After two years living in Asia, it was definitely time to go back home and reconnect with family and friends. For a little over three weeks, we enjoyed comfort foods like Tex-Mex, barbeque, donuts, and Bluebell ice cream, and we laughed and soaked up simple pleasures, like playing in the backyard, tossing balls to the dogs, and watching the kids run through sprinklers.
We began our trip with a short but fun holiday in Los Angeles. After a very long day traveling across the world, we arrived (on the same day) at LAX and headed to lunch at an American classic, In-n-Out Burger! We then visited the famous La Brea tar pits and museum. Here, thousands of long-extinct animals have been found perfectly preserved in the sticky tar "grave". I remember going here as a kid with my geologist dad (still very cool)!
Our Santa Monica hotel was right across from the famous Pier and a short walk to the 3rd Street Promenade. We checked in, enjoyed an early Mexican dinner, then fell exhausted into jetlagged sleep. 13 hours later we emerged well rested and adjusted to the new time zone. =) We spent this first day appreciating art at the beautiful Getty Center. This limestone and glass complex is an architectural gem perched at the top of a hill overlooking Beverly Hills and boasts amazing gardens and an international collection of masterpieces by artists such as Renoir and Van Gogh. I was pleasantly surprised at how much my kids also enjoyed the exhibits, and the tram ride up the hill was a bonus!
Afterwards, we drove along the famous Mulholland Drive and gawked at the mansions of Hollywood’s rich and famous. The next day we spent playing at Pacific Park, the famous amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier. We ate corn dogs and rode coasters and bumper cars, then wandered over to “Muscle Beach”, a playground/gym/showcase for the VERY fit of America. Plenty of eye candy, and the kids enjoyed swinging from the rings and bars! That night, we found some stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
I spent our next three days in Austin visiting friends; too bad Adam had to work those days! Highlights included Tex-Mex at Hula Hut (“chile rellenos, how I’ve missed you!”), rock climbing at Main Event, swimming with friends, and hosting a street party of old neighbors. Then it was off to Fort Worth to see family!
Over Fourth of July, we stayed two nights with my parents and sister’s family at the Great Wolf Lodge. What wonderful times we had together: getting soaked in the huge indoor waterpark, watching fireworks, doing Magic Quest, dining together. It was just so much fun!!
Other USA highlights included: discovering LegoLand; feeding the koi fish and perfecting our martial arts skills at the Japanese gardens; gorging on a homemade Mexican feast at Susan’s house; seeing millions of dollars fly past at the Fort Worth Bureau of Engraving and Printing; dropping cash in style at the classy American Girl store in Dallas; trying out a new American trend at a food truck park; dining at home on meals made with love; eating ribs and watching the cattle drive at the Ft. Worth stockyards; learning about aviation at the American Airlines museum; watching Despicable Me 2 with cousins; swimming at Aunt Hannah’s and having a cousin sleepover; shopping and girly time at the Silver Spoon Bakery; shopping without kids (“Target, I know you’ve missed my wallet lately, so I’m making up for it!”); getting high on sugar at Krispy Kreme; “blast”ing it at Sonic; taking guitar lessons with Uncle Matthew; watching Mark and Abby play with Bella (“Oh man, they still want a dog!”)
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