Tag Archives: travel

San Diego: Life is Golden in the Sunshine State

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Day 1: Smooth criminal escapes to California

Missing four days of school for this trip would have officially pushed me over the 10-absence limit and straight onto the Truancy Watch List (as a repeat offender). But then—BOOM: The weather gods came through and turned our travel day into a snow/virtual learning day! Shoutout to Wisconsin weather for keeping me out of jail.

The downside? We had to drive to the airport in a “winter weather advisory” blizzard. For one long, miserable hour, we crawled through terrible road conditions wondering if this vacation was worth it. (Spoiler alert: It was.) Eventually we hit clear roads, made it safely to the airport, and officially began Vacation Mode.

In San Diego, things got dramatic again. We were supposed to rent a luxury Range Rover Defender or a BMW X7… but the people in line ahead of us took the last ones. Devastating! We may or may not have blamed Mom for chatting with her friend Stan at the airport. This delay also caused us to almost miss our luggage, which really added to the suspense. In the end, we claimed our suitcases from the Delta employee who attempted to cart them away, and we found ourselves in a (discounted) Mercedes GL 350, which still (mostly) satisfied our dreams of riding in luxury.

Then we drove 45 miles through rush hour traffic to our Airbnb in the rural foothills of San Diego County (specifically Descanso, California, situated in the Cuyamaca Mountains). While the bumper-to-bumper adventure was not the relaxed traffic scene we’ve grown accustomed to back home, our final destination cured all of our travel woes as we got to enjoy the most impressive accommodations:

  • A sparkling infinity pool
  • A relaxing hot tub
  • Incredible views across 45 private acres
  • Smart bidet toilets (automatic open + heated seats + undercarriage wash + automatic flush = life-changing technology)
  • A Nespresso machine (Dad immediately began living out his retirement dream of becoming a coffee drinker)
  • An old-school record player with new school music
  • A fancy double shower
  • A high tech induction oven
  • Robes and slippers for each of us

This is the good life! No wonder California is nicknamed The Golden State. The Sunshine State. The State You’ll Never Want to Vacate. (Okay, I made that last one up, but it has a nice ring to it, right?)

After settling in and adjusting to the two-hour time change, we made plans for the week before calling it a night.

Day 2: City Mode Activated

Genesee and I started the morning the correct way: in the hot tub, watching the sun come up over the mountains. Then, around 10:30 a.m., we left our peaceful mountain Airbnb life and headed into the city to follow in the footsteps of Lynette and Dr. Bee, who had just left San Diego the day before we arrived. Shucks!

First stop: Mission Beach. We walked the boardwalk, explored Belmont Park, and immediately secured $10 San Diego sweatshirts, which felt like an elite-level bargain. We also tried the viral Dubai chocolate crepe, which lived up to the hype and possibly shortened my lifespan in the best way.

For lunch, we ate at C-Level Lounge, which had incredible breezy views of the San Diego Bay, the downtown skyline, and the Coronado Bridge. Mom and Dad ordered blackened fish tacos like responsible adults. (Because when in San Diego, you must eat tacos!) Meanwhile, Genesee and I ordered filet mignon from the kids’ menu. (Yes, you read that right! No corn dogs or mac n cheese for the California kiddos; they treat you right here!) Unfortunately, it was only a petite 3 ounce cut, which looked a little small for my growing appetite, but mom coached me into eating slowly and enjoying the flavor of every bite!

After lunch, we headed to Coronado, where we walked near the ferry landing and saw the famous Hotel del Coronado. We even tried to meet up with Genesee’s friend Reagan, who was also in San Diego at the same time, but our schedules didn’t line up. Shucks again!

The temperature was cool and windy, with a side of sunshine. But you know what they say: “Beach hair, Don’t care.”

Day 3: Backup Plans & Baby Seals

We had big plans to hike Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve — which Dad was most excited about — until we discovered it was closed for construction. Huge bummer. But we pivoted to La Jolla, and honestly… it might’ve been an upgrade because we saw tons of seals and their babies just lounging on the beach like they owned the place. Super cute!

Then we walked the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail, a scenic path with incredible ocean views and steep cliffs. Much to my mother’s dismay, I loved forging my own path, climbing the rocks like I was in an adventure movie. It was epic!

After my James Bond audition, we ate lunch at Nautilus Tavern, ordered some fancy drinks, and then hit the shopping scene, where Genesee secured a Lululemon purse. As her self-appointed financial adviser, I warned about the dangers of prioritizing “wants” over “needs,” but she remains committed to her spending strategy.

Of course my sister needed to demonstrate how to use her new purse, so she proceeded to spend more money on Italian ice cream at a sweet shop just up the hill from Ellen Browning Scripps Park. It should be noted here, that if Genesee grows up with an aversion to seagulls, it will be because one tried to snatch that ice cream cone straight out of her hand. It was a bold, aggressive move, but that bird quickly learned that no one should go to ice cream war against my sister. It might not be pretty, but Genesee always wins.

We ended the day at Gliderport Park, watching the sunset while paragliders floated over the cliffs. Not a bad way to recover from our failed hiking plans.

Closed trail, but still a solid day.

Day 4: Best. Day. Ever.

On day 4, we went to the San Diego Zoo and I would just like to officially announce that it was my favorite part of the entire trip.

First of all, this zoo is HUGE. Like, “why are Genesee’s legs filing a formal complaint?” huge. It’s one of the largest zoos in the world and covers 100 acres. Our feet can confirm. The zoo was also ridiculously clean and somehow didn’t smell like a zoo, which seems scientifically impossible. Also, the plants alone could qualify it as a botanical garden, showcasing over 700,000 species!

I took my role as Official Family Tour Guide very seriously, navigating with the zoo app like a professional wilderness expert. Thanks to my skills, and maybe a little luck, every animal appeared on cue when we walked up to visit them. It was almost like they had our itinerary.

My favorite animal? The orangutan named Labu. It was wild how human he seemed… his facial expressions, the way he moved, his side-eye. I’m not saying I saw myself in that orangutan… but I’m also not not saying that.

Genesee loved the baboons (chaotic energy recognizes chaotic energy, I guess). Mom appreciated the koalas, flamingos, and the surprisingly graceful hippopotamus. Dad was impressed by the pandas and gorilla. He liked the mountain lion, too, but that thing looked like it could bench press me without warming up!

It was so much fun; I was all smiles all day. I especially enjoyed the Wildlife Wonders at Wegeforth Bowl, the Skyfari aerial tram (which gave us a bird’s-eye view of the whole place and made us feel like we were in a nature documentary), and our sit-down lunch at Albert’s where we reserved the best seats in the house.

The zoo was amazing, but the real talk is that zoos are complicated. On one hand, they do important conservation work and help protect endangered species. On the other hand, it’s a little sad knowing these animals aren’t in their natural habitats. I guess both things can be true at the same time.

Upon closing, we drove next door and walked around Balboa Park, which is massive and full of museums and cool Spanish-style buildings from, like, 100 years ago. Unfortunately, all museums were closed when we arrived, but even without going inside anything, the place felt special and important.

Day 5: Slow Mornings & Small Town Wins

After four straight days of go-go-go, we decided to stay close to “home” and enjoy a lazier Tuesday. So, we slept in, hung out at the Airbnb, and actually enjoyed all the cool stuff we’d barely had time to appreciate: hot tub, gorgeous views, coffee experiments, and the whole mountain-life vibe.

Eventually, we left our luxury bubble and headed out to hike Lake Cuyamaca. It was a peaceful, scenic, calm, muddy loop around the lake, which was surrounded by the freshest air. Dad’s favorite part was discovering the granary tree: a dead tree modified by Acorn Woodpeckers that stores thousands of acorns for winter survival. We learned that these birds “drill, maintain, and defend up to 50,000 precisely sized, individual holes in the wood, often using the same tree for generations.”

After dad was done being wowed by the woodpeckers, we drove into the town of Julian, “a historic, high-elevation mountain town famous for its 1870s gold rush, 4-season climate, and, most notably, its iconic apple pies.” Then, on our way back up to heaven, I mean the house, we ordered delicious tamales to-go from Veronica’s Kitchen, so we could indulge in Mexican goodness while snuggling into the king bed to continue our TV series marathon of Ted Lasso.

Day 6: Go Big or Go Home

Wednesday was our last full day and it did not disappoint.

We hit SeaWorld San Diego right when it opened — actually, before it opened — because that’s how we roll when the ladies aren’t slowing down the departure time.

We scored free entrée vouchers by purchasing tickets through Undercover Tourist, thanks to our savvy dad! Mom called it a win, since each entrée was priced around $20+, but I felt like I was winning when we experienced the sea lion show and the Orca Encounter. The sea lions were so smart and funny and the orcas were massive, powerful, and somehow graceful at the same time. But Genesee’s favorite part? Not the whales. Not the stunts. Instead, it was the sea lion pre-show, where the maintenance guy started dancing with his mop and absolutely stole the spotlight.

We also saw silly walruses, majestic beluga whales, playful penguins, and mesmerizing jellyfish. We rode every ride (some of them multiple times) because there were basically no lines! And we even let tiny fish nibble on our hands, which was ticklish for me, but slightly terrifying for Genesee. It was practically empty in some corners of SeaWorld, so it felt like mom and dad had rented out the park for their VIP children!

But because our parents want to teach us about critical thinking, critical feeling, and general ethics, we learned that, like the zoo, SeaWorld is not without controversy. So while we had lots of fun, we also made space for the complicated reality of appreciating rescue and rehabilitation work while also contemplating the drawbacks of marine life in captivity.

After SeaWorld, we returned to Mission Beach and Belmont Park… where it all began. It was a lovely full circle moment that got tragically interrupted by The Great Slushy Incident. At the end of a long day, we were subjected to a 20-minute unnecessary wait for frozen greatness, only for the slushy machine guy to casually and unapologetically inform us that the machine was not working. The betrayal. The heartbreak. The injustice. And then…. the laughter after Dad’s blood pressure returned to normal. In fact, Genesee and I have since reenacted the entire debacle multiple times for dramatic effect. (see videos below)

Day 7: Farewell, Sunshine

And just like that, our San Diego adventure wrapped up — rides conquered, animals encountered, and slushies denied.

Of course, we made sure to get a late checkout, a final hot tub session, and one more slow morning pretending we lived there.

We had breakfast poolside — scrambled egg, cheese, and bacon sandwiches with fresh fruit — and then executed the grand finale operation: convincing Dad to jump into the “refreshingly” cold pool “with us.” (see video below)

It really was a great trip. Each day got warmer and sunnier. We figured out the traffic patterns. We knew the shortcuts. We had officially adapted to California life. In fact, I’m not sure how I will return to a world where I must manually lift up the toilet seat, after being spoiled in ways I didn’t even know I needed.

But since all good things must come to an end, the time eventually came to fly home to snowy Wisconsin. And as much lust as I have for wandering, I always love coming home. This time, on the return trip, we scored seats in the same row, flew over the Grand Canyon, and I heroically completed my homework packet midair like a responsible almost-12-year-old.

We landed in Minneapolis, drove home in the dark… and almost hit a cow just a few miles from our house.

Only in Wisconsin.

We rolled in around midnight, tired but victorious, and just in time to unpack and repack for a home basketball tournament on Saturday.

But first: Snugglefest with sweet, sweet Artemis. We can visit all the animals in the world, but our favorite will always be Arty-Farty. Of course she was greatly missed while we were away, but we are certain she was well loved in our absence. (Dog-sitting / Dog-spoiling grandparents for the win!!!)

10/10 trip. Would absolutely risk truancy to do it all again.

Snow Much Fun: Our First Family Ski Adventure

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This year, we did something totally unexpected during Christmas break: we went on our first-ever ski trip! Mom and Dad planned it on a whim, and before I knew it, we were on our way to Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota, (a 5-hour drive north) for four nights of snowy fun. It was so last-minute that all the pet-friendly condos were already booked, so Artemis got to experience her own adventure: The inaugural slumber party at D & C’s doggy daycare. (Thanks, Grandpa & Grandma!)

Before leaving home, Dad pulled out his old ski equipment, from when he was an avid skier, that had been buried under 25 years of dust. Emphasis on “old” because as soon as he tried everything on, the foam of the googles evaporated into fairy dust, the plastic of the boots cracked, and everything fell apart. So, upon arrival, Dad begrudgingly proclaimed, “we’ll take four rentals, please!” And as my parents looked around and noticed everyone wearing helmets, which was not the trend in the late 1900s, our bobble heads exited the rental facility with protected brains as well.

I’m so glad we decided to be spontaneous because this was the most epic trip ever! The weather was perfect and the Lake Superior backdrop made for breathtaking scenery. Genesee and I received beginner ski lessons the first morning, taught by George and Tim, and let me tell you, it was game over after that. We were hooked!

The chair lift was one of my favorite parts. It’s this awesome combination of peaceful and exciting, like floating above the world while you get ready to zoom down the slopes again. It was also neat to see how determined and fearless Genesee was to conquer any of the runs. (And how, upon completion, she’d immediately report her success to our ski instructors.) Another highlight was the super cool gondola ride… almost like being in a snow globe as it glided over the trees.

Speaking of gliding, Mom stuck to the green runs. She kept looking for the turtle hill, but it was nowhere to be found, so she became good friends with the Big Bunny hill…. mostly because her pulled hamstring and wobbly knees weren’t exactly up for the challenge of anything more. But also because her “worst-case-scenario brain” is always a spoiler of risky fun. Luckily, Dad isn’t as boring and safety-first as our mother is. So, by day 3, we ditched mom in search of steeper slopes and faster speeds.

Each day, after putting in about 5 hours of skiing, we’d head back to the Caribou Highlands Lodge to swim and soak in the hot tub. It was the best way to unwind after a full day of shredding (or cautiously zigzagging, in Mom’s case). In the evenings, we played card games, napped, ate spaghetti and chicken soft tacos (prepared by Chef Dad), and just enjoyed being together. On our last evening, Dad built a fire, mom poured sparkling grape juice into our makeshift wine glasses, and then we toasted to the new year as the ball dropped in New York City.

It was the most fun way to end the year and I’ve already decided that this should be an annual tradition. In fact, by the time the trip was over, Genesee and I declared skiing as our new favorite sport (outside of basketball, of course). It’s the next best thing to having wings, they say. So, next time you are near the mountains, look for us and watch us fly!

Operation Altitude Adjustment (Colorado 2024)

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Ready to hear about our epic road trip from Wisconsin to Colorado?! Well, buckle up because this journey was 14.5 hours of fun, fur, and family bonding!

It was an unusual-timed trip for us since Dad is typically knee-deep in construction projects all summer, which is why our vacations are mostly reserved for the fall or winter. But this year, with a late July start date for dad’s job, the stars and construction schedules aligned for us to snag a summer vacation slot!

So, off we went, with our trusty puppy as the co-pilot, to explore the majestic Rocky Mountain National Park and seek out all the Colorado adventures we could find, from golfing to horseback riding to whitewater rafting. We had everything we needed for a successful vacation, until that moment of sheer panic when I realized I left my phone at home. A week without YouTube Shorts and no access to other useless internet information seemed unmanageable. But fear not! I unearthed a cat’s cradle book in my backpack and became the cat’s meow of string tricks by the time we would get to our Airbnb. Plus, Grandma (bless her heart) sent us off with blonde brownies and a big bowl of puppy chow (complete with personalized cups), so that also helped with my iPhone withdrawals.

The drive was an adventure in itself, especially when we hit the switchback roads; It was like driving through a giant pretzel! But we made it to our Grandby Airbnb in one piece. And, after settling in, we found a local restaurant to fill our bellies, (too bad it was a bit warm and mosquito-y) and then stopped at a nearby grocery store to stock the fridge for the week ahead.

Day one in Colorado started off with a leisurely exploration of the beautiful Shadow Mountain National Recreation Area and Grand Lake. We took our time soaking in the breathtaking scenery and fresh mountain air.

It was paws-itively perfect for Artemis, who not only got to tag-along everywhere we went, but she was also treated like royalty! Everyone wanted to love on our pet… From the generous stranger who gifted Artemis a gourmet dog bone to the dog-friendly restaurant that offered her a complimentary bucket of ice water, Artemis was living her best life!

Genesee and I were also living the good life, when we got to play miniature golf before wrapping up our first full day with an evening hike along the Granby-to-Fraser trail, right in our backyard. It was a scenic 2-mile trek that left us all feeling accomplished and ready for a good night’s sleep.

The following day, Monday, was nothing short of wild! And by wild, I mean wild animals because we saw lots of them! … Probably because we arrived in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) before the crowds scared away the animals. I guess waking up early, while the rest of the world stays asleep, has its perks sometimes. We saw moose, elk, mule deer, coyote, chipmunks, and even turkeys—often right out our truck window! Some might call it luck, but I call it “our tour guide is better than yours.” Thanks, Dad!

We traveled across Trail Ridge Road, a national designated All American Road, which spans 48 miles and reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet. Next, we embarked on Old Fall River Road, which is an 11-mile one-way gravel road, punctuated by switchbacks. Finally, after a wonderful picnic lunch at Lake Irene, we left the park and returned to Grand Lake for shopping and ice cream treats.

Not only was that cute little town fun for humans, we also found it to be very accommodating to dogs. Artemis made lots of new friends there and enjoyed her first pup cup. After that experience, Artemis declared that all future sweet treats must always be sent to the Lab for testing.

By early evening, we discovered the Strawberry Lake Trail and hiked almost 3 miles before returning to our Colorado home to grill some burgers, relax in the hot tub, and play a fierce game of pool (which my mom will tell you that she won, but I will tell you that she cheated).

Since RMNP was so majestical and because we hadn’t explored enough of it, we returned on Tuesday, especially to hike the Alluvial Fan trail and Beer Lake Loop. These were two shorter, family-friendly trails that we intentionally sought out since we’d have to keep Artemis in the air-conditioned, running truck, due to dogs not being allowed on park trails. I hated to leave her behind, but I’m also glad we did because the views we discovered were absolutely incredible! Equally incredible, however, was the shocking discovery that Artemis knows how to roll down windows. Yikes! Luckily, our pup remained in the cab and so we’re still a party of five.

Our third full day in Colorado also included a visit to Estes Park, where we ate lunch by a lake (while Artemis attempted to befriend Mallard ducks), played more mini golf in all of the elements (sun, clouds, wind, rain, even hail!), and then shopped our hearts out. At dusk, we got to drive back through RMNP and were greeted with herds of elk and even more moose. What a magnificent nature show we were fortunate to witness!

Wednesdays are for conquering fears, apparently, because mom and dad booked a horseback riding adventure at Winter Park Trail Rides, which made me a bit nervous. In fact, I would have bit my fingernails if I had any left. I just didn’t want to die, ya know? And, as luck would have it, I ended up with the most challenging horse of all: Smokey. According to our guide, Hayden (nicknamed Sticky Butt), Smokey was a wild mustang from Nevada and the only horse (out of 300+) she’s ever been bucked off of. Mom said being paired with Smokey was something I manifested due to all of my worrying. Luckily, I lived to tell the story.

Meanwhile, the rest of my family trotted peacefully along the trail, with a beautiful mountainous backdrop, on horses (and mules) named Morgan, Bert, and Ernie. Morgan was the largest horse of all, and so naturally, Genesee wanted to ride her. Good thing Morgan was a gentle giant, and although Genesee never got bucked off, she did fall head over heels for that horse. In fact, she cried when it was over. But 90 minutes of equestrian adventure was about 89 minutes too long for me, so the only tears I thought about crying were tears of relief. I mean, it was kind of fun, but I’ll definitely be requesting a well-behaved horse next time.

After all of that horsing around, my parents treated us to snow cones (and pup cups) and then Dad and I hit the Pole Creek Golf Club to take advantage of their twilight rate, where we could get in as many holes as possible before sunset, with our tee-off time of 5:24. It was a true success: we both cleaned up nice, we played well, I managed to lose only one ball, and we picked up Domino’s supper to bring back to the ladies.

For our final full day in Colorado, my parents decided to test my courage even more by scheduling a whitewater rafting trip on the Upper Colorado river, through Mad Adventures. I was super scared to face my fears head (and helmet) on, but our guide, Cassie, assured me that I would have fun. And she was not wrong.

The scenery was absolutely stunning, as we paddled past mountains and forests, tackling level 1, 2, and 3 rapids. The first half of the trip was a bit cold and rainy, which conveniently masked my shivering as a reaction to the chill rather than my nerves. But then, as if on cue, the sun came out for the second half, warming up my body and my spirits! In fact, as I watched my 6-year-old sister fearlessly participate in cliff jumping and even volunteer to guide the boat, her courage started to rub off on me.

By the end of the rafting trip, I was requesting 360-degree spins, assisted with the paddling, and even played “rodeo,” where I stood on the front of the raft while everyone tried to knock me off and into the water. It was the adventure of all adventures and the highlight of the trip!

Unfortunately, we had to leave Artemis in her kennel at the Airbnb while we set sail on this excursion, but she had an adventure of her own when she learned how to unzip her kennel door and escape like Houdini!

From the scenic drives and wildlife encounters to the unforgettable adventures and quality time with the fam, my wanderlust reached new limits. So, on that last evening, we raised our glasses at a local Mexican restaurant, reflected on our trip, and vowed to return to the beautiful, delicious, and exhilarating state of Colorado one day.

But first, we’ll need to tackle the 14.5 hour return trip home, which Dad has threatened to do with minimal potty stops so that we can pull into the garage before midnight.

Please send your biggest wishes to our very small bladders as we trek cross-country to the Badger state. Or, if you catch us at the rest area, doing our walk of shame in wet pants, please just look the other way. You didn’t see anything.