Come and knock on our door: San Diego

Okay, Three's Company actually took place in Santa Monica, but I swear there was a scene from the San Diego Zoo in the opening credits.  Same-same.

I went to San Diego for a conference this past weekend.  This was only the second time I've ever been to California (airport layovers not included) and I have to say, the weather was fantastic.  SoCal living, woo-hoo!

It was a very short trip (4 days) and highlights included the seals at La Jolla, and the pandas and koalas (oh my!) at the San Diego Zoo.  Oh, and I had my very first In-N-Out burger.  Please don't send me hate comments, but that burger did not change my life as I had hoped.  I realize it is a favorite of legions, and anyone who formerly lived on the West Coast dreams of them.  It's not that it wasn't good, it just did not blow me away with its awesomeness.

Seals at La Jolla!

There's a panda lurking behind me

Snacking on bamboo

Koala!  They sleep up to 22 hours per day.
I did not get to hug him. Boo.

La Jolla.  I got splashed shortly
after this picture was taken

non-life changing In-N-Out burgers

On the downtown streets of San Diego.
Yeah, that guy is shaking that weight.

Day Tripping: Governors Island

It was a beautiful September day so we crossed another item crossed off the e+5 To-Do list:  bicycling on Governors Island.

Yes, I know I don't ride a bike.

Since a tandem seemed too stressful, we opted for a 2 person quadcycle.  I've been assured that real bikes are not as hard to pedal as these monstrosities.  After an hour riding around trying to find the Mr. Softee ice cream truck, we were exhausted and without Mr. Softee so we went back into Manhattan and took a scenic rest on the SI Ferry.

10K Lakes Reunion

No one has state pride like we Minnesotans do.  Over Labor Day weekend we had a small MN-raised family reunion: me, my sister and her family, and our cousin David and his family all got together for, well, the Great MN Get Together (a/k/a MN State Fair). 

We took a quick requisite trip to the Mall of America. It's funny, even though it's been about 15 years since I worked in the Mall, I still know where all the stores are located. We spent another day at the MN Zoo for the most fantastic all-day VIP tour from Melanie. And we spent the other full day at the Fair. The kids had fun, but I don't think they enjoyed it quite as much as the grown-ups. Except maybe riding the giant slide.

  

Fair foods consumed:

• breakfast lollipop (sausage patty dipped in corn muffin batter, deep fried and drizzled w/ maple syrup)
• mini-donuts
• corn dogs
• cheese curds
• Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies (rumor has it they make $3 million during the 12 days of the Fair)
• deep fried pickles
• fried green tomatoes
• pizza on a stick
• hot dish on a stick
• deep fried thick cut bacon
• chicken fried bacon
• kettle corn
• corn on the cob

It was a great time and way too brief. I didn't get a chance to fully shop the Mall, or see all of my friends from home. I am also currently on deep fried food detox--there is only so much a body can take...



The crowd at the Fair





Sweet Martha's Cookies. Straight out of the oven!

Not a prize winner, but he's a looker.

Grooming the goats

Fresh Kettle Korn!








The best mini donuts. Ever.







Melanie. And Melanie (poster).  At the MN Zoo





Family portrait at the liquor store



Daytripping: Rye Playland



 

5 and I took a day trip out to Rye Playland.  This is where they filmed the Zoltar scene in the movie Big.  We looked, but there was only Mrs. Zoltar in the arcade.  I have to admit, the website made Playland seem much larger and the rides much more exciting.  But we had a good time anyway. 



Too tall to ride the Crazy Mouse ride


 

Steeple Chase.  I thought I was going to fall off.




Post- log ride. It was very wet.




Return to Brotherly Love

5 and I took a quick trip down to Philly.  It was a sweltering 90 degrees or so and we walked for miles and miles. And then some more miles. 

It's been several years since my last time in Philly, but not too much has changed and it was nice to see familiar places.  There are very few cities that I feel I am fairly familiar with (NYC, St. Paul...), and Philly is one of them. 

Tour of the U.S. Mint

The Wannamaker Organ in Macy's. 
Estimated to be worth $73M.

No trip to Philly is complete without
a visit to the Liberty Bell

Philly Phanatic

Victory!

Homemade Cheese Puffs at Village Whiskey. 
Meh. I was expecting something more like Jax.  

Daytripping: Atlantic City

There was an online deal to go to Atlantic City for the day.  For a mere $5, you got a round trip luxury bus ride to and from AC (snacks and bottled water included!), a $10 casino meal voucher, and a $5 slots card.  Not bad, I say.

The downside was the 1+ hour wait for the bus to arrive.  As well as the rescheduled return buses. We didn't get home until well after midnight. And it was a Tuesday.

It was a much chillier time than when I went 2 summers ago, but it was nice seeing the boardwalk a little emptier.  The casino buffet left something to be desired, but for $9, I couldn't really complain (free refills on soda!!!).  And although we did start winning money on the slots, it took a turn for the worse and I think we lost about $14 total.  I've wasted that much on a bad movie.

Putting the Atlantic into Atlantic City



Big money! (not)



First time on the AC boardwalk

mini-Roadtrip 2011 | Day 4: Ithaca, Still Gorges!

We crossed back stateside after a stop at Candian Duty Free.  We spent our last night in Ithaca and we did all the things you are supposed to do in Ithaca:

Gorge!

Suicide Bridge

Brownie Sundae at Purity Ice Cream

Sweet, sweet brownie sundae.  Ithaca claims to be the birthplace of ice cream sundaes.



Banana Split at Purity Ice Cream



We also walked the plaza in town and ate at Moosewood Restaurant.  Not because Moosewood was that good the last time I was there, but it is THE place to eat in Ithaca.  The food wasn't bad this time around, but it was not amazing either.