Ensenada Quickie!

Our family members boarded the Golden Princess last Friday to celebrate my sister's 50th birthday. We boarded in costume ready to have a good time. And what a fun time we had!!

The Golden Princess is a decent-sized ship with all the amenities we've come to expect from Princess (www.princess.com.) She was clean and well-kept with an extremely hard-working staff. (I swear I've never seen people work harder.) We enjoyed the buffet all weekend long and found the food to be of good quality with a decent variety. The buffet layout is challenging for some as it is not exactly a cafeteria line, but a couple of different food stations. We're not cutting in line folks, we're sampling all around! Princess packed a full weekend of activities with everything from Bingo, Trivia, and Karaoke to Bar Wars, Salsa Dancing, and Movies Under the Stars. The lovely thing about a cruise is that you can do as much or as little as you'd like. The nightlife was lively with a Margarita Bar, Martini Bar, Casino, and several shows each evening. The 'Bad Boy of Magic' was back with his brand of comedy and magic, along with another comedian and the Princess singers and dancers as well. Our favorite place to be was the Explorers Lounge for three fantastic nights of karaoke. Everybody busted out their best singing performances and no one who was there will ever forget Dogbite!

This 3-day itinerary stopped only in Ensenada and everyone got off the ship to shop a bit and sample the beer and cuisine of this little port town.

Ensenada offers two fairly popular hot spots - Papas & Beer and Hussong's where the beer and tequila flow pretty freely. I believe naps were a necessity when everyone returned to the ship!! There are quite a few little shops along the main drag where locally-made souvenirs, purses, clothing, booze, and the like can be purchased at very good prices.

If you've never cruised before, this is a great way to sample cruising. If you have cruised before, it's just a reminder of how fun sea life can be. Cruises are great generational vacations because they're something fun for every age. You should try it.

This was a great way to celebrate - A Very Happy 50th Birthday to my little sister!! That's her between her hubby and our brother. Of course we had to bring Erin along for the fun ...

What's up next? Hmmmm.... I think we're heading to Bisbee for some Arizona fun.

Plan something wonderful yourself!

:) Deb

Ladies' Weekend

It's been a long while since Erin had visited San Francisco and Napa, so off we trekked for her October break. Our weekend began departing Phoenix on USAirways (NEVER again if I can help it!) and into San Jose. Erin was to run the Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon but she had a vicious cold. Not to worry - we made the most of our day there visiting their art museum, the gorgeous St. Joseph Cathedral, and a luscious dinner at Il Fornaio. Service and food here was impeccable so if you're ever visiting San Jose (or one of their other locations) stop in and sample some of their uber-yummy pasta dishes. They have a website and you can find it at www.ilfornaio.com to check out the goods. We stayed at the San Jose downtown Marriott (www.marriott.com) and enjoyed the hotel itself. The location is smack in the middle of downtown - both good and bad I'd say.

We headed out to San Francisco early the next day, driving through Stanford to catch a peek at the gorgeous campus. It's historic mission style is so Californian -welcoming and brimming with diversity. Hunger consumed us and not much was open on a Sunday morning but we luckily found breakfast at Coupa Café and it was unbelievably delicious. My smoked salmon crepe was sweet and salty, and Erin's breakfast arapa was perfection. But our morning beverages - hers a sweet hot chai and mine a soy hot chocolate  were probably the best we've ever had. How they put those two lovely drinks together in such a delightful way - mysterious to me and I drink a LOT of hot cocoa. They have several locations so check them out at www.coupacafe.com.

Next stop - San Francisco. The city by the bay is every bit as lovely and decadent and down-trodden as it has been for years. So much history and good food and cable cars and the Haight and all that. The Samovar Tea Lounge (www.samovarlife.com) provided us with another excellent lunch and perfectly brewed tea. This location is downtown in Yerba Buena Gardens just around the corner from the Marriott where we stayed. Truly lovely place that is well worth your time. We hiked up and down and up again to Coit Tower and then on down to Fisherman's Wharf. No trip to San Francisco would be complete with visiting the sea lions, riding the cable cars, and wandering through Golden Gate Park. We did it all.

And on to Napa! We stayed at the Best Western Elm House Inn (www.bestwestern.com) in downtown Napa this time and it was charming. The rooms were clean and comfortable, the innkeepers were welcoming, and the breakfast buffet with all the oatmeal toppings was scrumptious.
Erin and I visited several wineries the next day after a quick stop into Bouchon Bakery for goodies. Bouchon is in Yountville, right on the main drag - you can't miss it and you shouldn't! Andretti Winery offers a one-hour tour and reservations are not required. How nice is that? Great information and the wines are good. Not great, but good. If you're lucky maybe you'll see the great Mario, himself. We truly enjoyed Trefethen Winery with its historic building, oversized leather furniture, and welcoming attitude. We loved loved loved the wines here and got a list of some of the best to purchase at home. I'd have bought some directly but my wine fridges are packed right now. Grgch Hills followed next and we had the best time here stomping grapes in the courtyard. I can cross that off my bucket list - thank you Lucy!!

Great people, great Chardonnay. We stopped into Flora Springs and enjoyed several different varietals and could have continued if we didn't have one more stop to make. Over to V. Sattui for a few sips of their affordable vintages and some great deli snacks.

Lastly - the Berkeley Marina Doubletree Inn (www.doubletreeberkeleymarina.com)  where we snagged a room with a sunset view and dinner in their hotel restaurant. Good food, good service, nice room and a good night's sleep.

Do you know fried chicken and waffles? We do and our hometown favorite is Lolo's Chicken and Waffles right here in Phoenix (www.loloschickenandwaffles.com.) We're always on the look out to see if anybody can beat them and so far no one can. Not Roscoe's in Long Beach (www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com) and not Home of Chicken and Waffles in Oakland (www.homeofchickenandwaffles.com.) The chicken was fried crispy with tender juicy insides; the waffles were crisp; the mac and cheese was cheesy; and the yams were ... cold. Hmm. If you didn't know Lolo's or Roscoe's you'd probably think you had died and gone to heaven. But we know Lolo's and nothing compares. Check them out for yourselves - try the grits and green beans and such. You'll have a very happy tummy.

Last point for me - USAirways has the worst customer relations of any airline I fly. I will avoid them at all costs in the future. Enough said.

Next up - Karen's 50th birthday weekend aboard Sapphire Princess
... deep breath ...
:) Deb

Onboard the Island Princess

We love Alaska, and if you have read any of my previous posts you know we love cruising too. September weather can be dicey up north but off we trudged with four other couples to enjoy the wonders of Alaska aboard Island Princess.

We book online directly with Princess by calling them or using the website at www.princess.com. I like being in charge of my booking and reservations but I know lots of people who use travel agents or AAA for their bookings. Do whatever makes you happy - or write me and I'll help you out.

But go!!! Alaska is absolutely gorgeous and not to be missed. Our ports of call were Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. The lovely thing about a cruise is that you can do as little or as much as you'd like.

In Juneau we took a stroll through downtown and sampled salmon at TAKU while the guys took an excursion to Alaskan Brewing Company. Love their pumpkin porter! Juneau is an easy walk-about and the van to the brewery leaves their shop right on the main drag. Easy-breezy. There are some really lovely shops downtown and some cruise-owned jewelry businesses as well. We tend to shop local while in port and really love a classy little bookstore at the edge of town. I saw that it's for sale and it would be a shame if another wonderful owner didn't scoop it up. My friend introduced me to some Polish Pottery in one of the little shops and now I'm searching it out everywhere I go. You might want to as well - it's lovely. Here's a little pic of downtown Juneau.

There are some great ship's excursions in Juneau - whale watching, jeep tours, bike trips, even a jaunt up the hill on the Mt. Roberts Tramway. You can choose whatever makes your heart sing. We did.

Our next stop was Skagway where we opted to do the narrow gauge train. We've never done that before and it's something I've really wanted to do. The ride was absolutely beautiful (under cloudy skies) and we enjoyed the barbecue served at Carcross Station. This all-day excursion was well worth it for us and I highly recommend the trip.

You see the cutest things along the way...

Our stop in Ketchikan took us on a great jaunt aboard Zodiac inflatables. Oh-My-Gosh. Ripping cold water, 18 foot tidal changes, and a zippy engine - all I can say is wow!! We raced and bounced and hung on for dear life in our three-man craft with Jeff doing the navigating. Suited up in fisherman gear, we must have been a sight - no pics though sorry. This was probably the most fun ever on a cruise excursion. Of course we stopped into Ketchikandies too for a some of their dark chocolate covered Oreos. Can't pass them up.

The best sea day is the course through Glacier Bay. Two of the loveliest glaciers were on view for us and the crackling and calving we saw highlighted our entire experience.

Island Princess was a terrific vehicle to navigate the roughest waters we have ever encountered in Alaska. Our captain informed us that we'd have 24 hours of high winds and boy did we feel it. The ship shuddered and shook but we never let that kind of thing get in the way of our fun. The food was delectable, the service was gracious, and the entertainment was ... well... average. No worries because the martinis were ice cold and intoxicating. I wouldn't hesitate to travel onboard a Princess ship again and I wouldn't hesitate to travel to Alaska again. A gorgeous way to celebrate my 20th cruise!

... Life is Good - Spread Good Vibes ...
:) Deb

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon

My sweet Erin has decided to run a few 1/2 marathons this year and I'm along for the ride. Literally. I get up early and watch her joyously take off for a lively 13.5 mile run. Then I power walk to a few spots along the way so I can witness her cross various mile markers. SO MUCH FUN! The latest escapade happened at Disneyland and while she ran the 1/2, I ran the 5K. Well... I almost ran. But I finished and bettered my time from February at the Princess 5K in Walt Disney World. Erin received two medals as she completed her 'Round the World Journey this year.

 

 

This visit was kind of a treat for us as we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for the very first time ever. The convenience of staying on property is phenomenal and the lodging was quite good. It's Disney, for goodness' sakes. Our favorite thing about the hotel was bedtime when we pushed a little button near the desk lamp and the headboard lit up with fireworks and played "When You Wish Upon a Star." What a lovely way to say good night.

 

It's kinda hard to tell from this pic but believe me, it's adorable. Prices were pretty fair at the Disneyland Hotel for Labor Day Weekend. The food at the onsite quick serve was average, but Downtown Disney is right there for your pleasure. We loved the choices and shared breakfast at La Brea Bakery, and dinner at Tortilla Joe's. Both were delicious. I wouldn't hesitate to come back and stay right on property again. If I had a bundle of $$$ though, I'd probably try the Grand Californian. Maybe next time....

... Deb
May the Mouse be with you!



 

Hey 'Bama, Remember These Vacations?

It's summertime and once again our minds stray towards vacation. I'm sitting here thinking back on some of our most memorable family visits to Alabama.

 

First time we flew to Birmingham the air was turbulent and Erin had to go to the bathroom. Again, and again, and again. I did not make the last trip to the bathroom with Erin as she had deposited her air-sickness into her daddy's cupped hands. "What do I do with this" he asks me? I'm in the row ahead of him with Zach and I swear I have no idea so I tell him to take it to the bathroom. And he did. Seriously... traveling with kids is definitely entertaining.

 

That first time you visit a place, it's magic. There are so many sights to see and with family there are tons of hugs to share.  

 

 

Birmingham, Alabama - October, 1990. The kids loved visiting with their cousins - some of whom they met for the very first time. 

Alabama was gorgeous in the fall. Lots of foliage tinted red, yellow, orange, and green everywhere we went. Tannehill (Ironworks Historical) State Park was one of our favorites. Tannehill State Park has more than 1,500 acres spread across three counties for hiking, camping and outdoor fun. A mini- railroad meanders through the piney woods. Some seasons you'll find the blacksmith, miller and craftsmen demonstrate their craft. Little shops open their doors in restored pioneer cabins and local artisans chat with visitors from front porches. You'll also find artifacts of Alabama’s 19th century iron industry displayed in the Iron and Steel Museum, Tannehill’s awe-inspiring centerpiece. Tannehill is a glorious retreat for day use, a weekend visit or long-term camping. There are 195 camp spots with hook-ups, a few primitive sites, or you can rent a rustic cabin for overnight use. Don't miss the Sweet Shop either. Here's their website so you can plan a visit yourself: http://www.tannehill.org/index.html.

 

Our next trip to Alabama came a few years later and we all traipsed up to Gatlinburg for a lovely family vacation. If you haven't visited Tennessee and Gatlinburg in particular, you are missing out on some of the loveliest spaces in our country. We rented a great three-family cabin in the mountains outside Gatlinburg and it was fabulous way to spend some fun time together. I swear I can't remember which organization we rented from, but if you search for rentals in the Gatlinburg area for cabins there will be hundreds to choose from.

 

 

The little town of Gatlinburg has a little something for everyone. It could be a romantic get-away, or a fun family adventure. There are shops, restaurants and crafts galore, along with a slick-track, zipline, a little hiking, some fishing, and white-water river-rafting. Truly - a great place to visit. If you'd like to check it out start with http://www.gatlinburg.com/ for more information.

Right next door in Pigeon Forge you'll find the same quality of attractions in a sweet locale. There's mini-golf, go-karts, bungee jumping, and world-famous Dollywood Theme Park. Dolly Parton's Theme Park has rides, shows, attractions, and a water park to boot. We had a blast in Pigeon Forge and tried just about everything... only my sister, Karen went for the bungee! Ouch. Here's the website for Pigeon Forge to get you started on your adventure http://www.mypigeonforge.com/. And if you want to visit Dollywood, check out www.dollywood.com to fix your itinerary. Serious Southern hospitality in these parts.

Next time out we were celebrating the nuptials of my sweet cousin Susan and her Kel. Fun times were had by all and we seriously have to get back there for a new entry in the blog.

I always use Trip Advisor or Yelp to help plan my adventures and I'd do the same if I were you!
Until next time...
:) Deb

 

I have just one word for Norway and it is... MAJESTIC!!

 Yes... I am the Luckiest Girl in the World. But ... so is Erin!! Last year about this time my sweet daughter suggested we take a trip this summer to Norway. I concurred. To our delight, so did Mr. Smith. Hence the reason I am so very-very lucky. I loved being able to spend two weeks with my darling daughter and enjoy not only the loveliness of Norway but also her company. This trip was such a treat, and some good wine sipping too!

Erin and I flew from our home to London and spent three delightful days tarrying around before we boarded our cruise ship. We have been to London a few years back (when a little tube-bombing incident occurred) And yes, we were on the tube that day too but it's a different story. We arrived a bit weary from our travels, checked into our hotel, and headed out to visit some of the gorgeous little churches all over the Westminster area of London. Too tired to drink or pub crawl, a church-crawl!

 

We meandered until we couldn't walk any longer and headed back to the Doubletree Westminster for respite. The hotel itself was... serviceable, adequate, just okay. Twin beds were not available and the double bed was quite uncomfortable. There was plenty of noise all around the hotel with construction and such. And the room was close to clean. However, the English breakfast buffet was simple and tasty and the location of the hotel worked for our needs. Would I stay there again? Probably not, as there are so many other choices in this lovely city. Unless I'm looking for one of their sinfully delicious 340-calorie chocolate-chip cookies. I digress.

Where did the time go in London? We shopped at Fortnum & Mason and Harrods and Frey Wille and in and out of some street markets and quaint little shops. We dined in the Harrods Food Stalls at Bentley's Sea Grill (Can I say, YUM to their beer-battered fish and chips!) and had a lovely spot of afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason. So sorry we missed you Queenie!

We visited the FREE Victoria & Albert Museum (www.vam.ac.uk) and then stopped in to the David Bowie exhibit as well. Entry will cost you 16 pounds a piece, but if you're a Bowie fan, it's worth the price of admission. We also saw two terrific shows. First up was 'Book of Mormon,' a vulgar and riotous spoof of Mormonism and their missionary work. You must have a sense of humor to see this one and be prepared to laugh until you pee yourself. It was hilarious! Currently playing at the Prince of Wales Theatre in the West End and worth every penny. Me thinks it may never tour here in Tempe! Look for it to tour in your community and then run for tickets. We also saw 'The Taming of the Shrew' at the Globe Theatre. This delightful romp was performed by an all-female traveling troupe and they were amazing.

Great music, dialogue, and performances all around. Seating was woodenly uncomfortable but this is a (rebuilt) historic venue that you should not miss. Visit them online at www.shakespearesglobe.com.

I love cruising. Yes, I get seasick. But, I rely heavily on Bonine and it works so nicely for me that I can continue to travel aboard gorgeous ships such as the Celebrity Infinity. This newly re-modeled ship was spiffed up and ready to sail the Fjords of Norway. Infinity was easy to navigate with gleaming public areas and plenty of friendly employees working to make our trip a special one. Passengers were predominantly from the United Kingdom and we enjoyed meeting so many new people with great travel tips for the future. Note to self - definitely sailing to New Zealand some day. A 22-hour plane flight just won't do. Join me, won't you?

Erin and I dined in the SS United States Restaurant that first night and were treated to extremely gracious service and delicious food. A great start for a lovely 10-night adventure. We dined (deliciously) in the main dining room each and every night but one where we treated ourselves to the funky Q-Sine. Great food, great service, and a great vibe. The menu is quirky, presentation is entertaining, and every morsel was remarkable.

Ports of call included:

Oslo - pedestrian friendly and an easy walk into downtown. The Akershus Fortress was at the port and the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus was available to take us just about anywhere we wanted to go. We decided to visit the Viking Ships Museum and Folk Museum first thing. The Viking Ships Museum was very impressive. Three old ships used for burial a couple hundred years ago are preserved here with photos and artifacts an information.     

 

 

The Folk-Museum in Oslo houses about 155 old, wooden, small'ish buildings (homes, farmhouses, storage facilities) that were meant for destruction. The government and King Oscar decided to save as many as possible and place them in this quaint outdoor museum. Love the grass on the roof!!

 



We thoroughly enjoyed visiting both museums and seeing some of the local history. Our bus dropped us in the city center where we were able to view the Nobel Peace Prize Museum, City Hall, Sculpture Museum, and Icebar Oslo. Brrrrr........

Information on Oslo along with various things to see and do when visiting can be found at www.visitoslo.com.

Stavanger - A sweet little port town with shops, eateries, (a Burger King???) and Norway's oldest cathedral. The original was ravaged by fire in 1272, but this amazing piece of history was rebuilt soon after.

The pulpit and other sculptures within the church were hand-crafted and added to the cathedral in the 1600's.  Daily services continue here in this lovely house of worship.

I thought about our good friends John & Ann Marie while we were visiting Stavanger. There is a little lake in the center of the city and we spied two adult swans with their singular baby. The seagulls were trying to get at the baby and those swans were the most protective mom and dad I've seen in quite awhile. I hope the Pully babies are doing well!

Olden - the jump-off point for our bus-trip to the Briksdal Glacier. Erin and I sauntered upwards (UP) 2-miles to view this spectacular glacier. I wouldn't blame you if you're jealous right about now.

Here are some of the waterfalls on the way up to the glacier.

And here's a few pics of the glacier itself.

Spectacular!

Alesund - we took a bus tour from Alesund and headed out to the Saga Islands. We drove through three very long underwater tunnels (creepy) and visited a couple of darling little towns. Our day trip took us to a lighthouse where a couple of Norwegian ladies were serving up crispy old-fashioned cookie waffles with jam and cream. Then we headed over to Giske to visit a 900-year old church with cemetery. I do love a good cemetery - wink wink. And lastly we visited a small aquarium with some super-cute Humboldt Penguins.

Zach - we thought of you when we saw these little cuties. (not that you're reading this.)

Geiranger - I don't think I can explain to you how perfectly gorgeous this little hamlet is. The fjords are magnificent, the waterfalls spectacular, and the 600 residents here are so blessed. We didn't do a damn thing all day but take in the view. By the way... you can camp here for a dollar a day. If you're not gonna sail in, bring your own camper and tent and you're in Heaven.

 

 

And the Seven Sisters too...

Flam - famous for its railway excursion, sweeping vistas, waterfalls, and a trip to Voss - we had to make the trip. I know I know - another train trip, but it was lovely. Check out my pictures and then go to www.visitflam.com for more information on the entire area.

After our train trip we stopped into a tasty little pub called Flamsbrygga Pub. A couple of fresh-brewed ales on a cold day sitting around the fire was sensational. This little pub is attached to a hotel and restaurant as well. I could easily go back and make a visit here for a few days of peacefulness.

And lastly to Bergen - we loved wandering in this little town with its funicular to the top of the city, warm sweet hot cocoa and chocolatier, cute shops, weekend fish-market with fresh salmon and cod ... delicious!

I do believe that Norway is one of the most spectacular places on earth. Imagine the lush green hills of Switzerland, the high peaks and glaciers of Alaska, and the wide open spaces of Yellowstone all thrown into one country. Expensive - yes. Gorgeous - also yes.

What's up next for us? I believe it will be Alaska....

Come Sail Away
:) Deb