Ancient Anderton Wenatchians: On the Road IV

On the Road IV - California

Next it was off to California for our first 12'er Trip. We decided to take our grandchildren on a trip on or about their twelfth birthday, in small groups if possible. Will and Ella were up first--the test cases. It actually is not a bad trip to LA-LA-Land from St. George and we made in easily in one day, even with multiple stops and some exploring. We stayed overnight on the 9th of June in Cypress near the Long Beach airport, where we collected Will and Ella early the next morning (the 10th). Even though they got up very early to catch their flight, they were troopers and allowed us to haul them directly to Knott's Berry Farm. Caution: In the early days of June, it seems that every junior high school in the greater Los Angeles sends their students to Knott's for a discount fun day. We got to meet all of them, up close and personal.

On the Snoopy Ferris Wheel

The Standard Picture That Every Anderton
Takes at Knott's at Least Once in Their Lifetime

Is the Objective in Bumper Cars
to Hit or Be Hit, That is the Question

Click on the Picture and You will See KR,
Will and Ella Screaming in the Back of the Car - Mike is Taking
the Picture, as He Throws Up A Lot on Roller Coasters

Will Braves the Ghostrider Coaster
at Knott's at the End of the Day - Ask Him
How it Was!

We slept at the same hotel in Long Beach on the 10th then headed down the coast to Carlsbad to brave the terrors of Legoland. It is worth going there to just see the new Legoland Hotel outside the front gate.

Will and I blasting the girls from our wicked helicopter. We have skills. And we did it all without using our hands to steer!

Will & Ella Climbing the Firehouse Wall

Zoom In - More Screamers

New Since We Were Here Last -
Dozens of Stars Wars Figures

We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in Old Town San Diego on the nights of the 11th through the 13th allowing us to enjoy a few days in one place. We visited the San Diego Zoo on the 12th and Sea World on the 13th.

Will Eating Cereal from the
In-Room Coffee Pot--We Make-do

Will Getting His Fill at
Fuddrucker's

After dinner on the 13th, as we headed back to the hotel, we stopped at the newly-remodeled Mormon Battalion Center in Old Town. It was getting late and we were surprised to find it was still open. We had a great time watching the video and going through the hands-on tour with the missionaries serving there. Will even got to be the soldier in the presentation! If you are in San Diego for the attractions, make sure this one is on your schedule. It can be done in a hour or so in the evening and is VERY well done. Check it out.

We drove to Los Angeles the morning of the 14th and decided to have a rest day. The kids went swimming, we had a long lunch, and then saw the Superman movie that recently opened. Our hotel was in Cerritos, where we stayed Friday night.

We could have planned Saturday better, as the Ronald Reagan Library & Museum was on the schedule. By staying in Cerritos, we had a long trek Saturday morning through LA traffic up to Simi Valley and then had to drive back through LA traffic to the Long Beach Airport to drop KR, Will & Ella. Then I had to backtrack north AGAIN to exit LA and head back to Las Vegas. A better plan would have been to sleep somewhere closer to Simi Valley Friday using the Burbank Airport instead. This would have been a lot easier and skipped half a day in LA traffic. But hindsight is 20\20.

The RR Library is well done and worth the drive. It is located in a stunning hilltop location overlooking Simi Valley proper. Of special note are the unique exhibits on presidential transportation, including a retired Air Force One. And the view itself is worth the price of admission.