<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Level Up House</title> <atom:link href="/category/travel-vacation/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link></link> <description>Home is the best place on earth</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:49:35 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5</generator> <item> <title>Living With Less: 500 sq. feet and just the essentials</title> <link>/2014/living-less-500-sq-feet-just-essentials/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2014 02:50:34 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Minimalism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[downsizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[duplication of function]]></category> <category><![CDATA[minimalism]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=3235</guid> <description><![CDATA[My husband and I just returned from a wonderful 3 day vacation in Friday Harbor, a touristy town of about 2,000 on San Juan Island, Washington. This was our first trip with Gadget and an unusual trip for us in that we spent almost half of every day inside our 500 sq ft hotel room! Since our trip […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My husband and I just returned from a wonderful 3 day vacation in <a href="http://www.fridayharbor.com/">Friday Harbor</a>, a touristy town of about 2,000 on San Juan Island, Washington.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_dock.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3265" src="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_dock.jpg" alt="friday_harbor_dock" width="1000" height="525" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_dock.jpg 1000w, /wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_dock-300x157.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a></p> <p>This was our first trip with Gadget and an unusual trip for us in that we spent almost half of every day inside our 500 sq ft hotel room!</p> <p>Since our trip fell squarely into what is considered the “off season” on the island, most attractions were either running on winter hours or closed altogether. So while we may wake up at 6 and be ready to venture into the world by 7, there wasn’t much to do before 10am or after 5pm. (Not a complaint, we love the quirks of off-season travel.)</p> <p>When we travel we usually try to maximize the time we spend at whatever the nearby point of interest is. Disney parks have us up by 7 and in line for whichever park opens earliest by 8 or 9. Ditto and likewise for road trips and skiing vacations. On those kinds of trips, we return to the room and collapse into bed somewhere around 9 or 10. There’s never much time to enjoy the room, nor is there any point – the rooms we rent tend to be little more than a bed in a box.</p> <p>But this room was different!</p> <p>This room (at the <a href="http://www.fridayharborsuites.com/">Friday Harbor Suites</a>) had an almost-kitchen including flatware, bowls and plates, a sink with Palmolive and a new sponge, microwave, medium sized fridge. It also had a dining table, a separate bedroom, a bathroom larger than any I have in my single family home, a living room complete with sofa and oversized coffee table, and a little sliding door that opened to a ground-level deck. If the room just had a range to cook on, I think I could have moved in.</p> <p>Everything had a purpose, and almost nothing duplicated the purpose of anything else (well, except for the two flat screen televisions and the bar chairs at the kitchen ledge).</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_1.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3239" src="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_1.jpg" alt="friday_harbor_suites_room_1" width="1000" height="667" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_1.jpg 1000w, /wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_1-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_2.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3240" src="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_2.jpg" alt="friday_harbor_suites_room_2" width="1000" height="667" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_2.jpg 1000w, /wp-content/uploads/2014/12/friday_harbor_suites_room_2-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a></p> <p>Living in this tiny space was refreshing! As a recovering stuff addict, I love an opportunity to see just how much stuff I don’t actually need.</p> <p>Three days in the “mini house” also made it obvious how much of my home is just duplication.</p> <p>Whereas this hotel room had just one table to eat at, my home has at least <strong>five</strong> places where we occasionally dine:</p> <ul> <li>dining room table (where most of our meals are eaten)</li> <li>TV trays in front of the blue sofa</li> <li>computer desks upstairs (I eat here sometimes)</li> <li>folding card table in living room</li> <li>standing up in the kitchen (guilty…)</li> </ul> <p>I can also sew at two different machines, shower in two different showers, sit on four different toilets, wash my hands in any of 5 different sinks, and lounge on two different sofas. If I wanted to sit somewhere, I count at least 11 different places I could have a nice sit. I have two televisions (and three laptops, plus an iPad) for watching things on, and I even have two separate beds I could sleep in.</p> <p>That’s <strong>a lot</strong> of duplication.</p> <p>If I removed all the duplication from my home (three of the four bathrooms, all but one of the bedrooms, one of the living rooms, etc), I’d probably have a 700 sq ft home instead of a 2200 sq ft home!</p> <p>A lot of it happened accidentally – upgrading to a new version of something and retaining the old one is the most common cause of duplication. But it’s a lot of upkeep and management, time I’d rather spend making art or writing or walking outdoors with my family.</p> <p>In a way, my home encouraged it. When there’s room for stuff, it’s easy to keep it around!</p> <p>When we replaced our 7 year old sofa with one large enough to hold us both, the old sofa just moved to another room (at the cost of $125 for movers, since we couldn’t move it ourselves). The room that received it was otherwise empty – because for whatever reason, my 1977 single family home has <em>both</em> a family room and a living room to fill up. Sure, we’d left that living room empty for a good three years, but the looks we got from visitors made it clear that the social expectation was that living rooms should have at least a little furniture in them.</p> <p>But what’s the point? I didn’t miss the excess while on my vacation, and I didn’t mind having “only” one place to sit or sleep. Why do I need two sofas if one will do? Why was my house (and so many like it) built on the assumption that someone would want so many duplicates of things? (It even has two fireplaces!)</p> <p>The three days I spent in this little room were inspiring. I took three car-loads of unused stuff to the local charity dropoff the day after we got back. Feels good, man.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Things I Like: 5 Best Tech Travel Accessories</title> <link>/2013/my-5-best-tech-travel-accessories/</link> <comments>/2013/my-5-best-tech-travel-accessories/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 28 Dec 2013 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=2559</guid> <description><![CDATA[Yes, I “vacation” with my electronics… :) I put “vacation” in quotes because it never really is one – I can’t resist the urge to stay productive, especially when long plane trips don’t offer much opportunity to do anything but write or code on a computer. In 2013 alone I traveled over 10,000 miles by […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yes, I “vacation” with my electronics… :) I put “vacation” in quotes because it never really is one – I can’t resist the urge to stay productive, especially when long plane trips don’t offer much opportunity to do anything but write or code on a computer.</p> <p>In 2013 alone I traveled over 10,000 miles by plane: I made it all the way to Alaska, California, Chicago, and Florida!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_traveling_around_the_US.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-2578 aligncenter" alt="2013 5 best tech travel accessories" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_traveling_around_the_US.jpg" width="512" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_traveling_around_the_US.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_traveling_around_the_US-150x150.jpg 150w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_traveling_around_the_US-300x300.jpg 300w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_traveling_around_the_US-185x185.jpg 185w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_traveling_around_the_US-120x120.jpg 120w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Some of the accessories I brought along totally rocked, so to celebrate their awesomeness, here’s my list of the 5 best tech travel accessories in my carry-on. (Yes, all these things will fit in your carry-on – I <strong>hate</strong> checking bags!)</p> <h1>1. Joby GorillaPod Hybrid tripod</h1> <p>Welp, this silly looking Joby tripod-thing sure shot <strong>right to the top of my best-of list</strong>.</p> <div id="attachment_2565" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HY4U4Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HY4U4Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2565" class="size-full wp-image-2565 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories Joby GorillaPod Hybrid Tripod" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Tripod.jpg" width="512" height="406" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Tripod.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Tripod-300x237.jpg 300w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Tripod-185x146.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2565" class="wp-caption-text"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HY4U4Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HY4U4Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20" target="_blank">Joby GorillaPod Hybrid tripod</a> doing what it does best – imitating dystopian cameras run amok.</p></div> <p>This three-legged darling is a flexible tripod made by Joby and it is<strong> amazing</strong>. I took it with to Disney World this December and I still can’t get over how awesome this thing is:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Rugged – </strong>I bent and twisted this thing every day. I even took it on roller coasters. It’s still in one piece!</li> <li><strong>Use with sign posts, railings, fire hydrants, garbage cans, car roofs</strong> – you name it, just get creative and you’ll find “tripods” are everywhere around you</li> <li><strong>Can bring into Walt Disney World parks</strong> (full-size tripods are not as welcome)</li> <li><strong>Small and lightweight</strong> – I didn’t mind carrying it all day, and it fit nicely into my cinch-sack when I wasn’t using it</li> <li><strong>Bubble level</strong> – helps you know if your shot is straight</li> <li><strong>Easy to eject camera</strong> – the camera screws into an eject-able plate, so it comes off quickly</li> <li><strong>Long exposure shots anywhere!</strong> – I took a lot of shots I never could have without it</li> </ul> <p>Usually I get home from a trip and find that my shots are mostly iPhone selfies and a few decent shots from my Canon but nothing at dusk or nighttime and nothing of myself at any further than arm’s length. No more! The Joby let me turn almost anything into a camera stand (my favorite WDW object to set it on turned out to be the metal-topped garbage cans everywhere in the parks). I took a ton of dusk and nighttime long exposure shots thanks to the Joby.</p> <p>Here’s my Joby holding up my Canon as it works on a long-exposure shot.</p> <div id="attachment_2566" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_joby_tripod_in_action.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2566" class="size-full wp-image-2566 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories Joby tripod in action" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_joby_tripod_in_action.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_joby_tripod_in_action.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_joby_tripod_in_action-225x300.jpg 225w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_joby_tripod_in_action-185x246.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2566" class="wp-caption-text">This photo of my Joby doing its thing was taken with my iPhone. As you can see, the iPhone 4S’s camera isn’t so great when the lighting’s poor, as evidenced by graininess and the flat black sky.</p></div> <p>And here’s the shot my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J3ZXGU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004J3ZXGU&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20" target="_blank">Canon point and shoot camera</a> was able to take with the Joby tripod holding it steady for the 3 second exposure time:</p> <div id="attachment_2567" style="width: 419px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_review_long_exposure_nighttime_shot.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2567" class=" wp-image-2567 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories Joby GorillaPod review long exposure nighttime shot" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_review_long_exposure_nighttime_shot.jpg" width="409" height="614" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_review_long_exposure_nighttime_shot.jpg 682w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_review_long_exposure_nighttime_shot-199x300.jpg 199w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_review_long_exposure_nighttime_shot-185x277.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 409px) 100vw, 409px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2567" class="wp-caption-text">I can’t believe *I* took this photo!</p></div> <p>My Joby tripod also enabled all kinds of creative, timer-delayed shots that were never possible before:</p> <div id="attachment_2568" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Shot2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2568" class="size-full wp-image-2568 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories Joby GorillaPod posed photos" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Shot2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Shot2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Shot2-300x225.jpg 300w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Hybrid_Shot2-185x138.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2568" class="wp-caption-text">We put the Joby on a nearby fire hydrant and the camera on a 10 second delay to create this fun shot of us at the Gatorland entrance in Orlando, FL.</p></div> <div id="attachment_2569" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Best_Tech_Accessories.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2569" class="size-full wp-image-2569 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories Joby GorillaPod on fire hydrant" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Best_Tech_Accessories.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Best_Tech_Accessories.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Best_Tech_Accessories-225x300.jpg 225w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Joby_GorillaPod_Best_Tech_Accessories-185x246.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2569" class="wp-caption-text">All kinds of unusual objects, such as fire hydrants and railings, can be used to support the Joby GorillaPod.</p></div> <p>So yeah, in short, I love my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HY4U4Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HY4U4Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20" target="_blank">Joby GorillaPod</a>.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> The Joby tripod does <strong>not</strong> make your camera walk independently and shoot lasers although I really, <em>really</em> wish it did.</p> <h1>2. iLuv Audio Splitter</h1> <p>I took a chance on the unknown-to-me <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TKTHFY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001TKTHFY&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">iLuv brand audio splitter adapter</a> after reading good reviews on Amazon. <strong>Good news:</strong> it’s awesome.</p> <p>The iLuv audio splitter had<strong> no noticeable effect on the volume or clarity of audio</strong>, which is great because I used it in the back seats of a noisy airplane so every bit of volume mattered. I used it to share video audio with my husband, but I think we’ll use it on future trips to share audio books and music as well.</p> <p>In quieter tests, audio quality seemed unaffected. <em>(Disclaimer: I’m not an audiophile.) </em></p> <div id="attachment_2564" style="width: 378px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_iLuv.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2564" class="size-full wp-image-2564 " alt="5 Best Tech Travel Accessories iLuv audio adapter review" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_iLuv.jpg" width="368" height="499" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_iLuv.jpg 368w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_iLuv-221x300.jpg 221w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/best_tech_travel_accessories_iLuv-185x250.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2564" class="wp-caption-text">Yes, I love my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TKTHFY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001TKTHFY&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">iLuv audio splitter</a>. Plenty loud and with individual volume controls FTW.</p></div> <p>Best of all, even though this thing is cheap (like, under $10), Amazon hasn’t classified it as an “add on” item yet, so you can still buy it by itself (like I did) as of this writing.</p> <h1>3. Power strip</h1> <p>Behold: <strong>the humble power strip.</strong> My favorite travel power strip isn’t bendy, Octopus-shaped, or color coded, but it is<strong> durable</strong> and <strong>incredibly useful</strong>. I travel with an RCA power strip, and the one I’m using has now endured about 7 years of travel abuse.</p> <div style="width: 460px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FS6YKLQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FS6YKLQ&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" " alt="5 best tech travel accessories RCA power strip for travel" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/rca_power_strip_travel_gadgets.jpg" width="450" height="129" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">My favorite power strip is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FS6YKLQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FS6YKLQ&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">this rugged RCA-brand surge protector</a>.</p></div> <p>A lot of “best tech travel accessories” lists like to recommend these compact adapters, but I don’t like them as much. I own one, and I stopped traveling with it because it’s just not as good as a power strip.</p> <div id="attachment_2570" style="width: 457px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATZJ5YS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ATZJ5YS&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2570" class="size-full wp-image-2570 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories Belkin SurgePlus" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/belkin_travel_adapter.jpg" width="447" height="257" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/belkin_travel_adapter.jpg 447w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/belkin_travel_adapter-300x172.jpg 300w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/belkin_travel_adapter-185x106.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 447px) 100vw, 447px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2570" class="wp-caption-text">The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATZJ5YS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ATZJ5YS&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20" target="_blank">Belkin SurgePlus 3-Outlet Mini Travel Adapter </a>with USB ports wins at compactness, but doesn’t win at capacity or convenient placement.</p></div> <p>Mini adapters don’t offer as many plugs and have to be accessed wherever the outlet happens to be – behind the nightstand or under the table. I hate bending and crawling under tables, so a power strip with a 6′ cord works much better for me. I plug it in and set the strip anywhere – usually on top of the table.</p> <p><strong>Added bonus:</strong> A power strip makes you king of the airport terminal if you’re stuck waiting on a delayed jet – no need to fight over the one plug available, there’s room for many on any decent power strip.</p> <p><strong>Things to look for in a travel power strip:</strong></p> <p>I like my power strips rugged, with thick cords, heavy plastic, and flat plugs. I like the cord to be at least 6′ long so I can position the power strip conveniently. Keeping in mind the <em>one</em> outlet in the hotel room is often under a table or stuffed behind something else, a few feet of cord can be a huge help.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Space between plugs</strong> to accommodate cell phone charge bricks</li> <li><strong>Surge protection</strong> (if you’re paranoid like me)</li> <li><strong>Ruggedness</strong> – thick cord, heavy plastic</li> <li><strong>Cord length</strong> – 6′ or more lets you position the strip somewhere you can actually reach</li> <li><strong>Polarized plugs</strong> – for safety!</li> </ul> <h1>4. Retractable cord mouse</h1> <p>If you travel with a laptop but hate being limited to the touch pad, a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=retractable%20mouse&linkCode=ur2&tag=diy07a-20&url=search-alias%3Delectronics">retractable mouse</a> is a cheap way to improve your workflow.</p> <p>This Verbatim-brand retractable cord mini mouse is currently Amazon’s highest rated retractable-cord mouse.</p> <div style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/recommended_tech_travel_accessories_retractable_mouse.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" " alt="5 best tech travel accessories mini mouse retractable cord" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/recommended_tech_travel_accessories_retractable_mouse.jpg" width="300" height="274" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NSBLOK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003NSBLOK&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">Verbatim’s retractable cord mini mouse</a> comes in a rainbow of color options</p></div> <p>Alas, they no longer sell the mouse I use, which is a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H87IIC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000H87IIC&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">Kensington Ci25m Notebook Optical Mouse</a>. It has survived 4 years of abuse. Here it is in action on my recent flight to Orlando:</p> <div id="attachment_2563" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/recommended_tech_travel_accessories_mouse_on_airplane.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2563" class="size-full wp-image-2563 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories travel mouse and laptop on a tray table" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/recommended_tech_travel_accessories_mouse_on_airplane.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/recommended_tech_travel_accessories_mouse_on_airplane.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/recommended_tech_travel_accessories_mouse_on_airplane-300x225.jpg 300w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/recommended_tech_travel_accessories_mouse_on_airplane-185x138.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2563" class="wp-caption-text">A mini mouse fits on an airplane tray table with room to spare for the netbook. (Mine’s 10.5″)</p></div> <p>Combined with my 10.5” netbook, the travel mouse lets me have the “real PC” experience a bit more while I’m crammed into the back of a jet. Makes me much faster than fumbling around with the track pad.</p> <p><strong>Things to look for in a travel mouse:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Retractable cord</strong> – just one less cord to get tangled in things</li> <li><strong>Good size</strong> – be wary of super micro mouses, which are basically for fingertip use only, if you’re hoping for something more substantial</li> </ul> <h1><strong>5. Bose headphones</strong></h1> <p>Once upon a time (8 years ago, actually) I was a student at an art school that required everyone to get around-ear headphones for a series of audio/video classes. I tried a bunch of cheaper headphones, but the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MMWT9Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MMWT9Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">Bose Around-Ear Headphones</a> was the only set of headphones that fit around my ears comfortably and sit on my head for hours without feeling heavy while still doing a good job of muffling the noise around me.</p> <div id="attachment_2576" style="width: 360px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MMWT9Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MMWT9Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2576" class="size-full wp-image-2576 " alt="5 best tech travel accessories Bose around ear headphones" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/bose_around_ear_headphones.jpg" width="350" height="292" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/bose_around_ear_headphones.jpg 350w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/bose_around_ear_headphones-300x250.jpg 300w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/bose_around_ear_headphones-185x154.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2576" class="wp-caption-text">Bose has newer models, but <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MMWT9Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MMWT9Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">these headphones</a> are champions</p></div> <p>These headphones were about $150 when I bought them (in 2005) and have since come down in price as Bose has produced newer models. These headphones are still going strong. I never travel without ’em because they’re slim enough to fit into a backpack (providing I give them some cushioning, you shouldn’t throw them in haphazardly) and do a decent job of muffling the noise of the airplane cabin. Sometimes I put them on my head and don’t listen to anything at all – they are a convenient way to say, “Shut up, world!”. :D</p> <p>So there we have it – <strong>my five favorite tech travel accessories! </strong>Do you have any must-haves when you travel? Tell us about them in the comments!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/my-5-best-tech-travel-accessories/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Disneyland 2013 Quotes</title> <link>/2013/disneyland-2013-quotes/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:00:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=2623</guid> <description><![CDATA[WE WENT TO DISNEYLAND! IT WAS AWESOME! Here’s some of the ridiculous stuff we said along the way. “That was ANOTHER Mater.” – Jim discovering a bit of Disney magic “I FEEL FINE!!!!!!!!” – Jim’s pure delight after riding the Tower with no ill effects “Today was great because I saw Genie twerking Jafar” – Jim after […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>WE WENT TO DISNEYLAND! IT WAS AWESOME! </strong></p> <p><strong><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Disneyland_Mandi_Jim.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Disneyland_Mandi_Jim" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Disneyland_Mandi_Jim.jpg" width="384" height="288" /></a></strong></p> <p><strong>Here’s some of the ridiculous stuff we said along the way. </strong></p> <p><em>“That was ANOTHER Mater.”</em> – Jim discovering a bit of Disney magic</p> <p><em>“I FEEL FINE!!!!!!!!”</em> – Jim’s pure delight after riding the Tower with no ill effects</p> <p><em>“Today was great because I saw Genie twerking Jafar”</em> – Jim after the Aladdin stage show</p> <p><em>“Are you ready? ARE YOU READY??”</em> – Me on the very first Splash Mountain hill climb<br /> <em>“Yes.”</em> – Jim, bracing for a big drop<br /> …<br /> <em>“WHAT!”</em> – Jim, realizing the first climb is a fake-out and there is no drop there</p> <p><em>“I like eating park food. My parents wouldn’t let us, it was just ‘Here’s a peanut butter jelly sandwich that’s been in my purse all day'”. </em>– Jim, on the luxuries of eating in the park</p> <p><em>“I’m gonna need a breakfast soon.”</em> – Me<br /> <em>“I’m sure there’s an ice cream place open somewhere”</em> – Jim</p> <p><em>“No one told me we were doing Flash Mountain!!”</em> – Me, upon realizing I was the only person in the boat who didn’t pull their shirt up or off</p> <p><em>“HOW DO YOU DO?! FINE, HOW ARE YOU?”</em> – Us singing along on Splash Mountain, and on the walk back to our hotel, and in our hotel, and at the airport, and at home…</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Alaska Road Trip: Driving from Denali to Anchorage (Part 4)</title> <link>/2013/alaska-road-trip-driving-from-denali-to-anchorage/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 24 Aug 2013 07:00:02 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Alaska]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Denali]]></category> <category><![CDATA[road trip]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=2008</guid> <description><![CDATA[Days 4 and 5 – Heading Home One Last Look for Denali Saturday = drive back to Anchorage day! We’re usually pretty excited to head back home, and this trip’s no exception. But before driving down to Anchorage, we first went north a bit and back to the Denali 15-mile long Park Road one last […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Days 4 and 5 – Heading Home</h1> <h2>One Last Look for Denali</h2> <p>Saturday = drive back to Anchorage day! We’re usually pretty excited to head back home, and this trip’s no exception.</p> <p>But before driving down to Anchorage, we first went north a bit and back to the Denali 15-mile long Park Road one last time in hopes of seeing the Denali itself, as we’ve still yet to see the park’s namesake mountain. We were in luck! The clouds parted and <strong><em>holy wow that’s a huge mountain! </em></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_mountain.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2011" alt="Denali from Denali National Park paved road" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_mountain.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_mountain.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_mountain-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>We drove to the end of the Park Road and climbed this giant heap of rocks for a better view (there’s a path, don’t worry :P).</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_park_road_rocks.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="hiking at the end of the paved Denali National Park road " src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_park_road_rocks.jpg" width="342" height="512" /></a></p> <p>We were all like:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_last_day.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="Happy in Denali Alaska" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_last_day.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;">And Denali was all like:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_shows_up.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2012" alt="Driving from Denali to Anchorage one last view of Denali" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_shows_up.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_shows_up.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_shows_up-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">It was spectacular, but clouds soon rolled in as if to say “there, you saw it, now get going on that five hour drive back to Anchorage!”</p> <h2>Denali Park Tidbits</h2> <p style="text-align: left;">On our way out of the park we stopped at one of the hiking spots. Both of us were too chicken to actually <em>go hiking</em> (for numerous reasons, but mostly out of fear of bears) so we walked for ten minutes on one of the easy trails near the parking lot. We found this pile of poop on our walk, which Jim declared bear poop. I thought it was moose poop, but without access to Google we’re both pretty useless when it comes to this nature stuff.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_poop.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2016" alt="Denali animal poop" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_poop.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_poop.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_poop-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">The scenery, however, was still spectacular.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_scenery.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2017" alt="denali_scenery" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_scenery.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_scenery.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_scenery-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Back at the parking lot, we marveled at the reinforced bear-proof Denali bathrooms.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_bathrooms.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2014" alt="Denali restrooms" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_bathrooms.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_bathrooms.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_bathrooms-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_serious_bathroom_door.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2015" alt="Denali reinforced bathroom door" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_serious_bathroom_door.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_serious_bathroom_door.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_serious_bathroom_door-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Before we left, Denali had one more treat for us. When we returned to the parking lot, parked next to our rental was<em> its younger sibling</em>. Check out the plates: GQA 556 and GQA 555. Both are from the same Hertz fleet. What are the odds!?!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_twin_cars2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2021" alt="Anchorage Hertz fleet Fiesta" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_twin_cars2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_twin_cars2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_twin_cars2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">The couple driving the blue Fiesta casually left car and walked away to explore the park, not realizing the awesomeness of this coincidence. Don’t worry, I enjoyed it enough for them.</p> <h2>The 6-Hour Drive to Anchorage</h2> <p>When we arrived on Wednesday, we banged out a 3-hour flight and a 5-hour drive like it weren’t no thang. So we figured driving from Denali to Anchorage on Saturday wouldn’t be so bad – after all, there was no 3-hour flight beforehand. We were wrong: <strong>the drive back felt like eternity</strong>. We must have been pretty worn out by this point in the trip.</p> <p>But we saw some cool things along the way, such as:</p> <div id="attachment_2024" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_roadside_moose.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2024" class="size-full wp-image-2024 " alt="Driving from Denali to Anchorage moose sighting" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_roadside_moose.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_roadside_moose.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_roadside_moose-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2024" class="wp-caption-text">Roadside moose</p></div> <div style="width: 351px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_scenery.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" " alt="Driving from Denali to Anchorage scenery" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_denali_scenery.jpg" width="341" height="512" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Huge mountains, muddy rivers, and thick clouds are my favorite parts of Alaska scenery.</p></div> <div id="attachment_2023" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_shop.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2023" class="size-full wp-image-2023 " alt="Driving from Denali to Anchorage creepy building" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_shop.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_shop.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_shop-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2023" class="wp-caption-text">Come inside, children…</p></div> <div id="attachment_2025" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_sign_bullets.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2025" class="size-full wp-image-2025 " alt="Denali State Park bullet sign" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_sign_bullets.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_sign_bullets.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_road_sign_bullets-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2025" class="wp-caption-text">Discharge of weapons rule barely readable due to bullet holes</p></div> <div id="attachment_2026" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_drive_view.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2026" class="size-full wp-image-2026 " alt="Approaching Anchorage from the north" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_drive_view.jpg" width="512" height="341" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_drive_view.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_drive_view-300x199.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2026" class="wp-caption-text">Almost back to Anchorage</p></div> <p>We arrived in Anchorage around 6:30pm blind with hunger and desperate for comfort.</p> <h2>Dinner in Anchorage</h2> <p>We went directly to our favorite place from our last visit to Anchorage, the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/glacier-brewhouse-anchorage">Glacier Brewhouse</a>, only to find every table was booked for the next three hours. We were about to leave when a couple in the bar seating waved us over, said we could have their table, and we just about fainted in gratitude.</p> <p>Thirty minutes later, we feasted on a half roasted chicken and the best prime rib either of us has ever tasted:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_prime_rib_chicken.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2028" alt="Glacier Brewhouse chicken" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_prime_rib_chicken.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_prime_rib_chicken.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_prime_rib_chicken-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_mandi.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2029" alt="Glacier Brewhouse Anchorage dinner" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_mandi.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_mandi.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_mandi-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_jim.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2030" alt="Glacier Brewhouse Anchorage dinner" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_jim.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_jim.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glacier_brewhouse_jim-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Thank you, anonymous couple, for the <em>incredible dinner </em>and a great end to our Denali-Anchorage drive. Word to the wise: make reservations if you’re gonna eat at the Glacier Brewhouse in Anchorage.</p> <p>After our meal, we paid it forward by flagging down another disappointed couple on their way out and offering them our table.</p> <h2>Leaving Anchorage</h2> <p>Our flight was early Sunday morning, so we overnighted at the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/millennium-alaskan-hotel-anchorage">Millennium Alaskan Hotel in Anchorage</a>, which was near the airport but absolutely terrible for the $200 we paid for the night. At least we weren’t there long.</p> <div id="attachment_2031" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/millennium_hotel_fish_pillows.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2031" class="size-full wp-image-2031 " alt="fish pillows" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/millennium_hotel_fish_pillows.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/millennium_hotel_fish_pillows.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/millennium_hotel_fish_pillows-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2031" class="wp-caption-text">The Millennium Hotel in Anchorage got one thing right: FISH PILLOWS</p></div> <p>Instead, we went straight downstairs for breakfast at the attached restaurant, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-flying-machine-restaurant-anchorage">The </a><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-flying-machine-restaurant-anchorage">Flying Machine</a>. We immediately regretted not eating out of a dumpster for breakfast instead. I think Alaska was telling us to go home. Fortunately, we were just a couple hours from saying our goodbyes.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_flying.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2032" alt="anchorage_flying" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_flying.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_flying.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/anchorage_flying-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>One three-hour flight later we were coming in for landing over Seattle.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/flying_over_Seattle.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2033" alt="Landing plane over Seattle" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/flying_over_Seattle.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/flying_over_Seattle.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/flying_over_Seattle-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>Coming home is the best feeling on earth!</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Alaska Road Trip: North Pole, Alaska (Part 3)</title> <link>/2013/alaska-road-trip-christmas-in-july-part-3/</link> <comments>/2013/alaska-road-trip-christmas-in-july-part-3/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 21 Aug 2013 07:00:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Alaska]]></category> <category><![CDATA[road trip]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1849</guid> <description><![CDATA[Day 3 – North Pole and a Giant Tube of Oil Jim’s North Pole, Alaska Christmas Birthday After the previous day’s flight-seeing induced puke-fest we were in dire need of comfort, so we spent the day indulging in one of our favorite travel hobbies: weird small towns! We drove some 200 miles north through Fairbanks […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Day 3 – North Pole and a Giant Tube of Oil</h1> <h2>Jim’s North Pole, Alaska Christmas Birthday</h2> <p>After <a href="/2013/07/alaska-road-trip-2013-da-in-denali-part-2/">the previous day’s flight-seeing induced puke-fest</a> we were in dire need of comfort, so we spent the day indulging in one of our favorite travel hobbies:<strong> weird small towns!</strong></p> <p>We drove some 200 miles north through Fairbanks and straight into North Pole, Alaska where we were promptly eaten by a gigantic Santa.</p> <div id="attachment_1986" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_giant_santa.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1986" class="size-full wp-image-1986 " alt="north pole, alaska gigantic santa" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_giant_santa.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_giant_santa.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_giant_santa-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-1986" class="wp-caption-text">Santa feeds on milk, cookies, and overgrown children.</p></div> <p><strong>Here’s a funny story: </strong>My birthday is December 14th, so Christmas and my birthday are almost a package deal. Jim’s birthday is July 5th, he doesn’t associate his birthday Christmas. Well, we fixed that. Behold, CHRISTMAS ON JULY 5th!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_july_5.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1987" alt="north pole, alaska in july" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_july_5.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_july_5.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_july_5-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>We loved North Pole’s reindeer pen. The reindeer walk up close to the fence, giving everyone a great view of their fuzzy antlers and patchy fur. (Plz no one tell them how much I love eating reindeer sausage :P)</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_reindeer_park.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1988" alt="north pole, alaska reindeer pen" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_reindeer_park.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_reindeer_park.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_reindeer_park-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>We also loved the hand-painted tiles all over the Santa Claus house (and tried our best to replicate the slightly awkward kissing Clauses).</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_smooch_north_pole.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1990" alt="North Pole, Alaska tile mural" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_smooch_north_pole.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_smooch_north_pole.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_smooch_north_pole-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>One more thing before we depart North Pole. Here’s our obligatory photo of <strong>our well-traveled Wy</strong> at the furthest north he’s ever been:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_traveling_wy.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1989" alt="North Pole, Alaska Wy Goes With" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_traveling_wy.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_traveling_wy.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_north_pole_traveling_wy-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>Thanks, North Pole, Alaska – you were a riot! (For anyone wondering, we spent about 2 hours here total, and that was plenty of time to see everything.)</p> <h2>Trans-Alaska Pipeline</h2> <p>On the way back we stopped at the Trans-Alaska Pipeline near Fairbanks, which is all exposed and stuff so you can just walk right up to it and pretend to hug it, which is exactly what we did.</p> <div id="attachment_1991" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_hug.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1991" class="size-full wp-image-1991 " alt="Trans Alaska Pipeline hug" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_hug.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_hug.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_hug-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-1991" class="wp-caption-text">Mandi: hugger of fish, whales, and oil pipelines.</p></div> <div id="attachment_1992" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_touch.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1992" class="size-full wp-image-1992 " alt="Trans Alaska Pipeline touch" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_touch.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_touch.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_touch-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-1992" class="wp-caption-text">Reach out and touch pipe!</p></div> <p style="text-align: left;">We geeked out about the pipeline for nearly an hour, which is about 50 minutes longer than other visitors hung out. If you like massive engineering projects, you’d love this thing. It’s built to withstand buckling and earthquakes, and it has shipped nearly 16 billion barrels of oil in its 33-some years. Oh, look at me science-ing while there’s talking to do…</p> <div style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_pigs.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" " alt="Trans Alaska Pipeline pig" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_pigs.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Hey, pig. Yeah, you.</p></div> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_long.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="Trans Alaska pipeline near Fairbanks" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_oil_pipeline_long.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a></p> <h2>The Drive Back</h2> <p>… was uneventful, except for when we stopped at Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn. We had high expectations after seeing their humping bears sign (Alaska is full of weird shit), but it’s just a bar with some barely R-rated sex toys and crude T-shirts for sale.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_skinny_dicks.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1999" alt="Alaska Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_skinny_dicks.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_skinny_dicks.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_skinny_dicks-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>The drive back was also insanely scenic (Alaska is insanely scenic).</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_fairbanks_denali_scenery.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2001" alt="Alaska scenery between Fairbanks and Denali" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_fairbanks_denali_scenery.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_fairbanks_denali_scenery.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_fairbanks_denali_scenery-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> Sadly, our brief time in Alaska is almost over. Tomorrow (here in Part 4) we’ll drive back to Anchorage for an overnight stay before flying back to Seattle on Sunday morning.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/alaska-road-trip-christmas-in-july-part-3/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Alaska Road Trip 2013: Our Day in Denali (Part 2)</title> <link>/2013/alaska-road-trip-2013-da-in-denali-part-2/</link> <comments>/2013/alaska-road-trip-2013-da-in-denali-part-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:00:04 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1840</guid> <description><![CDATA[Day 2 – Our Ride on the Vomit Comet Part 1 covers our travels from Seattle to Anchorage to Denali. We wanted to kick off our first day with something spectacular, something regretted not doing last time we visited Alaska: a flight seeing tour! This was to be the highlight of the trip, and at $800 […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Day 2 – Our Ride on the Vomit Comet</h1> <p><a href="http://wp.me/p3DTBN-qE">Part 1 covers our travels from Seattle to Anchorage to Denali. </a></p> <p>We wanted to kick off our first day with something spectacular, something regretted not doing last time we visited Alaska: <strong>a flight seeing tour! </strong>This was to be the highlight of the trip, and at $800 for the two of us we had pretty high hopes.<strong> </strong>We boarded a small Denali Air aircraft designed to seat a pilot and 7 passengers.</p> <p>Here’s a pic from what we now regard as “the Before time”.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_flight_seeing.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1843" alt="alaska_2013_flight_seeing" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_flight_seeing.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_flight_seeing.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_flight_seeing-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>The excitement lasted approximately 5 minutes into the flight, at which point Jim became extremely motion sick and began to throw up. The aircraft came with some grocery bags, ostensibly for the purpose, but he quickly filled one and I handed him mine, which he continued to puke into. Super pale and shuddering, poor Jim moaned and vomited through the entire flight. I’m pretty sure he missed all the scenery. I spent this time sobbing and trying to comfort him as best I could from my seat across the aisle. Jim was puke-soaked from his eyes to his chin. His hands and his coat were covered in yellow vomit.</p> <p>I wanted to die, and I think he was halfway there himself.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_air_puke_machine.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1844" alt="denali_air_puke_machine" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_air_puke_machine.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_air_puke_machine.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/denali_air_puke_machine-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Then… about 30 minutes into the 65 minute flight, I started to feel queasy, too. What the fuck? I’m a roller coaster champion, I don’t puke. Was it the ups and downs of the aircraft? The utter terror at realizing I was basically in a tin can floating over some mountains? The stench of vomit that pervaded the cabin? I grabbed a couple grocery bags from the seat behind me and the last coherent thing I did was toss my camera and phone from my lap, out of the way of the torrent of puke that erupted from my own mouth moments later.</p> <p>The plane dipped, we puked. The plane climbed, we puked. Together. This, folks, is the ultimate expression of companionship.</p> <p>We landed after an hour and our hell was over. I carried three bags of yellow puke out of that plane, and Jim continued to heave for another hour. His body wanted to keep puking, but nothing was left.</p> <p>Denali Air doesn’t do refunds, they don’t even refund the dollar you put into their vending machine in a vain attempt to buy a Sprite to wash the flavor of puke out of your throat. This was our $800 stomach pumping. We didn’t even see the mountain.</p> <p><strong>Denali Air SUCKS!</strong></p> <p>Our day in Denali was ruined. We spent the next hour waiting at the flight strip for Jim to be well enough to ride the shuttle 12 miles back to Glitter Gulch, and then a couple hours after that recovering in the Denali Air’s parking lot. We sat in the car. Jim moaned and shuddered, I surfed the web on my phone. I browsed a gift shop. I scrubbed more vomit out of my jacket sleeves.</p> <h1>Driving the Park Road</h1> <p>Around 6pm Jim was finally feeling well enough to eat and ride in a car, so we ate a bit and then drove the 15 miles of paved road in Denali National Park. The pictures are nothing like being there in person. This 15 mile stretch was probably the highlight of our Alaska road trip.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_park_road.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1846" alt="alaska_2013_park_road" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_park_road.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_park_road.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_park_road-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Once we drove the park road, we returned to our cabin 12 miles south of the park entrance and spent a few more hours recovering.</p> <h1>ATV Tour: Midnight Sun Adventure</h1> <p>Normally, that’s where the day would have ended but we had signed up for a 10:50pm “Midnight Sun Adventure” tour with <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g143022-d1809521-r132750840-Denali_ATV_Adventures_Day_Tours-Denali_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html">Denali ATV Adventures</a>. Had we known we’d spend the day puking we wouldn’t have signed up for a midnight ATV trip on the same day, but this turned out to be the brightest part of the whole day.</p> <p>While there wasn’t much direct sun, the sky was very lit at midnight and the novelty was worth it if nothing else. Highly recommend the ATV tours – they are super easy and fun to drive, we didn’t get wet like the pics suggest, and there were opportunities for us to switch drivers several times.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_atv.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1847" alt="alaska_2013_atv" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_atv.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_atv.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alaska_2013_atv-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Part 3 (coming soon) is about our travels to Fairbanks and North Pole!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/alaska-road-trip-2013-da-in-denali-part-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Alaska Road Trip 2013: Anchorage to Denali (Part 1)</title> <link>/2013/alaska-road-trip-anchorage-denali-1/</link> <comments>/2013/alaska-road-trip-anchorage-denali-1/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2013 13:00:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1652</guid> <description><![CDATA[“I love traveling, it makes me appreciate home more” – me (More Alaska quotes can be found here) We are back from Alaska! Motivated mostly by desires to escape summer heat and see more of Alaska, which we enjoyed last time we visited in 2011, we planned a quick visit to Alaska. I know, Alaska’s too big […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>“I love traveling, it makes me appreciate home more” </em>– me<br /> (<a href="http://wp.me/p3DTBN-tr">More Alaska quotes</a><a href="http://wp.me/p3DTBN-tr"> can be found here</a>)</p> <p>We are back from Alaska! Motivated mostly by desires to escape summer heat and see more of Alaska, which we enjoyed last time we visited in 2011, we planned a quick visit to Alaska. I know, Alaska’s too big even for 2-week itineraries, but our annual vacation allowance is piddly and our budget is small. This time, we wanted the freedom of driving so we landed in Anchorage, hopped in a rental, and took off for the interior.</p> <h1>Day 1 – Getting There</h1> <p>We went directly from Seattle to Anchorage to Denali in one day. It’s totally doable and we had a few hours left over by the time we arrived, even without starting at the butt crack of dawn.</p> <p><strong>Our plan: </strong></p> <ol> <li>10:10am – Fly from SeaTac to Anchorage (3 hour flight), pick up rental car</li> <li>Eat a reindeer sausage from an Anchorage street vendor</li> <li>Drive to our Denali cabin 224 miles away (4.5 hours of driving)</li> </ol> <p>The plane ride was uneventful, aside from the eyeloads of beautiful scenery flying over Canada and Alaska en route to Anchorage.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_planeview.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="alaska mountains from plane" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_planeview.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a></p> <p><strong>In Anchorage</strong> we first got some groceries and snacks from a Carr’s and then grabbed reindeer sausages from a 4th street vendor. We ate in a nearby Home Depot parking lot because street parking is expensive and rare in Anchorage on a nice day. Omg, yum. Get yours with onion and pineapple sauce, it’s to die for. (PS: In case you’re new here, Jim and I are<em> obsessed with food</em>. Especially regional food. MMMMM!)</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_reindeer_sausage.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1834" alt="alaska2013_reindeer_sausage" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_reindeer_sausage.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_reindeer_sausage.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_reindeer_sausage-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><strong>We hit the road north around 2:30. </strong> The 224 mile drive to our cabin was stunningly scenic, even for Alaska. Jim apparently went into beastmode before the trip, because he banged out the entire drive himself with hardly a stop.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_scenery.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1835" alt="alaska2013_scenery" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_scenery.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_scenery.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_scenery-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Our accommodations were </strong>one half of a creek side duplex cabin at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g143022-d230209-Reviews-McKinley_Creekside_Cabins-Denali_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html">McKinley Creekside Cabins</a> about 12 miles south of the park entrance.</p> <p>After seeing the “Glitter Gulch” area 1 mile north of the park entrance, I was very glad I stayed at McKinley Creekside Cabins instead of anything in that area, which was tacky and crowded. Our cabin was awesome – way more modern than this suburbanite wuss was expecting.</p> <p>Amenities included:</p> <ul> <li>Queen size bed, super comfortable (we’d have paid more for a king, but oh well)</li> <li>Microwave & mini-fridge</li> <li>Wifi access</li> <li>Spacious bathroom with full shower, toilet, sink</li> <li>A great view of the creek just a few dozen feet from the cabins</li> </ul> <p>There’s also a breakfast/lunch/dinner cafe on the property (and the food was great the two times we ate there).</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_mckinleycreeksidecabin.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1839" alt="alaska2013_mckinleycreeksidecabin" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_mckinleycreeksidecabin.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_mckinleycreeksidecabin.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska2013_mckinleycreeksidecabin-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>We had dinner at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g143022-d579499-Reviews-Panorama_Pizza-Denali_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html">Panorama Pizza Pub</a>, and oh my god was it amazing. This is the kind of pizza you dream about long after you’ve eaten it. It was easily better than any pizza we’ve had since moving to Seattle, that’s for sure.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1836" alt="alaska_2013_pizza" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska_2013_pizza.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska_2013_pizza.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/07/alaska_2013_pizza-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /><em>Why yes, vacations are basically an excuse to stuff ourselves, why do you ask? </em></p> <p><strong>Day 1’s Good:</strong></p> <ul> <li>We drove our own vehicle to the airport and parked it for $60, much cheaper than taxiing both ways for $170 total ($85 each way)</li> <li>The 10:10am flight was perfect, we had plenty of time for last minute stuff in the morning and we weren’t super tired by the time we landed</li> <li>We loaded up on food (apples, bananas, cereal) at a Carr’s in Anchorage. This was a genius move, as food only gets pricier the closer you get to Denali and fresh snack food basically disappears once you’re outside Anchorage</li> <li>The scenery between Anchorage and Denali is spectacular</li> </ul> <p><strong><strong>Day 1’s </strong>Meh: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Street parking in Anchorage was rare and pricey. We grabbed our sausages and hopped back into our car. We ended up eating them in a Home Depot parking lot, lol.</li> <li>There aren’t a lot of places to stop along the way to Denali</li> <li>Our rental car was both dirty and reeking of soap, yet it came at a cost of $55 a day (which the best deal I could find in three months of watching prices fluctuate between $55 and $100).</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://wp.me/p3DTBN-tG">Continue onto Day 2 to read about the two full days we spent at Denali!</a></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/alaska-road-trip-anchorage-denali-1/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Alaska Vacation 2013 Quotes</title> <link>/2013/alaska-vacation-2013-quotes/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jul 2013 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1825</guid> <description><![CDATA[We’re back from Alaska! I’ll write up a more detailed post about our trip, but in the meantime enjoy our best quotes from our 5 days in Alaska: “NACHO RAGE!” – Anagram of Anchorage and our new name for the city “Look at that scenic fucking river!” – said in presence of small creek moments […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>We’re back from Alaska! </strong></p> <div id="attachment_1828" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WyGoesWith.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1828" class="size-full wp-image-1828 " alt="alaska vacation 2013" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WyGoesWith.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WyGoesWith.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WyGoesWith-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-1828" class="wp-caption-text">Of course we brought Wy to Alaska with us, he’s practically our son.</p></div> <p><strong>I’ll write up a more detailed post about our trip, but in the meantime enjoy our best quotes from our 5 days in Alaska: </strong></p> <p><em><em>“NACHO RAGE!”</em> – Anagram of Anchorage and our new name for the city </em></p> <p><em>“Look at that scenic fucking river!” –</em> said in presence of small creek moments into our first “scenic walk”</p> <p><em>“Salt, water, salt, water, salt, water, SUGAR!!” – </em>Our take on road food</p> <p><em>“There was no consciousness, I had become a machine devoted to pain.”</em> – Jim describing his experience on our flight seeing excursion</p> <p><em>“My brain’s already shoved that memory into ‘recycle these neurons for something else”</em> – Jim describing his recovery from our flight seeing excursion</p> <p><em>“I believe we were just in the company of bona fide lesbians” –</em> They were everywhere!</p> <p><em>“No one here is good at anything!”</em> – Me, exasperated by inaccurate menus, poor graphic design, and bad spelling everywhere in Alaska (us Type As never go on vacation!)<br /> (I do want to add that Alaskans are very good at shooting, as evidenced by all the bullet-holed road signs.)</p> <p><em>“You still have it on?!”</em> – Jim, surprised I still have the lava-hot heated car seat turned on<br /> <em>“I’ve got a lot of butt, okay?!”</em> – Me</p> <p><em>“Pull over, there’s a JoAnn”</em> – Me, spotting my favorite fabric store in Fairbanks</p> <p>Write down your quotes as you travel, seriously – they’re more fun than the pics!</p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>West Coast road trip: San Francisco to Seattle (Part 3)</title> <link>/2012/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:18:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Drive]]></category> <category><![CDATA[vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[west coast]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1246</guid> <description><![CDATA[Don’t miss Part 1 and Part 2 of our week-long West Coast road trip! Day 6: July 5th, 2012 San Francisco to Crescent City, CA 356 miles Happy Birthday, Jim! Now load the car, please. :D Two and a half days in San Francisco was just the right amount for us. Feeling a bit of […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Don’t miss <a href="/2012/07/our-west-coast-road-trip-seattle-to-san-francisco-and-back-part-1/">Part 1</a> and <a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/">Part 2</a> of our week-long West Coast road trip!</p> <p><strong>Day 6: July 5th, 2012</strong></p> <p>San Francisco to Crescent City, CA<br /> 356 miles</p> <p><em>Happy Birthday, Jim! Now load the car, please. :D</em></p> <p>Two and a half days in San Francisco was just the right amount for us. Feeling a bit of city fatigue and crowd fatigue, we hit the road early in hopes of beating everyone else. That backfired pretty wildly, and we spent the first 90 minutes of the day trapped in traffic with a million commuters.</p> <p>From SF we headed west for the coast on 101. Today was the biggest driving day of our entire trip. The 101 route was <strong>significantly</strong> more exciting than I-5 and I’m glad we gave ourselves a full three days of driving to enjoy everything. Northern California’s gorgeous hills and trees were the most memorable parts of our journey to Crescent City.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/roadtrip_northca/" rel="attachment wp-att-1252"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1252" alt="roadtrip_northca" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_northca.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_northca.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_northca-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/roadtrip_northca2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1253"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1253" alt="roadtrip_northca2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_northca2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_northca2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_northca2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>There are shops along 101 selling fantastic wood carvings.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/roadtrip_fish1/" rel="attachment wp-att-1254"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1254" alt="roadtrip_fish1" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fish1.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fish1.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fish1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/roadtrip_fish2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1255"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1255" alt="roadtrip_fish2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fish2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fish2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fish2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/roadtrip_carvings/" rel="attachment wp-att-1256"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1256" alt="roadtrip_carvings" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_carvings.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_carvings.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_carvings-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Alas, I have neither the space nor the funds for awesome wood carvings, so photos will have to suffice. :)</p> <p><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60944-d271851-Reviews-Crescent_Beach_Motel-Crescent_City_California.html">Crescent Beach Motel</a> was in every way opposite our previous accommodations. I just love an unpretentious hotel. This one was rustic, cozy, and <strong>right on the beach</strong>. Walk across a bit of grass and climb down some rocks = you’re on the beach.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/crescentbeach_room/" rel="attachment wp-att-1257"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1257" alt="crescentbeach_room" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_room.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_room.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_room-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Just outside our room:</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/crescentbeach_beach/" rel="attachment wp-att-1258"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1258" alt="crescentbeach_beach" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_beach.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_beach.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_beach-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>We spent the evening drawing in the sand and hanging out with wooden dolphins.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/crescentbeach_drawing1/" rel="attachment wp-att-1260"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1260" alt="crescentbeach_drawing1" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_drawing1.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_drawing1.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_drawing1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/crescentbeach_drawing2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1261"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1261" alt="crescentbeach_drawing2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_drawing2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_drawing2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_drawing2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/crescentbeach_dolphins/" rel="attachment wp-att-1259"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1259" alt="crescentbeach_dolphins" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_dolphins.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_dolphins.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_dolphins-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>We slept with the slider open and the wooshing tide lulled us to sleep. Totally awesome.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Day 7: July 6th, 2012</strong></p> <p>Crescent City, CA to Newport, OR<br /> 231 miles</p> <p>Okay, one more thing before leaving Crescent City: this amazing lighthouse that’s only accessible on foot some parts of the year. Being a lighthouse keeper sounds like the best job ever. It’s quiet, easy work and I bet you don’t get too many visitors. I’d do it, as long as there’s broadband of course. ;)</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/crescentbeach_lighthouse/" rel="attachment wp-att-1262"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1262" alt="crescentbeach_lighthouse" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_lighthouse.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_lighthouse.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crescentbeach_lighthouse-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Once on the road we spotted a sign for the Rowdy Creek Hatchery. Fish had basically become the theme of the trip by this point, with us stopping to look at fish ladders and hug fish carvings. Visiting a hatchery would complete the fish trinity.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/fishhatchery_2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1264"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="fishhatchery_2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_2.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Fence prevented proper fish hugs. This will have to suffice:</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/fishhatchery_1/" rel="attachment wp-att-1263"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1263" alt="fishhatchery_1" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_1.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_1.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>The volunteer at the hatchery was an awesome dude, eager to show us his process of collecting the baby fish, gassing their water to temporarily knock them unconscious, tagging them with a tiny piece of metal, and then releasing them back into the hatchery pools. Tagging fish helps people understand their migrations and behaviors. The hatchery also helps keep up with the demand that recreational fishers place on the local watershed. I hope all the fishermen/fisherladies who like plenty of fish are donating to and volunteering at their local hatcheries. This guy was working hard! <a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/fishhatchery_2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1264"><br /> </a> <a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/fishhatchery_3/" rel="attachment wp-att-1265"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1265" alt="fishhatchery_3" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_3.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_3.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_3-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Babby fish pools!</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/fishhatchery_4/" rel="attachment wp-att-1266"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1266" alt="fishhatchery_4" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_4.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_4.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_4-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>I just love fish (the live kind, not the food kind). Coming here was super exciting for me. :)</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/fishhatchery_5/" rel="attachment wp-att-1267"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1267" alt="fishhatchery_5" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_5.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_5.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fishhatchery_5-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Continuing on our journey north, we stopped several times to explore Oregon’s rocky beaches. I’m not much of a tropical beach person, but I looooove these beaches! Look at these gigantic rocks!</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/meyerscreekbeach/" rel="attachment wp-att-1268"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1268" alt="meyerscreekbeach" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/meyerscreekbeach.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/meyerscreekbeach.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/meyerscreekbeach-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Look at me getting my feet soaked!</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/meyerscreekbeach2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1269"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1269" alt="meyerscreekbeach2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/meyerscreekbeach2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/meyerscreekbeach2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/meyerscreekbeach2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Next stop: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g51867-d286030-Reviews-Sea_Lion_Caves-Florence_Oregon.html">Sea Lion Caves</a>! We stopped here on a whim, having never heard of it before but apparently it’s got a long history and it’s something people raised on the West Coast go to at least once in their youth. Ignore the middling reviews on TripAdvisor, the Sea Lion Caves were awesome and if you’re in the area you should totally check them out.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/sealions/" rel="attachment wp-att-1270"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1270" alt="seaLions" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/seaLions.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/seaLions.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/seaLions-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Plus, the scenery around the caves is amazing.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/sealioncaves_scenery/" rel="attachment wp-att-1271"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1271" alt="seaLionCaves_scenery" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/seaLionCaves_scenery.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/seaLionCaves_scenery.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/seaLionCaves_scenery-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Our final stop was at the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51992-d1382357-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Express_Hotel_and_Suites_Newport-Newport_Oregon.html">Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Newport, OR</a>. The hotel was brand new, so new it didn’t even show on GPS, but the Newport area was a disappointment. There was little to explore and most of the town’s shops and restaurants were closed by the time we got there (6pm). It was hard to find somewhere to have dinner and we turned in early for lack of things to do which is odd, because we are <strong>very good</strong> at finding things to do. There wasn’t even anywhere to walk!</p> <p><strong>Day 7: July 7th, 2012</strong></p> <p>Crescent City, CA to Long Beach, WA<br /> 152 miles</p> <p>Best thing about driving north: it’s getting colder! Oregon’s coast continued to deliver fantastic lighthouses, beaches, and eyefuls of scenery.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/lighthouse_mandi/" rel="attachment wp-att-1272"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1272" alt="lighthouse_mandi" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/lighthouse_mandi.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/lighthouse_mandi.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/lighthouse_mandi-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Some awesome person built a hut out of driftwood on one of the beaches we walked:</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/driftwoodhut/" rel="attachment wp-att-1273"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1273" alt="driftwoodhut" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/driftwoodhut.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/driftwoodhut.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/driftwoodhut-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>More eyefuls of scenery on an Oregon beach:</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/oregon_beach/" rel="attachment wp-att-1274"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1274" alt="oregon_beach" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/oregon_beach.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/oregon_beach.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/oregon_beach-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Next stop: the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g52097-d556593-Reviews-Tillamook_Cheese_Factory-Tillamook_Oregon.html">Tillamook Cheese Factory</a>!</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/tillamook1/" rel="attachment wp-att-1275"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1275" alt="Tillamook1" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Tillamook1.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Tillamook1.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Tillamook1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Yes, there were a billion people here, but watching the cheese get packaged and sent off was super awesome.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/tillamook2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1276"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1276" alt="Tillamook2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Tillamook2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Tillamook2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Tillamook2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>After eating our weight in ice cream at the factory, we soon encountered another fish hatchery! The Nehalem Fish Hatchery fish food dispensers let visitors pay a quarter for the experience of throwing fish food into massively huge fish tanks. When food starts raining down, the fish go INSANE! They jump out of the water and thrash in a giant writhing mass of fins and flippers.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/nehalem_fish/" rel="attachment wp-att-1277"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1277" alt="nehalem_fish" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/nehalem_fish.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/nehalem_fish.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/nehalem_fish-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g58566-d113531-Reviews-Adrift_Hotel_and_Spa-Long_Beach_Washington.html">Adrift Hotel</a> in Long Beach, WA was our final stop of the trip. Reviews seem mixed, but we adored the spartan interior and the close access <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g58523-d126910-Reviews-Cape_Disappointment_State_Park-Ilwaco_Washington.html">Cape Disappointment State Park</a>, which we spent the evening exploring.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/adrift/" rel="attachment wp-att-1278"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1278" alt="Adrift" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Adrift.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Adrift.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Adrift-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Also, there is a totally badass GRAY WHALE SKELETON ON THE BEACH NEARBY!!</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-san-francisco-to-seattle-part-3/adrift_whaleskeleton/" rel="attachment wp-att-1279"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1279" alt="Adrift_WhaleSkeleton" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Adrift_WhaleSkeleton.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Adrift_WhaleSkeleton.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Adrift_WhaleSkeleton-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Day 7: July 8th, 2012</strong></p> <p>Long Beach, WA to Home<br /> 179 miles</p> <p>We started early and banged out the rest of the drive in one long stretch. Scenery was grey and gorgeous. Coming home is a wonderful feeling.</p> <p>Jim and I both grew up in families where road trips were the primary (or only) style of vacationing. We love spontaneity and savings of a driving-based adventure. While this was far from a how-low-can-you-go budget vacation (each of our nightly stays was $95-$170), we saved plenty by stocking the car with grocery store food, eating the free breakfasts at the hotels and choosing cheap or free adventures along the way. Even with a rental car, the whole trip came in WAY under the cost of last year’s 10-day <a href="/2011/12/alaska-adventure/">trip to Alaska</a> which included flights and a 7-day cruise. And we easily had just as good a time, if not more thanks to the relative solitude and freedom of road tripping.</p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>West Coast road trip: 2 days in San Francisco (Part 2)</title> <link>/2012/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/</link> <comments>/2012/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 07 Jul 2012 01:46:28 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Travel & Vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Drive]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Oregon]]></category> <category><![CDATA[road trip]]></category> <category><![CDATA[San Francisco]]></category> <category><![CDATA[west coast]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1219</guid> <description><![CDATA[If you’re just joining us, don’t miss Part 1 of our West Coast road trip adventure. Day 4: July 3rd, 2012 Our first full day in San Francisco! We started the day in the Financial District, watching Serious Business people go to their Serious Business jobs. The architecture in the Financial District is stunning. (Apparently, […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you’re just joining us, <strong>don’t miss <a href="/2012/07/our-west-coast-road-trip-seattle-to-san-francisco-and-back-part-1/">Part 1</a></strong> of our West Coast road trip adventure.</p> <p><strong>Day 4: July 3rd, 2012</strong></p> <p>Our first full day in San Francisco! We started the day in the Financial District, watching Serious Business people go to their Serious Business jobs. The architecture in the Financial District is stunning. (Apparently, I didn’t get my fill of big city architecture in Chicago. :D)</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_architecture3/" rel="attachment wp-att-1233"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="SF_Architecture3" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Architecture3.jpg" width="384" height="512" /></a></p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_architecture1/" rel="attachment wp-att-1231"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1231" alt="SF_Architecture1" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Architecture1.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Architecture1.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Architecture1-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_architecture2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1232"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1232" alt="SF_Architecture2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Architecture2.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Architecture2.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Architecture2-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>We bought passes for one of the 48-hour tour busses and shuttled ourselves around the city like the tourists we were. I was entranced by the floaty flower sculpture outside this government-looking building.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_massiveflower/" rel="attachment wp-att-1234"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1234" alt="SF_massiveFlower" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_massiveFlower.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_massiveFlower.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_massiveFlower-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>And we both loved the walk-in water sculpture:</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_watersculpture/" rel="attachment wp-att-1235"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1235" alt="SF_waterSculpture" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_waterSculpture.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_waterSculpture.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_waterSculpture-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>And the CHOCOLATE:</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_chocolate/" rel="attachment wp-att-1236"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1236" alt="SF_Chocolate" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Chocolate.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Chocolate.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Chocolate-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>This is as close as we got to Alcatraz. Yeah, we bucked time-honored tourist tradition and didn’t go. (They were sold out, and besides, prisons make me sad.)</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_alcatraz/" rel="attachment wp-att-1237"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1237" alt="SF_Alcatraz" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Alcatraz.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Alcatraz.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Alcatraz-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>This entire day was spent walking/bussing around the city looking at things. The last thing we did before bed: eating some Authentic Latino Food.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/roadtrip_burritos/" rel="attachment wp-att-1220"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="roadtrip_burritos" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_burritos.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a></p> <p>In this picture, Jim ceased to be Jim. He became an otherworldly burrito monster who knows no pain, no suffering, only burrito and his animalistic lust to consume. My suiza was pretty good, too.</p> <p><strong>Day 5: July 4th, 2012</strong></p> <p>We started the day early in Chinatown, which was awesome and absolute sensory-overload. The markets were my favorite thing. Those bins in the foreground are full of piles of dead, dried out fish.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_deadfishmarket/" rel="attachment wp-att-1238"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1238" alt="SF_deadFishMarket" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_deadFishMarket.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_deadFishMarket.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_deadFishMarket-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>I wanted to go in here so bad, but it looks like we got here too early. Yeah yeah! Pony Prince</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_ponyprince/" rel="attachment wp-att-1239"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1239" alt="SF_ponyPrince" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_ponyPrince.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_ponyPrince.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_ponyPrince-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>San Francisco has a famous bridge, too, which was (unusually) fog-free for us:</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/roadtrip_sfbridge/" rel="attachment wp-att-1222"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1222" alt="roadtrip_SFBridge" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_SFBridge.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_SFBridge.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_SFBridge-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/sf_bridge-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1241"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1241" alt="SF_Bridge" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Bridge1.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Bridge1.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SF_Bridge1-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>We enjoyed the blinding winds on our trek across the bridge and down the beach.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/roadtrip_goldengate/" rel="attachment wp-att-1221"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1221" alt="roadtrip_goldengate" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_goldengate.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_goldengate.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_goldengate-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>From the bridge we walked to the Exploratorium, which was packed with every single person in San Francisco due to the July 4th holiday. The highlight was definitely the <a href="http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/west-gallery/tactile-dome">Tactile Dome</a>, which we went through twice (once for srs and once using our cell phones as lights to find all its secrets). Super awesome and totally worth the extra cost, don’t miss it if you’re visiting the Exploratorium.</p> <p>Our private Inn at Oyster Point retreat was the perfect place to hide out once the crowds poured in for the fireworks. From the room itself and the mile+ long path around the docks and bay, we saw the sun set and then watched several fireworks displays. This place was deserted, so this was pretty much our perfect 4th and a sweet way to spend our last night in San Francisco.</p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/roadtrip_fireworksoyster/" rel="attachment wp-att-1223"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1223" alt="roadtrip_fireworksoyster" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fireworksoyster.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fireworksoyster.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/roadtrip_fireworksoyster-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/roadtrip_oysterpointharbor/" rel="attachment wp-att-1229"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1229" alt="roadtrip_oysterPointHarbor" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/roadtrip_oysterPointHarbor.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/roadtrip_oysterPointHarbor.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2012/07/roadtrip_oysterPointHarbor-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Tomorrow, we start the drive back to Seattle. You can read all about it in <strong><a href="/2012/07/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/">Part 3</a>!</strong></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2012/west-coast-road-trip-2-days-in-san-francisco-part-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>