Tag Archives: California

Travel and fear

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti

Open Road, West Texas

Our summer travel plans are starting to come together. We’ll be going to not one but two islands we’ve never visited before, and we’ll be making a return trip to one of our favorite cities on the planet.

These destinations are firmly planted on the “beaten path.” They will be incredible, but we aren’t exactly exploring new territory. Don’t get me wrong: I’m so thankful that I’ll have the chance to spend time with my husband and daughter, and I think we’ll have a wonderful time. However, there’s something about heading off into the middle of nowhere, leaving the well-trodden trail, that is particularly rewarding. And it’s something I’m hoping to do again soon.

A couple of years ago, my daughter and I went with another mother/daughter pair into the vast West Texas wilderness. It was certainly an adventure as we dodged tumbleweeds and wondered when we’d see a gas station and convinced ourselves we may or may not be abducted by aliens. The middle of nowhere, unfamiliar surroundings, no cell phone service…my daughter and I were out of our comfort zone, and it was one of the more memorable trips we’ve taken.

So, as summer approaches and I try to make plans to fill my daughter’s school-free time, I find myself daydreaming about girls-only adventures with my daughter in the rural expanses of Nevada, Utah, eastern California, and northern Arizona.

There are so many places I’d love to explore: Cathedral Gorge State Park near Pioche, Nevada. Snow Canyon State Park near St. George, Utah. The ghost town of Chloride in Arizona. The historic, possibly-haunted Mitzpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada (about halfway between Vegas and Lake Tahoe). I could go on. These are the kinds of places that I love. I like the fact that these are not “typical” tourist destinations. And I love the thought of driving down an open road, without another car in sight.

But something makes me hesitant to embark on these adventures alone with my daughter: fear.

I can’t help but imagine everything that could go wrong. These trips don’t involve hopping on a plane and heading to some help-is-always-nearby, highly-populated area. Most of these destinations mean driving through areas with little or no cell phone service and hikes in lesser-known parks. For some reason, that makes me nervous.

And then there is the fear of the unknown. It is always easier to visit a place you’ve been before, to know what is coming around the next bend in the road. However, it’s the trips to the places we haven’t been before that become the most memorable.

Nothing good in life is without risk. I’m trying to remember that as I plan a girls-only trip for me and my daughter. I will be smart and well-prepared, and I will trust that everything will turn out just fine. After all, The Hills Have Eyes is just a movie, right?

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Making the Most of 24 Hours in Palm Springs

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti

Palm Springs, CA

Week-long vacations are great, but our family ends up doing a lot of quick, one- or two-night trips. With work and school schedules, it’s difficult to carve out 7-10 days to travel. We would rather go on a quick road trip than not go at all, which has lead us to explore places like Houston and Seattle in just a few short days.

Our trip to Palm Springs was no different. We spent a mere 24-hours in the Coachella Valley. Here’s how we made the most of our time exploring the area:

Day 1: Morning
We hit the road and drove from Las Vegas to Palm Springs in about 4.5 hours. We stayed at the Renaissance Esmeralda, which is located in Indian Wells.

Day 1: Afternoon
We arrived at the Renaissance Esmeralda, and I immediately knew I’d picked the right hotel. The grounds were immaculate, and I loved seeing lots of colorful, blooming flowers in the middle of winter. (Believe it or not, Las Vegas gets pretty cold in the winter. The Coachella Valley is consistently warmer than Southern Nevada.)

Beautiful grounds at the Renaissance Esmeralda in Indian Wells

The resort is absolutely beautiful: airy and light and luxurious. Although our assigned room had a balcony, we upgraded to a pool-view room for an additional fee. It was worth it. This is the view we enjoyed from our room:

View from our room at the Renaissance Esmeralda

After we arrived at our room, it took about 30 seconds for five-year-old E. to see the pool from the balcony and decide that she wanted to join the fun. Although it was late afternoon by this point and starting to get a little chilly in the shade, the pool was heated and didn’t feel too bad. Besides, there isn’t much that can deter a kid from swimming.

E. and her dad went swimming while I sat poolside and had a drink. Eventually the sun set, and we decided to call it a day and get ready for dinner.

Day 1: Evening
I hadn’t scoped out any restaurants prior to our arrival, so we did the “drive around and look for a place to eat” routine that night. We headed to Palm Desert, the town just west of Indian Wells. We drove through the little downtown area filled with shops (most of which were closed for the day) and restaurants. We decided on an Italian restaurant and enjoyed some pasta before finding a frozen yogurt shop and then heading back to the hotel.

Day 2: Morning
Another hotel guest had mentioned to me that the breakfast place at the Renaissance Esmeralda was pretty good, so we decided to give it a try. I’m so glad we did! The breakfast buffet was outstanding and included a juice bar, omelete station, waffles, and fresh fruit. We sat out on the patio and enjoyed the beautiful weather. It was a great spot to discuss our plans for the day.

After breakfast, we took a quick walk around the resort grounds and then gathered our things and checked-out. Afterall, we had some exploring to do!

Day 2: Afternoon
Our main objective before heading home was to explore the Living Desert. This is a zoo that features desert animals from around the world. We saw everything from giraffes to panthers. We also enjoyed a camel ride, for an additional fee. It was worth the money for one lap around the camel enclosure.

Camel Ride

My view from aboard our camel

Living Desert was really the highlight of our trip. We don’t have a real zoo here in Las Vegas. It’s strange to think that something that was a staple from my own childhood is more of a rare occasion for E. We need to get her to a zoo more often even if it requires a drive to San Diego or elsewhere.

After our visit to the Living Desert, we began to make our way home…kind of. We stopped for lunch on our way out of town in downtown Palm Springs. We decided to try Maracas Cantina. I ordered something there I’d never eaten before: a mango salsa and brie quesadilla. It was just as delicious, of course. (How could it not be? Brie is the best!) After we ate, we walked around, checked out some of the stars along the sidewalk, and then drove back to Las Vegas.

downtown Palm Springs

I hope our travels will take us back to Palm Springs again. This isn’t the most kid-friendly place we’ve visited, but Living Desert is certainly worth a visit, and the city is filled with resort-style accomodations that are great for families.

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Four Awesomely Fun Things

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti

I really don’t like writing these kinds of posts. I’d rather let each of these adventures have the spotlight, and write four nicely-composed, detailed posts rather than lump these experiences into one entry.

But this is the way it goes when you’re busy. (I also hate saying that “I’m busy” as if that’s an excuse because, really, everyone is busy.)

Excuses aside, I know that if I don’t write about our four recent adventures, I will never write about them, so here they are: four awesomely fun things that we have done recently.

Charlie Parker’s Diner: Springfield, IL

Checking out the menu at Charlie Parker's Diner

While we were in St. Louis for the holidays, we took a side-trip to Springfield. Being fans of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, we had to check out Charlie Parker’s, a breakfast and lunch place that is housed in a quonset hut. Famous for their “horseshoe” breakfast and lunch dishes, this diner serves classic American fare in a unique environment. And it’s definitely kid-friendly, so keep it in mind if you ever travel to Springfield.

Keepers of the Wild: Valentine, AZ

I have become obsessed with Groupon, which is always filled with interesting deals and discounts. I saw a “use it now” groupon for Keepers of the Wild, and we decided to give it a try. We love anything that has to do with animals. Keepers of the Wild is a non-profit that seeks to rescue exotic animals. During our visit, we saw lions, tigers, monkeys, and llamas, just to name a few. And of course we had to stop at Cracker Barrel when we drove through Kingman, AZ on the way. It’s a road trip staple! (My daughter is now better than I am at that triangular game with the pegs.)

Gondola at the Venetian: Las Vegas, NV

If you’ve ever researched a trip to Vegas, you’ve come across references to the gondola at the Venetian, I’m sure. Even though we’ve lived here for over a year, we didn’t take a ride on the cute little boats until recently. It’s not a cheap adventure, but it was fun. An added bonus was the fact that our gondolier sang for us and had an amazing voice.

Living Desert Camel Ride: Palm Desert, CA

Camel Ride

Of these four fun adventures, this is probably my favorite! We went to the Coachella Valley for a weekend and visited the Living Desert, a zoo that focuses on desert animals of the world. For an extra fee, visitors can ride a camel. At first, I thought my daughter would be riding alone, but at the last minute I decided I couldn’t resist joining her! (I’ll be writing more about our Palm Springs trip in future posts, so stay tuned.)

Writing about these latest excursions makes me think it’s time to plan a few more. Have any suggestions for us?

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Photo Friday: Malibu

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Last weekend, we went to LA to see the Cubs play the Dodgers (see? I told you we love our Cubs!) On Sunday, before heading home to Las Vegas, we took a detour up to Malibu.

We took in the beautiful views:

Day trip from LA: Malibu

Played in the waves:

running on the beach in Malibu

And buried our toes in the sand:

feet in the sand in Malibu

It was a great way to end the weekend…and to console ourselves after the Cubs lost their game.

For more travel photos, stop by the family travel blog Delicious Baby.

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One Man’s Weekend Getaway is Another Man’s Day Trip

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Sometimes I wonder what the heck we’re doing. When my husband and I get antsy, it means that a day trip is in order. However, I’m pretty sure my family’s definition of “day trip” borders on delusion.

Here’s a taste of what we’ve been up to recently to help illustrate my point:

A day trip to Huntington Beach. I know what you’re thinking, so let me answer your question. Why yes, Huntington Beach is about a four-hour drive each way from Las Vegas. This little bit of madness was a joint effort between me and my husband, since I think I was the one who wistfully mentioned the beach, but it was his idea that this was a reasonable thing to do in one day rather than one weekend. We enjoyed some time at the beach, ate lunch at Sandy’s, and had post-sandcastle milkshakes at the 50′s-style diner, Ruby’s. We also spent a lot of time in the car.

A day trip to Zion National Park. When we had family in town, it was suggested that Zion is “just a couple hours away” and that we could totally drive there, look around, and come home in one day. Well, it turns out “a couple” is more like 3.5, and it didn’t help that we accidentally took the scenic route home. Although the Zion excurion wasn’t my husband’s idea, it did come from his side of the family, which I think demonstrates that crazy travel schemes are at least somewhat genetic.

We’ve got a lot planned for this summer: big adventures that involve flights and/or long drives, but also a few day trips near Las Vegas. Despite the crazy desert heat, I love this time of year! Something about summer makes you think you can go out and do anything…like drive 8 hours roundtrip, enjoy your destination, and get home in time to maintain your sanity.

Huntington Beach: a day trip or weekend getaway from Las Vegas

What do you think? Where is that fine line between “day trip” and “weekend getaway?”

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Death Valley Advice

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

The name sounds ominous, but Death Valley can be a fun day-trip if you plan ahead, arm yourself with plenty of water, and visit before the weather gets too hot. This is a park of “-ests.” It’s one of the lowest, hottest, and driest spots in North America. Here are three quick tips for enjoying your trip to Death Valley National Park with your family:

1. Check the weather. You might be surprised! Yes, the name is ominous and it does get extremely hot during the summer months. However, if you visit Death Valley in winter, you’ll want to bring a jacket. Also, be aware that if you visit the sand dunes or the salt flats, your clothes and shoes will get sandy, salty, or both. In other words, leave the fancy clothes at home! (This should be a no-brainer, but I’m always shocked by the clothes some people choose to wear when they go hiking.)

2. Do some research before you go. This is a vast park, so you’ll want to make the most of your time. We went into the park at the East Entrance, near Death Valley Junction, and worked our way north. We then hit the salt flats on our way back at the end of the day. Kids will enjoy the Mesquite Sand Dunes, which is basically a huge sandbox.

3. As you can imagine, it’s a pretty lonely drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley. A good place to stop for gas or food is Pahrump, Nevada. You’ll find a variety of restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores. I suggest stopping for gas here; there is a gas station inside the park, but the prices are higher than they are elsewhere.

Have you visited Death Valley with kids? Please share your advice by leaving a comment!

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My 7 Super Travel Shots

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Today, I’m participating in Hostelbooker’s 7 Super Shots game. Here’s how it works: I was tagged by Wandering Educators (thank you!), and now I get the chance to share my seven favorite travel photos for each of the pre-determined categories. Then, I have the opportunity to tag five other bloggers who I think will have some spectacular travel photos to share.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane:

A Photo That Takes My Breath Away:

Hyatt Regency--Maui. Spa

When we went to Maui a couple years ago, I took a little time to myself and went to the spa for a pedicure. The view was incredible from the open-air relaxation room at the Hyatt Regency.

A Photo That Makes Me Dream:

Open Road, West Texas

I love the idea of road trips. I mean, I love the road trips themselves, but it’s the idea of them that really inspires me. This photo was taken in West Texas, on a very lonely road. Many parts of West Texas are so untravelled that you can drive for many miles without seeing another car. Something about all that open space really fascinates me, and I love the memories this photo brings back.

A Photo That Makes Me Think:

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington

My daughter and niece were very respectful as we watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. I think they understood that this was a time and place for quiet voices, and I was really proud of them. Because my daughter is a military brat, we’ve had to explain some concepts to her that other kids her age might not be familiar with. We’ve talked about deployment, terrorism, and the people who want to cause others harm. We’ve even talked about death a little, mostly in the context of family members who have passed away. It can be challenging to find a balance between honesty and protection; I hope we’re doing things right.

A Photo That Makes Me Smile:

Two girls at in the Smokies. TN.

We’re fortunate to be able to go on the occasional girls getaway with other mom/daughter friends. Last summer, my daughter and I went to Great Smoky Mountain National Park with our good friends from Ohio. I love this photo of the girls laughing, probably at the expense of their mothers.

A Photo That Makes My Mouth Water:

Ubuntu restaurant. Napa, CA

The vegetarian restaurant Ubuntu in Napa features some very unusual dishes. This beautiful salad, complete with edible flowers, was as delicious as it was beatuiful.

A Photo That Tells a Story:

.

See those people on the lift in front of me? Those were my friends and I should have been on the lift with them. But somehow I totally messed things up when I was trying to get on the lift, and I ended up on a four-person lift all by myself. Nothing screams “beginner” like the chick in the rented helmet who can’t properly board the lift. Oops.

A Photo I’m Proud of:

Bright (A flower at the SA Botanical Garden)

I love this photo of a vibrant flower at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

I can’t wait to see seven travel photos from these fantastic bloggers:

Go Explore Nature
Family and Life in Las Vegas
Oh Mah Deehness!
I Backpack Canada
FlutieMcD

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Photo: The Ultimate Sandbox

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Death Valley NP, sand dunes

The Mesquite Sand Dunes at Death Valley National Park are so much fun to visit. We brought sand toys for my daughter, and she could have stayed there all day. Even my husband and I were running around barefoot and making “sand angels.”

Gotta love those three-day weekends. Hope yours was just as fun.

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Fun and Free in San Francisco: The de Young Museum Tower

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

We were on our way to Golden Gate Park, when a stranger asked us if we needed help. (We looked like such tourists: consulting our map, looking up, the two of us pointing in opposite directions, referring to the map again…) We told this kind San Franciscan that we wanted to visit Golden Gate Park, but weren’t sure exactly how to get there and what we wanted to do once we arrived. He suggested we check out the great views from the de Young Museum tower.

We took his advice, and loved the views from the top. Although there is an admission price for the museum itself, visitors can go up to the observation tower for free!

For more photos from our San Francisco trip, click here. Also, you might want to read about our visit to Alcatraz.

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Our Visit to Alcatraz: Helpful Tips and One Surprising Fact

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

While we were planning our recent trip to San Francisco, Alcatraz wasn’t something I looked forward to as a highlight of the trip. It turned out to be much more interesting–and less cheesy and touristy–than I expected. Good job, National Park Service!

One thing visitors should keep in mind is that the Alcatraz tours do sell out on weekends. We had to switch around our schedule a little bit because the tours were sold out on the day we planned to go. Luckily, we were able to get tickets the following day, a Monday.

For people like us, who have spent most of our lives in land-locked locales, the ferry ride to and from the island is an added bonus. The trip only lasts about ten minutes, but there are some pretty good views of the San Francisco skyline and of the Golden Gate Bridge. Although we didn’t bring our daughter along on this trip, I think she would have loved the ferry (and been bored at the actual historic site).

Although guided tours are available, we did the self-guided audio tour of the prison. I liked that it provided accounts from actual prisoners and prison employees who spent time at Alcatraz. In describing various riots and escape attempts, the audio tour did an excellent job of guiding me to different points of significance, which helped these stories come to life.

One fact that surprised me: the families of the prison guards lived on the island. Not only that, they often left their doors unlocked and felt very safe there! Personally, if I lived next door to a high-security prison that housed some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, I’d turn that deadbolt every time I walked in the house.

Alcatraz is open every day except Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Day. Hours vary and tickets should be purchased in advance. The ferry boats leave from Pier 33, which is located on the Embarcadero.

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