Spring Travels 2023

Our family went to Disneyland March 2-5. The last time we went was over 6 years before that, and the kids wouldn't go on any "fast" rides, which made me grumpy. Here's what I posted on social media after that trip in November 2016: 

My husband had never been to a Disney theme park until we were married--he didn't grow up with the movies, either--so I'm the biggest fan in the family. Since it was my birthday on March 6th, I suggested that we go and that everyone do what I said, which is always a great gift.  

Our tickets through Get Away Today were $326/each for 3 days at the parks, and we stayed at the Desert Palms Hotel. We got to Disneyland a little before rope drop (i.e., opening hours), which let us walk right on to Pirates of the Caribbean. But Sister was afraid of the dark and huddled down with her ears plugged while crying during most of the ride. Thankfully she wasn't too scared to eat later at The Blue Bayou, where we had an excellent lunch: 

I love the charming details at Disneyland like this wallpapered ceiling and very cool light fixture near the restaurant bathrooms:

Speaking of wallpaper, how about this variety in the lobby area of The Haunted Mansion! (My husband kindly took Sister elsewhere while the boys and I did this one. It's still my very favorite ride):

I couldn't believe that sister found puzzles of the stretching portraits from the Haunted Mansion elevator in one of the gift shops! They were a definite purchase.

We went on the Davy Crockett canoes and to Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island which I'd never done in all of my trips. I enjoyed both, especially this pirate skeleton holding a treasure chest that you could bring to the surface with a hand crank:

1st Brother noticed that this bird was on the same barrel every time we passed:

We luckily got to ride the Brer Rabbit version of Splash Mountain before they change it to Princess and the Frog. 2nd Brother don't like the thrill rides and sat this one out. I tried to look like I couldn't wait for the ride to be over, but it was just for the camera:

The new Star Wars land was very well done, even though I don't care about Star Wars. The vegan Ronto Wrap was the best thing I ate. We got drinks and a jello thing with boba and Pop Rocks at Ogg's Cantina:

We also liked the churro toffee I'd read about:

The Luigi’s Rollicking Roadsters ride was very charming at night, even though it kept breaking down. After doing this ride, Sister and I visited my cousin, his wife and 3 kids at their hotel. They happened to plan a trip at the same time.

We found one of the feral cats Disneyland uses for rodent control near Grizzly River Ride. We were told that this cat's name is Francisco.

There was rain on our last day that prevented us from riding Thunder Mountain Railroad and Mr. Toad's, but we got the family picture below with the castle in the background. Sister avoided the dark rides the whole time and skipped Space Mountain and ones like Snow White and The Little Mermaid, and the boys wouldn't try the Incredicoaster but Sister did (and we had a blast riding it together several times), but we split up as needed and had a good trip overall. 

Other things I want to remember: us all laughing when we heard, "Hola! Soy Bing Bong!" before the Inside Out ride, the single rider lines working out beautifully with our older kids, me crying on Soarin' Over California because we don't live there now, and the delicious fried chicken sandwich from Byrd's Hot Chicken near our hotel. 

I flew into Oakland, CA on March 30th by myself for a quick weekend trip. I drove to San Francisco and went to the Academy of Art's totally rad car museum:

I visited a friend who still lives in the Marina, and she told me about the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park, which I drove out to and was floored by:

Then I went to the 16th Ave tiled steps on the west side of the City. My cousin later remarked that the sunset in the second picture looks like an atomic mushroom cloud:

I stayed with my aunt and got to meet her newest great-grandbaby and see my cousin's incredible pipe organ/player piano that he built in his workshop. He's learned some computer programming to make it play things like Pee-wee's breakfast machine song and Beck's Where It's At (!!!)

On Saturday morning, I walked around the Sonoma Botanical Garden, where most of the trees were still in winter mode, but I enjoyed the green grasses and heavy northern California air: 

My friend picked me up and we went to the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, where there was an exhibit on designer Alexander McQueen that we loved. We also ate at Tower Cafe, which never disappoints. Then it was on to see Fortune Feimster perform some comedy, which was the reason for the trip. It doesn't get better than her.

I turned around and went with the fam to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks on April 6 & 7 during the kids' Spring Break. (Can you tell that 1st Brother's upcoming high school grad was on my mind and that I was trying to make some last-minute memories? Tik-tok, tik-tok...)    

We stopped at Chow Hound in Green River for lunch and this painting on their wall made me laugh:

This is Aztec Butte in Canyonlands. We accidentally took the hard way up, but there were some great views and ruins of old granaries at the top:

The moderate 2-mile Grand View Point hike is now one of my all-time favorites. My Husband loves taking risky photos sitting on ledges, and there were many opportunities:

The views all over Canyonlands were extra beautiful because of the snowy mountains in the distance:

After snagging a park reservation and shopping at Walker Drug Store in Moab the next morning, we went to Arches. Here's our tiny family under the famous Delicate Arch. It really struck me this time how scary the backside of it is!

This crow was hopping around with a small red rock in its beak:

A not-great pic of Landscape Arch:

and here we are under Pine Tree Arch (I think):