle, take the Underground Tour, and see a Roman art exhibit at the art museum.

(Since I don't own ski pants, I got to borrow these AWESOME bright turquoise ones from DH's aunt!! lol)

Us at the top of the Space Needle

For our first anniversary in September 2008 we went to Las Vegas! This had actually been DH's first choice for our honeymoon, but I won out with Disney World so we agreed on it being our first anniversary trip. We saw a ton of shows like Penn & Teller, the Mentalist, Mac King's magic show, and Cirque du Soleil Mystere. We had a fun night on Fremont Street, the old Vegas strip. We took in a lot of the different resorts, and stopped to see my favorite, the Bellagio fountains, more than once! In fact, we had a ton of fun and hardly gambled or drank at all!

The amazing view of the Strip we had from our Wyndham Grand Desert room!

Fremont Street

Bellagio Fountains

One of my favorite memories of the trip! We went to the Siegfried & Roy Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage, and when they brought out the food & bottles for the baby white tigers, they went nuts!​

In May of 2009, we ended up booking a pretty last minute trip to HAWAII!! Never thought I'd ever be able to go there, but with a good deal on airfare (we were going just before the big tourist season started) and our timeshare, we were able to make it happen! It was only for a few days unfortunately because DH couldn't take too much time away from work and the travel time ate up a lot. But it was still an amazing experience. We stayed on the island of Oahu just steps away from Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. While there, we took a tour of the Kualoa Ranch which is a popular filming location for movies like Pearl Harbor and Jurassic Park, but most importantly, for the show Lost!! Definitely my favorite thing we did that trip, since Lost was (and still is) one of my all time favorite TV shows. We also went to a luau and saw an amazing show at the Polynesian Cultural Center, visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation (and had my first Dole Whip!), hiked to the top of Diamond Head crater, snorkeled, visited Pearl Harbor and the 'Iolani Palace where the Hawaiian royalty lived before Hawaii became a US state.

DH and I at the Luau, one of my favorite pictures of us!

Waikiki Beach from the top of Diamondhead

Our tour group reenacting a scene from Lost at Kualoa Ranch

Hawaiian sunset

Diamondhead​

In 2010, I was about 14 weeks pregnant with DS and we decided to take a trip to Washington D.C., thinking it would be more laid back than other vacation destinations. Wrong! I was not prepared for just how much walking I was going to be doing, and my feet were dead by mid afternoon every single day. So I never did get to visit the monuments lit up at night, though I did send DH out one night to see them alone so he didn't miss out too. We stayed at the Wyndham in National Harbor, MD, and it was a beautiful little spot to be in! We took the Metro into the city every day to explore. We visited the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, the Holocaust Museum, the Museums of Natural and American History, Air & Space Museum, the old post office building, the monuments and the White House (although we were not approved for a tour inside, so we just went up to the gates), and Arlington National Cemetery.

From the Holocaust Museum

Lincoln Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery

1600 Penn!

A cool sculpture in National Harbor called the Awakening of a man coming out of the sand
​

Then finally, our last non-Disney trip was almost 2 years ago in May of 2011 when we took DS on his very first vacation to Panama City Beach. It was not a long trip, but it felt necessary because DH had been gone for a really long stretch at work and we wanted to be able to go somewhere and spend some time together as a family. We spent a little time at the beach and in the pool, but the water was still a little too cool to be in there too long. So we mostly lazed around the resort and spent our time at Pier Park shopping and eating!

The view from our balcony

DS's first time in the sand!

Hanging out by the pool

​

And that brings us to our next non-Disney vacation happening next week! When we drove to D.C. in 2010, we stopped each way for one night at the Wyndham Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, TN. Of course with it only being an overnight stop, we didn't have time to do much of anything. So I said I'd like to come back one day and enjoy a pretty relaxing vacation for once. You might have noticed, we tend to jam pack our vacations with stuff to do! I didn't want to do that this time, so we are planning just a few things for our 5 days there. We are seeing Dixie Stampede one night, going horseback riding one morning, and visiting Dollywood for a day. The rest of the time will be relaxing at the resort and checking out their indoor water park, exploring, and eating. If we feel like doing more stuff, we will, but if we don't, we won't!

This will probably be my last update since I am working tomorrow and Thursday & Friday will be busy getting the house ready and packing. We are leaving EARLY Saturday morning since we are driving. I might have time for replies before then, but if not, I'll see ya real soon!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Love the update! If we ever make it to Hawaii, I decided long ago that I would sign-up for a "Lost" tour - some of them can be an all day venture!

Hope you have a wonderful time on your vacation!

 

[khertz]

Love the update! If we ever make it to Hawaii, I decided long ago that I would sign-up for a "Lost" tour - some of them can be an all day venture!

Hope you have a wonderful time on your vacation!

Absolutely do it! We only did the 2 hour tour because DH had never been a huge fan of Lost, but he knew how badly I wanted to do the tour. I would have LOVED to do a longer all day tour! We did the KOS Hummer Tour and actually had the owner Ed Kos as our tour guide. It was fantastic! He took tons of pictures of DH and I and encouraged us to do some pretty funny ones. As a Lost fan, it was an amazing experience. The ONLY way it could have been made better was if they had been filming at the time of our tour!

Thanks!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Absolutely do it! We only did the 2 hour tour because DH had never been a huge fan of Lost, but he knew how badly I wanted to do the tour. I would have LOVED to do a longer all day tour! We did the KOS Hummer Tour and actually had the owner Ed Kos as our tour guide. It was fantastic! He took tons of pictures of DH and I and encouraged us to do some pretty funny ones. As a Lost fan, it was an amazing experience. The ONLY way it could have been made better was if they had been filming at the time of our tour!

Thanks!

The KOS Hummer Tour is the one that everybody's been recommending so that's what I was hoping for. As a big fan of Lost, I can definitely appreciate the re-enactment photo you posted. So cool.

 

[Leger13]

Love the pictures from your other trips! And awww baby Paxton! He has just grown up so much! *sniff* we don't get to do a whole lot of other trips due to DH's work so we try to do local things when we can instead if we did something other than Disney that would be our only trip for the year and it just seems wrong not going to Disney every year. I've been spoiled.

 

[khertz]

The KOS Hummer Tour is the one that everybody's been recommending so that's what I was hoping for. As a big fan of Lost, I can definitely appreciate the re-enactment photo you posted. So cool.

DH had never seen the show so he had no idea what we were supposed to be doing in that reenactment! And that was the only picture our tour buddies wanted in on. I was definitely the most excited about the whole thing and wanted in on everything! We sat on the same logs as Jack & Ben Linus!!

Love the pictures from your other trips! And awww baby Paxton! He has just grown up so much! *sniff* we don't get to do a whole lot of other trips due to DH's work so we try to do local things when we can instead if we did something other than Disney that would be our only trip for the year and it just seems wrong not going to Disney every year. I've been spoiled.

I know, really...where has the time gone?! He was 6 months old on that trip, now he is 2.5!! We have probably only gotten away with 2 trips a year because we have stayed at Wyndham resorts and not had to incorporate hotel fees. Otherwise, I don't think 2 trips a year, one of them being Disney, would be possible. We have definitely been blessed! And I love it so much because as a kid, we never went on vacation ANYWHERE because my parents just didn't have the money or the ability to get away from work for them. I'm glad we don't have to give Paxton the same experience and that we can expose him to lots of places!

 

[Leger13]

I know, really...where has the time gone?! He was 6 months old on that trip, now he is 2.5!! We have probably only gotten away with 2 trips a year because we have stayed at Wyndham resorts and not had to incorporate hotel fees. Otherwise, I don't think 2 trips a year, one of them being Disney, would be possible. We have definitely been blessed! And I love it so much because as a kid, we never went on vacation ANYWHERE because my parents just didn't have the money or the ability to get away from work for them. I'm glad we don't have to give Paxton the same experience and that we can expose him to lots of places!

That is great that you can do that! Aww that stinks but I think it's wonderful you can take Paxton so many places. We may actually get 2 trips this year. My co-author of my PTR, her Dad owns a beach house in NC so we're talking about a trip there in August

 

[Missyrose]

I'm here! And finally all caught up. Your plans for the Disney trip look great. I just sat down to figure out our plans for October because our 180-day window opens next week. Crazy, right?

I also loved all the pictures from your past Disney trips and the "anywhere but Disney" trips.

 

[dtr_angel]

I'll have to reply to everything when I'm not on my phone or being lazy, lol but just wanted to tell you to have a great trip! I was actually thinking about posting some non Disney trip plans in my ptr!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[khertz]

That is great that you can do that! Aww that stinks but I think it's wonderful you can take Paxton so many places. We may actually get 2 trips this year. My co-author of my PTR, her Dad owns a beach house in NC so we're talking about a trip there in August

That sounds like fun! Hope it works out for you!

I'm here! And finally all caught up. Your plans for the Disney trip look great. I just sat down to figure out our plans for October because our 180-day window opens next week. Crazy, right?

I also loved all the pictures from your past Disney trips and the "anywhere but Disney" trips.

Yay, glad to see you here, Missy! I'm kind of freaking out because my 180 days for Paxton's birthday meal is the day we are leaving to come back home from Tennessee. I'll have to set a reminder on my phone so I remember to get up early and book the reservation. That is one I don't want to miss out on!

Thanks.

I'll have to reply to everything when I'm not on my phone or being lazy, lol but just wanted to tell you to have a great trip! I was actually thinking about posting some non Disney trip plans in my ptr!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I can understand that, I'm being so lazy today myself...

Do it! To me, it's always fun to see what the people you follow on the DIS do besides Disney.

 

[Alysa]

Loved your report! Your little one is a cutie! Just subscribing but I'll come back to say hi properly later - baby just woke up!

 

[khertz]

Loved your report! Your little one is a cutie! Just subscribing but I'll come back to say hi properly later - baby just woke up!

Thanks for joining in!!! I'll have to head over to your PTR when I can. Busy few days coming up because now I think DS has hand foot & mouth and won't be able to go to daycare the rest of the week, so it might take me awhile! Lol when in October are you going??

 

[skier_pete]

That upcoming trip should be a fun one! I went to the Smoky Mountains / Pigeon Forge once for a training seminar. The mountains were beautiful. The town was really touristy tacky, but still sort of neat. We only got as far as the parking lot of Dollywood, but we've seen Dixie Stampede down in Myrtle Beach before they closed it and it's a lot of fun.

Sounds like a great place for a "down" vacation. It's nice to have those sometimes. I remember we had one about 5 years ago.

 

[MEK]

Wonderful update on all your very fun trips! I hope you really enjoy the smokey's. We visited one afternoon on our way back from a soccer tournament in Nashville. I wished we could have had more time. The traffic there is crazy.

I live so close to DC and I keep putting off taking a trip. I really need to do that. There is just so much to see and do.

Paxton as a baby - awwwwwwwhhhhhhhh! He's so cute!

 

[SEASONK]

The Smokey Mountains are one of our fave vacation spots, other than Disney. We try to vacation there about every other year. My favorite things to do in that area are Cade's Cove, swimming in the freezing rivers/creeks, and outlet mall shopping. On our last trip we saw several bear and other wildlife. I also recommend taking the foothills parkway on your way home. Beautiful views and not as crowded as the Blue Ridge parkway. I hope y'all enjoy your visit in Eastern Tenn.

 

[afwdwfan]

You are certainly well traveled. I only wish DW an I could do that.

I love the Smokey Mountains, and I know you'll have a great time next week. Definitely just go with the flow and enjoy. There's plenty to do, but most of it can just be spur of the moment, so just do what you feel like doing, and get some rest on this trip!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great recap of your other vacations! As much as I love Disney it's also nice to see other places too. I would love to go to Hawaii and we might be going to Washington DC this summer! We'll see.

 

[khertz]

That upcoming trip should be a fun one! I went to the Smoky Mountains / Pigeon Forge once for a training seminar. The mountains were beautiful. The town was really touristy tacky, but still sort of neat. We only got as far as the parking lot of Dollywood, but we've seen Dixie Stampede down in Myrtle Beach before they closed it and it's a lot of fun.

Sounds like a great place for a "down" vacation. It's nice to have those sometimes. I remember we had one about 5 years ago.

I'm pretty excited to have a week away with not too much planned, because we always seem to have "scheduled" vacations and we are on the go the entire time. I'm hoping for the opposite of that this time! I think Paxton will enjoy the Dixie Stampede show, at least I have my fingers crossed he will.

Wonderful update on all your very fun trips! I hope you really enjoy the smokey's. We visited one afternoon on our way back from a soccer tournament in Nashville. I wished we could have had more time. The traffic there is crazy.

I live so close to DC and I keep putting off taking a trip. I really need to do that. There is just so much to see and do.

Paxton as a baby - awwwwwwwhhhhhhhh! He's so cute!

That was exactly how we decided to take a trip there. We stopped overnight each way to and from D.C. and there seemed to be a lot of fun things to do that we of course didn't have time for. I do remember the traffic being rough, with the one main drag through town. I'm hoping it will still be relatively quiet while we are there.

Yes, we loved D.C.! I'm a bit of a history fan, so I was a little more excited about it that DH, but he ended up enjoying it more than he would have thought (especially once he found out there were dinosaur bones involved! ).

I know, I can't believe he was ever so small sometimes! He was only 6 months old that trip!

The Smokey Mountains are one of our fave vacation spots, other than Disney. We try to vacation there about every other year. My favorite things to do in that area are Cade's Cove, swimming in the freezing rivers/creeks, and outlet mall shopping. On our last trip we saw several bear and other wildlife. I also recommend taking the foothills parkway on your way home. Beautiful views and not as crowded as the Blue Ridge parkway. I hope y'all enjoy your visit in Eastern Tenn.

Thanks for the tips! I've never been on a proper vacation there, and DH hasn't been in many years, so we are both looking forward to it!

If you don't mind me asking, where in north Louisiana are you from? I went to school in Monroe and DH in Ruston before moving to Lafayette!

 

[khertz]

You are certainly well traveled. I only wish DW an I could do that.

I love the Smokey Mountains, and I know you'll have a great time next week. Definitely just go with the flow and enjoy. There's plenty to do, but most of it can just be spur of the moment, so just do what you feel like doing, and get some rest on this trip!

That is pretty much the plan, go with the flow! I'm ready to relax, and head out to do things when I feel like it instead of having it all planned out. Sleeping in every day will be a must, as long as Paxton cooperates with that plan. As long as I don't have to set an alarm to wake up, I guess that will be good enough.

Great recap of your other vacations! As much as I love Disney it's also nice to see other places too. I would love to go to Hawaii and we might be going to Washington DC this summer! We'll see.

I hope you get to go to D.C. it was a lot of fun! I really loved seeing all of the monuments. Hawaii was really amazing too, and I still can't believe how spur of the moment it ended up being, but it was totally worth it even though we were only able to be there for a few days.

 

[Alysa]

Thanks for joining in!!! I'll have to head over to your PTR when I can. Busy few days coming up because now I think DS has hand foot & mouth and won't be able to go to daycare the rest of the week, so it might take me awhile! Lol when in October are you going??

Aww - poor little peanut. Hope he is better soon! We are going the 9th to the 22, we leave the day you arrive. Hope your days aren't too crazy, I know how you feel. I stayed up until 3 last night to get some work done. Little ones are hard work.

Have a great time on your upcoming trip!