DeAnneFamily Vacation
July 19th 2008 05:31
I haven't posted on any of my blogs in so long. Just so much going on. I just got back from a family vacation. It was really nice, but too short.
I've been hoping for months that I could make it out to California for my nephew's wedding, but my husband was changing jobs, the kids all had busy busy summers, and we were getting caught up on bills.
My plans changed numerous times. We had thought we'd be able to drive out as a family, and spend a couple of weeks seeing the Grand Canyon and other stuff between Texas and California. Things didn't work out with my husband's job, so that was out.
My daughter was making the trip with my parents, so I thought I might fly out - just for the weekend of the wedding. Then I didn't know what to do with my 15 year old son. The 17 year old and the 19 year old were both working, and I didn't want to leave a teenager all alone - no supervision and no one to take him anywhere he might need to go. So I decided we'd fly out together.
At the last minute, my husband found out he could have a week off. Not really long enough to enjoy all the sites, but we could squeeze a little sight seeing in if we drove out there fast.
Let me tell you --- one week is not long enough to do this.
We got a late start on Wednesday leaving. First, our 17 year old was away at choir camp, and we wanted to give him a chance to miss the last day of camp and go with us. He chose to stay at camp. Then, my husband wanted to go ahead and get new tires on the mini-van before we left. They told us we needed brakes as well. After all the vehicle maintenance, and filling up with gas, etc. we were about 3 hours later starting than we'd intended.
We'd planned to drive long days to get out there, go to the wedding, and head back - allowing a couple of days for site seeing. Once we were there, though, friends and family were disappointed that we couldn't stay longer to visit. We managed to fit in a wedding, the beach, and a dinner with friends into two nights and one day. We then spent about 30 minutes driving around my home town before heading east again on Sunday.
We did take a day on the way home to see the Grand Canyon. I'd been there once as a kid, and wasn't very impressed. My attitude was quite different this time.
I took about 1300 pictures of the scenery between East Texas and Southern California (most of them at the Grand Canyon.) We most definitely want to go see the Canyon again, when we have more time to spend.
My recommendations: if you have a chance to visit the Grand Canyon, do it. But allow yourself more than one day to do it. If you go, be sure to visit the Grand Canyon Caverns in Peach Springs, AZ. If you live in a rural area, and you're planning a trip to Southern California, be prepared for rude drivers, bumper to bumper traffic, and BROWN skies!!!
I DO recommend family trips, though. We've not taken enough of them. This trip has made us think we should take more. The time with the kids is worth it. We only got to spend time with one of our four, but will be taking shorter trips with all of them in the future.
I've been hoping for months that I could make it out to California for my nephew's wedding, but my husband was changing jobs, the kids all had busy busy summers, and we were getting caught up on bills.
My plans changed numerous times. We had thought we'd be able to drive out as a family, and spend a couple of weeks seeing the Grand Canyon and other stuff between Texas and California. Things didn't work out with my husband's job, so that was out.
My daughter was making the trip with my parents, so I thought I might fly out - just for the weekend of the wedding. Then I didn't know what to do with my 15 year old son. The 17 year old and the 19 year old were both working, and I didn't want to leave a teenager all alone - no supervision and no one to take him anywhere he might need to go. So I decided we'd fly out together.
At the last minute, my husband found out he could have a week off. Not really long enough to enjoy all the sites, but we could squeeze a little sight seeing in if we drove out there fast.
Let me tell you --- one week is not long enough to do this.
We got a late start on Wednesday leaving. First, our 17 year old was away at choir camp, and we wanted to give him a chance to miss the last day of camp and go with us. He chose to stay at camp. Then, my husband wanted to go ahead and get new tires on the mini-van before we left. They told us we needed brakes as well. After all the vehicle maintenance, and filling up with gas, etc. we were about 3 hours later starting than we'd intended.
We'd planned to drive long days to get out there, go to the wedding, and head back - allowing a couple of days for site seeing. Once we were there, though, friends and family were disappointed that we couldn't stay longer to visit. We managed to fit in a wedding, the beach, and a dinner with friends into two nights and one day. We then spent about 30 minutes driving around my home town before heading east again on Sunday.
We did take a day on the way home to see the Grand Canyon. I'd been there once as a kid, and wasn't very impressed. My attitude was quite different this time.
I took about 1300 pictures of the scenery between East Texas and Southern California (most of them at the Grand Canyon.) We most definitely want to go see the Canyon again, when we have more time to spend.
My recommendations: if you have a chance to visit the Grand Canyon, do it. But allow yourself more than one day to do it. If you go, be sure to visit the Grand Canyon Caverns in Peach Springs, AZ. If you live in a rural area, and you're planning a trip to Southern California, be prepared for rude drivers, bumper to bumper traffic, and BROWN skies!!!
I DO recommend family trips, though. We've not taken enough of them. This trip has made us think we should take more. The time with the kids is worth it. We only got to spend time with one of our four, but will be taking shorter trips with all of them in the future.
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