British Columbia 2019

For my birthday this year, my family surprised me by agreeing on a vacation destination for our summer trip: lovely British Columbia! After much planning and anticipation, we gladly left the oppressive Texas heat and set out for Vancouver. What a beautiful city awaited us!

Arriving late at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel, we welcomed a good night's sleep. In the morning, we bought Compass cards, then set off to explore the neighborhoods. Our first stop was Granville Island Public Market, a wonderful medley of food and artisan vendors, live entertainment, and artists working their crafts. We then visited the lovely gardens at Queen Elizabeth Park and enjoyed panoramic views of downtown Vancouver.  Next we visited Richmond Olympic Experience, a fun, interactive museum inside the Olympic Oval where simulators allowed us to "be" Olympians! We kayaked, skiied, and jumped our way to victory, then ended the day in the Gastown neighborhood with dinner at LOCAL, gelato, and sunset by the Olympic Cauldron of the 2010 Winter Games.

The next day began at FlyOver Canada, a virtual reality ride over the various sights and landscapes of our friendly northern neighbor. We marveled at the giant cruise ships docked at Canada Place before catching a free bus to Grouse Mountain for the day. The most prominent mountain on the North Shore, a packed gondola ride took us to the top and gave us access to numerous attractions. Rachel's favorite was the Birds in Motion show, where we got to see a Northern Bald Eagle and a Great Horned Owl up close! There was also a grizzly bear habitat, as well as an entertaining Lumberjack Show. Further, we watched the paragliders take off, and went up to the viewing platform of the Eye of the Wind, a giant wind turbine. Once back downtown, we capped our day with the perfect Canadian food (poutine!) at Elephant and Castle, then walked to English Bay beach for a lovely sunset.

For our last full day in Vancouver, we explored the interactive Science World BC museum, stopping for lunch at CRAFT Beer Market. The boys enjoyed some afternoon downtime, while the girls found our way to The Pie Hole, which was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  Rachel declared that her "Pink Lemonade" slice was the best pie she'd ever tasted, while Abby and I enjoyed our Apple Caramel Crumble slice very much! Later that night, no one was disappointed with my dinner pick, Dinesty Dumpling House; soup dumplings are always worth an hour's wait!

On our last morning in Vancouver, we rented city bikes and pedaled our way around the seawall at Stanley Park, then ate a yummy Malaysian lunch at Banana Leaf. Later, a two-hour shuttle bus took us along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway to the famous ski town of Whistler, where we spent the next 6 nights at Whistler Peak Lodge. Our centrally-located and spacious condo allowed us flexibility to cook breakfasts, and several dinners after busy days on the mountain.

Whistler, BC is a mecca of outdoor activities and adventure sports, but is most famous in summer for its #1 world-rated downhill bike park! After picking up our reserved downhills from Gateway Bikes, all five of us spent the first day shredding trails on the mountain. Mark took turns leading me down easier blue trails like Crank It Up and B-Line while the girls stuck mostly to green trails until the day's end. All had lots of fun, finished without injuries, and even spotted bears from the lift!

Biking was, of course, Mark's favorite activity, so I had arranged for him to enjoy an additional two days of riding with Adam. Some of his favorite trails were Heart of Darkness, Schleyer, Ninja Cougar, and Clown Shoes. Due to steady rain on their second riding day, they returned very muddy, but their last ride day was sunny and clear. Mark's only complaint was his sore hands from all the breaking bumps. My boys soaked up every minute of biking, and Mark already wants to return! I did see a few houses for sale . . .

While the boys were riding, the girls and I explored the village, had lunch, and did some shopping. Later, I enjoyed some high-flying adventure with Abigail and Mark through ZipTrek EcoTours. Soaring high above the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, we traversed the valley five times on our "Eagle" adventure tour! On our other day together, we rented city bikes and rode along the scenic Valley Trail through forests and by lakes, and also hiked to Rainbow Falls.

On our second "family" day, we did the Peak2Peak experience, the only place in the world where you can ride a gondola to the peak of one mountain, another spanning a valley, then a third back down to the base. Once at the top of the Whistler gondola, we took the peak chairlift to the very top, where there were hiking trails, a suspension bridge, and even falling snow--in July! After lunch (with a view!), we rode the gondola spanning the mountains. At its center, it is the highest point above ground in the world (436 meters), and until 2017, it held the world record for longest free-span between towers (1.88 miles). From the top of Blackcomb Mountain, we enjoyed the cool weather while exploring alpine hiking trails.

On our last day in Whistler, we had arranged a canoeing trip with Backroads Whistler down the "River of Golden Dreams". Launching from scenic Alta Lake, we perfected our navigation skills and watched the seaplanes overhead. The mouth of the lake fed us into a marsh, and then to a peaceful stream, where we gently floated for the next hour . . . so nice!

Alas, the next day we had to leave this perfect mountain town, but our adventure wasn't over yet. After a long day of travel (shuttle bus, taxi, ferry, another bus), we finally arrived at Hotel Rialto in Victoria on Vancouver Island. The day concluded with a very nice seafood dinner followed by a street entertainer's show and night walking along the shore.

The next day, we took a whale watching/gardens tour with Prince of Whales. Once out in the open waters around the San Juan Islands, we saw sea lions, cormorants, and even bald eagles, though my favorite sightings were the humpback whales! Friendly and knowledgeable staff kept us entertained with facts about the wildlife. At the conclusion of the boat portion of the tour, we were taken directly to the private back entrance of the world-famous Butchart Gardens where we could explore at our leisure.

Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004, these gardens were absolutely incredible! Mark was begging to go, but this was for me, and for Abigail especially. She loved exploring the many beautiful areas, and taking pictures of flowers to paint later. We soaked in the stunning colors and artful floral displays and explored the different areas, like the rose garden, the Italian garden, and even a sunken garden built in a former concrete quarry.

Before traveling back to the airport for our early morning flight, we spent our last full day exploring the Royal BC Museum, followed by lunch in Canada's oldest Chinatown. We all loved our trip to  lovely British Columbia and can't wait to return someday!

Arkansas: Spring Break 2019

Seeking an outdoor adventure destination within a day's drive, our wheels took us to Arkansas for Spring Break this year.  After an overnight (and great dinner!) at gramma's house, we drove to Bentonville, where we spent the next 3 nights.  Our rental house was charming and perfect: very comfortable, with enough beds for everyone, a covered porch, hot tub, and only a 5-minute walk from downtown!

Bentonville has gained a reputation for great mountain biking, so Mark put it top on his list.  On the first full day, we all rented bikes from Phat Tire Bike Shop, packed picnic lunches, and spent the day testing our skills on the extensive Slaughter Pen network of trails.  Mark tore it up and was lovin' every minute of it!

Early evening brought us to the town square, where we enjoyed a caffeine fix and snacks at Onyx Coffee Bar.  We then visited the Walmart Museum, reflecting on the life and legacy of philanthropist Sam Walton, founder of the company whose first store opened in Bentonville as a "5 and dime".

Mark returned to the trails the next day for more biking just with Adam, exploring other trails in the area.  Meanwhile, the girls and I did some hiking in nearby Bella Vista, visited lovely, tree-hidden Cooper Chapel, and ate a yummy lunch at Meld Kitchen and Sandwich Bar.  Later that afternoon, we grabbed beers at Bike Rack Brewing Co, then visited the free Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  Along with its impressive indoor collection, the museum itself was an architectural gem, showing creativity and innovation in its design.  Additionally, the extensive grounds had numerous walking trails interspersed with sculptures for outdoor exploration and even a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Before leaving Bentonville, we all enjoyed a tasty southern breakfast at The Buttered Biscuit, then brushed up on Civil War history with a visit to Pea Ridge National Military Park.  On this spot, the Union commander Samuel Curtis routed the Confederate army, led by McCullough and McIntosh, for victory at Elkhorn Tavern in 1862.

Before stopping for the night in Russellville, we hiked the Pedestal Rocks Loop Trail to see the unique rock formations and amazing Ozark mountain views.

Next morning, we briefly visited Holla Bend Wildlife Refuge, which was disappointing due to a plethora of mosquitoes, limited walking trails, lack of upkeep, and birds in hiding.  We found better luck on the Cedar Falls Trail at Petit Jean State Park, then drove to Hot Springs, where we spent our last two nights.

We stayed at the historic Arlington Hotel and Spa, where many famous guests have stayed, including hometown President Clinton and Al Capone.  While waiting for an afternoon shower to pass, we enjoyed downtime in our room, and later, Adam and I shared drinks at the lobby bar.

First, we spent time exploring Hot Springs National Park, the only park where visitors are allowed to take something (natural spring drinking water).  We learned much about the history of bathhouse culture through the self-guided tour of Fordyce Bathhouse along Bathhouse Row, then strolled along the brick-paved Grand Promenade and took a short hike to the top of Hot Springs Mountain.  Back at our hotel that afternoon, I booked myself a spa appointment for "The Works", a traditional bathhouse experience complete with thermal bath soak, hot towel wraps, needle shower and cooling room, and a 30-min massage!

While in Hot Springs, we also visited Garvan Woodland Gardens, bursting with spring flowers everywhere!  This was, needless to say, not Mark's favorite activity, but Abigail found much inspiration there for future drawing projects.

The last day was spent driving 7.5 hours back home to Austin, where our comfy beds awaited us, but we mostly enjoyed our adventures in Arkansas, the Natural State.

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!