It’s October?! I am loving the cooler weather and cozy vibes but can’t believe how fast the months are whizzing by. Our girl is almost one! We have such little time to do anything extra, like post a blog, but since I want to remember our first year as a family of four, I am going to quickly try to remember Kenna’s first trip to Tahoe (way back in July)! Read on 🙂
We typically go to a resort near North Lake Tahoe to celebrate our anniversary however, this year we took a special trip to Hawaii. So before Mike wrapped his pat leave, we packed up our (new) car and trekked up in elevation to our special place to squeeze in a weekend there.
We left mid-morning on a Friday, wanting to avoid traffic and a 8 month old at all costs. About 2 hours into the drive, we stopped at The Nut Tree, the ideal location for a pitstop with kids! There are plenty of food options for all of the different wants and needs and there is a small train to ride. Not bad.
After another 90 minutes or so we pulled over in Auburn at Ikeda’s, a charming local shop that has such good food. Cam got a monster ice cream and was content until we arrived at our destination an hour or two later.
It is such a whirlwind unpacking with kids… we needed the pack n play, the seat attachment/high chair thing, a diaper changing station, all of the hats, and sunglasses, and where is the hotel card again?! After throwing things around in some kind of organized chaos, we kicked off our vacation with to-go Sandy’s Pub on the lawn and took in the views and fresh air while while burning some energy from our long drive.
We put Kenna to sleep – after her first sink bath (forgot to confirm if the room had a bathtub…) – and after Cam followed, had aperol spritz before going to sleep ourselves!
pumping before having a drink!
The next morning I took Kenna down to the rustic little cafe on the property and enjoyed a chilly stroll with a warm coffee and my girl. Once it was a bit warmer out, we all hit the pool. After a small dip in the water, Kenna had a poolside nap while I read a book.
While Kenna took her next nap back in the room, I took Cam to the village across the way, via shuttle. A highlight for Cam because he loves big moving vehicles and he remembered the driver last year* had lollipops. Lucky for us it was the same driver and same basket of lollis!
When we got back, the whole fam went to the lobby for some games and for mom + dad to enjoy a drink. Mike and I have always enjoyed a good lobby drink and it’s fun now to bring our kids and play games!
The next day Cam and I joined my grandparents, who live conveniently nearby, for lunch. And then, the real reason of their visit – aside from seeing them, of course – was so Mike and I could got hot tubbing for one hour by ourselves. I think this is the 3rd year my grandparents have done this for us and I always appreciate it so much.
After we said goodbye to them, we took the kids back to the pool for a final dip and plunge down the waterslide. Which, a story we love, Cam preferred to go down with me vs. dad “because mom goes slow.”
We left the next day, feeling happy for the memories with Kenna and Cam at a place we imagined bringing our kids to over a decade ago. 🙂
*fun fact: we told Cam he was going to be a big brother last year when we visited (it is also where we decided we were going to try for a second baby and where Cam took his first steps)!
our 5 year dating anniversary in 2016 (!) at the same lil spot
My mat leave is coming to an end. Kenna is 6 months and Mike and I have been married for six years this month. All great reasons to spend a week in Hawaii if you ask me!
The beautiful Aulani
I heard on a podcast that traveling with a baby is like throwing a party; there is a ton of prep and a ton of clean up but it’s worth it. I adopted this as my guiding light leading up to our first trip with babygirl Kenna. Packing was encompassing (unpacking still isn’t complete). We weren’t sure how she would do on the plane for five hours and since there’s really nothing you can do once you’re in the air, we were a bit fretful. Amazingly, she – and Cam – crushed both flights. Kenna napped 3 times on the way there and Cam watched movies basically the whole time.
That feeling of looking down at the bright blue ocean mixed with streaks of teal and wakes from boaters as you descend onto any Hawaiian island is hard to match. We stayed at the Aulani, the Disney resort, on O’ahu for the second time. Happily when we arrived our room was ready. Yay! It was time for a quick change into our suits and a dip in the pool.
The time change is 3 hours behind California which meant at 3pm Kenna was ready for bed. Yikes. I took her on a walk to the store across the street to stock up on some basics and to strategically have her fall asleep with a surefire way to wake up – when the stroller stopped moving. This worked pretty well as she made it to 4:30pm local time before going to bed for the night, after her walking catnap. Cam followed a bit later while Mike and I treated ourselves to welcome cocktails and dinner on the patio.
Kenna woke up at 3:30am the next morning! This wouldn’t have been so bad (6:30am for us) if coffee was available at that time but, for good reason, nothing was open until 6am. Finally when the cafes started to open we got coffee and pastries from the Four Seasons next door, a morning tradition that would continue for the next 5 days.
My boy!
Kenna and daddy playing in the waves
We went to the beach after and it still remains the best beach I’ve visited for kids. It is absolutely stunning, the water is warm, and the waves are manageable. Kenna lasted ~30 minutes before Mike took her back for a nap. Our room was luckily on the ground floor, which made nap time accessibility much easier.
Cam and I stayed at the beach and I mentally challenged myself to play a game of “yes to everything.” Meaning whatever he wanted to do I would say yes to. There we sat making “beach soup” with water I had scooped from the sea. Next we dug a river in the sand to the ocean. Open-ended play like that isn’t my strength so I actually found it a lot easier to let Cam lead 100%. We had a great morning on the beach together and it wasn’t even 9am. Ha.
Mike did a fitness class next while I took the kids to a small splash pad, something that seemed within reason for me to do with both of them solo around water. There we snacked on açaí bowls and danced around in the shallow water before Mike met back up with us.
Splash pad fun
Our meal schedule was skewed given the early wake up calls. That night we had a very early dinner across the street at Monkey Pod. Just like everyone else who visits Hawaii, the Mai Tais there are our favorite – which made it very disappointing when both of ours tasted different than we remembered from previous trips.
Mai Tai mama
Cam and I ended the day with a spin in the lazy river before both kids were asleep and Mike and I enjoyed dessert on the patio.
After our fancy Four Season’s coffee the next day (and another early wakeup call!), it was my turn for a fitness class. I did a Seaside Stretch on the beach and it wasn’t my favorite class but it was free and under the palm trees so I really can’t complain. Before I left for my class I suggested a nap for Cam when Kenna slept since he seemed to be having a hard morning. Mike got both kids to sleep and we were able to enjoy some 10am Mai Tais after my class!
Mai Tai mama and dada
We spent the afternoon alternating between pools and nap coverage back at the room. For our after-hours entertainment that night, we took shifts visiting the hot tub. What a way to end the night! Of course, we were in bed by 8pm; still not having had adjusted to the time difference.
The next morning Mike did standup paddle board yoga while me and the kids played on a blanket on the sand. It’s crazy to think Cam didn’t visit a beach until he was over a year old because of the pandemic and Kenna has had an entire beach vacation. She did pretty good but it is hard to entertain a baby at the beach. When Mike wrapped his class I flirted with the idea of going for a swim in the ocean. The water was still a bit chilly and I wasn’t particularly in the mood however there isn’t a ton of predictability when traveling with littles so I knew this could be my only chance. Who knew what tomorrow or even the rest of the day looked like?
Morning beach visits meant the beach was mostly ours!
After my swim I played “crocodile” with Cam and it was another moment for me of just tapping into fun with him. So often I won’t get in all the way in the water because it is too cold or I won’t get my hair wet because I just showered… this trip felt different. I likely won’t be this person all of the time (I really don’t like cold water!) but love the idea of some wild abandonment every once in a while; fully swimming, really playing, hair wet, sand everywhere. Let’s just have fun.
Later that day we rented a car to travel to the Dole pineapple plantation. Looking back, the cost was a bit extreme for one outing but it would have been more difficult to take a ride share with carseats, etc. The few hours we spent there was a lot of fun. We wandered through a giant maze while it drizzled on and off (Kenna’s first experience feeling rain so it was cute and funny to see her little body respond to the drops, arms and legs flailing). Then we took the Pineapple Express train to explore the plantation / let Kenna nap in Mike’s arms. We stubbled upon some pineapple bushes before heading back to the resort, which was a fun way to end our excursion.
A pineapple in the wild
That night we had our least exciting dinner; rushed take out on the patio since we were all ravenous when we got back. Cam wasn’t tired when we tired to put him to sleep so we had an extra little patio guest with us too. 🙂
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We kicked off our last full day on the beach for another swim out to sea, this time with Cam joining me! We played a round of crocodile again and then Mike and I alternated taking Cam to the pool while Kenna napped. Somehow I convinced him to spend like 30 minutes in the hot tub with me during my time, which never happens. Ah, what a treat.
Midday we needed a pick me up so we ordered a round of rums and cokes for us and OJ for Cam (milk for Kenna girl!). I rarely drink soda but it was the best call; refreshing with a hint of caffeine. We tried to go back to the hot tub after but Cam’s affection had drifted. Instead we went to the pool as large gray rain clouds rolled in. Uh-oh. Mike took Kenna back for a nap when the rain started but me and Cam stayed and swam in the rainstorm. Swimming in the rain has to be one of my favorite activities. I don’t know why but it is so fun.
Cam swimming before the storm
Despite the Mai Tais not being what we remembered, Monkey Pod still has some of the best food. It was a treat that the day/nap schedule unfolded in a way that we could make it there for happy hour!
Our little pineapple
It was sad to know our vacation was coming to an end. Mike and I have been counting down the days for almost a year (in the thick of winter and newborns days, we would often look at each other and ask, “is it time for Hawaii yet?”). Before the trip I made a vow to not spend so much time fussing about tidying or meal prep. I wanted to be there and be present with Mike and the kids. I am proud of myself for letting our hotel room be in a perpetual state of chaos. We did the dishes and threw our dirty clothes in the same general direction, but aside from that, sunscreen and hats, toys and shoes were everywhere all of the time. This is very unlike me and how I like to exist in my environment but committing to this challenge allowed for space to get out of the hotel on time, enjoy more of my family’s company, and really tap into vacation mode.
A rainy, cloudy last night didn’t bother us
On our last day, we had the morning to spend doing our favorite things one more time. We got coffee and pastries at the Four Seasons. I was supposed to do another Seaside Stretch but got the time wrong and almost accidentally did a bootcamp (when I saw the medicine balls instead yoga mats I quickly inquired and then got out of there before anyone asked me to do a squat or a burpee). We pushed Kenna’s “wake window” to the limits and spun around the lazy river multiple times. Cam and I walked to get French toast, bacon, and açaí bowls to bring back and enjoy on the patio. I did a patio yoga sesh with beach towels stacked as a makeshift mat to makeup for my missed class. Mike was able to take Cam to the water play structure that was closed our whole visit until that morning and Cam went down the waterslide over and over again.
Then it was time to shower the last sand off of us and pack our things. The trip was an absolute dream (although, to be candid, it wasn’t all sunshine and pineapples on the way home – Kenna had a blowout before our flight and we left her milk on the plane).
We can’t wait to visit again; to swim and play and soak each other in. A little lovely family of four.
We aren’t huge character-picture people but if we see one, we’ll stop and pose!
When I was pregnant with Cam, we combined my 30th birthday trip to Vancouver with a babymoon of sorts. Nothing too official or stereotypical (although a part of us has wondered why we didn’t go to Hawaii……). Now baby #2 is on the way and we wanted to do a last trip before we become a family of four. So, we passed on Hawaii again (but booked tickets for our anniversary next year!) and explored a few small beach towns that dot the Southern California coast.
We left on a Friday evening and stayed at an airbnb right on the harbor in Oceanside, about a 40 minute drive north from the San Diego airport. I knew having a view of so many boats would be a hit with Cam – who doesn’t love looking out onto a patio that overseas water? But as another surprise, we rented a Jeep to trek around socal in for the weekend!
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After a late arrival and not the best nights sleep (why don’t more airbnbs have good black out curtains?!) we were excited for breakfast at Piper, the restaurant in The Seabird, a resort about one mile from our airbnb. I booked us reservations at 8:30am but that was hopeful and ambitious. Cam was up at 7am. We arrived an hour before our reso and, although it was more crowded than I thought it would that early, we didn’t have trouble getting a table right away.
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We found out they hosted an all you can eat brunch buffet on Saturdays, so it probably ended up being a good thing we got there early. You could pick to order from the menu a la crate instead but Mike and I both decided to go for the buffet, especially because kids under 5 ate free.
They boosted an all organic and local menu and, while everything that I tried was delicious, I’m just not a big enough breakfast eater to justify the price of a buffet… I was kind of dwelling on the fact that my light fare didn’t seem to add up to the $45 it cost (and regretting not just ordering the yogurt + granola coffee, juice, and homemade pastry option for $22) when Mike asked if the experience overall was good; and therefore worth the money. Some perspective I appreciated (but still wouldn’t do the buffet again haha!).
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Next up was a jeep ride to one of our main attractions of the weekend: Legoland!
This was all of our first time visiting and despite having a 2-day pass, we still didn’t do everything there was to offer. Granted, we were moving at a much slower pace – let me tell you, being ~7 months pregnant at theme park is no joke.
I think because we were still close to the coast, the weather was on the cooler side for the majority of the day. Not ideal for the waterpark but certainly better than a heatwave. We kicked things off with a few rides. I took Cam on the slow ones while Mike indulged on anything faster.
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Highlights from our first day included: a “car wash” where Cam got to drive his own car around a track (this was done multiple times); a submarine ride with a treasure hunt for Mike and Cam (while I got to just sit in the dark and relax for a beat lol); the sun finally peeking through enough to enjoy some water play (particularly fun was the pirate ship ride that had water squirters to blast bystanders (yes, they soaked me from the ride); and churros with hot melty chocolate as an afternoon treat (that I insisted we needed 2 orders of – of course we only needed 1…).
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After a long day and lots of walking, we made a plan to grab pizza and eat it on the beach across the street from our airbnb. I was really looking forward to this plan, even though it was last minute and our timing was a bit tight.
Cam and I walked down to the beach with a blanket and some sand toys to wait for Mike with our pizzas. We briefly splashed around in the sea, one of my favorite things to do with Cam, before Mike arrived. I wish we made it back to our blanket, dried our feet, and enjoyed a margarita pizza sitting snug altogether. Instead we realized the sparkling waters Mike had bought weren’t twist off and he cut his hand trying to open them on some nearby rocks…
Mike needed to go back to the airbnb to clean up his hand but Cam was not ready to leave so I said I would stay there with him a bit longer. And out of nowhere, Cam threw sand in my face. Like, what!? I was done. Almost in tears, I just screamed at Cam (not my best moment) and called Mike to come back and help us get off of the beach.
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I was at the end of my rope at that point and felt a flood of all the things: bad mom (impatient and yelling), bad wife (Mike had cut himself and I needed him to come save us), bad person (is a ruined beach dinner really that big of a deal in the big scheme of things? I shouldn’t be so upset). Ugh, it was a lot.
We finally made it back to the airbnb and managed to eat our cold pizza on the patio. Not what I had envisioned…
After we put Cam to bed, we swapped time down at the hot tub. Of course being pregnant, I only dipped my legs in but it was nice nonetheless to sit there with a book and decompress a bit. We went to bed shortly after, this time with towels and blankets covering the windows to make the room darker!
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Coffee on vacations is always a big thing for me. I love trying new places and finding perfect little gems with great coffee and pastries (no store-bought croissants fly for us). I spend a good amount of time researching and comparing nearby cafes for our morning brews. After exploring google maps, Jet Fuel Coffee won as the chosen cafe for the next day. The coffee was good but the service was slow, with only one person working there.
After finally getting our drinks, we walked down to the beach and, better yet, discovered a playground there too! We spent the morning playing in the sand, watching surfers, and listening to the waves. Ahh, the good stuff.
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Family of four, coming soon!
Next we discovered the TOP GUN HOUSE a few blocks away. Label me nerdy but I absolutely love this behind-the-scene Hollywood kind of thing. (I’m probably one of the few people who actually watched the commentary versions of dvds when that was a thing!) Of course we stopped to snap pictures and look inside the house and google the house in the movie and just generally take in the fact that Tom Cruise walked on the same stairs (ok ok, maybe that was just me…). For Cam’s entertainment, it helped that there was a motorcycle he could “ride” out front.
I mean, all around just good family fun. 🙂
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Back at Legoland for day two, Mike and Cam went on a rollercoaster while “baby sister” (what we’ve affectionately been calling the baby) and I sat on a bench and read on a book. It might not be the standard to pack a book when heading to a theme park, but being pregnant, it made the day less boring when the boys were off doing something I couldn’t.
Cam discovered a multilevel play area with ball-shooters? (not sure about that terminology) next and spent over an hour in there playing. Mike and I sat outside in the shade eating fries in amazement of how long he was entertained.
We took a break from rides to check out all of the different lego cities. Originally I thought this would be more for me and Mike and we would have to convince Cam to stay longer but he was actually enthralled by it all. We started in the replica of San Francisco and then saw Los Angeles, San Diego, New York City, and Las Vegas. It was a bit of a bummer because of all the water in the tiny cities was drained and most of the vehicles weren’t working, so we didn’t get the “full experience.” But it was really cool to see how detailed everything was and, obviously incredible it is all made from legos.
For dinner we got a bit fancy and tried Campfire, with the allure of s’mores for dessert selling it for us. I was really excited about going here because it screamed our vibe. Happily it didn’t disappoint – the cocktails/mocktails and food were all delicious. The atmosphere was cozy and Cam was entertained by his new lego motorcycle we got as a souvenir so we didn’t feel rushed to leave; ending things on a high note with the before mentioned s’mores! HOUSE MADE MARSHMALLOWS. I CAN’T.
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We spent our last morning caffeinating on the patio, looking out at the harbor, before dipping in the pool. The weekend was the perfect mix of “for kids” things and indulgence. A good one to repeat again when our newest member of the family is old enough. 🙂 We can’t wait to meet you babygirl!
Summer is coming to an end and we have a lot of big stuff happening in our fam! Notably Cam starting TK. His last day at preschool was in early August and, at the school Director’s advice, we took some time away before his first day of public school to decompress and help with the transition. (Listen, if an educational professional is recommending a family vacation – who am I to disagree?!)
We opted for a 2-part staycation; the first half at Clear Lake with friends and the second half in Sonoma with just us. Having taken all of Friday off to commute to the Lake – about a 4 hour drive – we decided to spilt up our time in the car and make a pitstop at the Oakland zoo. This is the first zoo Cam has been to and… will probably be the only one for some time. We found the experience lackluster with only a few animal sightings. The train ride we kicked things off with was fun but an additional cost to the entrance tickets so kind of annoying there.
Going up
Two highlights were a gondola ride to the top of a mountain where we had lunch with sweeping views of the Bay Area and a conservation habitarium that allowed visitors to “explore California’s diverse habitats by stepping into the work and world of conservation researchers.” Cam was pretty stoked on both of these; loving “riding the ride” (gondola) and playing with all of the hands-on things in the habitarium, particularly chilling out in a pretend kayak.
We also saw a few bears up there, which was cool but a bit depressing too… you know that sad feeling you get when you see an animal in captivity?
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Having exhausted things we wanted to do, we left a little earlier than planned, figuring it was better to beat traffic to the lake anyway!
About 3 hours, one stop for gas, and a drivethru cash wash (because why not?), we arrived at our friend’s lake house. I just checked and there is a post from 2017 from our visit here – before we were even married or had kids!
This time we had a whole crew; our friend Lauren’s parents, who graciously hosted us, Lauren herself and her husband, and another bestie, Leslie, and her beau (plus 4 dogs). We had dinner on the deck and chatted into the evening on our first night there, realizing we had planned the weekend a whole SIX MONTHS in advance. The prep time needed to align calendars… whew.
Lake days typically start and end on the deck overlooking the lake and, really, how could they not? It is so pleasant out there with lounge chairs and a fire pit overlooking the water. I love hearing the sound of the waves lapping. Particularly with a cup of coffee. Which is exactly how Saturday started before we went out on the boat.
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We’re fortunate that our lake visits include boat rides captained by Lauren’s dad. Cam loves this portion of the weekend (well, we all do but kids just make things extra special) and it was fun to see him adventure out more this year compared to last summer. He got in the water to swim around vs. just sitting on the back of the boat with me. Of course he was also totally in his element with 6 adults paying attention to him and asking if they should dive or canyon ball into the lake, with him counting them down each time.
The crew
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We spent most of the afternoon swimming and jumping off of the boat together (others tried various water-sports like wake surfing and waterskiing too). A quintessential summer afternoon before enjoying another dinner and evening back on the deck.
After coffee and taking in the view one last time the next morning, Mike, Cam, and I drove on to the second part of our journey. We were staying about 2 hours from there at the Silverado Resort & Spa, a gorgeous property that offers decent priced rooms and villas but doesn’t lack any of the luxury, in my opinion.
Early morning peace on the property
Since check in wasn’t until 4pm, we hit up the Sonoma TrainTown Railway to occupy some of the afternoon. Cam loves anything with wheels so we knew this place would be a hit. The entrance is a bit uninspiring. As you walk through small doors that are basically in the parking lot, you are dropped right on the train track. We were confused if you could just get on the train or if you had to wait in line but after talking to someone who worked there, we popped right on the train and were off within 5 minutes. Which was a welcome relief to the heat.
The train looped around the park and took a break in a small “town” with a fire station, school house, etc. that you could get out and explore. We ended where we started and once you walked in the park a little more, you were greeted with a fountain, ferris wheel, and other rides that Cam had a blast riding! (I myself forgot that ferris wheels aren’t my favorite until we got to the top and stalled there, swaying in the wind… Yikes. It took effort to remain still, as not to rock our cart more, and try to concentrate on cool things for Cam to see vs. panicking hah).
TrainTown!
Mike waving to us from the bottom
After we got ice cream at a local shop, OH darling…, and then went to check-in at the resort. We got a villa suite for our 2 nights at the Silverado and I was so impressed with the layout and decor. Everything was updated and felt luxurious, plus we had 2 small patios to open the doors and let the fresh air breeze through. I would definitely stay here for an extended visit.
That night we ordered pizzas and ate them poolside, which just feels like a fully vacation-mode thing to do.
The one slight drawback to the villa we stayed in was it didn’t have a bathtub. Cam is not a fan of showers soooo… sink bath it was! He just barely fit and kept saying “this is silly, isn’t it?” (After we got back we went to see an open house – which is a fairly consistent thing to do on the weekends to keep up with what’s selling around us – and the house didn’t have a bath either… Mike and I were saying that it wouldn’t work longterm to be in a house without a bath and Cam pipes in, “well we could just take a sink bath?” So funny.)
The next morning we had an entirely free day. After a lazy morning of coffee, pastries, and Bluey in bed, we booked an hour gondola ride on the Napa river. A pretty niche thing to do but I wanted to try something new!
Ready to go!
We arrived early but our gondolier was ready to take us out (I imagine they aren’t flooded with business on a Monday afternoon). He told us our boat was imported directly from Italy and lived on the Venetian waterways for ~20 years. I loved this fact and felt like it was more worth our money, given the authenticity.
As we swayed down the river, he sang us songs – including Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid, my favorite – and told us bitesized stories and pieces of Napa’s history. Cam was less than enthusiastic about being on the boat about 1/2 way through (person-power is slow compared to the speedboat we experienced in Clear Lake haha) but managed through the whole ride with the help of a few lollipops I had stashed as bribery.
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Overall the gondola was a new experience so fun in that regard but, similar to the zoo, we aren’t racing to book another trip there. (Unless, we decided, it was with a big group and was the kick off to an evening or something – like wine and cheese aboard before a fancy dinner on the river… that is something I can get behind:)
It was time to hit up the pool again, where we spent the rest of the afternoon before taking a stroll on the golf course. Then dinner at the resort restaurant, The Grill. Sadly we don’t have rave reviews about this place – finding the service slow (with almost no one there which always feels more frustrating) and the food lacking. We wouldn’t go back, especially with so many local gems close by, but for the connivence of being steps away from our villa, it was okay. (Cam also completely lost it towards the end of the meal so extra worth it for Mike to be able to take him back and start another sink bath!)
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On our final day we ventured to the spa to try Boost cafe for breakfast. The service was slow here too but that was okay. We were the only ones there and it was nice to enjoy the spa deck, dotted with olive and lemon trees, while we waited.
Of course we took one last dive in the pool before packing up. We have a joke that on our last day of vacation I am “fun mom” because I’ll jump in and get my hair wet, knowing I can go back to the room and wash it before check out. 🙂 And I will say, this last hour at the pool was the most fun! Again, we were the only ones there and Cam is just really fun to be with in the pool right now, engaging in games and being able to “swim” solo with his vest on.
Our little staycation was so relaxing and throughly enjoyed. Now school has officially started and we’re trying to get into the groove… I’m sure we’ll relax into our routine soon enough but it has felt hectic since returning! I am so glad we were able to take some time to recharge before diving into a new school.
In the beginning of July we spent a week in Canada visiting Mike’s hometown and getting to catch up with lots of family and friends; notably Mike’s sister, Wendy, and her kids had a few days overlap with our visit! Cam hasn’t seen Ella and Ollie since Spain two summers ago (wow how did that go by so quickly?!) so it was extra special to see them bond and play together as well as they did.
With the time difference to Toronto, we arrived in the late evening on Friday but since Cam was still on California time, he was wide awake and ready to play with his older cousin Ella – instantly enamored by her! The next morning was a late start for our family, still adjusting to the time change. Then brunch on the deck and a relaxing day spent lulling around Nana and Papa’s house, catching up over coffees in the garden and venturing out to the splash pad across the street in the afternoon heat.
That evening we were treated to a pasta and chicken parm dinner by close family friends Nikki and Sarah – who are getting married this Fall in Mexico! It was great to see them and hear all about wedding planning. We were also treated to an evening “show” put on by all three cousins, with Ella as the lead. The boys were so cute shaking their musical instruments as directed. It was nice to see how well they all got along and played – basically needing no adult intervention all day!
Little stars
The next morning we all piled into cars and set out for Great Wolf Lodge, a waterpark and resort near Niagara Falls. There is also a Great Wolf Lodge near us in California that we have yet to been to. I have a hunch the one in Canada – near pretty Niagara and it’s wine country – is a tad better of a location than the one here… Nonetheless, we will likely visit the California property eventually given how family-friendly we found the lodge to be.
Some highlights included the themed cabin we stayed in, that was both spacious and cozy. The pools and slides (obviously) for endless kid entertainment, a round of mini golf with all of the little ones, and s’mores every night by the communal campfire!
Cam exploring GWL
Mini golf selfie
Nana and her boys!
Cam and Papa having a cuddle
On our way back to Mike’s parents, we stopped for a family BBQ. Cam briefly met some of this side of the family on our trip back a few years ago but he was so young. It is nice that he’s getting to see family as he grows up (although somehow we didn’t seem to get a picture with anyone but his cousins)! Plus there was a beautiful, WARM pool at this shindig, which just can’t be beat.
Ah, mama loves a warm pool 🙂
Wendy and the kids flew back to Melbourne the next day, missing some rainy summer weather that hit next. We barely get rain in the winter in California, let alone in the summer! Experiencing a bit of gloomy weather was actually kind of novel and nice. Particularly when it involved a pretty countryside drive to meet our friends Melissa, Dav, ane their little one, Oaks.
We caught up while sipping cappuccinos and hot chocolates and nibbling on sandwiches at Heatherlea, a small cafe + farm oasis that offers local snacks, treats, and produce. Cam and Oaks also had a good time bursting through the store aisles, picking out the best tomatoes and baked goods. Which I can vouch, best walnut fudge brownie I’ve ever had.
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Serious little shoppers!
It was still rainy when we got back – perfect for a trip to the mall! Cam stayed and played with his grandparents while Mike and I spent a rare afternoon just the two of us. We hit up a few stores hoping to clean up due to the exchange rate right now but were left empty handed. Oh well, it was still nice to spend time together, especially when grocery shopping, one of Cam’s least favorite things to do it seems!
After dinner we still had about an hour before needing to start the bedtime routine. With a wet backyard and most activities exhausted by that point (plus two tired parents lol), 60 minutes seemed long and daunting. Until I remembered Youtube! I searched Kids dance videos and was met with limitless Floor is Lava options. We haven’t done these before but Cam loved the dance moves before the ominous timer went off (“5, 4, 3, 2, 1…”), signaling to jump up on couches and chairs before the FLOOR was LAVA. In actuality, he probably loved that me, Mike, Nana, and Papa were all participating in the same thing he was! It’s truly special to see how engaging Mike’s parents are with Cam. My heart was warmed at their willingness to jump right in and be silly with him. That daunting hour actually turned out to be a sweet highlight of the trip for me.
The next day was back to sunny summer weather – perfect for another backyard BBQ! This time with our “cottage crew” (as whatsapp would describe us, starting as a thread to plan a cottage weekend a few years ago). Ah, how nice it is to hang out with friends who also have kids who can play and plot together!
The cottage crew parents
Scheming their next move…
On our final day of the visit we ventured to Oakville, one of my favorite spots about 20 minutes away. We enjoyed coffees, strolling down the avenue, and lunch at Colossus Greek Taverna, where we noshed on feta fries, hummus and pita, fresh olives, and flatbread.
The rain hit again that afternoon but we embraced it, spending time on the driveway getting soaked. Overall we had an action packed week full of fun and great memories.
Somewhat last minute, Mike and I decided to plan a one day family trip to Disneyland. We purposely bought tickets for a Tuesday, before summer officially started for many kids, hoping it might be just a fraction less busy.
The classic castle photo
We flew down to Anaheim after picking Cam up from school on Monday and took a Lyft to the Disneyland Hotel, opting to stay there for early entry the next morning. What we DIDN’T know – but luckily everything ended up being fine – was early entry swaps parks on different days. Since we didn’t get park hopper tickets or have any plans of going to California Adventure, we could have paid a bunch of money to stay in a hotel for a perk we couldn’t utilize. Luckily Tuesday (the day we visited) is, in fact, an early Disneyland entry day (not California Adventure). Pro tip: check the early entry schedule before booking!
We set multiple alarms for early in the morning (not wanting to repeat our honeymoon when we slept through the first morning). Both Mike and I didn’t sleep well this night in anticipation of Disney the next day! Finally though, it was morning. We woke up at 6am with plans to be out of the hotel by 7am for early entry at 7:30, noting the ~5 minute walk to downtown Disney / security.
We definitely had to work to wake Cam up – he wasn’t as eager as his parents – haha. I had gone all into the Disney theme and he was sleeping in Spiderman jammies (with a spare Toy Story set in our suitcase) so we just decided to put his Yoda sweater on over his jams, pack his clothes in the stroller, and leave for the park. I didn’t plan it but I think it’s actually an expert parent hack; let your kids sleep in something they can just wear the next day!
We brought breakfast with us to avoid having to sort that out during our precious 30 minutes of early entry. As we waited in line (which was huge but moved quickly), we sipped hotel-coffee (not great but did the job), and ate store bought croissants and strawberries. Finally we were in the park via downtown Disney and on the monorail on our way into Tomorrowland. As we walked to Fantasyland we saw a sea of people waiting for “rope drop” near Main Street. It was honestly kind of off putting – like, surely someone is going to get trampled, right? How are we not hearing about this more on the news?
When we finally made it into the park and got in line for Peter Pan it was already 7:50am, which means we only had 10 minutes before the throngs of people just waiting to get in the park joined us… My takeaways here? 7am is not early enough to leave your hotel room. Also, we didn’t hear of anyone getting trampled so all must be fine with this set up. As crazy as it looks to see such a massive group of people just waiting behind one little rope.
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Ok ok back to the rides! The theme of this trip turned out to be Things We Haven’t Done Before – i.e. mostly rides for Cam that we probably just skipped over in the past. I grew up going to Disneyland almost every summer and can’t remember ever riding Peter Pan but heard the line got crazy. Strategically this was our first move with our 10 minute early-advantage. And oh, how it almost went so terribly… when we were only one row behind boarding the flying ships, the ride broke down. Nooooo. This actually has never happened to be either (sticking with the theme). Thankfully it was running again in ~5 minutes and we were zipping through Neverland shortly after.
Next we went for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and… I wish we hadn’t. The ride was jerky and dark and not that much fun (at least the line was short to get on, although now I think I know why…). Cam got off and declared, “I’m ready to go home.” Uh-oh.
I tapped my inner Dr. Becky and promptly told him, “Ugh, I know. That ride was so dark and loud. Mommy didn’t really like it either. Should we make a deal to only go on light and bright rides for the rest of the day?”
Instant smile from him and relief for me. “Yes! Let’s go on the elephants next!” To Dumbo it was! (Which, the next morning when we were recapping the rides we went on, Cam referred to as “the pigs” until he saw the confused look on mine and Mike’s face and remembered then they were actually elephants, saying “wait, wait, I mean the elephants!” Cute.)
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Mike took Cam on Autopia next, which was his absolute favorite ride when we went last year, while I walked around looking for an alternative to the life-sized lightsaber (“laser”) Cam saw the night before and had become obsessed with. The pricey, very big lightsaber was top of his list but I wasn’t sure how we would actually get it home. I found a small lightsaber keychain that I thought might do the trick…… *Flash forward to the next day, packing up our things, stuffing a full sized lightsaber into our stroller bag. Cam won!
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We went on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage next, the first time for all of us. This ride was pretty long, which was nice – who doesn’t love sitting and resting for a while at Disney? – but there were a few parts that were scary for kids. This poor little one behind us cried the entire ride and I thought Cam might join her when there was an “explosion,” “fire,” (I think they were trying to emulate the volcano scene in the movie when Nemo is in the fish tank?), and then complete darkness. Yikes.
We made it out of the submarine and mobile ordered lunch at Bengal BBQ, my favorite Disney eatery. While we were eating, we found an outlet near our table so charged our phone a bit. This to say, I had no idea if there would be accessible outlets anywhere in the park when I packed the charger that morning, but, hot tip, there are!
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The Jungle Cruise was next, followed by pineapple DOLE whip and the Tiki Room.
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Mike bought a GeniePass to try Rise of the Resistance (rave reviews from him after!) while Cam and I walked around Galaxy’s Edge with his LASER (and lots of little eyes longingly staring at the giant lightsaber – how many other parents got suckered into buying one of those things!?).
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Last year when we visited Disney, we had success with stroller naps in the middle of the day. We were a bit unsure if we would again this year since Cam is older but, nonetheless, decided to bring our better stroller that reclines to try for it. Amazingly he slept for almost 2 hours while Mike and I snacked on beignets and sipped iced coffees. What a win! This meant we could stay at the park much later and Cam wouldn’t get cranky and melt into messy tantrums.
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As we were walking back into the park (Starbucks is only in downtown Disney!), we caught the end of a parade going through Main Street. Notably catching glimpses of Moana and Maui! We decided to ride the Disneyland Railroad next, something else we didn’t do last time, to let Cam wake up a bit. Then in was back to Fantasyland to ride the Casey Jr. Circus Train. This was the longest line we waited in all day (~40 minutes) and felt like the peak heat of the afternoon. Sadly I remembered this ride being more fun last year – which Mike and I theorized was because we rode it at night. I think Cam enjoyed it though.
We had dinner at the Red Rose Taverne after. For Cam, I had brought some staples I knew he would eat (corn, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, carrots) and paired that with sides. He had an extremely balanced meal of corn and tater tots, while we spilt a burger and flatbread (also very balanced and healthy).
Tiny house on the Storybook boat
After dinner, it was off to the Storybook Canal Boats for a slow and mundane ride that I’ve never done before and would only do again if the line was short. We did however get to see the parade again while standing in line, so that was fun.
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We went with a classic after: the teacups. And then ended the day with Astro Orbiter (our first ride last time we were there) at Cam’s request. Cam loved this one so it was nice to go out with a bang. All in all, we rode 11 rides and walked 22,000 steps.
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We grabbed a box of popcorn and walked our way out on the famous Main Street. What a magical day!
Breakfast in bed the next morning! Can’t skip the Mickey pancakes 🙂
An afternoon at the resort pool before flying home in the evening
Oh, hi there. It’s been over 3 months since I’ve posted anything here. Since I mostly maintain posting to remember more details about the day to day, I’ll do a quick check in before diving in for our annual Tahoe anniversary post!
Since Hawaii back in January, we’ve celebrated Cam’s 4th birthday! Instead of throwing a classic party, we opted to go to Safari West with family and close friends who have a little one too. We stayed in an airbnb too, so it felt like a nice weekend getaway.
The crew!
Mike and I spent ~24 hours in Vegas to surprise a friend celebrating his birthday. Highlights included staying at the Bellagio, seeing a zombie burlesque, and drinks at a dueling piano bar. This was the first time we’ve spent a night away from Cam that involved a flight so that felt like a milestone.
The Bellagio
Another trip was a weekend up to Reno to visit my grandparents and celebrate my grandma’s birthday! We spent the day visiting a farm that had tractor rides, bounce houses, food trucks, and tulips to pick.
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Now it’s May and we are just back from Tahoe, spending the weekend celebrating 5 years of marriage in our longtime spot (and recently rebranded), Everline Resort & Spa. Per usu, right after we arrived we had a takeout dinner from Sandy’s Pub on the big, open grass area. There are a ton of lawn games there, which means entertainment for both Cam and Mike. 🙂
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We love visiting this resort in May because it isn’t as busy as peak snow sport season or the hot days of summer. The only downside is the weather is a bit unpredictable. Last year was colder than we’ve experienced, with enough snow to still go sledding. This year was pleasantly warm! After dinner we went to the pool to soak in the mountain view and test out the water temp. Luckily it wasn’t too chilly and we spent the evening dipping our toes in and prepping for the weekend ahead of lots of pool time!
The next day was our actual anniversary. That day 5 years ago we were surrounded by our family and friends, having the best time celebrating under the stars. Flash to present day, we decided to try something new in Tahoe and drove to Meek’s Bay. When we first arrived, the parking attendant ($12/day to park there) told us the property was rundown with unreliable bathrooms (not a great sell) but we were free to go next door and utilize that beach instead.
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He didn’t have to tell us twice. We didn’t even bother checking out that beach, opting to drive straight next door where there was a snack shack and clean, working bathrooms. The views were incredible and I love the photos we have here. But we all know pictures don’t paint the whole… well, picture. The sand was really rocky and hard for Cam to walk on. There were a lot of bugs. And the water was freezing, although that part is expected. Nonetheless, we spent a few hours huddled on our beach blanket (that I snagged in Spain – I love getting very functional things on vacations like beach blankets, hand soap, etc. so I have little reminders of our travels often). Cam of course loved throwing rocks and sticks in the lake while Mike and I enjoyed cheese, crackers, and kombucha on the beach.
little cutie! 5 years!
That night, my grandparents – who live ~45 minutes away – offered to come to the resort to watch Cam while we went to dinner. So, after some afternoon pool play, Cam had quesadillas and played dinosaurs with his great grandparents. Mike and I got some 1:1 time and celebrated with salad, steaks, and a s’mores desserts. A great time for everyone!
Our first dance 🙂
Mike hit the slopes early the next morning so Cam and I spent a lazy morning getting ready and exploring the resort before taking the shuttle to meet daddy for lunch. Cam loves riding shuttle buses (adorably reminding us to “put our buckle seats on” each time) and this particular one had lollipops onboard for kids. Lucky ride! We ate at Tremigo, just like last year, expect this year the food wasn’t as good. Waah, I hate it when your expectation for something doesn’t match reality.
Shred!
A new treat was the ice cream truck located across the way, which was great for Cam. They offered $3 mini scoops – I haven’t seen this anywhere else but loved it. Perfect size, good price. Mike did some sale shopping after while Cam and I chilled out and listened to a bit of live music in the middle of the village. Doesn’t live music make every experience just that much better? And then we were back to the resort for more pool time, of course. This is also when I was able to crack open a new book. The best.
After a long day and lots of sun, we were all tired. Cam went to sleep hard and fast after his bath BUT 30 minutes before his usual bedtime. Which we found out later might have been a mistake…
Mike and I ordered Reubens and Caesar salads to-go and watched House Hunters, trying desperately to make it at least until 9pm before falling asleep. Then, around 8/8:30pm, Cam woke up and we knew his bedtime had been too early. Because we were on vacation (or, more likely, because we were tired ourselves) we let him watch a show on the iPad when he requested one. He still couldn’t fall asleep after so we caved again and decided to have an official sleepover, moving our House Hunters to the bedroom we were all sharing to fall asleep together after one last episode. Maybe some people will think this is terrible parenting but looking back, I actually love this memory. I hope Cam does too.
On our final morning, we took one last lollipop shuttle ride over to the village for coffee and fresh pastries with a beautiful mountain view. Then it was back to pack and hit the road home with another great anniversary trip in the books blog! See you next time!
I’m here to recap a few short but oh, so sweet days we spent at the Aulani Disney Resort – and hopefully relive some of the magic while I type. After a very early 7am flight, we arrived on the island of Oahu just before noon. Ah, time traveling backwards for more beach time… love that.
Last year we took Cam to Disneyland for his birthday and, in preparation of the big weekend, we started watching YouTube family vlogs on visiting the parks. We did this again before visiting the Aulani – finding it pumps us for the trip, gives hacks/tips, plus gives Cam a digestible idea of where we are going – and right when we entered the grand lobby, Cam asked “are we where we saw on the TV?” So cute.
The excitement was building as we felt the breeze while checking in. But something else was also mounting… hunger! It was well past lunchtime in California and we didn’t plan properly so got to the property starving. Never fun when navigating crowds and lines. I also wasn’t prepared for how busy it felt and how confusing it would be to orient ourselves. The resort is huge and takes a second to understand the layout! After aimless wandering – and a brief Moana sighting! – we found a food shack …not the one we were originally looking for but a food shack! A banana and French fries for Cam (kid lunch) and a salad with chicken for me and Mike. Whew, we were back on track.
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Even better, we got a text that our hotel room was ready for early check-in. Yes!!! A quick swimsuit change and the three of us were dashing down to the pool. First up? The lazy river. We floated around in circles on rafts, in and out of waterfalls, giggling and splashing.
For dinner we tried The ‘Ōlelo Room, where we split edamame, vegan tacos, and steak bites (the contradiction there isn’t lost to me). The food was way better than I anticipated, assuming everything on the property would have that cheap, theme park taint. The cocktails where also surprisingly sophisticated – not just lava flows and Mai Tais (although both lava flows, Mai Tais, and, of course, pina coladas, have their rightful place and impress on an island vacation; I was just happy to see a little mezcal, too).
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Our first full day started with a guided “seaside stretch” for me. A free 6:30am class was held by the beach and it was a lovely way to start the day. I don’t have to go heavy into the details on how moving and grooving while hearing the waves lap can transcend. And not bad that I came back to the hotel with a fresh cup of coffee waiting for me. Thanks, hubs!
After Mike’s workout – a much more vigorous paddle board session – it was beach time! We noshed on French toast, bacon, and acai bowls after snagging the best lounge chairs closet to the ocean. Early birds…
This morning was my favorite few hours of our vacation. The sun was bright and the waves mellow. A fellow traveler gifted Cam a bucket and shovel so we spent the morning alternating between playing in the sand and dipping in the water. The conditions were nice enough for even me to go on a little swim out to a buoy. I think the last time it was warm enough for me to SWIM in the ocean was our honeymoon in St. Barts.
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Having worked up an appetite, we were ready for lunch across the street at Monkey Pod. Everyone’s favorite place when they visit the islands. Highlights here were: the Mai Tais, of course; the bonus fresh fish taco I got “because there was an extra piece;” our souvenir monkey pod shirts (yes we did); and the Oahu Railway, with trains (trains feels like a generous description, actually… trollies, perhaps) for Cam’s viewing pleasure.
We finished the day with another stop at another pool (so many pools to explore at the Aulani!), where Cam got comfortable “swimming” in his life vest. His swim was actually more like running in the pool while he floated, which was cute to watch!
The best part of the evening was the stunning beach sunset! It’s cliche but really just can’t be beat. Cam had a blast running in the water while we enjoyed the cascading sun.
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I would say I was up bright and early the next morning but it was still very dark when I walked down to beach yoga. Hello, sun rising while I did sun salutations.
We rinsed and repeated the morning before with acai bowls and French toast at the beach. A habit I could get used to. Unfortunately the sun wasn’t as strong this day so, when we made it to the pools, I spent a lot of time trying to connivence Cam to go in the hot tub.
Which he wasn’t about. Lazy river or bust in his opinion.
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We were able to drag him out of the water for one thing… Moana.
The character sightings were something cool at the Aulani but not something on the top of our list. The exception there was, of course, Moana! Cam loves the soundtrack to the movie right now. This was the only Character Sighting we actually planned for – looking in the app at the schedule ahead of time – and took a picture with. I think casting was pretty spot on! She even sounded like Moana to me, so it was cool to see Cam interact (and talk about after!). 🙂
Mike was sure to leave her lots of room as not to be one of those creepy dads hovering too close (!) and showing up on the internet hah
And then rainstorm hit in the afternoon. We opened the patio and blasted the Moana sound track (felt fitting) for a dance party.
YOU KNOW our last dinner was at Monkey pod again. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: those Mai Tais.
Cam was wiped by this point. We went back to the room, skipped bath, and put him to sleep. Mike and I stayed up watching HGTV. It’s the parent life for us. ❤
On our final morning, we kept with vacation tradition and ordered French toast and acai bowls for the beach. We also sported our fam MATCHING bathing suits that Mike bought us for Christmas. (As Mike predicted, many moms complimented our suits and inquired where to get their own – did we start a new trend akin to Christmas morning matching jams? We might have.)
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And then it was time to say goodbye. Overall, the Aulani was great for us. We only stayed 3 nights and, of course, wish it was longer, but given how expensive it is, that amount of time was great. The beach setup at the resort is the most ideal and probably the reason we would consider going back. It’s a little crowded and nutty at times but, in pure Disney magic, it somehow feels okay – like organized chaos (that you paid a ton of money for)? The pools are endless and decently warm, which I appreciated. The food was about what you would expect – rarely spectacular but does the job. The Monkey pod across the street makes up for all of the sad chicken tenders I consumed at the resort though…
Last night while Cam was taking a bath, he asked “can we go back to Hawaii?” so I think he’s sold, too.
I just re-read my post about the last time we were in Vancouver and I can’t believe how quickly time can pass. Almost exactly 4 years ago, I was 20 weeks pregnant with Cam and we were celebrating my 30th birthday in Vancouver.
This time around we took on the city with a 3.5 year old and my in-laws!
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We stayed close to the Rogers Arena at an Airbnb that had amazing views but otherwise was uninspiring. The location was decent but the 5/5 ratings on the listing didn’t match the reality of the building or apartment we rented. I really love a luxury Airbnb so I was disappointed with the accommodation, especially when we discovered the pool that we were all looking forward to using was under construction!
As to be expected though, we spent a lot of time exploring. Which meant our lackluster stay didn’t impact the overall trip too much. I was able to work half days while we were there, which was a nice balance of staying on top of things at work and being able to feel like I was still on a bit of a vacation. We were extremely lucky to get good weather most of the week, too; making for a perfect afternoon of lunch, rock throwing, and park hopping on our first day.
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In the evening Cam stayed with his grandparents while Mike and I walked to a nearby recommendation for dinner. We shared sushi rolls, edamame, and udon noodles at Tokyo in April. I’ve always heard how great sushi is in Vancouver and it did not disappoint.
The next day we indulged with breakfast at jam cafe. One of the main reasons I maintain this blog is to keep record of all of the delicious places we eat while traveling. For this reason, I have to mention this brunch spot. Mike and I spilt the French toast and waffle board. Drool.
Next up was walking off those waffles and exploring Stanley Park. It was quite the adventure navigating the subway and bus with a stroller but we managed. Eventually we made our way into tranquil nature on the outskirts of the city. We stopped first for a great lunch at Stanley’s Bar & Grill, where we clinked cheers with amber and dark beers on the pretty wraparound patio. We saw the totem poles and the lighthouse and, of course, threw rocks into the water. One of Cam’s favorite past-times.
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Mike’s parents lovingly stayed with Cam again that evening. We were able to go to dinner with one of my oldest friends from college, Jeff, and his wife, Heather. Just by chance, Jeff & I both ended up marrying Canadians.
We walked to Gastown for dinner at Pourhouse, where we made the last 10 minutes of happy hour and spent a few hours catching up and reminiscing about our wilder, younger days!
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Happily, we kicked off the weekend with a short aquabus to Granville Island, where we fueled up on donuts and coffee before exploring the Kids Market.
Originally I imagined this Kids Market to be just a bunch of kids toys with shopping being the only activity. Oh, how wrong I was. Cam spent literally hours playing in a kids jungle gym and riding other small attractions they had. I can see this being a big hit with local parents. Particularly because there is a brewery right across the street…… one that you can easily take shifts at, sipping brews while one adult stays at the Kids Market……
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We were ready for lunch after and, at the recommendation of Heather, went to go fish. It was an unassuming food stand that I might have missed if we hadn’t heard rave reviews. Over fresh fish n’ chips and salmon tacos, we all agreed the hype was true! Go here if you visit!
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Another weekend adventure was Capilano Suspension bridges. I’m happy to report they still provide the free shuttle from the city to the bridges that we used a few years ago. This place is pricer than I remembered but Cam seemed to enjoy it. It was also a nice cool and crisp Fall day, which made all of the Halloween decorations feel fitting. At least for me, a lady for lovesss Fall.
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We were hit with some rain after the weekend, which called for one thing: Burgoo. Classic comfort food like grilled cheese and tomato soup just can’t be beat on a cold day.
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With the rain coming on and off, we weren’t sure what to do with the rest of the afternoon. Most of the time before we travel, I try to find smaller blogs maintained by locals to get a sense of what to check out (like in Spain when we visited Calle San Francisco, a cobblestone street with giant mushroom statues and tiny toadstool houses, that I found only by browsing a blog). Looking for something indoors to do that Cam would enjoy, I remembered reading about an indoor steam train, Engine 374. And this is where we spent the rest of the afternoon… Cam was obsessed. It was free. We were able to bring in snacks. Basically, I can’t recommend enough.
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That night Mike and I hit the millennial jackpot when discovering Bartholomew: where cocktails and charcuterie come together in a candlelit, cozy bar. (We also ordered the Asparagus & Burrata with cannellini beans, pesto, and hazelnuts, that was so mouthwatering-nom I need to try to recreate.)
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Our final day in Vancity was a rainy one. The public library was a hit while I was working in the morning, as was the steam train from the day before. After exhausting indoor options, we braved the rain and walked to see the “digital orca” by the Olympic torches. Can you spot it??
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Cam fell asleep in the stroller and we took the rarity as a chance to shop a bit in the warm, dry(!) shops and to get a coffee at a cute little cafe, Koffie. We ended our trip with a “leftovers dinner,” where you heat up all of the leftovers you had during the week, add a vegetable, and call it dinner.
We spent 3 days near Yosemite National Park over Labor Day, despite how cliche it may be to visit a national park on a holiday weekend. Mike and I have been on a few camping trips to the park before we became parents and, although we didn’t bust out the beer pong under the mountains, the park is as scenic as I remember.
We opted to stay just outside Yosemite’s south entrance at the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp. Some of our best friends from Canada were visiting, who also have a little one, so we figured having lodge amenities would make life easier. It took about 4 hour to get there, with a stop for chicken nuggets and hamburgers included. Not too bad! After checking in, we found our way to the cabin we had rented, which included 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, a small living room, and a smaller kitchen.
After some light unpacking, we went to dinner at Jackalopes Grill, the main restaurant at the lodge, located right off the grand, dark, and cozy lobby. Everything felt so woodsy and after the heat we’ve been experiencing at home, I was loving some cooler weather.
Since both kids napped in the car, we decided the indoor swimming pool would be great after dinner to tire them out. And, aside from the complete chaos of an indoor pool (they are SO loud!), it was a great idea; for the 10 minutes we lasted in there. We all much preferred the outdoor pool vibes and were looking forward to our next few days.
Being at the south entrance of the park meant we were about a 50 mintue drive from all the things you basically want to see in Yosemite (Half Dome, El Cap, the falls). We knew we didn’t want to do the drive twice with kids but also wanted to spend as much time in the park as possible. Happily, we discovered the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias right inside the park entrance we closest to.
Beauty!
After a quick drive, we were through the park gates and in the area where a free shuttle would take us to the giant sequoia groove. Now this was a double delight for Cam, who LOVES a shuttle bus.
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We tried to explore off the paved path/”easy loop” but could only get so far with strollers. Although we were able to sneak listening in on a park ranger walking tour info at one point before turning around. I think a history buff is starting to emerge from my depths… Did you know Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias were signed into protection by President Abraham Lincoln? There was something else about the park being the first dedicated protected land for everyone to use, not just the rich (but I forget the exact details; ok maybe I’m not that much of a history buff after all).
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After lunch and a SHUTTLE BUS RIDE to our car, we went back to the lodge. Cam doesn’t nap anymore when he’s not in school (so he goes to sleep at a reasonable hour!) so, while it was nap/chill time for the other family we were traveling with, we decided to grab a snack and a drink to toast a very special celebration: Mike’s birthday! Last year we were lucky enough to be with the whole Canadian crew for Mike’s birthday; living it up in a cottage. (We miss you Melissa, Dav, & Oaks!)
The next morning we were out the door in record time for navigating a tiny cabin and 2 small kids. We drove through towering trees, some sadly still showing signs of burning from wildfires. (Maybe the fire the year we were going to hike Half Dome? I couldn’t be sure.)
Finally, we arrived at the heart of the park and unpacked the car by loading up the strollers. Our first adventure was to Lower Yosemite Falls. And, because of the wet winter California had, both the upper and lower falls were on full display.
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To walk to the falls and back took about an hour. We were all ready for lunch after and found the perfect spot by a river. We even saw a deer walk across it (and stop to pee halfway through). It was certainly lunch with a view!
The water was direct snow melt. So it was freezing. We managed to get in ankle-high though and spent the rest of the afternoon skipping rocks and drinking in the postcard scenery all around us.
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In the past when Mike. and I have gone to Yosemite, we’ve camped in the valley. This time we were able to catch a whole new view driving out; probably one of the most famous views of Yosemite that captures El Cap and Half Dome in one shot.
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It was our last evening at the lodge and the weather was a sunny 70 still. Of course, we hit up the pool for one last splash before going back to Jackalopes for dinner. I think Cam ate mac n cheese every day during this trip; the ultimate dream for him.
Both kids were wiped after such an adventurous day so it was an early bedtime and a headstart on packing for us.
We departed early the next morning, after some last deep breaths of fresh mountain air (and large, hot coffees). It’s always so lovely spending time at Yosemite.
such a good pool scene at the Tenaya
CHEERS!
Want more? Read about our other trips to Yosemite here and here.
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