2022 Oahu Adventure - Day 1

 Day 1.  We started off our vacation with a trip to a highly rated breakfast cafe near us. It was called Sweet E's Cafe.  It did not disappoint!!  The staff were SO friendly and efficient, and the food was delicious...In fact it was so good we went again before we came back home!

 Just look at that stuffed French Toast!!  

 

After breakfast we hit the highway and head up to Wahiawa. 

Would any trip to Oahu be complete without a trip to see the DOLE PINEAPPLE PLANTATION and gardens. ? 

This place has been around since 1950, when it was just a fruit stand. In 1989 they opened to the public as Hawaii's Pineapple experience, and they host over 1 million visitors a year.  The gift shop is free (but is it ever really free because I certainly spent my fair share of money there), however the train and gardens are a cost.  We decided to do the gardens, which  are a self explore walking trail through 8 different areas, and costs about 8$ per adult. These gardens showcase some of the most beautiful trees, flowers and plants in Hawaii. Worth the money!!

And would any self respecting trip to the Dole Plantation be complete without an authentic DOLE WHIP??? (sorry Disney I know you say your is just as good...but that is a lie.) The Dole Whip is worth every calorie. A sweet and tart, creamy pineapple soft serve that reeeaaallllyyyy makes your taste buds sing! If you love pineapple like I do, you HAVE to try one.

After the morning at Dole Plantation, we continued on the road and drive along the north shore, and stopped off at a quiet little beach.  It was called Lanaikea Beach and it isnt really a beach for swimming.  It is a great place to wade and lay out and look at the beautiful surroundings, but because of all the rock and coral it makes it hard to swim.  

Lanaikea beach is also called Turtle beach due to all of the Green Sea Turtles that like to come ashore and bask in the sun.  Unfortunately the turtles were a little shy that day and we did not see any...but we enjoyed the warm rays and clean beach and the scenery wasnt too bad either....if this doesnt scream Hawaii, then I dont know what does.

To get to Lanaikea beach there is no parking lot. You find a place along the side of the road and you hoof it. Just be careful not to park in front of anyones driveway and pay attention to no parking signs.  The great thing about Hawaii is all their beaches are public access, and there is a lot of street parking and little lots along the roads for all the beach goers. Lanaikea just happens to be in a stretch where street parking is all that was available during our stay.

We ended our day back in Palolo and tried a Korean restaurant in Honolulu.  We really didnt know anything about how this restaurant worked, (or what we were doing), and I am sure the experience could have been better had we been with someone who knew the drill.  They sat us at a table with a grill built in (Galbi) and we went up to get our meats and veggies etc. We then grilled it ourselves at the table.  Watching others who came in after us we realized we were woefully inexperienced in the ways of Galbi, and next time I will be ready!!

I tried some new things at the restaurant. Some of them I really liked.  Others I dont think I will eat again.  But I am glad for the experience! 

We ended our day back at our BnB, enjoying the breeze and listening to the neighbors rooster.

It really was the perfect start to our vacation .

Departure Date: salt lake city to richfield Utah.

Started our vacation yesterday. Day one was one of those days where you just travel. All...day...long...

Flew to Chicago. Flew into salt lake. Drove. Drove some more. It was long.

However on our drive down to richfield, we took a slight detour through manti. There is a beautiful temple there.they have a small garden just outside the grounds with a pioneer sculpture, benches, fountain etc. it was gorgeous.

Finally got to richfield, checked in to the hotel and crashed your a bit. Then we went across the street to a Chinese restaurant. (moral of the story...when in central, rural Utah stick to fast food. Pretty sure there isn't a Chinese person within 100 miles of this place. It was pretty bad...)

Came back to the hotel, watched cloudy with a chance of meatballs, and seriously conked out.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a travel day.

The Vacation Nazi strikes again...

Next year (2013) my husbands family is having their big family reunion. We will be in the Moab, UT area, which is abundant in scenery, canyons, desert and some of the most breathtaking rock formations in the world.
Hubby and I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to see all there is to see in this magnificent part of the country, so we decided to plan out a basic itinerary.(when I say we , I really mean ME. And a basic itinerary is not my style. I will make this the biggest, baddest, kick a** trip...just like I always do).
The reunion itself is only 4 days long. However we will be flying out a week early and taking a little road trip before arriving to the festivities.(Little. Snort)

We will be flying out to Grand Junction, CO. There we will rent a car and let the adventure of a lifetime begin!!

Mesa Verde will be our first stop. I think this is a great one to start the vacation with. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Mesa Verde. Ever since I was a kid, it has been a dream. You better believe I will be taking pictures like crazy and just going nuts.

Next stop: Four Corners National Monument.  Yes I will do the obligatory one limb in every state photo opportunity.  Silly, I know, but how many times in your life can you say you were in 4 states at ONE TIME??

Heading down through New Mexico, and into Arizona our next stop will be The Petrified Forest. My dad told me he went there 60 years ago and he STILL remembers it. I remember in 4th grade a girl in my class went to AZ and brought back a piece of petrified wood she got in the gift shop. Or so she says. Who knows, she probably stole it...

 Through Petrified and on towards Flagstaff, making stops at Walnut Canyon National monument. There are the remaining cliff dwellings of a pre-colombian cultural group called the Sinagua. They dwelled here over 1000 years ago! It is a small area to visit, a small hiking trail, will probably only take an hour or so to visit.

And then onto Oak creek Canyon  near Sedona. I LOVE SEDONA. So happy.

We will then head up to THE GRAND CANYON!!! My kids are SUPER EXCITED for this. Finny thinks he wants to take a little donkey ride down into the canyon.  I told him he was out of his mind. But lots of photo opportunities, hiking and taking in the breathtaking beauty of Gods creations...and erosion.
I havent been to the Grand Canyon since I was a teenager(It was 1990 last visit). I remember we went horseback riding and my horse was a gorgeous fawn colored horse named Buck.

We will then head up and over into Utah, making stops in Zion National Park. This is another park I havent been to since I was a teenager. We hiked down to the pools and it was SO HOT. But it was stunningly beautiful.

Then Over to Bryce Canyon(boing boing boing). I am REALLY excited about this one. I dont remember much about Bryce, we blew through it last time I visited, as we were short on time and getting off schedule.

We will then head over towards the Moab area and through Capitol reef(a "wrinkle" in the earths crust). I am trying to work in a night time star gazing program at one of the parks because there is almost no light pollution and it is a perfect place to really take in the wonders of the heavens.

then we will be Heading over towards  Dead Horse Point . They call it dead horse after a bunch of wild horses that died there.  Kind of morbid, but look at how beautiful! Dont think about the sad horses and focus on the majesty of the canyons.

Then it is on to the Reunion, where there will be time in Canyonlands

and of course Arches

I am trying to figure out a way to work in Lake Powell, possibly on the free for all day of the reunion. i want to find the place where Dr Who filmed their episode The Impossible Astronaut....but I'd be happy just to go , even if I cant find the Dr Who link.

Now I only have to wait 15 months!! That should be enough time for me to completely plan and save for everything. i am SO EXCITED!! I am sure the itinerary may change over time. especially if I can find a way to work in Canyon de Chelly in AZ.

But the Vacation nazi will be vigilant in making sure this is a family vacation that the boys NEVER forget.

I just need to make sure I get all my I's dotted and T's crossed to  pull this off successfully.

HOW LONG???

only 244 days until we go to Disney World!

I dont know who is more excited.  Im going to take a wild guess

and say ME!! IT'S ME!! PICK ME! PICK ME!

Yes, it is true. When I think of Disney World I turn into an 8 year old pile of goopy excitement.
eeeeee!!!


This picture was from our 2008 trip.  Yes, I am wearing a lariat. Yes, I collect and trade pins. and yes, I wear disney shirts while I am at DIsney World...it's a sickness, really.
I wont mention that I even have a pair of disney ears wearing the sorcerors apprentice hat...

We are going to try some new restaurants, like Boma and Biergarten and perhaps Garden Grille.  But of course we are going back to some of our favorites, like O'hana and Yachtsman Steakhouse(home of the 44 dollar porterhouse) Thank goodness for the Disney Dining Plan!

First order of business?? Ride the Tower of Terror so many times I make myself sick.

Man, I love Disney World.