OT - Summer is Here, Got Anything Special Planned?
Mates,
It is that time of year when most schools get out and folks will travel. This week it will actually be at or above normal temperatures up north for the first time in months, with great looking weather though some very cold lakes. Its that time of year when people go on vacation or go visit grandma, go see Washington D.C, go up north, or if you're Putin, maybe invade a country to two.
So the question is this: What are your summer plans this year, looking forward to some trips or visits, taking the family somewhere or maybe schleping to various courts/dance studios/fields for your kids events?
Summer is here, enjoy.
XM
Or maybe we'll just go to the zoo.
Incredible place, I can't wait to go back.
Our big trip this summer will be to the Grand Canyon in July. Yes, I know it will be hot.
Flying into Las Vegas and will spend a few days in that area before we spend a few days in upper Arizona (Grand Canyon) and then work our way down to Middle Arizona and Phoenix where we are flying out of. Never been there so i am looking forward to it. If anyone here has been and has some tips/suggestions for me, it would be much appreciated? Have 3 kids ages 7-11 so doing family stuff...so keep your "fun" recomendations that don't involve family in Vegas to yourself!
Red Rock is right outside Vegas and an easy trip with young kids. A good introduction before the Grand Canyon which to me is overwhelming at first. Also, Hoover Dam again is not too far from Vegas and is interesting for all ages. Driving from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix one should visit Sedona.
I am doing sort of a similar trip in August when dropping my son off for school in SoCal. Flying into Phoenix on SWA for $100 (oneway) with two free bags. We are seeing The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix which surprisingly is the top rated attraction there (and confirmed by my friends who live there) and will play some resort golf. The resorts in Phoenix are terrific. All have great pools. Staying near Camelback offers a nice day trip of hiking too.
When it is really hot and crowded, I like to stay in Flagstaff and enter the Grand Canyon from the East entrance leaving the hotel at 5: 00 AM. By the time you get to the South Rim with the heat and masses of tourists, you will have been able to enjoy some serene moments that as precious as any you will have on this Earth. If you have to deal with masses on the West and South rim, pay the money and do a helicopter tour - again just a wow life moment.
I made all my kids do all these things a la Clark Griswold when they were younger. Now as young adults they are very thankful. You are likely to have some emotional breakdowns in the heat and crowds but stay calm and savor the moment. Have a great time!!
I've stayed there to hike into the canyon for a 10 day rafting trip. You are almost as close to the incredible Zion National Park as you are to the GC (then its another 5 hours (?) to Vegas). Or you can take 89 south to Cameron and then west to the GC East rim. It is a beautiful drive with spectacular colors and the canyon just gets bigger and bigger.
Assuming you are in Page to raft for at least a half day? and will see Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon while there?
Hoover Dam is worth it to me but I am a engineer type. Death Valley is cool but after the Grand Canyon everything is pretty much the junior varsity. The kids might get worn out with all the activitiy, so an easy day here or there (such as Red Rocks , 30 minutes from Vegas) is wise. I made this mistake and my exhausted wife almost divorced me lol. I like to bet at the sports books in Vegas and see the shows but the rest holds little interest to me, especially if I was with kids.
A lot of this depends on how many days your vacation is. You cant see everything and it's best to hit the top priorities thoroughly and leave time to enjoy things. When I travel by myself it resembles the Great Race.
The Phoenix music museum is definitely for kids your age. here is the web site : https://mim.org/. I also like architecture and enjoy Taliesin West built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Maybe taking the kids to a Diamondbacks game would be fun too. Indoor baseball is a new experience for anyone who is used to Tiger Stadium and Comerica.
Camp Michigania, week 8.
stopping in the Bay Area first to see my gradma (who is in hospice w/ end-stage Lewy Body Dimentia and couldn't come to my wedding) and see two high school/college classmates in Berkeley. Then drive down to Pasadena to see my sister-in-law. Then starting residency in two weeks, after which my life is over :-/
There's a bright side, of course. When you leave the hospital post-call (hopefully not too late in the day) you'll walk outside to lovely weather (even when it's raining). You won't see a gunmetal-gray sky and feel cold, humid air. :)
Actually just about every morning in May and June in San Diego is cloudy/gray. Then someone flips a switch around noon and the sun shines the rest of the day.
Spending time at the cabin up north and trying to keep my family protected from ticks. They're the devil I tell ya. Any tips on how to keep them off my kids and lovely wife, so she doesn't hate our cabin and resent me?
do it every summer somewhere in the area; trying a smaller inland lake this year. Pontoon, barbeque, hike/canoe/swim. Perhaps a malted beverage or three.
spider?
Going to see my brother and the nephews in Florida.
Metallica, when they come to Detroit.
Will be counting the days until September 2nd...but will not be doing "There Are..." posts.
Just waiting for summer camp and the season opener against Florida. Hopefully it will be a good season with a home win against OSU!