Las Vegas

Las Vegas: July 26 – 28, 2012

Shops in the Miracle Mile

San Diego to Vegas was straight shot through the desert.  Arrived at the Bellagio early evening, checked in and ventured out to the strip.  What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!!  Next…

Inside Bellagio's lobby

We had a drink in one of the Bellagio bars, and after a $21 glass of wine, we knew we had to go elsewhere!   We asked where to go for less expensive drinks and they said Planet Hollywood.  We watched the Fountain show upon exiting the hotel, walked around and then hit Planet Hollywood for a bit, and then Sin City Brewery in the really cool Miracle Mile Shops.  Loved the ceilings of clouds – it really felt like we were outside.  We met a nice couple, a Vegas native and his wife from San Diego, and chatted about different places to go in Vegas.

Bad pic of Bellagio's water show

The first full day in Vegas was all about being poolside at the Bellagio.  It was so nice to be in a beautiful hotel after all the Comfort Inns, Quality Inns, Best Westerns and Rodeway inns.  We enjoyed a super hot day in and out of the pool and some nice fun refreshing cocktails.  Later we showered to go out for a nice meal to cap off our luxury treat of the trip.  We had dinner at Sensi in the Bellagio, and it was fantastic!  It offered Japanese, Italian and American fare.  The people seated next to us were having the “tasting menu”, and it looked very interesting and they recommended it, so that’s what we decided on.  It was a five course meal w/ wine pairing and one of the best meals we’ve ever had.  Everything was great, including the oysters, scallops, fried calamari, steak, pork, etc.  It ended with a delicious frozen cappucino and sugar donuts.  After dinner we hit the town again and walked around.  We ended up at a piano bar and hung out for awhile and it turned into somewhat of a late night. 

Bellagio's pool

Bellagio's pool

We wanted to spend one more night in Vegas, but the room was $400+ for the extra night and we had already spent a lot of money there, so we decided to keep with the original plan and head to the Grand Canyon (South Rim), via the Hoover Dam.

San Diego July 22-26, 2012

Little Hamilton

After the Bagel Shack we continued south to San Diego.  We got to the hotel around noon, in time for a 1PM game.  We checked in and walked to the game.  The park and our hotel were located in the Gaslamp Quarter, which was a really cool section of town blocks from the field loaded with restaurants and bars. 

While we were looking to park we spotted a little pig on a leash.  Aileen had to get out of the car and go ask the lady all about the pig.  Cute little guy named Hamilton.

Petco Park is a great stadium.  We entered the stadium along the outfield and immediately found ourselves in a “park within a park”.  The stadium had the feel of a minor league stadium and that’s a good thing.  There was a mini baseball field with tons of kids hitting the ball and running the bases.  Next to the field is a large grassed slope where you can sit and watch the game.  Very cool spot.

The game was a great game, with San Diego tying it up and then going ahead of the Rockies for good in the 8^th.  We met a nice older couple at the game, and they gave us lots of tips and ideas for fun things to do while in San Diego, like Hotel del Coronado, Cabrillo National Monument (can you say passport stamp?), Hyatt top floor, and the Old Town trolley. 

After the game, we walked around the Gaslamp Quarter and had dinner at a Spanish tapas place.  We sat outside and had fun watching all the people walk by, and enjoyed some great food.  There were two different conventions in town with over 20,000 attendees, and there was also some party called “Intervention” which from what we heard was a large pool party scene for “twenty-somethings”.  This was very obvious as we ate dinner and tons of girls in bikinis walked by.  Tough life, indeed.   After enjoying the nightlife, we headed back to the hotel.

Hotel Del Coronado

Cool tree at Coronado

The next morning we ventured south to Coronado to check out the Hotel del Coronado (Colleen had also recommended we go there).  What a beautiful place.  It’s a separate island that you take a really neat bridge to get to, and is a resort/beach town, with a naval base, shops, hotels and beaches.  The hotel was very grand and beautiful, and we ate a nice lunch at one of the restaurants there.  We were right on the beach, and enjoyed the most magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. 

We walked around the hotel grounds, checking out the shops, and the 2 and 3 BR villas on the hotel property, and did some daydreaming about renting one someday with a group.  Then we took a nice walk along the beach, and as we were walking off the beach, we found an iPhone in the sand…tried to call some of the numbers in the phone and left messages, but ultimately wound up giving it to security at the hotel (hopefully they got their phone back).  The security guy was really nice, asking where we were from and what we’ve done so far in San Diego.  He highly recommended we check out Ferry’s Landing on the other side of the island before leaving, so we did.  It was a cute little touristy area w/ shops and really nice skyline views of downtown, right on the San Diego Bay.  We picked up some postcards (and an ice cream cone), walked around a little, took lots of pics, and then hit the road for Hodgie’s.   

Karyn, Berlin, Berkley, & Chaz

We got to Hodge’s (Karyn & Jeff Barnett) around 4 p.m.  So good to see her!!  It had been a long time.  Jeff’s nephew Tad was visiting, after attending a local wedding that weekend, so we hung out by the pool with Karyn, Tad, and the kids until Jeff got home from work.  There were hummingbirds all around her yard – so cool.  We don’t see them very often, so of course Bill got to work with the camera.  Later, we all hit “Chipotle” (my first time) for some Mexican food, and then Jeff drove Tad to the airport since he was heading home.  We spent the remainder of the evening sitting around the kitchen table, catching up – just like old times (minus the alcohol, LOL). 

Chaz, Berlin, Berkley & Tad

We started Tues the 24^th with a little jog through their neighborhood…hills were a little rough but we got through. 



memorial at Cabrillo

Since Karyn had to work, we decided to do some more tourist stuff and decided to go to Cabrillo National Monument (another stamp, yay!).  This National Monument honors Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who came up from Portugal in 1542 and explored the southern California coast (looking for riches, of course, like every other explorer it seems).  Adjacent to, and mixed in this area, there were exhibits related to US military history.  After Pearl Harbor the area was deemed vulnerable, hence the huge military presence.  We were told that San Diego holds the largest percentage of military assets in the world, and we believe it!  After checking it all out, we headed for “Hodads”, a restaurant in the hippie-surfer beach town, Ocean Beach.  What a mix of people there.  The place had a line 30 people deep, so we just walked around and settled on a couple slices and a beer after walking along the beach and watching the surfers and the eclectic group of people hanging out.  Turns out our friend, Yon J. used to surf there back in 2002 when he was working in San Diego temporarily. 



Snowplow

After Ocean Beach, we drove through the historical town of Old Town, and went to the Mormon Battalion exhibit.  It was a neat, interactive exhibit depicting the Mormons’ journey from Iowa to San Diego during the Mexican-American War in 1840’s.  The US Government asked Brigham Young and his people to volunteer for 5 troops of 100 each to help protect the southern boundary between US and Mexico.  The route they carved (literally through the rock and mountain) that created wagon access to the west, ultimately led to changes in the country boundaries aligning with the route.  The trek was tough, and many died, and many had to leave their families behind, but remarkably they never encountered any fighting.  The ones that made it to the coast, helped the “locals” with well-making and brick-making, helping to shape San Diego into the city it is today (as they’ve done in so many other western cities, apparently).  Some stuck around for the gold rush too, but most returned to their families or went on to other missions, many involved in the settling of Utah and Arizona, where many Mormons still reside today.  Between this exhibit, and staying with Karyn and Jeff for a few days, we learned so much about the Mormons and have a renewed respect for them.



Mark, Scott & the kids

We headed back to the Barnett Ranch and had some fun pool time with the kids, Berlin, Berkley and Chas, while Hodgie prepared an awesome dinner of pork /balsamic reduction/figs, Cajun salmon, potatoes, rice and a great salad.  Yet another unbelievable cook in the Parks/Parks/People tour!  Of course, Hodge has to tell you how to eat it, because there’s only one way – her way, LOL!  After dinner, we broke open the new game we picked up for the kids – Headbandz – and had a nice family game night.



Val, Randy & the kids

at Torrey Pines

Barnett house

Our last full day in San Diego, me, Bill, Karyn and the kids went to Torrey Pines (CA State Park) for a hike and some quality beach time.  The hike was very cool…uphill for awhile, then great views from the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, La Jolla up the coast a bit, and gliders in the distance, and then hiked down right on to the beach.  We walked back to the car, grabbed the beach stuff and set up to enjoy a few hours on the beach, something we hadn’t done at all this trip, or even this summer.  It was glorious!  And we got to swim in the Pacific (check!).  We went to Five Guys burger joint for dinner and pigged out, and boy, was it delicious!!  After dinner we headed to pick up Berkley, who had been at a birthday party most of the day, and headed home (after some delicious frozen yogurt – think we’ll need to diet when we get home!).  Karyn’s brother-in-law and nephew, Scott and Mark, arrived that evening, visiting while in town for a big soccer tournament.  They’re from Long Island, and we never see them, so it was kind of funny to be all the way in San Diego hanging out with them.  We just chatted it up around the kitchen table for a few hours and then hit the hay.

Beach at Torrey Pines

On departure day, we of course ran a last minute load of laundry at Hodge’s and packed up to hit the road for Vegas.  One of the reasons we decided to do Vegas instead of Phoenix was because Tina & Brian Pieper and family (yes, more Barrett cousins!) were apparently vacationing in San Diego that week, of all places!  So we met up with them in Mission Beach for a nice lunch (one town up from Ocean Beach - so cool, got to see another beach town).  It was nice to see everyone, and get reacquainted with Tina’s kids, Miranda and Charles.  Then we hit the road.

Tina, Chas, Brian, Cathy & Ed

Chas & Miranda



Tina & Chas

Tina & Bill



West Coast Zeitlers & Anaheim Angels

Rancho Santa Margarita, California



Zeitler Household

We left LA and headed south through the LA traffic.  We finally got to Uncle Dave and Aunt Colleen’s house in the early afternoon and spent some time just hanging around with Uncle Dave watching the British Open and getting familiarized with the kegorator.  It seems like the kegorator is a must-have in the California Zeitler household.  Sean also has one.  Aileen and I will definitely get the one we gave Dad going when we get back.

Bill has been collecting some souvenirs from each ballpark - check out the collection!

Hope

Michaela, Mackenzie, Hannah (left to right)

When Aunt Colleen got home from work we went over to Erin’s house for a nice family barbecue.  We met her husband Brock, and their four girls, Michaela, Hannah, Mackenzie and Hope.  Apparently, Mackenzie and Morgan McKillop are born 4 days apart (1/24 vs. 1/28). 

They were super friendly kids and put on a little gymnastics show while we relaxed in the backyard.  Sean and his new bride Meghan (last Sept) also came over.  Unfortunately, Sean and Uncle Dave were both fighting illness and not feeling well.

Sean & Meghan

Saturday morning started like any other morning – except that I ran a cross country 5K race.  Seems Uncle Dave had signed us both up.  Aileen chose to sleep in a little and do her own run.  I guess once she heard Meghan – an avid runner – say that she didn’t like that cross country course because of the hills, that made the decision for her.  I ran the race which was held at the nearby school that Uncle Dave and Sean coach track at.  The race was brutal.  5k is short, but the hills got me and by 8AM it was already pretty hot.  I survived, I guess.

Aunt Colleen & Uncle Dave

Mackenzie & Michaela

After the race we went to the Angels game.  A whole bunch of us were going including Aileen, Uncle Dave, Aunt Colleen, Erin, Brock and the four kids.  Erin and Brock drove separately and showed up a little later.  The game was a big game against their rival, Texas.  The Angles had beaten them the night before and cut Texas’ lead down to 5 games. 

The Gang

The entrance to the stadium was one of the nicest so far.  They had two very large Angels helmets sitting outside the main entrance. Check out the pics.  Aileen and I sat with Uncle Dave for an inning or so and then walked around the stadium.  The stadium was rehabilitated a few years ago so even though it was constructed in 1971 it had many of the amenities of current parks.  When we got back to our seats we found Erin, Brock and their family.  Except for Aunt Colleen who was walking around somewhere trying to keep the one-year old Hope occupied.  The Rangers crushed the Angels 7-2.  Sorry, Uncle Dave!

Brock, Uncle Dave, Hope



Cheers & Happy Birthday to Gramps

After the game we went to Sean and Meghan’s house.  Meghan’s brother Nick was in town and he was helping replace all the windows in their house.  We hung for a little and got familiarized with Sean’s kegorator.  We met up with Sean, Meghan, Uncle Dave, Aunt Colleen and Nick later for some “Ballpark” pizza.  Sean was feeling much better and we got a chance to get to know him better.

Aunt Colleen & Hope

On Sunday the 22^nd the four of us went to breakfast at Brock’s Bagel Shack in San Clemente.  The place was great and we had New York-style bagels for the first time in over four weeks.  The place was located in a beach community and the customers definitely felt like California beach people – dogs, surfer dudes, and of course, blond-haired girls.

It was a great few days with the west coast Zeitlers.  It was really nice to get to know everyone a little better, although we missed Pete.  It’s a shame we don’t all get to see each other more often.  Of course, we threw out the invite for them to come see us in NY or PA.  Uncle Dave and Sean are thinking about doing cross country camp again in the Poconos in next year or two, so I told Aunt Colleen she should come too!  Both Aunt Colleen and Uncle Dave were great hosts, and we’re so thankful for that special time with them.  Check out their little sport mobile – the Mini Cooper.  They both love it.