We just got back from a nine day trip to California so the boys could see Disneyland. I have finished posting some of the best pictures from the trip into a photo album (look to the right). Here's a brief rundown on what we did - again, photos are in the album:
Moday June 26 - trip didn't start out so well. We flew from Shreveport to Dallas, then American Airlines cancelled our flight to LA, so we rerouted to LA via Reno, Nevada on Fred's Airline & Oil Change. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Highland Blvd, a couple of blocks from Hollywood Blvd, and had dinner at Mel's Drive-In in Hollywood.
Tuesday, June 27 - after breakfast at the hotel, we went to Universal Studios, and rode rides till 5-6. After we got back to the hotel, we walked to Hollywood Blvd & walked diown to the Chinese Theater looking at the stars. Had dinner at CPK at the Hollywood & Highland complex. (Things have come up a lot since I was last there in 1984).
Wednesday, June 28 - we drove to Simi Valley to see the Reagan Library & Air Force One. We had dinner at Farmer's Market in LA, then changed hotels to Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. We drove up as the fireworks were going off, which was really nice.
Thursday, June 29 - Day One at Disneyland. Rode the monorail to park at 7am - stayed at park from 7am to 12:30. Had lunch at Downtown Disney, followed by naps. Back to park at 7:30 for more rides. Late dinner at Cafe New Orleans in the park. Rode Haunted Mansion last, then back to hotel around midnight.
Friday, June 30 - Day Two at Disneyland. Park at 8:15 till 11:30, then lunch at Goofy's Kitchen, then naps. Back to park at 6pm for parade till midnight. We watched the parade outside It's A Small World.
Saturday, July 1 - Day Three at Disneyland - park at 820 till 1000, then to California Adventure across the plaza at 10 am. Dinner at wine country trattoria in DCA. Stayed for parades & second ride on California Screamin' then back to Disneyland at 10pm to shop till midnight.
Sunday, July 2 - Today was a bit of a misfire. We got up and drove to Long Beach, intending to take the ferry to Catalina for two days. We got to the Queen Mary and decided that perhaps that wasn't such a good idea (couldn't take a car to Catalina, and there was nothing for the boys to do after spending more on ferry tickets than a day at the parks would cost). Had lunch at The Reef in Anaheim - buffet of the gods. I toured the Queen Mary while Jamie took the boys to a beach - we decided that both were poor examples of the genre - the QM is rotting away at her anchor, and the beach Jamie found wasn't the best either. We then drove back to Anaheim and on to LA and located a hotel for our last two nights before deciding on a fourth day at Disneyland and driving back to Anaheim. Had a very nice dinner at Clearman's North Woods Inn in Anaheim, and spent the night at Anabella's - 1030 W. Karatella - right across from the park.
Monday, July 3 -The Return of Disneyland - Went to Disneyland at 8:20. Lunch at Disneyland Mexican food place. Rode rides till 7 then to DCA for dinner at Taste Pilots Grill. Rode Soaring Over California & California Screamin' till 10 then to Hampton Inn at LAX at midnight to catch flight out the next morning.
Good trip!