Four Nights in Phoenix

Labor Day weekend I took my birthday surprise visit out to Phoenix to visit the McEntires in their new city. Things got started off with a hellish ten hour delay and me rage pouting on my couch, finally landing at about 11:30pm. First let me say Arizona is HOTTER THAN HELL. Maddie had been warning me for weeks and I laughed it off saying it had been in the hundreds in Utah, but I take it all back. There is a special, face melting, desert heat going on down there. One of my favorite things about hanging out with the McEntires has always been the ability to go out and be adventurous and explore or sit on the couch, eat cookie dough and watch Netflix. They are lazy adventurers after my own heart. 

We stopped at La Grande Orange for some amazing pizza, walked around old town Scottsdale, stopping to look at The Mission and window shop, ending at the bridge/canal with perfectly strung lights, a live performer and a little lesson about the canal from Trevor. That man can be anywhere for a day and know every environmental aspect and I'm always amazed by it. Saturday we walked through the Phoenix Public Market and I kicked myself for not bringing a legit carry on bag so I could smuggle all of the fresh Arizona honey I could handle. Maybe I'll get some on my doorstep for Christmas....hint. Later that day Trevor and I spent a good hour and a half, maybe more who knows, in the pool just floating, talking and laughing and for me burning. I realized after the weekend was over and I'd spent at least four hours in the water, sizzling in the sun, that maybe I'm not meant to live in a place with year round pool access or I would have skin cancer by 30. I could sit in that water all day, heavenly! 

I loved being back in their house, planting myself on their couch, watching Robin Hood with Ben, laughing, talking about the stuff that matters and wishing the weekend would never end. For three days it was like nothing had ever changed. 

Mahalo

Where to begin! Maui was a week of pure HEAVEN!! It was like nothing I have ever experienced and now I finally understand why so many people fall in love and dream of living on the islands. We stayed in cute little beach condos with the ocean as our backyard and let me say every ones day would start out so much better if they could eat breakfast while watching the waves crash in! 

Our week was packed full of activities, starting with a drive up into the hills to find the blow hole and famous heart in the rock.  It was also our first attempt at snorkeling which resulted in gasping for air, screaming and a panicked swim back to shore and cut up feet. It's funny looking back, but at the time we were sure that was the end. 

One thing I loved was driving down the highway and seeing all of the surfers, swimmers and campers just pulled off to the side of the road enjoying the beach. One of the roadside beaches is where Drea and I made our second attempt at snorkeling, it went over much better; if you don't count getting trapped in coral.

Next day we made the trek in our minivan across the island to the Road to Hana, 68 miles of winding, TINY road through the Maui hills to the small town of Hana. We walked through forests of bamboo, swam in a COLD waterfall, found my new beachfront property and swam in the warmer waters of Black Sand Beach. And let's not forget swimming in a cave while a beach bum played a didgeridoo. 

My other absolute favorite part was our two whale watching trips. The first was a dinner cruise which made us feel classy and resulted in a lot of Titanic jokes and the second I got rocked by a giant wave and saw whales fight and a baby show off so I guess they were both a win. Lastly we took one final snorkeling trip to Black Rock at Ka'anapali Beach and it was fantastic! Tropical fish, beautiful coral and so many sea turtles! Our last night was spent celebrating Bennett's birthday (Drea's aunt) with pizza, chocolate cake and some laughs (mostly at Paige).

The next morning as we drove to the airport I took in the scenery around me trying to commit everything I saw, heard and smelled to memory. I can honestly say I have never been so sad to leave any place as I was Maui. I guess this just means I'll have to go back!

San Francisco to Burney

Last week me and my good friend Maddi loaded up the car and headed west for San Francisco. It was part vacation, part visiting a friend that had recently adopted an adorable baby boy and part meet up with Maddi's boyfriend AJ who has been hiking the Pacific Crest Trail for the past four months. So much to do!

First of all let me say driving in San Francisco is....a nightmare! Everyone is so impatient and I've never heard so much honking in my life, there are even billboards about 'honkaholism'! After a day or two I felt I had it down and I could whip around cars and cut someone off with the best of 'em. Our first big day out we stopped for brunch at Zazie which is not only delicious, but has the cutest atmosphere then headed over to the Japanese Tea Gardens.

We did just about everything touristy we could think of, including walking the Golden Gate Bridge and sitting at Alamo Square across the street from the Painted Ladies where we had a picnic of Easy Cheese and Ritz Crackers and acted like we were hanging out with Uncle Jesse. We walked along Haight Ashbury laughing at the hippies in the park and stopping in shops along the way as a piper and beat-boxing accordion player blared down the street. 

Our last full day started at Fisherman's Wharf for some salt water taffy and a fishwich and since we were denied an Alcatraz tour we opted for an hour boat ride on some dude's fishing boat. It was kind of legit in that we had to pay for it, but we were literally sitting on plastic lawn chairs in the back, perfectly ghetto and made us laugh the whole time. I even made a new unwanted friend that had Maddi and I striking up random conversations and turning to look behind us in order to avoid him and has given me the new nickname of Denise. So awkward, but funny.  

That evening also led us to one of the prettiest places and beaches I have ever, EVER been to. It's called the Sutro Baths Ruins and it is gorgeous. There used to be pool houses along the beach, but they burned down in the 60s and were never rebuilt. We were in complete awe. I still am just thinking back!

Friday we packed up and headed out early for the four hour drive to meet up with the boys, but first made a quick stop to Stinson Beach. Soooooo coooooold! We drove longer to get there than we actually stayed, but it's a cute beach with an even cuter town. I'm torn between living there and Truckee. They have a beach, but Truckee's got the burger.

We met the boys in Burney, and drove into the mountains for a camping spot and a campfire dance sesh. It was fun and interesting seeing a glimpse of their daily lives while on the trail. Lastly we made a quick trip to see Burney Falls and cool off in the lake. Sunday was a looooong drive home, but the trip as a whole was a success! Now I just need another week to relax and recover.

Orlando

Last week one of my bests, Coleen, and I made our wish of visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter finally come true! Being the nerds we are, there was nothing we wanted more than to guzzle down some butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks and peruse Ollivander's Wand Shop.

First things first we ran straight to Hogwarts castle to ride The Forbidden Journey, which I can safely say, I will never do again. I have never felt so sick in my life! But I would stand in line just to walk through the castle one more time. Moving portraits, the sorting hat, Dumbledore's office, Hermoine casting spells in the classroom! Nerd heaven! Of course we stopped in for a butterbeer, wandered around Honeyduke's sweets and Zonko's joke shop and went in every other store they had to offer. Perfection! 

Once we peeled ourselves away from all things Harry Potter, we walked around the rest of Islands of Adventure to see what other rides I could get sick on. After Coleen's test ride and some heavy convincing I rode the Hulk Coaster, twice! Eyes closed the whole time of course. We wandered around the rest of the island taking it all in, riding every ride we could until the park closed and my feet begged for a break.  

Day two started with the Universal park, me avoiding The Rocket coaster, and really just trying to get through it all so we could get back to Harry. Seeing as it was our last day there we were sure to get in a few more rides, more than a few more butterbeers and of course pick out a wand, something I didn't plan on buying, but that place just sucks you in. We were definitely sad to go, but I'm so happy we had the chance!

The next two days were spent at Walt Disney World. That place is HUGE! What amazed me the most was the fact there are four parks and they all have their own highway. Madness! We started off in Animal Kingdom with a safari, a ride on Everest and a tour through Africa and India. Next up was Hollywood Studios, not much to do other than the Hollywood Tower of Terror, which I love, and the Rock n' Roller coaster, where you're en route to an Aerosmith concert while Steven Tyler screams in your ear, but it was fun seeing all the movie sets and walking through the stores. The night was finished off with a quick trip through Magic Kingdom and a ride through the Haunted Mansion. 

Did I mention the days were slowly getting hotter and more humid? I was told the horror stories of the Florida humidity and they were all coming true, how does anyone live there?! 

Our final day started off at Magic Kingdom, then a trip to Epcot. We visited a few countries eating some of their local treats and buying a few trinkets here and there. They all had something interesting to offer and I loved that all the employees were from the country they worked in, made for a more unique experience. I think Epcot was the beginning of the end for my legs and feet. By the time we got to China I was hobbling into Norway. Even though I felt like I couldn't go any further, Mexico was just too enticing.  We stopped in for some nachos and a much needed break then made our way back to Magic Kingdom for a ride down Splash Mountain to cool off and a spot in front of Cinderella's castle for the light show and fireworks.  This is also where Coleen got in the fight I don't think either of us will ever forget.

We had an amazing vacation and I'm so lucky I was able to go, especially with someone who enjoys the same nerdy things I do. I would say it was worth the near heat stroke, achy calves and swollen feet!