We recently came back from vacation and here is
what I posted on my local board.....


We just got back from Southern California and
it was a great trip all around; if I weren't
afraid of big earthquakes I'd move the whole
family there : )

We stayed AWAY from the madness of Los Angeles
and enjoyed Southern Orange County, specifically
we spent alot of time with friends and relatives
in Mission Viejo/Ladera Ranch. These are beautiful
and well-appointed communities to raise families
in or retire. Think of the community of
Coto de Caza as in the show Housewives of Orange
County on the Bravo Channel (one hill away)

We also took the time to drive to the casinos
in the desert run by the Morongo Band of Mission
Indians, not far from Palm Springs. Next door to the
casino/hotel, we enjoyed shopping at the big
outlets of Desert hills/Cabazon. I've never seen
an outlet place as busy as that one! Where did all
those people drive in from, lol!
As far as the casino, I broke even but the
rest lost. I would never hit the Max Bet button,
but they did duhhhhh lol.

We had a fabulous time at Disneyland and Calif.
Adventure Parks. It was (3) 14-hour days in a row
doing that so we were t-i-r-e-d after those days but
would do it again!
Rode everything, sometimes over and over as in the
big roller coaster rides...we were the loudest on
purpose LOL LOL!

But we really enjoyed the "character dining" at the
breakfast buffets each morning at Goofy's Kitchen in
the Disney hotel. The food was amazingly delicious;
so popular that this buffet needs to be booked weeks
in advance.
And each character such as Goofy, Minnie, Cinderella's
fairy godmother and so on, gave one on one attention;
I love when Goofy does his hip hop dancing;
he looks so happy and CRAZY doing it, made everyone
smile big from ear to ear : )

We also ate at restaurants we don't have in Hawaii YET,
such as Claimjumper and we shopped at stores not in
Hawaii yet...I think I bought out all of Kohls lol since
they had a great sale. It is so much like a Mervyn's store.

11 days in Orange county was not near enough; we plan to
go back in November, and will drive to Las Vegas from
there or at least that is in the plan : )

So California is where people from Hawaii vacation! I wondered about that.

Those breakfast with the characters are so much fun. SOme of my favorite Disney pitcures of the kids were taken at one of those breakfasts, but in FL.

I've never been to California and I'm beginning to protest.

My 17 year-old son is heading there this summer for the third time.

No fair!

Dotsie, I hope you go to CA one year soon; go ahead and make up a silly reason to go lol. Everyday I think about Goofy's Kitchen; was such a great way to begin the day.
Oh well, I bought a cute, goofy Goofy Hat lol!

Dotsie, You could always say you need to visit Meredith and write it off as a business expense...Here I go again being crafty!

Chatty, good idea!!

Diamond50,
So glad you're back and I love reading about your vacation! What fun you all had. I would imagine it hard to come down off the cloud after that kind of adventure, eh?

Anyhoo...so glad to see you back in the forums...you have been missed. Thanks for allowing us to share in a bit of your fun!

Now if Nancy, (AvalonBlondi) would let us know how if she's back and how her daughter's cheerleading event turned out, I'd be a happy camper.... Oh Nancyyyyyyyy?

JJ

JJ, I had withdrawal symptoms from not being
here lol!