California Vacation 2010

July 23

Headed off for California via the I-10 at 6am. I forget what time we made it into the LA area but I think it was around noon or 1pm. Atori and I got to drive in downtown LA for the first time, traffic was a nightmare. On our way to the beach (following my cousins car) we got lost...nightmare...this made us waste an hour. We also made a quick stop at a chevron gas station so Atori and my cousin’s car could have a late lunch. Filled Atori up for $3.45per/gal = $41.20., ouch!

First beach we stopped at was Manhattan Beach where my cousin’s wife grew up. I can’t believe her family moved away from this place, it was simply beautiful. I loved the pier and took some nice pictures of it. We stayed for an hour and a half and then headed over to Venice. On the way over we got separated from our cousins but found each other at the same parking lot (parking was $10). For lunch sis and I got a bag full of french-fries and our cousins got slices of pizza, I’m so not a fan of boardwalk food. After a small lunch my cousins played in the water while sis and I got to relax and lay on the beach. I would have rather skipped this beach and went to Santa Monica instead, oh well.

Around 6pm we headed to our hotel, which was located in Buena Park next to Knott’s Berry Farms. Traffic was hell and once again our cousin kept getting us lost so what should have been a 45min drive turned out to be two hours (I’m blaming the traffic). We finally made it to our hotel after 8pm, got checked in, and then headed a block down the street for some quick dinner at Panda Express. Went to bed around 10pm, didn’t get a good night sleep.

July 24

Sis and I woke up at 6am, got around, and headed off to Disneyland following our cousins again at 7am. On the way we got lost yet again, I should have been the lead car. What could have been a 10min drive turned out to be 30something; I don’t understand why my cousin didn’t take the freeway all the way to the Disneyland exit. Oh well we still made it to the parking garage before 8am and parked our cars on level 2 the Daisy Duck level.

The first ride we went on was Star Tours, which is a motion simulation ride. A must for any star wars fan, so I was happy, even more so since I was in the front row. The second ride we went on was Space Mountain, followed by Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Then we headed out of Tomorrowland over to Toontown. First ride we rode here was Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. I hated that ride. Then we rode Gadget’s Go Coaster followed by visiting Chip ‘n Dale’s Treehouse, and that was it for Toontown.

My memory is kind of poor at this time but I think we headed over to Frontierland and rode the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Then it was over to New Orleans Square to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion.

Ok I’m going to give up trying to remember the order and just list the rides we went on

Star Tours
Space Mountain x3
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Gadget’s Go Coaster
Chip ‘n Dale’s Treehouse (non-ride)
Pirates of the Caribbean x2
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad x2
Haunted Mansion
Indiana Jones Adventure x2
Jungle Cruise
Splash Mountain
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Peter Pan’s Flight
Sleeping Beauty Castle
Matterhorn x2
Autopia
Innoventions

My favorite ride was Indiana Jones Adventure and sis favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean.

Lunch was at the New Orleans Square’s at the Stage Door Cafe, total $24.53.
I got the chicken breast basket with sliced apples and sis got fish and chips, yum.

At 9:30pm sis and I watched the fireworks while my cousins rode Splash Mountain for a second time. Dinner was skipped and when it was about closing time we did some shopping. Bought a stuffed Pirates of the Caribbean dog for Lubos, two refrigerator magnets, two Pirates of the Caribbean pens, two Pirates of the Caribbean key chains, and a coffee cup for grandma as a thank you gift for watching Lubos.

Left the park after midnight and I don’t remember what time we got back to the hotel but it had to be close to 1am.

July 25

Woke up around 8am, got around, packed and checked out of the hotel. Pick up breakfast at McDonalds and headed on our way home. Lunch was Taco Bell at the town of Blythe, then sis took over driving. Made it to grandmas house at 3pm to pick up Lubos and got to our apartment at 4pm.

Over all sis and I both had such a fun time, it was really short lived and all day at the park really made us sore but it was so worth it.