Sunday, December 29, 2013 – Santa Maria to Anaheim Our day began with a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, an impressively curated tribute to his life and presidency. One of the highlights was the Air Force One display, which perfectly fed into my love of aircraft. Reagan is buried at the library, andContinue reading “Remembering a President”
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Seals and Otters and Whales, Oh My!
Saturday, December 28, 2013 – Monterey to Santa Maria We left Monterey and took the scenic 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach, admiring its majestic homes, famous golf course, and expansive views of the Pacific. A family member suggested we stop at Point Lobos State Park for hiking and views, and at Nepenthe in Big SurContinue reading “Seals and Otters and Whales, Oh My!”
Big Valley, Big Inspiration
Thursday, December 26, 2013 – Yosemite National Park My day began with a 3-mile run—1.5 miles uphill from our cabin to the main road and 1.5 miles downhill back. Those 1.5 uphill miles at 6,000 feet of elevation were no joke for a Florida flatlander with sea-level lungs. But the effort was worth it, bothContinue reading “Big Valley, Big Inspiration”
A Slightly White Christmas
Wednesday, December 25, 2013 – Yosemite National Park What a breathtaking place to celebrate Christmas. Our day began gathered around the fireplace, where Chrissy surprised the kids with stockings and a few small gifts she’d managed to hide in her suitcase. With our holiday cheer firmly in place, we laced up our boots and setContinue reading “A Slightly White Christmas”
From the Mountains to the Sea
Friday, December 27, 2013 – Yosemite National Park to Monterey Our journey from Yosemite to Monterey took us through a fascinating cross-section of California’s landscapes. Following the GPS, we wound our way down a remote and twisting road, leaving the mountains behind. It was mesmerizing to watch the foliage change as we descended—majestic pines gaveContinue reading “From the Mountains to the Sea”
Christmas Eve Tradition
Tuesday, December 24, 2013 – San Francisco to Yosemite Breakfast at a diner near our hotel sparked one of those delightfully offbeat family conversations. Over pancakes and eggs, the kids decided I must be a Buddha. During our time in Chinatown, I’d mentioned Buddha or Buddhism a few times, and apparently, that was enough toContinue reading “Christmas Eve Tradition”
Big Ol’ Trees
Monday, December 23, 2013 – San Francisco, Muir Woods, Napa We kept our base at the Hotel Adagio in San Francisco but ventured out of the city on Monday for a day of nature and wine. Our first stop was Muir Woods, where we wandered among the towering redwoods and sequoias. These trees are oneContinue reading “Big Ol’ Trees”
Quack, Quack!
Sunday, December 22, 2013 – San Francisco I’ve traveled back and forth across the U.S. throughout my career, and I don’t usually have much trouble adjusting across the four time zones of the lower 48 states. However, as an early riser, “early” becomes even earlier when I’m three hours behind my normal routine. So onContinue reading “Quack, Quack!”
California Here We Come!
Saturday, December 21, 2013 – Bradenton to San Francisco Our adventure started at the ungodly hour of 3:45 a.m., fueled by adrenaline and caffeine. The allure of a great deal on a non-stop flight to San Francisco was too good to resist, even if it meant tacking on an extra hour’s drive to Orlando insteadContinue reading “California Here We Come!”
December 2013 – California
In 2013 Delaney was a freshman in college, Aaron was a freshman in high school, and we were solidly into our routine of traveling for a vacation over winter break because summers were just too busy. So during the week before Christmas 2013 we visited all of our family, exchanged presents, and had our holidayContinue reading “December 2013 – California”
Where Are We Going Now? 