California 2018

Our annual summer vacation this year took us to cool California, and what a refreshing trip it was! Leaving July 9th, we flew direct to Reno, rented a minivan, and drove 3 hours south to Mammoth Lakes. Our first day's adventure was a special treat for my son: riding mountain bikes at the downhill bike park at Mammoth Mountain ski resort! During the summer, guests ride the lifts up and bike down an extensive network of trails--so fun!

After checking out the views from the top of the mountain, we drove over Tioga Pass thru Yosemite NP, stopping to take in the beauty of Touloumne Meadows. Exhausted but thankful, we welcomed our dinner and comfortable beds for the next 3 nights at Rush Creek Lodge. Consequently, this family-friendly hotel was one of the highlights of our entire vacation, complete with zip lines, slides and outdoor games, complimentary nightly s'mores, and multiple dining options. Our very comfortable 2-bedroom villa was not at all cheap, but oh so nice!!

As comfortable as this place was, I was not going to stay and play there all day when Yosemite was calling! Only 2 miles from the west entrance, it still took an hour to get down into the valley each day, but we were awarded with amazing views in every direction! The first day, we took the John Muir trail to Vernal and Nevada falls; 2,000 feet of upwards climb, but Rachel trekked it like a pro! On the second day, I had booked a tour bus to take us up to the famous Glacier Point (a good thing because there was zero parking there!), and we hiked down the Four Mile Trail back to the valley. It was lucky we were able to visit before the fires came. I hope these amazing places will be protected; Yosemite is such a treasure!

Getting a late start the next day, we drove south, stopping to enjoy fresh fruit near Fresno in the Central Valley. It was amazing to see mile after mile of produce being grown to feed America! We finally made it to Kings Canyon NP and stopped to pay tribute to General Grant, the second largest tree by volume in the world. Continuing on to our hotel in Three Rivers, alas, the windy roads were too much for poor Rachel, and her stomach.

We spent the next full day in Sequoia NP, starting at General Sherman, the largest tree by volume in the world. From here, we followed portions of the Congress and Crescent Meadows trails on a peaceful and secluded 3-mile walk through the most massive sequoias in the world. Leisurely enjoying the solitude, walking along with my favorite people, reflecting on how small I am, and stopping to enjoy a picnic lunch, this was one of my most favorite hikes ever!

We also climbed the steep staircase to Moro Rock for amazing mountain views and brushed up on our tree knowledge at the Giant Forest Museum.

Back in the car the next morning, we passed hundreds of miles of produce farms, finally enjoying a late lunch at Folktail Winery and Vineyards in Carmel Valley. Post refreshment and a very nice tasting menu, we drove a bit further to Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey, where we enjoyed some downtime and an easy stroll along the shore to see the pelicans and elephant seals. My kids were thankful for a day without hiking!

Wanting a day with less driving, we chose to explore the city of Monterey and surrounding areas. Driving the famous 17-mile Drive, we stopped to take in the beautiful coastal views and sealife and to oogle the numerous mega-mansions along the way. Stretching our legs with a short hike afterwards, we explored trails at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. I spent the afternoon doing much-needed laundry, then walked around Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck's novel. To end our day, we enjoyed a fabulous seafood dinner at Passionfish.

The next day, we drove south along the coastal road, soaking up the sun and sights along Big Sur. We made stops at the famous Bixby Bridge, then traveled to Andrew Molera State Park to walk the beach trail, where we discovered some driftwood shelters, beautiful ocean views, and even a starfish! We enjoyed late lunch at Nepenthe, which combined great food with amazing coastal views.

The following day, we drove to Santa Cruz, dropping Mark and Adam off at the Santa Cruz factory for a demo mountain bike ride. Meanwhile, the girls and I had fun exploring the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Here we got to touch various sea creatures, view the full-size skeleton of a blue whale, and even see some rescued bottle-nosed dolphins! Before picking up the boys, we headed to the boardwalk and rode the historic Giant Dipper, opened in 1924.

Driving to our final stop, Hotel Bijou in downtown San Francisco, we only barely returned our rental car before closing time! The next day, we rode the streetcars and explored the sourdough bread factory and touristy Pier 39 before catching our cruise to Alcatraz. All of us really enjoyed the informative audio tour through the cell block, as well as walking around this historical landmark. (It was especially fun to visit since we all just watched Escape from Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood!)

On our last full day, we took a guided bike tour across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, returning by ferry. We enjoyed the journey (mostly), despite the fog, low-quality bikes, and the very crowded bridge. Back on the city side, we had a few hours to get our science fix at the fabulous, hands-on Exploratorium, though we could have easily spent all day there! One final meal to cap our adventure  (Brandy Ho's) before flying back home in the morning. We're sure to be "goin' back to Cali" again!

Boston and the Northeast 2017

Anxious to escape the monotony of summer and the Texas heat, we set off seeking adventure in Boston and the Northeast. After checking in to the historic Omni Parker House Hotel, we stretched our legs with an easy walk to the Boston Commons and the Public Gardens. We took a ride on the swan boats, walked around the gardens, and stopped to snap a pic with some very famous ducklings! For dinner on our first night, we enjoyed Boston classics such as Yankee pot roast and clam chowder at Durgin Park.

Savoring the unseasonably cool temps (highs in the mid-60s!), we spent our first full day walking the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile marked route with stops denoting famous battle sites and historic landmarks. Some of our favorite stops along the route were the Old South Meeting House, Paul Revere’s house, and climbing the 294 steps to the top of Bunker Hill monument. At the end of the trail, we caught a ferry to Long Wharf and then walked to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum just in time to make the last tour. An immersive experience, this fun museum allowed us to interact and play a part in the famous events of Dec. 16, 1773, even participating in the rebel protest by dumping tea overboard! I loved getting to see history come to life by visiting these important landmarks and enjoyed walking (literally) in the steps of our forefathers. 

We spent the next day visiting the fabulous Museum of Science. We especially enjoyed the Science in the Park exhibit, the piano stairs, and a very electrifying Lightning Show. After dining at Penang Malaysian Cuisine (I jump at any opportunity to eat Malaysian food!), we ended this supercharged day of fun in vivid color with tickets to the wildly-entertaining Blue Man Group!

Picking up our rental car the next morning, we drove an hour south to Plymouth to visit Plimoth Plantation. Here, we walked through a recreated Wampanoag village, and also a recreated 17^th century English village, exploring the life of the Puritans and early inhabitants of this land. We also visited the Plymouth Grist Mill (still producing corn flour today) and Plimoth Rock itself (though its size was a bit underwhelming). Back in Boston for one more night, we capped our day with some fabulous seafood at Provisions near the harbor front. And for dessert? Boston cream pie, of course (invented by a chef at our hotel, the Parker House)! 

We were anxious the next morning to see some fellow expat friends we’d met while in Malaysia. What better meeting spot than the Old North Bridge in Concord? Converging on Minute Man NHP, we enjoyed a picnic lunch and visited one of the first battle sites of the Revolution. Our friends were kind enough to host us for the next two nights at their 300-year-old house in nearby Harvard; it was wonderful to catch up with them and watch the kids play together!

Leaving Massachusetts, we headed north, passing through New Hampshire and crossing into Vermont thru the covered Cornish Windsor Bridge. We stopped to visit the hydropower-generated glassblowing studio Simon Pearce in Quechee, then at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, where we saw the famous philanthropist’s mansion. We toasted the day with beer and good food at Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier. 

The next day was a whirlwind of visiting factories (much preferred by our kids!) and one long, sweaty hike mostly upwards (which they hated!). We started off the day feelin’ fine at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory; everyone enjoyed the fun and quirky tour, an ice cream treat, and the Flavor Graveyard, where long-lost flavors RIP. Afterwards, due to some confusion and lack of a GPS signal, we ended up on a very different hike than the easy stroll I’d planned but could no longer find. Instead, we trekked up a steep mountain to the reward of a nice-ish waterfall and lots of whining! After a recovery lunch at the Trapp Family Brewery in Stowe, we did some shopping in the cute mountain town, visited an apple cider factory (apple cider doughnuts are so good!), and ended the day with a visit to Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, where we learned all about the tapping of maple trees. Nothin’ but the good stuff for me!

Leaving Vermont and heading east the next morning, we visited the Cabot Cheese Factory and took a tour to learn about the process of making cheese (another of my favorite foods!). We bought some food for a picnic that I’d planned to eat during our hike on the Appalachian Trail, but we unfortunately had to eat it in the car due to a heavy delay from having to change a tire on our rental car. Thankfully, we were still able to hike the Table Rock trail (in Grafton Notch State Park), where we were rewarded with amazing vistas at the top, the privilege of boasting that we set foot on the famous AT, and most luckily, no ticks! Back in the car, we ate a gourmet meal of lobster rolls and Applewood bacon cheeseburgers (from McDonald’s!) and drove the rest of the way to Bar Harbour, Maine, where we spent the next 4 nights. 

I have always wanted to visit Acadia NP (one of the most popular national parks in the country), so it was wonderful to have several days to explore the park at our leisure. On the first day, we hiked to the top of Pemetic Mountain, rested at Jordan Pond, and ended the day at Thunder Hole and Sand Beach. The next day, we took the popular Beehive Trail up a series of ladders and along narrow ledges to enjoy the views, then returned to Sand Beach and watched our kids brave the freezing waters and play on the rocks. We then drove to the less-crowded western side of the park to explore life in the tide pools at Wonderland beach, as well as to see the famous Bass Harbour Head Lighthouse. For dinner, as with all our remaining nights in Maine, we made it our mission to eat all the lobster and seafood we possibly could!

On our last full day, we had booked a morning tour with Diver Ed’s Dive-in Theatre. It was fun to get out on the water without getting in it, and diver Ed, his wife, and a big, lovable dog named Nori made a very entertaining team! Using the latest high-tech cameras and diving equipment, we watched on a big screen from the comfort of the Starfish Enterprise as Diver Ed explored the ocean floor and kidnapped various “passengers” in his bag. Bringing them to the surface for live show and tell and touch, we learned much about the creatures that lurk in the deep! 

After lunch and shopping in town, we walked across the land bridge at low tide to Bar Island, then returned to our cottage for some downtime. A fellow travel-loving friend had recommended the Eden Village Motel and Cottages; one of these adorable cottages was just perfect for our 4-night stay. Very close to Acadia and Bar Harbour, our private cottage had 3 full-sized beds, a small kitchen for making breakfasts and picnic lunches, and a screened front porch.  We enjoyed happy hour here as our kids had fun feeding the ducks and riding the complimentary paddle boats around the pond. =) Later that evening, we drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain to enjoy the sunset.

Our last day was rainy, and we mostly spent it driving down the coast, making one stop to stretch our legs at the famous Portland Head Lighthouse. We spent our last night in Salem, and before a final seafood dinner, we visited and toured the Salem Witch Museum and also The House of the Seven Gables (immortalized in Hawthorne’s classic novel, and complete with a hidden staircase and Hepzibah’s cent shop). 

In the morning, we explored the Salem Maritime NHS, where the many vessels of Derby wharf were once thriving with overseas trade. Alas, we were forced to trade these ships for a plane to take us back home. Travel leaves me enriched, refreshed, and enlightened, and yet, I’m always a bit saddened when a trip comes to an end. This travel blog helps me to keep and remember these special adventures and new explorations fresh in my mind.

Toronto

Reminiscing our Canadian honeymoon, and celebrating 16 years married, Adam and I hopped a jet north once again, this time to exciting Toronto! Arriving late, we shared beer and butter chicken poutine (classic Canadian dish of cheese and gravy-topped French fries) at nearby Elephant & Castle--yummy!!

Our first day began with a trip to the top of the iconic CN Tower, affording great views of Lake Ontario and the huge metropolis below. Then we visited an aquarium; highlights were the walk-thru shark tunnel and the amazing displays of jellyfish from around the world. To top off the morning, we "prost"ed pints of pilsner at Steam Whistle Brewery, where they "do one thing really, really well"!

We explored the extensive collections at the Royal Ontario Museum in the afternoon. I especially enjoyed the exhibit by world-famous glassblower Dave Chulily. Among his amazing and colorful creations were Boat, Laguna Torcello ("garden of glass"), and Red Reeds on Logs.

That evening, we donned our best clothes for an anniversary dinner at the upscale Sassafraz in Yorkville. Supposedly a hot spot for celebrity sightings during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), we didn't spot any A-listers but thoroughly enjoyed our lovely meal and bottle of wine!

The next day, we visited Casa Loma, the beautiful castle and gardens of Sir Henry Pellatt, Canadian financier and soldier who played a major role in bringing electricity to Toronto's streets and helping build the first hydro-electric dam in Ontario (at Niagara). The Pellatts were also notable supporters of scouting, and his first wife Mary was the first Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides of Canada.

We enjoyed a leisurely lunch at ND Sushi in Chinatown, then searched for bargains and treasures at Kensington Market. After, we caught a streetcar to the pier and bought ferry tickets for the Toronto Islands, strolling through the beautiful parks until sunset. Back on the city side, we grabbed a quick bite before catching a late show at Second City comedy club.

On our third full day, we rented bikes from Wheel Excitement and rode along the Martin Goodman trail, a designated biking trail extending for miles along the shore front around the bay. An offshoot took us to High Park, where we enjoyed lunch at an outdoor cafe before heading back.

Our afternoon was spent exploring the shops and art galleries in the historic Distillery District. I bought a cookbook, and we shared taster sets of beer at Mill Street Brewery. The day ended with delightful Italian fare at Carens Wine and Cheese Bar.

On our last day, we took a day tour to Niagara Falls with Chariots of Fire group. Our guide was very friendly and shared the history of the falls as we drove 2 hours there from Toronto. We stopped at various picture spots and also at the Skylon Tower to view the falls from above.

Our favorite part was taking the Hornblower cruise; it brought us up close to the American Falls, then led straight into the mist of the larger Horseshoe Falls. Wearing rain ponchos, we felt the force of the water cascading over the falls and stood in awe of its beauty!

Our tour continued on to the lovely town of Niagara on the Lake for some lunch and shopping, then stopped once more for a tasting at a local vineyard. This region is famous for producing many popular wine varietals, most especially for producing 80% of the world's ice wines. Harvested in the middle of the night on the coldest days of winter, these grapes are squeezed at the peak of sweetness, having been left on the vines long past the normal harvest season. The verdict, you ask? Truly, it is dessert in a glass!

On our last morning, we wandered through the Allan Gardens conservatory, marveling at the variety of tropical plants and flowers in this well-maintained greenhouse and research lab. It was so nice to have this special time together, enjoying dates and leisurely meals, getting to talk without distractions. Alas though, we did miss our kids, so it was time to go home.  Until next time!