Vacation 2000

This year we decided to visit Glenn's family out west for an extended vacation.  Although the vacation was for 2 weeks, it was not nearly long enough to do all we wanted to do: 

  • Day 1 - Travelled to Las Vegas on a red-eye flight.  The flight was delayed by an hour.  We arrived in Las Vegas at 1:00 AM.  It's true that this city never sleeps.  We stayed at the "Babitt Motel" (i.e., Glenn's parents' place).  They live in the northwestern part of the city where it is away from all the noise, lights, and action.  This area is quickly being developed due to the major influx of people moving there. 
  • Day 2 - Las Vegas $trip.  We went to the top of the Stratosphere, and visited the Sahara and Circus Circus Hotels.  It was 110 degrees every day in Las Vegas!!  Whew! 
  • Day 3 - We spent the day at Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.  The dam is an incredible piece of architecture with a fascinating history.  We attended a fantastic evening show, EFX, at The MGM Grand Hotel. 
  • Day 4 - Las Vegas $trip.  Our car's air conditioner decided to blow out.  We traded it in and got a bigger car that worked!  We visited some more hotels, including Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur.  There is a tram that connects between these 3 hotels. 
  • Day 5 - Left Las Vegas and drove across the desert to San Diego.  San Diego is beautiful, with sunny skies and 75 degree weather.  What a difference from Las Vegas! 
  • Day 6 - Legoland.   This was David's dream to visit this place.  He was disappointed but this was the first summer it's been opened and has plenty of room to grow. 
  • Day 7 - Mission Beach Day.  We spent the day relaxing at the beach, enjoying the cool breeze, surf, sand, and sun.  Couldn't have asked for a more perfect weather day! 
  • Day 8 - Left San Diego and headed towards San Luis Obispo in Central California.  We stayed at the infamous Madonna Inn
  • Day 9 - Left The Madonna Inn and visited The Hearst Castle.  Drove up Highway 1 along the coast, which was mostly fogged in.  There was a forest fire in Big Sur and made the fogginess even worst.  Finally arrive in San Jose and stayed at the "Keating Inn" (i.e., Glenn's sister's place). 
  • Day 10 - We were getting burnt out at this point and wanted to do something pretty calm.  We visited the Tech Museum of Innovation, one of the best in California.  It was so large, we were able to only see about one-third of the exhibits. 
  • Day 11 - Tired of doing a lot of walking, we opted for a lazy day at Santa Cruz.  Sister, Myra, and her husband, Garry, joined us for the day on the beach and boardwalk.  Brother-in-law, Pat, joined us later for dinner and frisbee golf. 
  • Day 12 - We did a driving tour of San Francisco, passing by the piers, Chinatown, Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, some vertical streets, and walking around Pier 39.  Too bad I couldn't look up all my Chinese relatives in Chinatown!  On our way back to San Jose, we stopped off at the Winchester Mystery House.  What an unusual house! 
  • Day 13 - Departed San Jose.  We had a transfer in Los Angeles and then a layover in Nashville before finally landing after midnight at BWI.  Home sweet home ... so good to be back in your own bed! 

 

Last updated on August 1, 2000


 

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