Greece - Part 2 : Santorini

Oia, Santorini

Oia, Santorini

We flew from Athens to Santorini via Sky Express.  Though we didn’t pay to choose our seats, it was fine and we were assigned together on this tiny little prop plane for the short 45 minute flight.  Obviously parents claimed the windows on the 2x2 plane and we had no issue staring at the blue waters and volcanic islands as we went.  

Santorini is an island in the Aegean Sea formed when a volcano erupted and sank half the island.  What’s left is a crescent shaped island with sweeping views.  The land itself, like most Greek islands, is brown and volcanic or desert like, set in juxtaposition to the bluest waters you’ve ever seen. 

We opted to stay in Oia, the picturesque “instagram” town, in a tiny cave house set into the hill.  It was worth the splurge and it is vacation after all.  Though we did have a chance to see other towns and there are some amazing resorts on the island to also consider. 

Artia Mansion Cave House

The place we stayed was Artia Mansion.  It was really hard to choose a room on the island but I picked this for the balance of “cave feel,” the view of both the sea and the town, and the price (one night here was the total we paid for 3 nights in other places and that was on the cheaper end of options in Oia).  Overall the room was very cute, the kids took turns in the cave bed, and the patio was nice to sit each morning.  The host left us some yogurt, bread, jams, and other breakfast items to enjoy each morning. Like Athens, Santorini was very hot, so while the kids liked the “warm tub” I could see trying to get a place with a bigger pool if we came in the summer again.  Overall I give it 4/5 stars and would consider staying here again but would also look at other options or even a resort.  (Note if you go for a resort you’ll need to rent a car though parking generally seemed doable in each town with a short walk to where you wanted to go).  We didn’t get a car and instead used our host services to pick us up at the airport and take us to the ferry on the last day. 

Ammoudi Bay Swimming

Our first afternoon in Oia we walked around and eventually headed down to Ammoudi Bay for swimming.  The decent is 250 steps down… the ascent is 250 steps up… we did this 3 times during our stay.  As a side note, you can get a donkey ride back up for 10E each but it’s cash only and I kept forgetting to bring any.  When you arrive at the bottom, you’ll cross though a few restaurants and carefully swing past a fence.  Then it’s a short walk around the rocks until you come to the obvious rocky swimming hole.  There is a small current and it’s open bay, so make sure you can swim, but man it feels so refreshing on a hot day.  And the water is so clear! (Note that I packed goggles and one towel for the trip).  

That night we found a spot to watch sunset and then ate at Roka for dinner.  One consistent we found in Greece was that we didn’t really individually eat that much at each sitting.  We’d usually get 1-2 salads/appetizers and then 2 main dishes for the 4 of us, and it was plenty of food.  Roka was good but what stood out was the atmosphere and the aperitif Masitha.  So good and unique that we got some to bring home.

A note about sunset on the caldera in Oia.  Yes, it can get crowded, in fact Oia can get very crowded, but we found that we were lucky in early June.  The cruise ships were present however it only ever felt flighty “full” rather than packed.  We also didn’t watch the sunset from the old castle because we were worried about the crowds, but in retrospect I think we could have without much trouble.  While the sunset was lovely, we have some amazing sunsets in California and Hawaii so I didn’t put too much effort into seeing it each night.  Also it wasn't cloudy, which tends to bring more beautiful sunsets.

Caldera by Night

Nighttime however is, in my opinion, when the caldera view really comes alive.  After dinner at Roka, I wandered around town myself, looking at shops.  Just then I rounded a corner on a pathway and came upon a perfectly picturesque spot of the town covered in the night glow of the full moon and tinkling lights of the cave houses. It took my breath away.  The pictures don’t do it justice.  I had to go back to grab the family just to see the amazing view.

Start of the Fira to Oia Hike

Our first day in Oia, we headed out to hike from Fira to Oia along the Caldera. This beautiful, and hot, 10km hike is very popular and it was obvious why, with stunning views the whole time.  To reach Fira we hopped on the bus in Oia and got off in Fira.  It’s 2E/pp each way and was pretty easy once it arrived (island time so timetables are more guidelines than rules).  After grabbing breakfast in Fira we started off.  Most of the way it’s fairly flat with two large hills to climb as we got toward Oia.  Sunscreen, big hats, and neck fans helped keep us cool, though we still ended with red faces and in desperate need of ice cream.  There are many blogs online that provide great detail about the hike so I’ll just say that the key is staying close to the caldera edge and staying out of the “town Main Street” unless you need to stop in for food or water.  There are also helpful sign posts if you kept an eye out for them as well as a few churches along the way to find shade shelter for a few minutes.  

Side note, it’s not advised to drink the water on the islands so we bought a lot of spring water during our stay.  You can pay anywhere from 0.28E to 4E for a 1.5L bottle.  Yea, crazy.  So find markets to stock up when possible.

After 6.2 miles in the heat we made it back to Oia.  The hike was not the hardest we’ve done but it was hot and the kids did great. We made our way to Pitogyros for lunch.  Let me just say this place is amazing - best meat ever (and I used to live in Texas).  We got the mixed meat platter and the chicken gyro platter on day one then returned for the lamb kebabs and chicken skewers the next day.  

Ammoudi Bay Fish Tavern

After much needed rest in the AC, we showered and headed back out.  Jeremy and I left the kids to rest while we wandered the town for a bit and grabbed drinks at Karma.  We all then headed down to Ammoudi bay for dinner at Ammoudi Bay Fish Tavern.  I made reservations ahead of time and asked for a table near the sea (as opposed to up on the terrace).  About an hour before sunset was perfect to see the glow on the other restaurants and the hill.  The sun-dried and grilled octopus was amazing. 

Vista Yachting Catamaran Tour

Sunset from the boat

Day 2 in Santorini we woke late, wandered around town taking pictures, ate lunch at Pitogyros then spent the afternoon and evening on a catamaran touring and swimming in the caldera.  Everyone says you need to do a catamaran tour on Santorini and after having done a semi-private tour for sunset, I’d have to agree.  We opted to go with Vista Yachting on their Platinum Tour because of the food and drink selection and small group (18-20 people).  We had an amazing time and there was plenty of room on the boat for everyone.  We relaxed on the nets, on the bow, on the bean chairs, and the kids even had a chance to drive the catamaran!  We swam in the waters and ate delicious freshly cooked food including seafood pasta, grilled chicken and pork, and tzatziki. Sunset was magical and the weather perfect.  The company also provided our transfer to and from the hotel area.

Nutella Pancakes

Ferry

Our last morning in Oia we woke early, took more pictures, and just enjoyed the view before heading to the ferry.  We opted for the super jet fast ferry from Santorini to Paros and a similar 'fast ferry' from Paros to Milos later in the trip.  These are the quickest way to travel.  You really only need to be at the port 30 minutes ahead of time (and maybe even 15).  We sat and had breakfast at a cafe (Jesse got his staple Nutella pancakes) and then got up to board once the line started moving.  What’s impressive is how quickly they load.  The Seajet was a huge ferry with a large platform opening to load in cars followed by hundreds of people in a matter of 5-10 minutes.  They are pulling away from the port before the massive ramp is even closed.  You drop your luggage where they tell you then head upstairs.  It was all quite pleasant and easy. 

On to Paros! 

Greece - Part 1: Athens

Greece.

There is no way I can possibly capture how amazing our trip to Greece and Rome was.  16 days, 5 locations, 6 flights, 2 ferries, and 2 boat trips.  We adventured, we learned, we hiked, we swam, and most of all we relaxed and enjoyed time away. 

The first part of our trip saw us leaving home and heading for Athens.  By coincidence we happen to take off when Max was 11 but land when he was 12.  Birthday at 30,000 miles! 

Athens 

View from the apartment

Landing in Athens we used Kostas Transfers to take us between the airport and the apartment, Pari's House in Plaka Athens, where we were staying.  The transfer service was great and easy to communicate via WhatsApp.  The apartment (via booking.com) was beautiful and perfectly located in Filomousou Eterias Square, central to everything, and had a small balcony overlooking the Acropolis. It was quiet, clean, had an amazing view, and had AC (and also incredibly priced).  

Athens was hot.  A few quick recommendations.  First, bring or buy a large sun hat.  I got one and lived it for the next 16 days.  Next, get an umbrella or parasol.  We didn’t and I wish I would have just bought one from the beginning.  So many days I wish I had one for me and the kids. Also don’t be ashamed to bring and use neck fans.  We had 4 small ones that we used on many days and it’s what got us through many hot excursions. 

The first night we wandered around the neighborhood, saw many cats (...so many cats in Greece), strolled through streets lined with shops, bought a few things, and settled on dinner in the same square as our apartment, eating at Ionos Mediterranean Greek Cuisine.  They had the second best tazaki we had all trip and really good lamb kieftiko.  We also celebrated Max’s birthday with a stack of Nutella pancakes and candles. 

Day 2 we headed to the Acropolis.  You should prebuy tickets (we did for all our sites) and either go early or late afternoon about 2 hours before closing.  Before heading up we had breakfast at the restaurant in the square owned by our host, John, called Plakaki Cafe.  Delicious food, good coffee, amazing yogurt with honey and fresh fruit. (We came back each day for breakfast and John even gave us Aparol spritz in the afternoon to enjoy).

Heading up to the Acropolis by 10am it was super hot already even with the neck fans and hats (remember that note about wanting a parasol.  Also remember to bring water and there is only 1 refill station at the top). Before we left I’d downloaded Rick Steves Audio Europe app and select tours for many of our sites, including the Acropolis, to each phone.  We entered from the south slope, climbed the hill looking at a few sites not on the tour, then made our way to the main entrance area on the left before starting the audio tour.  I felt the Rick Steves tour was very complete but may also recommend considering a small private tour to get even more history.  Even with the heat, and chasing the shade, the Acropolis was very interesting and rich with so much history; even the kids said it was their highlight of Athens.  

Coming down the hill, sweaty and tired, we found ourselves at Klepsydra Cafe under trees and a misting fan eating some of the best pork and chicken gyro plates we had all trip.  

That evening, after a quick rest in the AC of our apartment we headed out to the Ancient Agora.  Make sure you look where the entrance is, we made one wrong turn and wound up walking around the perimeter of the whole thing before we even started.  We paid the entry fee and again listened to a Rick Steves audio guide as we strolled.  Finally it was cooling off.  It was very interesting learning about how the role the Agora played in Greek society and the aqueduct and drainage systems.  There's also a small museum that's part of the audio tour which shows off an ancient shield and where we learned about the early voting system of the time.  For dinner we grabbed a bite at a place off Adrianou street that wasn’t bad but not memorable. 

Day 3 was our 2nd and last full day in Athens.  After breakfast, we wandered around the city early, seeing many sites like the Arch of Hadrian, Roman Forum (from the outside), Syntagma Square (including the changing of the guard which happens at 15 minutes before the hour), the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Library, and the Holy Metropolitan Church.  We had lunch at Psaras Tavern, which was lovely but overrated, and dinner at Old Ithaki.  Here we had a delicious Greek salad as well as a really tasty gorgonzola and grilled pear risotto. I'll note the outdoor cafes are wonderful, especially at night, however as a non-smoking American who isn't used to eating with smoke, we had to make careful selections to ensure we didn't have smoke in our faces at dinner.  There were a few times this was bad enough we had to either move or leave before ordering.

And with that our stay in Athens was over.  The kids got two little statues of the Acropolis and I found a dress and some light weight pants.  Athen's is a city rich in history and culture with cute neighborhoods that are fun to wander, but 2 days is just the right amount of time.

On to Santorini! 

Top Ten Hikes of all Time (and some Honorable Mentions)

Over the last week I've had the opportunity to hike at some amazing places in California.  More than once I said to myself, "yep, this makes the top ten."  Which got me thinking, what does my 'top ten' list look like?  So on the long 8 hour drive home from Palm Springs, here's what I came up with.  These are all hikes not 'destinations,' which is why you'll find Lower Antelope Canyon but not Antelope Canyon on the list, as I feel that lower is more of a hike while upper canyon is more of a destination.

Top Ten Hikes

(in no particular order)

• Mist Trail (Yosemite NP)
• Upper Yosemite Falls (Yosemite NP)
• Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare (Cinque Terra, Italy) 
• Narrows (Zion NP)
• Bright Angel Trail (Grand Canyon) 
• Castle Crags (Castella, CA)
• Pipiwai Trail (Maui, HI)
• Murray Canyon and Seven Sisters Falls (Palm Springs, CA)
• Ladder Canyon (Palm Desert, CA)
• Hidden Waterfalls (Montezuma, Costa Rica)

Honorable Mention 

• Angels Landing (Zion NP)
• Hidden Valley (Joshua Tree NP)
• Tahquitz Canyon (Palm Springs, CA)
• Mile 6 Hike (Road to Hana, Maui)
• Lower Antelope Canyon (Page, AZ)
• Kalalau (Hanakapíai) Trail (Kauai, HI)
• Cataract Trail (Marin, CA) 

What's on your list?

Spring Break 2025 - Palm Springs & Joshua Tree

For spring break this year we stayed in California and headed south to the greater LA area.  This was largely driven due to the exorbitant costs of flights to Hawaii and Costa Rica, but I'm really glad everything worked out this way.  

Part 1 - Grand Hyatt Indian Wells

We started the trip with two nights at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells near Palm Desert.  The place was beautiful and we had a room overlooking the pool area with a king size bed and a L shape pull out sofa.  The kids found the couch comfortable so we didn't even use the pull out.  

The grounds had multiple pools, hot tubs (both adult and family), lazy river, and two large twisting slides.  I also appreciated that we could awake slowly, meander down to the pool area around 8/8:30 and still find plenty of chairs to grab for the day.  (Unlike Cancun or Hawaii where they get snagged up by 7am).  The food at the Hyatt was expensive, however the pool lunches were also quite good, so at least you got what you paid for.  I highly recommend the fish tacos.  For breakfast we ate at the market (not the $40/pp buffet) though we probably could have bought a few things for the room from the grocery store in town (we did this for beer as a $12 beer at the pool was $2 at Ralph's).  For dinner we ate one night at the resort (Carmocha) and one night out at Katsuyama down the road.  I definitely recommend eating out; while the food at the Carmocha was good, we spent about $200 for 3 plates and one drink and left still feeling hungry.  

I'll also note the daily kids activities, like bingo and watermelon eating contest, as well as the evening pool movies.  We also enjoyed walking the grounds, the free bikes, and the game lawn where we had some epic games of giant Jenga. The game lawn also had some foosball and ping pong tables and giant connect four.  

Part 2 - Joshua Tree

After 2 1/2 days at the resort it was time to head to Joshua Tree.  We stayed at an Air BNB called "Desert Julep" with an outdoor hot tub and cowboy pool, wrap around porch, and master loft.  It's also located just outside of the west entrance to Joshua Tree and 2 block from 'downtown'.  

The place was beautiful and we wished we could have spent more than two nights there.  We really enjoyed the evening hot tub soaks while looking up at the night sky and sipping wine.  The photo to the left is from the hot tub. The kids are now at an age where they can come out and relax with us and we had some really lovely conversations.  

Day 1 - Hiking

Of course our main purpose for visiting was to see the park.  So we spent most of our two days there.  The first day we headed to Arch Rock and Heart Rock and actually met up with some friends of Jesse's who were also in the park for Spring Break.  We scrambled around boulders, meandered through valleys and just spent a lot of time enjoying the area.  Pro tip - fresh bread from a market & some salami & baby bell and laughing cow cheese make a great and easy hiking lunch.  

Heart Rock

Wandering Around

Arch Rock

After lunch we parted ways with our friends, who were headed back into town, and drove down to the Cholla Cactus Garden.  While the trail itself was closed, we were able to park on the side of the road and check out the very unique cactus that grow in this area.  From there we headed to Skull Rock where we scrambled around some more and took in the views.  Every time I turned around Jesse was up on some other type of boulder, declaring Joshua Tree the best park he's ever visited.  That evening we headed to town for some shopping at Coyote Corner and pizza.  (The pizza wasn't so great, so nothing to write home about there).  

Day 2 - Hiking and Bouldering

Hidden Valley Hike

The next day we went back into the park, this time via West Entrance which was just down the road from our Air BNB, and started with the Hidden Valley hike.  This is definitely a must do if you're in the park.  It's only about a mile round trip but takes about 1 hour because you'll wind up stopping to explore some side trail or scramble up some boulders.  

From there we headed to Trashcan Rock and did some bouldering.  Well, Max and I bouldered, Jesse and Jeremy took the time to scramble around the rocks.  I'll say a few quick things about bouldering in Joshua Tree.  First, the rocks hurt.  Everything is very sharp as the rock itself is made up of thousands of smaller rocks.  This put a pretty quick cap on the length of time we spent bouldering before our fingers were screaming in pain.  Second, it's beautiful.  It's been years since I'd had the chance to boulder outside and I forgot how much I really enjoyed climbing outdoors.  I also really enjoyed spending time with Max watching him work out the problem.  We did the traverse and then walked around the whole area finding other little problems to work out.  I didn't have a guide book with me, as I knew we'd only be there a short while, so I can't tell you more the exact problems we did.  

Leaving Joshua Tree we knew we hadn't seen everything, but we also know that we will be back someday.  I'm eager to have the energy at night to drive into the park for star gazing or heading to Key Views for sunset. 

Part 3 - Palm Springs

Aerial Tramway

The last part of our week found us in Palm Springs.  Here we stayed at another AirBNB, which was nice but not noteable enough to call out.  Upon arrival, around 3pm, we dropped our stuff and headed to the Aerial Tramway.  We got lucky as there was no wait and we were able to jump on the very next arriving tram (about every 12-15 min).  I would recommended tickets in advance, however you cannot buy them day of.  The tram is a really cool experience.  It's about 12 minutes up (and back) and the floor rotates about 3 times so no matter where you are standing you get to see all directions.  This also means people aren't trying to push or move around the tram.  The views are spectacular, and not just of the town, but also all the different climates that you pass through on the way to the top.  In fact, it was about 60 degrees at the bottom and snowing at the top!  Yes, snow.  We were the last ones allowed outside to the top observation area before they closed it and we were glad to have our puffies and hats.  It was also beautiful from the top overlooking the town.  After a quick hot chocolate for the kids, we took the tram back down. Once at the bottom we watched a few videos of the history of the tram before heading out.  Overall its about a 1 hour activity but worth it if you're in the area.  

ATV & Tahquitz Canyon

We started our first full day with some ATV riding.  The only place that allows kids to have their own bikes is Off Road Rentals of HW 111.  They do have smaller bikes for kids but Max and Jesse were both old enough and tall enough to use full size adult ATVs and picked up shifting pretty quickly.  After a short safety video we were off tooling around the sand and dunes.  There are several areas to play and drive around.  To say that the kids had fun would be an understatement.  Jesse was a mad man, laughing and screaming with joy the whole time.  They had so much fun that they begged us to go back the next day and even used their own money to pay for the second experience. 

After ATV riding we stopped for a quick lunch back at the house and then headed to Tahquitz Canyon.  To note, last entry is at 3:30 (this time of year) and you must have at least 1 liter of water per adult and 1/2 a liter per child (they check).  After paying the entry fee, we headed onto the trail.  The whole hike is about 2 miles which makes for a nice quick afternoon hike, though it is also mostly exposed.  After about 1 mile of hiking we reached the waterfall and pool at the end of the trail.  The water is snow runoff, so much like Yosemite, it's quite cold.  Still, there were folks venturing into the pool and Max even got himself fully in a few times. While we were hiking back down we were lucky enough to see a group of big horn sheep!  I like to pretend they were mountain goats.  

We ended the evening walking around downtown Palm Springs and grabbing some burgers at Coachella Brewing, sitting outside on the deck by the fire and doing some people watching.  We also swung by some of the sites, including of course, Marilyn Monroe.  And, of course, we ended the night with a dip in the hot tub (which was a common theme of this trip).

Ladder Canyon

The next day we awoke very early and headed down south to Ladder Canyon.  We knew we wanted to be one of the first ones into the slot canyon so we planned to arrive there by 8am.  (We managed 8:15).  I'd got up early enough to make togo breakfast burritos and we swung by the grocery store for a fresh baguette for our lunch.  

*Note, make sure you check the weather before venturing into this canyon.  It is a slot canyon and any little rain in the forcast anywhere in the area can cause a flash flood.  Don't do it.*

The drive south was fine, but the real interesting part comes in the last 5 miles which are over a very bumpy dirt 'road' which is clearly marked as 4x4 only.  Our Nissan Murano made it just fine, but it hadn't rained in weeks and there wasn't any deep sand parts when we went.  The canyon is on BLM land so you're also able to camp there if you'd like.  We saw a few people doing this and I have to imagine that the sky at night is incredible.  I also happen to note that when we ended the hike it was only 78 degrees out and it felt like 90, so those tents were probably toasty during the day.  But, I digress.  As you travel into the canyon area, you'll pass a bathroom (the only one) and have to continue on for another 1-2 miles until you come to the trail sign and the end of the road.  Park here, grab your stuff and head into the canyon.  

I'll note a few things here that were highlights for us, but if you're going to take this hike, I recommend reading this blog.  The hike is about 6 miles round trip (per our GPS) and takes you through an amazing slot canyon, up onto a ridge with breathtaking views, then back down into a larger 'painted' canyon before finishing up the loop back where you started.  Also, I'm a huge fan of hiking in keens, but this is not the hike to do it.  You're hiking through mostly rock and sand, which isn't pleasant in keens.  As the name implies, there are a handful of ladders you'll need to climb and descend to get into and out of the slot canyon.  Though they may feel a bit sketchy, we found they were all fairly stable and the ladders were part of the fun and excitement of the hike.  I'll also note that Max and Jesse both put this hike in their top 5 of all time hikes.

The hike begins by entering the slot canyon about 0.4 miles into the big canyon.  Keep your eyes peeled and you'll see the first ladder off to the left of the main trail.  (there's also the start of many rock arrows leading the way).  This first entrance you can either use the 'up' ladder, scramble the boulders, or use the hidden 'cave ladder' which of course Jesse found and used.  That one was quite the squeeze for Jeremy and I.  Upon entering the canyon you're overtaken by how unique the passage is.  Jeremy and I have been to Antelope Canyon before, but this is just as amazing and was the first time the kids had been in a slot canyon.  We had so much fun following the narrow path and using the ladders to get up and around.  After some time we exited the main slot canyon and entered another slot canyon with lower walls.  From there we were dumped into an open area that required some scramble up to reach the ridge (don't worry, you aren't lost).  

At this point we took the time to enjoy the amazing views, take some photos, and look down upon the canyon we'd just exited.  The ridge hike is just as unique as the slot canyon and part of what makes this whole hike so great.  We also appreciated the winds as the day was warming up (it was still only 10:30) and the sun was starting to bake on us.  

After walking about 2 miles across the ridge (again, watch for the rock arrows), we headed back down a precarious trail into Painted Canyon. 

Painted Canyon

Take one look at the walls of the canyon and you'll understand.  This third part of the trail is a large wash out area and can be done by itself by skipping the slot canyon and just walking straight from the trail head.  We found all types of different rock in the canyon along the hike.  The kids were also excited to come upon two more ladders (and a rope) that lead us into the last parts of Painted Canyon.  

We ended the hike after about 3 hours, who's counting, and about 6 miles total.  When we got back to the car there were about 15 other cars in the parking lot, so we were happy to have started early.

Palm Springs

We spent the rest of the day ATV riding, again, and hanging out at the house.  For dinner we went back to Clandestino for the second night.  The food is great, drinks are great, and the weather was perfect for this outdoor restaurant.  

Indian Canyon

On our last day we spent the morning hiking in Indian Canyon before driving home.  The hike through Murray Canyon and Seven Sisters Falls is incredible. Pictures don't just do it justice. It makes my top 10 hikes of all time and is about 4 miles round trip. This hike through desert canyon quickly drops into a palm spring oasis with a flowing snow fed stream between canyon rock.  Simply stunning.  The trail itself ducks in and out of the palm oasis and across the stream several times, ending in a small pool and mini waterfall.  Overall the trail is easy to follow and only has a few challenging spots where you'll have to watch your footing.  We spent some time here having lunch and relaxing before heading back down the canyon.  

Indian Canyon

After Murray Canyon we drove up the road further to the trading post and the West Fork Waterfall area.  This is a short downhill jaunt off the parking area and another great way to see an oasis if you aren't up for the Murray Canyon hike.  

Before heading out of town we stopped at the The Sandwhich Spot for lunch (highly recommend).

And with that we wrapped up a great week off and an unexpectedly fantastic week in Palm Springs area.

Oggie Boogie Bash - Disneyland 2022

This is Halloween... this is Halloween. Pumpkins scream in the dead of night.

This is...Oggie Boogie Bash 2022, Disneyland style!

Back in June, we asked Max what he wanted for his birthday.  Instead of a party, he asked to go to Disneyland.  For various factors, we traded that out for two days at a hill country resort in Texas.  But the idea of going to Disneyland never left my mind and when the Oggie Boogie Bash tickets went on sale, I knew we should take this opportunity to visit Disneyland and check out the Halloween party.  After all, we'd done two Christmas parties, so seemed to reason we had to check out Halloween one year.  (Tip, I booked tickets the day they went on sale, and I'm glad I did!  They sold out very quickly this year.)

We opted to fly from the Bay Area and carried on booster seats (to use in the Uber) and 2 carry on luggages.  We packed a backpack for the parks and a spare folding bag (which we used) to carry home any gifts and souvenirs.  Instead of staying on property we stayed at the Camelot Inn and Suites just across the street.  This made for easy walking each day, provided a pool for afternoon swims (btw the pool is only 3 1/2 feet deep but was fine enough for the kids), and was right next to Panera and McDonalds for early morning breakfast.

The best part?  We totally surprised the kids!  We told them we were picking them up early from school (8:30) for flu shots, but instead drove to the airport!  Wasn't until we were parking the car in the Park and Fly that Max started to figure things out.  On the bus we told them that instead of flu shots we thought maybe we'd go to Disneyland instead!  I wish I'd taken a video.  They were so stoked.

After ubering from the airport, we let the kids take a quick dip in the pool and headed to Downtown Disney for a late lunch before heading into California Adventure for Oggie Boogie Bash at 3pm (party was from 6-11 but ticket came with early entry at 3).  Note that at Disneyland the two parks are literally steps away from each other and downtown Disney.

Oggie Boogie Halloween Bash

First, it was HOT.  Like 90-95 all weekend.  I'm so glad I opted for the simple costumes of Incredibles T-shirts + eye masks (not shown).  It meant we could be comfortable and not committed to long sleeve costumes.  The park was still open to the public from about 3-6 but we were able to get on some rides like Guardians of the Galaxy (formerly Tower of Terror), Soarin, and Philharmagic without much issue.  Jesse, who is terrified of Tower of Terror, reluctantly agreed to go on Guardians of the Galaxy.  I'd rate the change from T-of-T to G-of-G about a 7 out of 10.  Max and Jeremy enjoyed it much more (by evidence of them riding it a total of 4 times on this trip), but I felt the story line of the new G-of-G version of this ride was lacking.  Either way, it's still a fun drop ride that's worth riding at least once.  Jesse was terrified, and after coming off crying, we wound up leaving the gift shop with a new Groot stuffy that he carried around all weekend. Soarin was great as usual.  

Once the sun went down, the party started up.  We spent most of the party on the 'non-pier' side of the park.  We first had to hit up the trick or treat spots.  First, these give out a TON of candy.   Like 5 stops per 'treat spot' and there are like 7-8 treat spots throughout the park.  Each stop within a 'treat spot' gives you a handful of candy.  Needless to say, the tiny bag they give you at the entrance fills up VERY quickly.  We quickly filled each bag then the backpack.  No wonder why people bring those cloth reusable bags with them to the party.  Also, this is quality candy here.  We're talking snickers, M&M's, skittles, and the occasional snack pack.  We did get grapes once, which was appreciated.  The best part?  Each 'treat spot' features a special villain.  Maleficent was my favorite, but we also saw Oggie Boogie, Ernesto (Coco), Cruella D'Ville and Clarabell, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck dressed as the Sanderson Sisters (we didn't wait in the photo line), plus a few others.  

After a few trick-or-treat spots, we found a spot for the Halloween parade.  A bit slow to start, but they pulled out all the villans.  Jafar, Queen of Hearts, Ursela, 3 ghosts from Haunted Mansion, Mickey and Minnie dressed up, as well as much more.  I also loved the sound track.  I grabbed "This is Halloween" already but I'll have to download a few more off the Mickey's Monster Bash ablum.

Finally we headed to some rides.  Spiderman Web Slingers is super fun, the Villains Grove walkthrough was great and very well done (haunted woods style).  Around 10:00 Jesse was done, so him and I took a slow walk back home, stopping for some churros, while Jeremy and Max hit up some more runs of G-of-G and I think even another Web Slingers.

Overall it was a great night and we had a lot of fun.  We will be back for this event sometime in our near-ish future.

Park Days - Disneyland

We somehow made it close to park opening the next day.  It's worth noting that at Disneyland parks you cannot make Genie+ plans at 7am like at Disney World.  Instead you can only make them once you've entered the park, even if you purchase it ahead of time.  Turns out this wasn't as much of an issue as at Disney World, but good to know.  As soon as we clocked in, I got Genie + and Rise of the Resistance tickets ($$ and $$).  Turns out the park was full but not crazy on Friday, still I was glad to have Genie + and not have to really wait in lines.   Given the short waits in the morning, we hit up Space Mountain and Astro Orbiter first and saved the Space Mountain lightening lane for later in the day.  (note, you only get one lightening lane per ride per day with Genie +, so use it wisely.  If you reserve it, just to see the wait is only 10 minutes, go ahead and cancel that pass, so you can use it later in the day).  

One of the cool things about Disneyland is how small it is.  This means getting from one side of the park to the other really isn't a big deal at all.  Maybe from Star Wars land to Space Mountain but that's about as far as you'd have to go.  I also really appreciated how different the rides were from Disney World, even for the same ride.  Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and even Runaway Train are all really different.  Also the French Quarter exists at Disneyland but not at Disney World, so that was fun to walk through. 

We by mid morning we were in Star Wars land for Smuggler Run and Rise of the Resistance (via paid

Lightening Lane).  We also got some 'blue milk' slushes from a stand nearby.  Max loved these.  Also at this time I also learned that you could join walk up lists for restaurants even if you don't have a reservation.  I was able to get on the walkup list for Oga's Cantina and what started as 30 minutes quickly dropped to 15.  I am so glad we stopped by.  Sure, it was 11:30am, but this place is well done.  They have a variety of alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic and a few small bar snacks, but the atmosphere is very well done.  We stayed for a drink and snacks, about 25 minutes.  

By the afternoon temperatures were rising above 90 so we grabbed some ice cream, tried to hit a ride (it had technical problems and closed while we were in line) and then heading back to the pool to cool down.  The short 10 min walk made this possible and really reinvigorated us for the rest of the night. 

(Note, after 2 1/2 days it really seems to me that the Disneyland rides break down a LOT more than DisneyWorld.  At least they give you a lightening lane to return anytime.  Still, I saw numerous rides break down with folks on the ride at very unfortunate locations for who knows how long.)

When we re-entered the park around 5 and we got to see a bunch of characters dressed in halloween costume, which was fun.  Especially seeing villains who aren't normally out.  We also saw a cute little covered car and a horse drawn trolley.   I'd assumed you had to pay extra for those or be a 'special guest' but turns out anyone can take them from the entrance to the castle.  Jesse was really interested in taking the trolley and I'm so glad we did.  Usually I would always walk down Main Street but after initially walking by I thought, yea, you know what, we should do that and Jesse's so excited, why not.  It was so cool!  Top moment of the trip for me.

That night we made it till around 10pm.  Some highlights were Haunted Mansion (I actually enjoyed the Nightmare Before Christmas theme), Big Thunder Railroad, Smugglers Run, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (which is not at Disney World and is equal parts long and interesting) and Autotopia (which is a common car driving ride but always puts me in a happy mood).  We didn't have dining reservations (and couldn't get any for Blue Bayou) so we opted for the Plaza Inn.  Wasn't too bad for a quick meal.  

After an evening of rides we went back to watch the Halloween fireworks at 9:10 (for a 9:30 show) and it was packed already.  We found a not-so-great spot halfway back and we really should have moved further back for a better (but smaller) view.  The show was good but I could tell that it would have been better with better viewing location.  Something I would have to keep in mind for the next night.  Of note, there are three shows nightly and most nights you have to choose.  Halloween Fireworks (more on these later), Fantasmic, and World of Color.  The first two are at Disneyland with the third being at California Adventure.  

Park Days - California Adventure + Disneyland

The next day we started off with a 'late' breakfast at Goofy's kitchen.  Its pretty rare for me not to make park opening, but this was always planned to be a relaxing weekend.  If we didn't get to a ride, we didn't get to it.  Also, my anxiety about doing everything was eased by Disneyland being smaller parks, plus having the Genie + both days.  We had breakfast at 8:20 and we were in the park around 10, which was 2 hours after opening.  The breakfast was good (if not a bit $$) but I really enjoy the dancing, characters, and food choices at Goofy's Kitchen.  It's no Boma (Disney World) and I hear Storytellers is good too, but we enjoy Goofy's.

We spent about 3/4 of the day at California Adventure before heading back over to Disneyland with our park hopper pass.  We also echo'd the day before with an afternoon trip to the pool and this time added in a 30 minute siesta for all of us.  With the 95 degree heat, this was definitely a necessity.  It also allowed us to have enough energy to stay up till park closing (we got home at nearly 1am).

Some highlights from California Adventure: Incredicoaster (I seriously forgot how cool this roller coaster is, but I won't give it away), Grizzly Run, Ferris Wheel, and Toy Story Mania.  Max, of course, did G-of-G one more time with his lightening lane, while I took Jesse on Toy Story Mania.  We also rode Radiator Springs Racers (extra $ for lightening lane).  This Cars ride is really well done, as is the entire cars land.  I recommend entering from the Pier side by Cocina Cucamonga and Pacific Wharf Distribution Co.  It's like you are literally walking into Radiator Springs.

I think I had more enjoyment this trip to California Adventure than I did 7 years ago.  Maybe there is more to do, or maybe I just took in more, but it's a solid park with enough to do for a solid day, especially if you don't get Genie + and you have to wait longer.  We wound up on Incredicoaster 3 times, after which I had to sit out for a while trying to regain my equilibrium.  For dinner we did a mobile order from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill.  The QuesaBirria and Al Pastor tacos are really good and there is pacific Wharf Distribution Co right next door.  Helpful tip - order at like 4pm.  You can choose your pickup window and you won't have to wait an hour.  It is about 20 minutes once you check in but the mobile order windows tend to fill up 1-2 hrs in advance.

After our last ride, and snapping some photos around the park (free with Genie +) we headed back over to Disneyland.  We arrived around 8pm and saw the crowds already gathering for the fireworks.  If you recall, our spot for fireworks last night was sub-par.  My original plan was to watch Fantasmic, but something in my head told me to make the tradeoff and try to see the Halloween fireworks again.  Somehow, I found a spot right by the front of the castle.  Everyone was sitting with just enough room between people I could find a small two spot with a second two spot right by it.  As it got closer to fireworks time, people wrapped up their blankets and there was plenty of room.  Max and Jesse stood behind a stroller, second row to the ropes and Jeremy and I were behind some shorter people with basically an unobstructed view.  

Simply put, the show was INCREDIBLE.  Like 'Wishes' good, for those who remember that fireworks show.  I am 200% glad we came back a second night.  Disney really stepped up their game.

We wrapped up our last night with some more Haunted Mansion, Smugglers Run, and a final ride on Pirates of the Caribbean for Jesse.  We never did make it on teacups or Peter Pan, but I was satisfied.  

It was a great relaxing weekend and though it was a short trip, I appreciated how easy it was.  We aren't at annual pass level yet... but maybe sometime soon.