Maui Day 3: Part 2: Surf's Up!

A beautiful day at the Grand Wailea

After seeing a gorgeous sunrise at Haleakala Crater we found ourselves back at the resort and it was only 8:00 AM!  This is what happens when you get up at 2:30 AM!  It was an absolutely beautiful day this day.  Perhaps the most brilliant day of our week there.  We decided this would be the perfect day to head to the North Shore.  

The North Shore:  Where the Big Wave Are!

We had just come from the North Shore on our trip to and from Haleakala but we wanted to change from our warm clothes back into our regular garb of shorts before we took off again for Paia.  Wailea is on the southwest shore of the island of Maui and Paia is on the North Shore.  However...it is only about a 30 minute drive between the two cities so it wasn't a big deal to make the trip twice in a day.   When we had taken our tour around the resort the day before, one of the staff had told us to make sure that we took a trip up to Paia to see the surfers and to check out Mama's Fish House while we were there.  Sounded like a good day trip to us so I packed up my camera and off we went....

Paia is a small city on the North Shore of Maui.  If you haven't been to Hawaii during the winter months you may not realize what a big deal it is to head to the beach on the North Shore.  While the waves are usually higher on the North Shore....the winter months bring waves from the storms in Alaska right down the Pacific Ocean and into the shores of the Hawaiian Islands.  These are the waves that surfers live for.  There are so many types of surfing to enjoy here....wind surfers...kite surfers and regular surfers. 

Ho'okipa Beach Park is the place to watch the surfers.  Once you are in Paia just keep following the Hana Highway for a little bit and you will run right into Ho'okipa Beach Park.  There is an upper level and a lower level for viewing.  Parking is available on both levels but is limited.  We started out on the upper level and had so much fun watching the surfers ride some amazing waves.  You could spend a lot of time here just watching so make sure that you allow the time to really enjoy it.

Surfers at Ho'Okipa Beach Park

The Big Waves - Ho'okipa Beach Park

Surfers at Ho'okipa Beach Park

Beautiful views along Ho'okipa Beach

Lunch at Mama's Fish House

After enjoying the surfer's we decided to try out the local advice and head to Mama's Fish House for lunch.

I have to say that this was my favorite spot that we ate at the entire time we were in Maui.  The food was really good but the views were AMAZING!  It did not hurt that this was such a perfect day in paradise either!  The restaurant is large but it draws the crowds so be sure to make a reservation or head there for an early lunch or dinner.  There was valet parking at the restaurant and a short walk by the ocean took us to the door.  

Shortly after checking in we were seated by an open window and it was nothing but enjoyable the entire lunch!

This was the view from our table!

You just couldn't beat this view.....THIS screamed HAWAII!  I don't think it would have mattered what they had served me it would have been wonderful....how could it not have been.  However...the food was amazing as well!

What's Paradise without an umbrella drink!

Seating at Mama's Fish House

The seating area in Mama's Fish House

My lunch at Mama's Fish House

It was such a wonderful lunch all the way around.  I have to give credit to my husband here because he is not a seafood fan and he still took me here and didn't complain. They only had one non-seafood offering on the menu and while it was good...it was probably not their specialty.  Just something to keep in mind if you are not inclined to eat seafood.  

We walked around the beach area a little bit before leaving and heading back to the resort and then were on our way.  One of the things that's fun to see in the winter is the blue skies and Christmas decorations!  

And I'm not sure what it is with Hawaii and Roosters but they seem to be everywhere and Mama's Fish House was no exception:

At this point in the day, we were getting a little tired from our early morning excursion to Haleakala Crater so we headed back to the resort for a little R&R before our dinner reservation

Coming up Next:  Dinner at Humu Humu

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Maui Day 3 Part 1: Sunrise at Haleakala Crater

We had read lots of articles on Maui before we left and had gotten lots of advise from friends who had been to Maui before us.  One thing that everyone agreed on was that you HAVE to plan to see a Sunrise on Haleakala.  Having done this....I wholeheartedly agree with this advice!

An "Other Worldly" Sunrise

Tip:  I would suggest that if you are traveling from the Eastern part of the continental United States (or actually anywhere on the mainland)  that you plan this excursion on one of the first days that you arrive in Maui.  This is before your body has a chance to adjust to the time change.  You will be up early anyway and you are going to have to be up early to get to Haleakala in time for Sunrise.  

On our chosen day, we set our alarm for 2:30 AM local time.  We had checked the sunrise times the evening before and knew from the advice we had gotten that it would be a good couple hour drive up the mountain to get there in time for sunrise.  This sounds really strange because it's not that far as the crow flies...from Wailea to Haleakala but you are in for some windy roads and a slow trek up the mountainside...especially since you are doing it  in the dark!  Give yourself plenty of time to get there...you don't want to miss this!

We left our resort at about 3:15 AM.  When we requested our car from the valet service they said..."Oh you are going to Haleakala!"  I guess there would be no other reason for us leaving at this ungodly hour!  They were so nice and gave us great advice and extra water bottles to take on our journey.  So off we went.  It was dark outside but the moon was bright and it was a beautiful trip as we headed up north to begin our trek up the mountainside.  We weren't sure what we were going to have available to us on the way up so we made a quick stop in Paia at a McDonald's (which was actually open!) for an egg mcmuffin and a stop in the restroom...now we were ready to begin the real journey!

We started up the road to Haleakala National Park.  There is a $10.00 entrance fee per vehicle and is good for 3 days.  Note:  Keep your receipt if you are planning to go back for another sunrise or if you are going to visit the 7 sacred pools on the Road to Hana...the park has two entrances on different sides of the island.  Your entry fee is good for both as long as you are within the 3 days from your initial visit but you must have your receipt with you.

The first part of the drive is easy.  You will wonder.....why did they tell me to leave so early we are going to get up there in no time.  Just wait...it slows down.  As you get further into the park the road becomes very windy and speed limits drop.  It is also a very popular thing to do so traffic can back up.  Take time to look at the sky as you go up.....obviously this is easier if you are the passenger!  It is amazing.  I have never seen so many stars in the sky!  There were literally stars everywhere!  The moon was brilliant also but it was the stars that just were magical!  There is a rest area part way up the mountain.  Stop here and take a look at the sky.  There are also nice clean restrooms available here.  These are the last ones till you get to the top so take advantage of them if necessary.

Once you wind your way to the top of the mountain there is a parking area.  Park here and head over to the rim of the crater.  There is a railing there.  Tip: If you are early enough you can get a spot on the rail and it's so much easier to get pictures without anyone in front of you.

The other thing that people will tell you is that it is cold when you are standing there for sunrise.  We heard all of the warnings and took jeans and hoodies to wear on that morning.  What they did not say is that it is COLD!!!!!!!!!  It is very windy up there...you kind of lose track of how high you are actually going because of the darkness...you are at  9.740 feet at this point!  It is beyond cold!!!  

Tip:  Wear really warm clothing when you head up for sunrise at Haleakala!  If you are staying at a hotel...take a blanket from the room!  Gloves would also be good!

Once you have gotten there and have claimed your spot on the rail....just wait.....sunrise happens over a period of time.  It starts slow and then just appears in a sudden burst of glory!  You are overlooking a crater (I know it's not really a crater since it only has 3 sides now but it looks like a crater!)  and the clouds are actually below you.  Watching the sun rise out of the clouds is like nothing I have ever experienced.  It really looks like another planet.....and it looks like you could literally walk on the clouds to the sun.  It is THE most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen!!!  Here are some shots as the morning progressed:

The beginning of sunrise...if you look closely in the upper right you can still see the stars.

The clouds leading to the sun

Every minute added something new to the beauty of the day

Here comes the Sun!  It was like watching molten lava come up from the sky.

Higher and higher it rose

The actual sunrise took a very short period of time

Another look at the "other worldly" feel

Almost there....

Just amazing as the sun lifted through the clouds

Finally...the dawning of a beautiful day!

Sunrise itself happens very quickly...you see the molten lava that is the sun appear and literally a few minutes later the day has dawned.  There is a visitor's center at the sunrise site and there are rangers there who are very willing to answer any questions that your might have.  At the moment of sunrise they begin a native chant and it just brings chills to you.  

Take time to stop in the visitor's center (it's heated...even if you don't buy anything in the gift shop it's worth it to warm up!)  and make a stop at the nearby restrooms....they are also very clean and flush toilets.  At this point you can start your trek back down the mountain or head on up to the summit.  We decided to head up a little higher to the summit.  It was definitely worth a stop!

Make a stop in the Visitor's Center before you head down the mountain.

There's some strange vegetation at the summit!

The summit of Haleakala

Beautiful views from the Summit 

Views from the summit

One of the things that Haleakala is famous for are the bike trips down the mountain.  You can get a ride up to see the sunrise and then take a bike down the mountain afterward.  Several companies supply bikes and helmets and it's just crazy to watch.  The company trucks drive down behind the group so they don't get hit by cars trying to get down the mountain.  It's a little slow go for vehicles as they are held up a bit but I can't image that there is any other way to do this safely!  People were flying down the mountain.  If you are an avid bike rider I am sure there is no greater thrill.  As for me...I was perfectly happy to sit in my warm vehicle and watch the craziness unfold around me!

This was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Maui.  We saw and did other things while we were there but this is the one thing that I can honestly say MUST NOT BE MISSED.  Now we did ask while in the visitor's center if sunrise was always beautiful like it was that day.  We were told most days it is but there are some days that you can't see the sunrise well due to the cloud cover  so I would suggest that you watch the weather and try to pick a clear day to make your trek.  Whatever you do in Maui...you will not be sorry if you take the time out for this!  The good thing is that you are back down the mountain and on your way back to the resort by 7:30 AM or so....the rest of the day is yours!

Coming up Next:  Surf's Up

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Day 1: Traveling to Maui: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

So the planning is done....reservations made...packing done and now it's time to leave on the highly awaited dream vacation to Maui.  Drive to the airport...Get on the plane....Land in LA...Get on the plane and voila! we are in Maui......Right?  Wrong!

Time to Go to Maui!

5:30 AM EST:  The day had dawned...well it hadn't really even dawned yet when we left the house to head to the Cleveland Airport.  It's about an hour and 15 minute drive.  The weather was good (always a concern when flying or traveling in the winter months) and it was smooth sailing to the airport.  We were through security and parked in our seats in the United Club in plenty of time for our flight which left around 8:00 AM.

8:00 AM EST:  Flight leaves Cleveland on time and we are scheduled to arrive at LAX EARLY!  Even better!  We are in comfortable in our first class seats (purchased with miles) and enjoy a breakfast and snack on our 5 hour trip to LAX.  The plane we are on has absolutely no entertainment....odd for a west coast flight but hey...not even this minor detail can ruin our day.  Temperatures are looking great in Maui and we are just excited to be going.  

9:30 AM PST:  (12:30 PM EST):  We land in LAX.  We have a 5 hour layover before our flight leaves for Maui but no big deal....time to have some lunch before we leave and we have access to the United Club so we have plenty of time to sit back relax and recharge all of our electronics.  Within a few minutes of arriving at the United Club....we found seats and plugged everything in and were settling in when all of a sudden my husband noticed a potential problem with our connecting flight.  And so the fun begins....

What Happens When Flight Plans Change?

Now...the flight looked like there was no problem at all if you looked at the departures board in the lounge.  Departure showed "On Time" However...being the seasoned travelers and techies that we are we have learned to check the United App on our iPhones to get the latest information.  One thing you can do when you check your departing flight is click on the little button that says "Where is this flight coming from?"  Well we did that.  Our flight was coming from San Francisco and was showing a delay of about 2 hours for mechanical problems.  Ok.....thinking that we still have enough time at this point...still almost 5 hours before we leave.  I thought about when we were heading to Alaska earlier in the year and were in San Francisco and a flight to Maui was cancelled.  I had said to my husband at the time.."Boy that would be horrible to be going to Maui and have your flight cancelled."  Little did I know....

We kept checking the app...flight kept getting delayed longer and longer...finally another flight from LAX was sent to pick up the flight in San Francisco and then immediately after we saw that development our flight was cancelled!  Not delayed CANCELLED!  Last flight to Maui that day from LAX....full flight....next flight not till the next day!  WHAT??? Well here's where the technology and frequent flier helped us.....while I was freaking out...hubby went to the desk and talked to the ticketing agents and was able to get us rebooked on a Delta Flight leaving later in the day!  This all happened before the board even showed the flight as cancelled at which time the entire flight was in line looking to get rebooked!  By using our resources wisely we were able to get to the front of the group who needed to be rebooked and were able to actually get a flight out the same day!  

So here we are....no United Flight.  We are now booked on a Delta Flight but have no seat assignments.  We lose our First Class Seats that we used our miles to get.  But we are supposedly going to Maui on a Delta flight later that day.  Ok....so now of course Delta is in a whole other terminal at LAX.  The United ticket agent tells us that we will have to walk down 2 terminals outside after getting our bags from United baggage claim and then go check in at Delta for our flight and going through security again.  Ok.....at least we know what we are doing now right?  Wrong!

We head down to United Baggage Claim.  I head to the restroom...hubby heads to the baggage counter.  He is told that it will come off the carrousel but could take up to an hour to show up!  AN HOUR??? Seriously??  So we find empty spots on the floor and sit and wait for the bags.  About 15 minutes goes by and hubby decides to ask another person in the baggage area about what the procedure is when your flight has been cancelled and you have been rebooked on another airline. Oh....the airline will send your baggage over to the new airline....no need to pick it up!  Ok???  So we aren't really sure who is right but decide to take a chance that they will send it to Delta and that it will get to Maui with us and not be riding around and around on the belt for days!

Off we go to Delta....2 terminals away is like 2 miles away!  We are trying to get there quickly to make sure that we get checked in and actually get seat assignments!  At this point we are sprinting or at least doing our imitation of sprinting to the Delta Terminal.  We finally arrive and what a difference.  The Delta people were actually NICE!  They couldn't tell us if our luggage would make it to Maui with us but did everything they could to make sure that it would.  They gave us seat assignments and we went through security again and headed to our gate.  We were really early and there was nothing in the terminal so we sat and sat and sat....  At one point we got really bored so hubby decided to see if we could upgrade to the Delta version of economy plus seating.  We were able to do so for a fee...so we did.  By doing that we were able to get seats together so we were happy and kept sitting at the gate.

Getting close to time for our incoming flight to land....it was coming from Minnesota.  Guess what?  That flight hit a bird and the windshield cracked!  Once that plane landed they were going to have to change the windshield or get another plane to take us to Maui.  REALLY????  The biggest difference between United and Delta though was that Delta actually made arrangements to get another plane there to take us!  They changed flights around and got another flight there to take us....of course there was another long delay to sit through but they even gave us free snacks at the gate while we were waiting!

We were bored again....it had been a really long day already and we still had a 5 hour flight...baggage collection....picking up the rental car and 30 minute drive to the hotel ahead of us.  They announced that this flight was a larger aircraft so there were first class seats available at a reduced price....we jumped on that...figured we could at least try to sleep on the way.  So with our new First Class tickets in hand....we finally left LAX around 10:00 PM PST (12 1/2 hours from the time that we landed!).

We were off and the Delta crew was wonderful...they gave us free Mai Tai's once we got on the plane and kept apologizing for the delay...they couldn't have been better!  I cannot say how much we appreciated everything they did to get us on our way and make our flight enjoyable.  Big difference from United who just left us stranded in LA!  

Arriving in Maui

We had called ahead from LA once we knew the flight was going to be seriously delayed to alert the hotel and rental car company that we were going to be late arriving so they held our room and vehicle.  We were pretty sure that we were going to be ok on both accounts.  

11:30 PM (Hawaiian Time)  2:30 AM PST and 5:30 AM EST we finally got into the airport at Maui.  First stop....baggage....holding our breath that our bags would arrive.  There they were....much happiness when we spotted them!!  Now to head to the rental car shuttle.  Of course everyone had chosen to rent with National and they had one shuttle and a huge line of people.  The driver was wonderful though and quite helpful!  He shoved as much luggage and as many people on at one time as he could. The process took about 30 minutes or so to get to the lot and then another 20 minutes to collect the car and get through the checkout process.  Now we just had to get to the hotel!  

1:30 AM (Hawaiian Time) we pulled into the drive at the Grand Wailea.  27 hours after we left our house!  What was supposed to be a 15 hour trip with layover had almost doubled!  But we were there...with our baggage...our check in was quick and before we knew it we were off to our room.  We didn't have time to see much and fell into our bed.....there would be time to take it all in the morning....

Things to Keep in Mind When Traveling

1.  Most of the time air travel goes without a hitch.  Oh there might be a delay here and there but usually you land when you are supposed to land.  This is not always the case when traveling to Maui....on talking to other guests and the valets at the hotel, it seems as though long delays and cancelled flights are sometimes the norm.  Be prepared to spend the entire day traveling!  

2.  It really paid for us to utilize the iPhone app for United to get an early heads up on what was happening with our flight.  All airlines have apps for Android as well as iPhone....download them and make sure you know how they work.  You never know when it might save you time or aggregation!

3.  Make sure you call ahead if your flight is delayed or cancelled.  It's better to be safe and make sure that the hotel and rental company are aware of your delay and hold the room and vehicle.

4.  Don't let the travel issues affect the rest of your stay!!!  Everything was uphill from here on out for us!

Coming up Next:  Day 2:  The Grand Wailea:  A Little Slice of Paradise in Paradise

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Planning Maui on a Budget: How to Cut Costs to Spend a Week in Paradise

Maui.......just the sound of it is exotic.  Hawaii in general sounds great but "Maui"...there's just something about it!  We (my husband and I) had been to Hawaii twice before....both times to the Island of Oahu....but Maui was that dream location that had always been just out of reach.  You see.....exotic comes with a price and Maui can be pricey!

Why Maui?

Why exactly did Maui have that pull that I felt that I just had to go there?  After all I had been to Oahu twice....and didn't feel this big need to go back...Maui was still Hawaii right?  Well...the more research I did about Maui...the more I saw that not all Hawaiian Islands are created equal....Maui was less touristy (although the tourist industry is booming). more relaxing resorts...beautiful beaches.  Oahu was more like a big city with beaches....lots of people...hustle and bustle.....Maui just looked like paradise!

The biggest problem that we soon began to find is that while it expensive to fly to Hawaii period.....it is even more expensive to fly to Maui....then we noticed...oh...the resort prices are a whole lot higher in Maui also....so how do you do Maui on a budget???

When to Go? - Be Flexible With Your Dates

Off season in Hawaii is a little harder to find than some other areas of the country but there is some flexibility in pricing....for instance.  We were looking at a general time frame to go....sometime after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.....already we figured we were in a better price range because schools are still in session during this time.  Generally.....when schools are out...people travel more and prices are higher.  Once we started getting a little more specific in dates we found that there was an even bigger discrepancy in prices from the end of November to the middle of December.   The price for the Grande Wailea (more on that choice later) was over $1000.00 a night for nights in the middle of December as opposed to $650.00 a night right after Thanksgiving.  So just by being flexible and adjusting the week we chose was a large savings on the hotel cost which is by far the highest cost of a stay on Maui.

7 Nights on Maui at $1000/night  $7000.00

7 Nights on Maui at $650/night    $4,550.00

Savings:  $2450.00

Booking Airfare Around Your Dates

With a general idea of when hotel rooms were cheaper...we turned our attention to finding airfare.  Airfare from Ohio to Hawaii is really never what I would consider "cheap".  With this in mind....airfare to Maui was even higher than airfare to Oahu and there were less daily flights to choose from!  However there are some little tips to try.  

1.  Check airfares with flexible dates.  Many airline booking websites offer a "flexible dates" option so you can see the lowest prices for a period of time...couple weeks up to a month.  This allows you to choose days that work with your schedule and offer a savings.

2.  Typically booking on Tuesdays provides you with the best fares out there.  Sales typically end on Fridays so Saturdays and Sundays are usually not preferred days to book.  

3.  Depending on the airline....flights on certain days of the week can be cheaper than others.  This can vary from airline to airline.  For instance Saturday flights on United tend to be higher while Saturday flights on Southwest tend to be a little less than weekdays.  

So in our case we were able to find a cheaper flight to Maui by booking with United for flights from Thursday to Thursday.  We were then able to work these travel days into our hotel stay nights so that we got the cheaper costs for each.

Booking Thursday to Thursday Flight:  $150.00/ticket savings x 2  = $300.00

Total costs of Tickets for Coach Flight to Maui:  $1800.00

This is Where Loyalty Pays Off Big!

So now we've done the best we could by booking hotels and airlines on the cheapest days but it's still a hefty cost to get to Maui.  This is where being loyal to airlines and hotel chains starts to really pay off....

We started to check out how many points it would take to get some free nights at the hotel.  Since my husband travels so much for work and is lucky enough to work for a company that allows him to keep the air miles and hotels points that he earns on business stays so they all add up.  He has chosen Hilton as his hotel chain of preference so when we were booking a hotel.....the only Hilton choice in Maui was the Grande Wailea which is part of the Waldorf Astoria Brand.  When we looked at airlines it is United that we have our miles with so United was our airline of choice.  Yes it limits the selection at times but you can't beat it when you can cash in big on the rewards!

Hotel

Lets start with the Grande Wailea.  As shown above we have already cut $2,450.00 of the cost of the hotel just by choosing an off-peak time to go and getting a better rate.  Turns out since the rate is lower...the number of points required for a reward night stay is reduced also.  Our theory is always to pay for the hotels that aren't that expensive and save the points for higher end hotels.  At $650.00/night...this certainly qualified as a higher end hotel stay.  Upon checking our Hilton HHonors account we had enough points for 6 of the 7 nights!  Which means 6 nights were going to be absolutely FREE!  Now that $4,550.00 cost for our stay was down to $650.00 total.

Cost of hotel before awards:  7 nights at 650.00/night  $4,550.00

Using Hilton HHonors Awards for 6 nights paying for 1 night:  $650.00

Total hotel savings from awards:  $3,900.00 ($6,350.00 from Peak Season)

Air Fare

Now that we have "hit the jackpot" by using our Hilton HHonors points for lodging...it was time to look at airfare.  We had enough miles between the two of us to either a. cover the entire cost of coach tickets or  b. pay for an upgrade both ways to first class.  Couple of things went into our decision here.  First of all we both needed the miles to qualify for premier class status for the next year....with the perks you get by having premier status it was a no brainer to pay for the miles so they qualified.....secondly...the flight to Hawaii is LONG and our itinerary included a red-eye flight back to the mainland!  This is the time that sitting in first class is HUGE!  They feed you...you have more room to move around and there is a better chance that you actually might fall asleep on the long flight!  The cost to upgrade to First Class on both our departure and return flights was $1800.00 a person.  Yep...time to cash in those miles!

Airfare for coach tickets:  $900 x 2  = $1,800.00

Cost to upgrade to First Class $1,800.00 per ticket = $3,600.00 

Using air miles to pay for first class:  $0

Total Airfare Savings:  $3,600.00

Rental Car

Now what the heck...we thought we might as well check and see if we had built up any free days of rental car from the rental company....National is our loyalty company.  Turns out there were 2 free days of rental available for us to use.  

Rental for 7 days:  $350.00

Savings on Rental Car:  Approx. $100.00

Bottom Line

So here's the bottom line.  Our trip to Maui which would have cost $10,600 (off-season) or $13,050 (peak season)....ended up costing $2700.00!!!!  And that's just by using our perks that we earned from previous travel and booking smartly!  

$2,700 isn't a drop in the bucket and there were of course food costs and hotel valet charges and incidentals that would have been there either way but the bottom line is that this was a much more cost effective way to see Maui!!!

If you have read any of my blogs before....you know that I really advocate loyalty cards...pick one....doesn't matter which chain and build up points with them so when you want to take that dream vacation it all pays off!

Coming Next:  Day 1:  Traveling to Maui...What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

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Disney is for Kids....Or Is It?

Let's be honest.....when you think of Disney....Disney movies...DisneyLand....Disney World.....your first thought is kids.  Kids love Disney.....Kids love Mickey and Minnie and Pluto and Donald and Goofy.  Well here is a bulletin......Adults LOVE Disney also!  And here is an even bigger kept secret....sometimes it's more fun going to Disney as an Adult or for a "Couples Trip"!

There is nothing....absolutely nothing... more wonderful than seeing the excitement and awe in your child's eyes as they enter the Magic Kingdom.  If you have ever taken your child to Disney World you know exactly what I mean.  It is worth the cost of admission just to see that look!  A visit to Disney is sure to be one of the highlights of your child's life.  It will also be one of the highlight's of your life as it was with ours.  I have absolutely no regrets in taking my son to Disney at an alarming rate during his childhood and adolescent years!

As he got older and older, I was worried that he would "outgrow" Disney.  I also was worried because I loved my trips to Disney and I wasn't ready to give them up!  What would we do??  Well.....as I soon found out.....there is no "outgrowing" Disney.  Even better than that......Disney could very well be even more fun as an adult without kids or with your Adult Children!  "Why is this so?" you ask......well let me tell you what I've learned.......

The Happiest Place on Earth?

Disney is dubbed as "the happiest place on earth" and it is.....most of the time.  Who among you hasn't seen the overtired child crying as he/she has hit their limit of entertainment for the day.  It happens to all of them.....they are little and it's a huge park!  Everything is going along just fine and then BOOM.....they snap!!!  It's like a chain reaction at that point.....kid snaps....starts screaming...mom and dad (who are tired of pushing a stroller, carrying diaper bags and/or running around with the kids) snap also and all of a sudden the "fun" is gone.  Now one of the ways to effectively deal with this is take the children back to the resort for a nap......now you've missed half a day at a park by going back to the resort...but it does help with the general mood!  

Now if you have older children...that gets a little better but you have the issue of who wants to do what......are the rides too scary for younger children....getting everyone to agree on a place to eat.  Do you want to watch the parade?  Can you see the parade?  Do you need to sit on the side of the street for an hour before the parade so you can see it?  Keeping track of all the details can be exhausting for parents and annoying to children.  Often times the parks are crowded...the waits are long and the weather is HOT!  All of these things can sap the happiness right out of the experience.  

The cost of a day at the parks is not cheap no matter how you do it.  Multiply that cost by the amount of people in your family and add in airfare and the cost of a hotel or Disney Resort and the cost adds up fast!  Often times young families don't have the means to stay at the Deluxe Disney resorts or even the Moderate Resorts....this leaves the Value Resorts....great theming....itty bitty living space (as the Genie would say)!  So now your refuge from the parks is crowded and stressful also.  

Again......totally worth it for the wonderful Magical Memories that you get....but realistically the vacation with all it's planning and cost and logistics....can be tiring and stressful!

The Benefits of being a "childless" Adult at Disney

Here are my favorite parts of traveling to Disney as a "childless" adult or with my adult son who is now 22:

1.  You get to decide when you want to go!

You are no longer bound to school schedules!   You realize you can plan a trip to Disney World ANY TIME YOU WANT!  This means that you now have the ability to plan your visit to take advantage of LESS crowds......DISCOUNTED rooms.....and COOLER Weather!  This in and of itself is one of the best perks of all!

2.  You get to decide what you want to do!

All of sudden you have this wonderful freedom......you get to decide where you want to go and when you want to go there!  I remember one Disney Vacation (which still provides many, many magical memories) when my son was 4 years old.  He loved the characters...he loved Dumbo but many of the other rides he found to be scary....they were loud and dark and usually had a villain in there somewhere and his response to this was to scream the entire time that we were on the ride!  Stressful!!  As he got older this was no longer an issue but guess what?  As an adult couple or even if my son travels with us......there is no problem with scary rides....everything becomes a possibility and everyone knows which rides are their favorites so it makes planning much easier!  

While we love our characters and thoroughly enjoyed seeing as many as we could find....for the time being we no longer have to take chunks of days hunting down the characters and standing in long lines for autographs and pictures.  This opens up endless possibilities of scheduling your day since you are not time-bound!

It is also easier with adults to decide on where you want to eat and be able to find things on the menus that everyone can agree with.  You are not time bound to children's eating routines.  

3.  You save money!

You really notice this if you go as just a couple as the savings for Adult children are not nearly as much.  If there are just two of you....now you are only paying admission cost for 2 people.  The rooms are adequate for two people and even if you want to upgrade to a Deluxe...you are usually making better wages at this time in your life than you were starting out 20 years ago with a family!  There is just more expendable income for some luxuries that you can't afford as a young couple with children.  You also are only paying for airfare for 2.....meals for 2 and probably a whole less snacks and souvenirs (although the souvenir part is debatable because I think I buy more now than when I was younger....it's the disposable income thing again as well as the fact that you become a Disney collector over the years!).  

4.  There are more options open to you.

As parents with small children, you focus on the vacation for the children as it should be.  You rarely if ever take the time out for yourselves to participate in activities that you may like.  For instance, Disney has 5 beautiful Golf Courses.  How many of you would take time out to shoot a round of golf if you had children with you.  Add to that that the cost of a round of golf at these golf courses can run as much as $139.00 a round per person!  (There are lesser costs depending on the time of year and time of day that you book).  Are you really going to go alone and can you afford a $300.00 time out when you are budgeting a Disney Vacation with children??

Spas are another adult pleasure.....Disney has spas available but who knows that when you are traveling with children?  Better yet....who has the time or money to go to one if you are there with your children??  Now as an adult vacation....this is now an option!  You aren't tied to a ragged schedule at the parks to get everything in and you have the extra money to indulge in the spa services if you so desire!

Cirque du Soleil.....another attraction that we never made it to when we were traveling as a family.  Not everyone wanted to go and the cost is quite high per ticket.  When you have a large family this can be prohibitive...especially when it's a cost that is in addition to park admission fees.  A day at the water parks was a much better choice for us as a family...cheaper, you could spend all day and everyone had a good time!

5.  You can still do all the things that you loved!

Just because you are there without children doesn't mean that you can't still do all the things that you loved when you were there with children.  It was always a family tradition to have dinner at Chef Mickey's on our first night at the Walt Disney Resort.  Just because we don't have our son with us at times, this doesn't stop us....we make the reservation and go and enjoy the characters!  Now is it a little different....yes. The characters don't spend as much time as they do when you have children with you but they still interact and the atmosphere is just as fun.  We took my parents (74 and 83 at the time) and they had a wonderful time at Chef Mickey's!  Don't think that you can't participate in some of the "kids" activities just because you are there without children or with adult children.  If you want to get your picture taken with a character....do it!! If you want to eat Dole Whip before your dinner....do it!  The possibilities are endless!

Simply Enjoy

My best advise to you if you are going without children is to simply enjoy it!  Enjoy the extra freedom and the extra savings and remember that Disney is for kids of ALL ages!  Where else can you go....leave your troubles behind and be a kid again???  Go.....Run....Do Not Walk.....to Disney World! 

Alaska, Washington and Oregon.....What I Learned!

Whenever I return from a trip I always take a few days to evaluate how it went, what I liked and didn't like about the areas, schedules, etc. and most importantly....would I return.  If I like a location well enough there are good odds that I will return again.  Since we tend to do a quick overview the first time around, there are always things to return to that we would like to see more in-depth or there are things that we simply didn't have time to see the first time around.  Here are my final thoughts on our trek through the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Alaska

Alaska is a tough place to evaluate.  When we returned everyone's first question was "Would you go back?"  It took me a while to figure out how exactly I felt about that.  After reflection here are my answers to that seemingly simple question!

Time Frame

We were only in Alaska for 4 days.  Of that time 1 1/2 days was spent traveling there and then traveling to our next stop in Seattle.  It was enough time for an overview of a couple areas of Alaska but not nearly enough time to really see things.  It is a very large state and there are so many things to see that you really need more time than just 4 days to see things.  Now...If you were doing a land/sea trip with one of the cruise lines, they only dedicate about 3-4 days for the land portion so it can be done if you choose a highlight and head there.  I wish we had had at least a day or two more to spend to really see the southern part of the state...south of Anchorage.  I would suggest that if you are going to take the time to get to Alaska...make the time to stay there for about a week.  The cost of the flight is high and the time involved to get there is long....make the most of it.  It may be the only time you get there.

Location

If you have read my previous blogs you know this so bear with me.  If you haven't....we targeted two areas of Alaska on our trip.  We spent the majority of our time focused on Denali National Park.  The second location was the Turnagain Arm, south of Anchorage.

Denali National Park

Let me begin by saying that if you have a chance to visit the park you should definitely do so.  It's a beautiful park.  However, If the question is "Would you go back?"  My answer would be "No."   Here are my reasons:

1. Distance/Location

It is about a 6 hour or so drive to Denali National Park from Anchorage.  It took the better part of a day for us to drive there with minimal stops.  The scenery along the way is pretty but many areas are very "forest-like" with just trees on either side and a two lane highway going between them.  There are not a lot of places to stop and sight-see.  Not much food or civilization on the roadway.  So you are looking at the better part of a day driving there and a better part of the day driving back.  If you have the time and wish to go there, there is plenty to see and do but just be sure to budget your time because it's not really a day trip.

2. Seeing Denali

I was really under the assumption that I would see the mountain even though everything that I read ahead of time prepared me for the real possibility that I would not be able to see it.  I figured that I would at the very least catch a glimpse of the mountain.  Ummmm......NO.  It's like it didn't even exist when we were there.  There really wasn't any opportunity to "catch a glimpse" of it.  Guidebooks will tell you it's about a 30 percent chance of seeing it.  Our tour guide said it was actually closer to 20 percent.  If seeing the mountain is why you are going to the park....you really want to think that through before you decide to make the trip.  Couple the fact that it is a rare sight and you will drive a long way to get there to probably not see the mountain, then decide if it's a trip you want to make.

3.  Tour bus

If you are going to make the trip to Denali the Tundra Wilderness Tour is definitely the way to go as far as viewing the park.  Book well in advance and pray for good weather because they travel rain or shine unless the roadway gets damaged.  If it rains, visibility is low and the wildlife is harder to see.  We were there on a good day and the wildlife was still few and far between and hard to see.  The clouds are very low and obscure the mountains at times.  It is a long trip....long day.  You start out early if you take the morning tour (which is the best to see the animals) and get back around 4:00 PM.  Much of the trip you will not see anything.  You eat a boxed lunch (either from the tour company or one you purchase yourself) as you ride.  There are restroom breaks but no organized lunch stop.  You certainly see things you wouldn't see if you didn't take the tour but quite honestly the highlight of our tour was seeing two bears mating far in the distance!  Glad I did it....would highly recommend it if you are going to Denali....but wouldn't do it again.

4.  Lodging

Lodging was nice at the Princess Wilderness Lodge.  Probably the nicest of the hotels that we saw in our immediate area.  The main areas of the lodge were very nice and provided much to do when you were not in the park itself.  The rooms were nothing to write home about (basic amenities) and were pricey for what they were although no more pricey than other hotels in the area.  Just be prepared to pay top dollar for lodging as there isn't a lot of supply for the demand.  

5.  Sled Dogs

This was my favorite part of the whole park even though it poured while we were there.  If you make the trip to Denali plan to see the Dog Sled Demonstration!

Turnagain Arm

We decided at the last minute to check out the Turnagain Arm area south of Anchorage.  We had half a day to see a few sights before catching our plane.  The three of us agreed that we enjoyed this part of Alaska much more than Denali.  We actually felt like we were finally in "Alaska".  The mountains were beautiful...the lakes pristine....the glaciers amazing.  I wish that we had had more time to spend in this area to see more of the wonderful sights it had to offer.  This is a definite "must do" area if you are going to Alaska.  Allow time to travel the entire Seward Highway and to be able to make stops along the way to just take in the beautiful sights.

"Would you do a cruise instead of traveling on your own?"

This is the other question we heard a lot.  I am still sticking to my original statement that we are NOT "cruise people".  I will say that if you choose to do a cruise they have it down to science and if you do a land portion (which is the only part that we witnessed) you will certainly see the highlights of the state.  Personally small cabins and being herded around in large groups doesn't suit me but it is definitely a good way to see Alaska.  So that is a personal answer and I will leave that up to you, my reader, to make that decision.

Final Decision

Yes I would go back to Alaska but I would skip Denali and focus on the southern part of the State more.  I would love to see more glaciers and the areas with the snow covered mountains and lakes.  The seafood was amazing, the air crisp and fresh, the wildlife fun to see.  If you have a chance to get to Alaska....do it!

Washington

We split our time in Washington with our time in Oregon but really hit two major areas while there, Seattle and Olympic National Park.  

Olympic National Park

Would I do this again?  Part of it maybe...most of it No.  Olympic National Park is actually quite a drive  from Seattle so you need to plan this as a full day trip or plan on staying somewhere nearby (good luck finding lodging nearby).  Hurricane Ridge was beautiful and well worth the trip there.  Beautiful drive...beautiful views.  The remainder of the park was very wet, rainy, cloudy and in some spots downright boring to drive through.  Lots of trees, a few very small towns, not many places to stop and eat or enjoy a view.  The coastline was not very pretty (at least the day we were there).  We planned this a "Part of the Day" trip and then continued to drive to Eugene, Oregon that evening.  That was way too long of a trip for one day.  Better planning on our part, may have made this more enjoyable but  all in all I was a little underwhelmed with this National Park.  Having been to Mount Rainier National Park and Cascade National Park on a previous trip to the area I would recommend both of those over Olympic.  If I were to go again, I would head up Hurricane Ridge and head back down and out the way I came!

Seattle

Seattle is a terrific city.  I have to admit it is probably not in my top 10 but it's a great place to visit and I would highly recommend it if you have a chance to visit Washington.  The weather is iffy...our summer visit was quite damp and cold and drizzly....our trip in October last year was sunny and beautiful so who knows!  It's an interesting city....much older looking than I imagined but has some character.  Pike's Place Market is always a fun adventure and truly offers an insight into the area.  This is a definite "must do" if you are in Washington and definitely a place that I would return to in a heartbeat.

Oregon

Finally Oregon....we spent time at Crater Lake National Park as well as in the Portland Area at Columbia River Gorge and Mt. St. Helens.  I really enjoyed our time in Oregon and would definitely make a return trip.

Crater Lake National Park

This is definite MUST SEE.  Put this on your bucket list if isn't already there!  It is near NOTHING.  It is an adventure getting there and it is more of an adventure being there!  This may be the single most beautiful place I have ever had the fortune to see.  We planned about half a day to spend there and for us this was the perfect amount of time.  We don't do long hikes but do like to see the highlights and take time to take some pictures and enjoy the beauty of the area,  I don't know if my travels will ever take me back to Crater Lake simply because of it's location but I am happy that I was able to see it!

Portland/Columbia River Gorge/Mt. St. Helens

All of these areas are great areas to visit.  The city of Portland is a nice area.  Modern but you know you are in the Pacific West Coast.  I really enjoyed the area a lot.  Columbia River Gorge is beautiful and a "must see".  This was our second time visiting the Gorge and it was just as amazing the second time around.  Mount St. Helens seems to have horrible weather conditions which makes it very difficult to see.  The visitor's center is very interesting but I have to say that the trip there is a bit long and around nothing else and if you don't get to see the mountain itself it can be a bit disappointing.  

Final Thoughts

Our Summer Adventure 2012 was an amazing trip.  It was a whirlwind.  Those of you who know me or have read some of my blogs, know this is not unusual for our family!  We try to cram as much into our days as we possibly can.  Our theory....you never know when or if you will get back so try to see as much as possible!  

I would say I wish for this particular trip that we had allotted a few more days or tried to "cram in" a few less things.  So the answer is....yes I would return to most of the places that we visited but I would maybe do them in a different time frame or would plan a slightly different itinerary.  These are all places that should be visited and enjoyed but make your plans wisely.  The travel time to get there may be long depending on where you live...you're there....make the most of it!

Day 8: Some Things are Worth Seeing More than Once

Day 8 brought another drive but not nearly as long and there were plenty of things to see on our way.  We headed out around 8 AM this morning after our breakfast at the Embassy Suites in Portland.  Again, very, very, very crowded on the weekend for breakfast and had we known how stressful it was going to be, we probably would have skipped the free breakfast and found somewhere else to stop.  As it was, we did manage to find some food and a table so it was all good and we were on our way without too much damage other than our nerves!

Columbia River Gorge

This is a repeat stop.  It is only about half an hour (tops) outside of the Portland area and is really a must see if you are in the area.  Hubby and I made a stop here back in October of 2011 (there is a previous blog entry on this if you go back through my entries...and I highly recommend you do that!).  It is a place that is so beautiful and lush that we just had to take our son there to experience it.  

Columbia River Gorge is in the Cascade mountains and there are "cascades" everywhere.  The great part about this area is that the waterfalls are very close to the roadway so they are easily accessible.  If you are more adventurous, you can take short hikes to additional areas to see them from different angles.  However, if you never take a hike while you are there, you will still see some beautiful views!

When we went in October, we started our day very early...not thinking that a.  it is dark in the morning in October and you can't see anything! and b. it is very foggy in this area in the mornings with all the precipitation!  We ended up having to pull over and wait for it to get light and for the fog to lift so this time we started out a bit later in the morning.  There was still a bit of fog when we arrived, but it quickly burned off and we were on our way.  Tip:  Do not go to the Gorge bright and early in the morning!  You will see much more if you wait till at least mid-morning.

The Vista House

Our First Stop on the Historic Byway was the Vista House.  This is one of the most photographed sites along the byway.  It is a tribute to Oregon Pioneers as well as an observatory and restroom area.  

The Vista House - Columbia River Gorge

This area is located on a 733 foot cliff and overlooks a beautiful view of the Columbia River.  It is definitely worth a stop.

View from the Vista House

View from the Vista House

This area reminds me of what I think Scotland would like....however having never been to Scotland I have absolutely nothing to base that on!!  You can see it was still a bit foggy and overcast even though we arrived mid-morning.

Latourell Falls

This is a beautiful waterfall that we were able to see in October.  However, they were doing some construction of buildings around the falls this summer and the view was pretty much blocked.  There was also no parking available with the construction vehicles around so we weren't able to stop at this waterfall.  It was a little disappointing but I'm sure the facilities will be nice once they are built.  Latourell Falls is very close to the roadway and there is a very short hike that will take you near the base of the falls.  Please look back at my blog from October to see photos and more information on this location.

Bridal Veil Falls

This is a beautiful waterfall along the byway.  It takes a bit more effort to get to this one than some of the others but the effort is worth making.  The trail is fairly easy on the way down.  It's wide and cleared and and easy to follow.  It is, however, a bit steep so while it is easy getting down to view the falls, it is tougher to climb on the way up.  It is not impossible though and there are benches along the way where you can stop and catch your breath.  The trip down and back took us approximately 30-45 minutes with picture taking and enjoying the scenery.  

River (runoff) by Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Wahkeena Falls

This is another of the falls that is quite close to the roadway.  We made about a 15 minute stop here.  You could take longer if you choose to hike to some of the areas.  There is a pathway which is well marked that will take you over to Multnomah Falls if you want to travel between the two.

Runoff from Wahkeena Falls

Wahkeena Falls

The view may be a bit more impressive if you climb higher to view it.  It is a little hard to see from the roadway stop but is worth a stop.

Multnomah Falls

The centerpiece of the byway.  This is a beautiful waterfall and a definite must see!  There is a parking area near the falls as well as a Visitor's Center, a Gift Shop, a cafe and a place to purchase coffee and fudge. 

The walk to the viewing area is an easy one and there are plenty of places to take pictures.

Multnomah Falls - the Centerpiece of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway

If you are a bit more ambitious, you can make the climb to the bridge area .  My husband and I did this trail in October but decided against it this time due to time constraints.  It is a moderate walk I would say and takes a bit of time.  This stop can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or so depending on what you decide to do here.  Just make sure that you DO stop!

Horsetail Falls

This is probably one of the smaller of the waterfalls but also one of the most accessible and interesting.  You simply park and walk to the falls.  It is easy to see if from the side of the roadway.  There is a small walk down some stairs that will lead you right to the base of the falls.  This is a great way to view the falls.  My son had a wonderful time at this one simply because you could get so close to the waterfall itself.

Horsetail Falls from the side

Horsetail Falls from the base

I believe we spent at least 20 minutes at this stop and then turned around and headed back out of the park as we wanted to make a couple more stops and had dinner reservations in Seattle that evening. If you continue on the byway, you will eventually make it to Mt. Hood and then back around to the Portland area.

A Change in Weather....A Change in Plans

After we left the Gorge area we headed back to the highway to start our trek back north to Seattle.  Along the way our plans changed a bit as it went from a beautiful sunny morning to a very overcast and potentially wet afternoon.  We were debating on whether to make a stop at Mount St. Helen's or at Mount Rainier National Park in the afternoon.  Again, Hubby and I had visited both in a day on our previous trip.  Although they are very close on a map, driving distances between the two places make it difficult to hit both in a day.  We were leaning toward Mount Rainier but with the change in the weather and the overcast conditions we were pretty sure that seeing the mountain would not be in the cards.  So....in a last minute decision we chose to go to Mount St. Helen's.

Mount St. Helen's 

When the two of us had gone in October we found the area to be very interesting as you can see the scars of the eruption decades after it happened.  We were a bit disappointed in this location though because, again thinking we were getting a head start, we headed there early in the morning.  It is another place that is overcast and foggy in the mornings.  In fact it was so bad that we weren't able to even see Mt. St. Helen's at all and to top it off, we were there before the Visitor's Center opened so we weren't even able to see anything there.  So going back to this spot was almost like going for the first time.

We were hopeful that since we would be hitting this area during the early afternoon, it would be much clearer than our last trip.  Well.....yes and no.  As we started up the highway, it kept getting cloudier and cloudier.  The clouds hung so low that the valleys were pretty much obscured in some parts.  We did make it to the Visitor's Center and had a very enjoyable experience there.  My son loved the hands on things at the Visitor's Center as well as the movies about the eruption and the area's subsequent recovery.  

Mount St. Helen's partially obscured by clouds

We went into the first movie, watched it and they opened a curtain at the end to reveal the mountain.  This is what we saw.

Mount St. Helen's with cloud cover

We were so excited that we were even able to see this much of it!!  We decided that the first movie was so interesting that we would head back in for the second one.  There are two different movies and they alternate showings.  We sat through the second movie, they lifted the curtain and THE WHOLE THING WAS GONE!

Seriously......there wasn't even a glimpse of the mountain.....it was completely behind the clouds.  It also decided to start to pour at that moment and the entire trip back to the main highway was made through low clouds and heavy rains.  

You just can't predict what the weather is going to do in this area and what kind of views you might actually get to see.  If you want to take a chance on getting to see the mountain, it is definitely worth it.  It's an interesting drive.  The Visitor's Center is very interesting.  The Mountain is an awesome sight if you can catch a glimpse of it but it is equally possible that you will drive down the roadway and never see a thing!

Back to Tukwila and the Homewood Suites

Well here we were....heading back to the sight of our previous meltdown....The Homewood Suites Tukwila.   We were still wondering how this was going to be after our last stay but were hopeful that things would be different.  We hadn't heard a thing from the customer service rep from Homewood Suites regarding our previous sty so we really weren't sure what to expect. This time we did not travel on any unmarked bike paths.  We did not have a smoking room when we had booked a non-smoking room and the room was SO much larger.  Same thing....one bedroom king suite....as the previous one but this one was definitely much larger.  It was also NOT next to the train tracks.  This was a good start.  I once again tweeted that we were back and relieved that it was much better, despite not having received a response from Homewood Suites.  Well.....almost immediately I received a response and they reassigned our case to another representative who immediately responded and gave us 30,000 hilton points as well as an apology for our prior stay.  They still missed the point...which was why did they give away our original room when we are at the highest level of their loyalty program....but it did help to know that we could enjoy a free night somewhere else for the inconvenience.  By the way, we never did see or hear from the General Manager of the property itself.  Just a bit troubling.  

We checked into our hotel room and had enough time to change for our 8 PM dinner reservation at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Downtown Seattle.

Ruth's Chris Seattle - Downtown Location

So if you know my family at all, you know we LOVE Ruth's Chris Steakhouses.  It has become an obsession of ours since they closed the one in Cleveland near us, to make reservations at at least one Ruth's Chris on our vacation if they have a location nearby!  We had saved this stop as our last on this trip and were really looking forward to a great steak and some wonderful cheesecake!  This location did not disappoint.  It was a little different because it was located inside of the Hyatt in downtown Seattle.  You had to valet park and head into the hotel for the restaurant.  Once you made it inside it was a wonderful location with wonderful service and wonderful food!  They Hyatt looked beautiful too and really upscale restrooms!  If the rest of the hotel was a nice as the restrooms in the lobby, this would be a great place to stay!

After a terrific meal, we headed out to take a look around town at Seattle at night, of course lost our way a bit with some street closures but managed to find the Space Needle!  We headed back to our hotel for a good night's sleep and another exciting day touring Seattle when we awoke!

Coming Next:  Seattle in a Day!

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