Is it really… Walley World?!? – Part 1

Is it really… Walley World?!? – Part 1

Day 1 – June 24, 2024 – Waupaca, WI to Santa Monica, CA

Yes, ’tis true.  We are going to the fabled home of Walley World – California!  No, this is not some epic car trip.  We are tired and frankly, getting away for that long gets trickier every year around family and work commitments.  So we are cheating and flying.

Earlier this year, we tossed around ideas about where to go.  Matt really wanted to hit up Acadia National Park, and go through the northeast.  “Not out west again”, he proclaimed.  Then Sarah had the wild idea – let’s fly into Seattle and drive down I-5 all the way to San Diego and hit all the National Parks!  Matt was like, so, no, that is not a thing.  Then Sarah said, hey, what about hitting up some of the southern California ones!  Matt was still sold on Maine, so we turned to the kids.  “Maine or California?”  shockingly, California won.  Sarah owes Matt a fabulous trip to Maine after that.

The plan was to fly out of Appleton, have a cushy two hour layover in Chicago (ugh), then fly to LA, rent a car, and drive up to a hotel in Santa Monica for the next 4 nights.  We blearily got in the car at 4:15 am for our 6:25 am flight.  Which was promptly delayed to 8:45 am.  Goodbye cushy 2 hour layover…

4am.. as awake as we can be

Most of the small plane was now made up of people desperately trying to get off the plane as fast as possible to make crazy short layovers.  Our plane to LA started boarding while we were still taxiing up to the gate.  We hit the ground running – and Zoe hit the ground literally at one point – but we made it by the skin of our teeth.  Everyone except us and the two people behind us had already boarded.  No line!  woo woo!  We Home Alone’d it, as the kids say.

We had an enjoyable 4ish hour flight to LA, getting in early.  We rode the bus to the Enterprise rental garage and showed our phone to them and immediately were brought to the parking lot and shown a choice of two cars.  Oh how renting a car has changed over the years.  Technology!  Also, Matt chose the car with the bent MN plate, so we can feel like we are with our people.  

We got on the freeway, which was packed despite it being 2 pm, and made our way to the hotel – and shockingly our room was ready early – we are staying at the Santa Monica Hilton and Suites – it is fairly nice!  Everywhere is valet here and they happily whisked our car away.   

We all collapsed in the hotel room exhausted and watched soccer for a bit – we DoorDashed ourselves some giant pizzas. DoorDashing is like a foreign treat to us small-town folk.

The ocean is only about 4 blocks away, so we walked over to the Santa Monica pier.  We had heard of it, didn’t know why.  It was a blast!  Like a county fair (with normal people working at it, not carnies) with games and rides and fair food.  But all on a pier.  Zoe and B went on the roller coaster several times, and the Viking ship, and we all went up on the Ferris Wheel – we went around at least 8-9 times.  It was a beautiful view!  Zoe played the ring toss game and lost.  And we walked around, seeing the end of Route 66 and the end of the pier as well.  

No matter how many times the roller coaster went by, no one was ever in the last car. Was it broken? We weren’t about to find out ourselves.
Enjoy that coaster ride, kids, it is costing us $15 a pop. County fair this ain’t.
Sarah spied this ferris wheel and absolutely had to go on it (mostly for the views of the beach).
We went around enough times for us to be satisfied we got our money’s worth.
The view of the beach were amazing! This is Santa Monica beach, south of the pier.
Hitting up the ring toss game. Not sure how we would have gotten the prize home if we had won…

We slowly walked back, realizing we have nothing to eat or snack on even.  Helllooo DoorDash Target haha!  Now we have a 12 pack of Coke, Belvita, cheez-its and tortilla chips and salsa (especially with Noah around, food doesn’t last – Sarah saw him quickly and happily removing all the leftover pizza from the fridge after we got home).

Weirdness today?  The Fox News helicopter, which made half a dozen passes directly over the pier today.  Each time was lower and lower.  Was there a shooting in progress?  Drowning?  Some other “news”?  We will never know, but disconcerting enough that most people were pointing.

Number of times we got to around the Ferris Wheel = the number of times the Fox News helicopter circled

Now to drift off to sleep and prepare for a day of touristing tomorrow!

Day 2 – June 25, 2024 – Santa Monica, CA

We slept HARD last night.  Went to bed around 9:30 pm and woke up around 7:30-8:30 am.  Woof!  Guess the combo of three hours of sleep the night before and then getting up at 3:30 am wasn’t conducive to a good night of sleep the night before.

Either way, we got ready while watching the LA morning news – which was kind of a riot.  We cannot wait to see how the Lakers’ new coach works out – he dropped the F bomb 3 separate times on the snippet they played on the news and the anchors could not deal with it.  It was great.  We feasted on Belvitas, some kind of Fruit Loop thing that Sarah claims no responsibility for, and all the coffee that was in the room.  (note: we realized that coffee is not really a thing here – like there are some random Starbucks, but no free lobby coffee, no easily accessible plentiful coffee shops, etc – we realized maybe it is always sunny here and bright, and maybe people don’t need coffee?  we may never know)

Our plan for the day was to make our way up to the Griffith Observatory, and then see where the day takes us.  With the traffic, that might be it, haha.

We got on the road and it took about 45 minutes to go the 19 miles away it was.  Holy cats, the freeway is a trip.  No one drives like a jerk, and people here actually zipper and let people in.  With everyone going either 5 or 75 mph.  It is a wild free for all.  We are so appreciative that Matt is such a wonderful driver.  Because Sarah sure doesn’t want to do it.

The Griffith Observatory is located in Los Feliz and opens at noon – and there is a long winding road up to it that get filled up quickly.  We had read up on this – #1 recommended site in LA to see, terrible parking, very hot.  okay, check, check, check.  We thought we were sly heading up before it opened, and still stand by that decision – we scored parking quite close to the stop (we didn’t try to get a spot in the lot, and parked for free on the road leading into it).  It was HOT and we carried water in a backpack.  We got up there around 10:30 and spent time walking around the grounds, along with hoards of other people.  My god, if this is a Tuesday morning, we cannot imaging a weekend in the summer.  

Maybe we will see a celebrity! (spoiler: we didn’t)

You could see the Hollywood sign, and sweeping views of Los Angeles from high up next to the Observatory.  There were sweaty people crawling all over the grounds of the Observatory, and coming up the trails from the Greek Theater below as well.  A neat feature of the grounds was an embedded diagram of the solar system with the orbits etched into the sidewalks.  There was a cool sundial as well.

Thar she blows, downtown LA as seen from the Observatory.
Griffith Observatory grounds and Astronomer’s Statue
Since we had some time to kill before the Observatory opened, we parents forced the kids to hike up and down a small hilly trail near by. Kids were thrilled! It was only like 95 degrees.
Cool etching on sidewalk, could find the orbits all over the grounds.

Close to noon, we went to stand on the steps, and then all of a sudden everyone and their brother who wasn’t already there, was.  When the poor employee pushed open the doors at noon (and someone’s phone alarm went off right at noon, like seriously, people?!), they probably got run over by the hoards of people bursting forth into the museum/observatory.  Where the heck where all these people going?!?  Like, it’s free?!?

It WAS really hot out.

Matt got in line and we did get tickets to a show in the Planetarium, and then we made our way down to the End of the Universe Cafe and enjoyed sitting in the air conditioning.  Sure, kids, get whatever you want, it’s vacation.  Zoe ate a large chocolate muffin and an uncrustable.  Eh, it’s all good.  We wandered around the observatory looking at the exhibits after. 

Noah and Matt got this joke.
Part of the Observatory – lots of exhibits.
Braden finding out how much he would weigh on a certain planet. Can you figure out which planet based on the partial info on the screen? (note: Sarah is too lazy to look it up and figure it out for blog purposes)

Our planetarium show was at 1:45 and did not disappoint.

  1. We happened to be standing next to the door to outside when they announced at 1:15 that everyone with 1:45 pm tickets should get in line outside the West Terrace entrance.
  2. The hoards of people essentially pushed us towards the door and buoyed us to the start of the line – we were the 4th person in line.  Suckers!
  3. The show was “Signs of Life” and the chairs were amazing, we got great seats, and it was about life in other parts of the universe.  All of us agreed it was great, and no one got sick due to special effects, and none of us could figure out if it was narrated live or recorded.

We hit up the gift shop after and off we went!  We know this place would be absolutely stunning at night, but it would be hell on wheels to navigate this place at night never having been here before.  We will put nighttime on the list for another day.

After this, we knew we were near Pasadena, and thought it would be fun to horribly embarrass Noah but driving around the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech).  He wants to live somewhere warm someday, well, maybe someday would be college or grad school?  It was fun to drive around the buildings and get sense of what the campus looked like.

We then horribly embarrassed Sarah by parking illegally outside of the Pasadena City Hall for a picture – recognize where this is from? 

Hint – Leslie Knope would be so disappointed in you for not knowing!
The visible building title should give it away. 😉

At this point, we were starving, and found ourselves an In-N-Out in Pasadena.  They took our order in the road, we swung through, and then parked on a side street to eat our feast.  Nom nom!

It’s just burgers, but we do love it.

It was time to head home.  It only took an hour or so on the freeway, minutes of our lives we will never get back.  How people navigated this before Google or Apple maps is beyond us.  This traffic is insane!!

When we got back, we discreetly carried our In N Out trash back to our room, throwing it away in the garbage near the elevators, so we wouldn’t embarrass ourselves in front of the valet staff like the slobs we are (we are sure the valets from Washington DC are still telling horror stories about our car there).  All of us minus B went to the rooftop pool, and then B went to the fitness room to work out – and now we are all collapsed in the hotel room, ready for an adventure tomorrow.  Hopefully involving less driving.

Day 3 – June 26, 2024 – Santa Monica, CA

You know how often times trips will have something special planned in them – the fun or unique experience that you are looking forward to the most?  Well, for this trip, this was the day.  When we planned out this trip months ago, and looked at the National Parks in the area, the Channel Islands stood out as one of those unique experiences (like Isle Royale).  Hard to get to, and remote and pretty.  Sign us up! (well, we did, months ago)

We got to get up at 5:30 am (yah) and leave by 6 am, and off on the highway north to Ventura Harbor we went.  The rush hour traffic, or all hour traffic, appeared to be the worst heading toward us into LA, so thumbs up to that.  We navigated our way up there and got up there way too early.  That gave us time to go pick up some pre-ordered boxed lunches at the Harbor Cove Cafe down the road, along with coffee.  We then meandered back, checking in, and getting the all important Channel Islands NP stamp (yesssss, *fist pump*).  We then got in line to board the Island Packers ferry boat to the island.

We were lucky enough to get on early enough to score seats on the top of the boat, and the ferry ride out there (over an hour?) was beautiful.  We saw whales and dolphins, and enjoyed more coffee and snacks.  The people sitting near us were all the type who were busy checking off their National Parks, and we sneaked a few tips off of them by eavesdropping.  

Waiting to leave the harbor – looking bright eyed and bushy tailed!
Whale tail!!
Arriving at the dock on Santa Cruz island.

The island itself has no facilities, aside from two campgrounds – and a fair amount of hiking.  There is a kayaking company that runs day trips out of there, and that is what we had signed up to do.  We got off at Scorpion Harbor, and the kayaking guide took a group of us (maybe 20 people?) to their small area, and gave us a brief introduction to the island, then released us until our tour at 12:30.  We were starving by this point (as were most of the others) and we all descended on the lower campground, stealing empty sites’ picnic tables to have lunch.  The box lunches were amazing – wayyy too much food!  

Check out the size of the sandwiches we are holding.
Hills along our hiking trail

We then hiked around – there are island foxes (Matt saw a tail and Zoe and Sarah heard one in the bushes) and tons of ravens – they will try to steal your food.  We hiked up a hill toward to the bluffs then realized we needed to get back in time for kayaking.  Circled back and met up with the kayaking folks, and got the instructional spiel, gear including helmets, and divided into groups.

Our guide was Jeremy, and he was great.  He reminded us of the rafting guide from the Vacation movie remake, but probably every guide will now for the rest of our lives.  Our group was the 5 of us, a gal by herself (probably her in 50s) who was celebrating her birthday, and two women of uncertain age (30-50s?).  We geared up and divided up – the birthday girl and Noah got their own kayaks, and otherwise Matt and Zoe shared, and B and Sarah shared.   We were all asked what we were looking forward to seeing, and honestly I think most of us said sea caves because we didn’t know what else to say.  Maybe Noah said plants?

We launched near the pier and then started to make our way counterclockwise around the island.    Off we went – whenever we had to meet in a group, we were told to grab the kelp floating on top of the water and hold on.  We went in a few caves, which was very cool.  In one of them, we sang Happy Birthday to the birthday gal, haha, not sure what she thought of that!

Zoe holding on to kelp.
Hanging out in a sea cave.
View looking out.
You guessed it – we are in a sea cave again.

Our guide then told us because we were doing so great (yeah, right, he probably tells every group that) that we could go around the corner of the island into a cave saved for the longer tours, but the ocean would be a bit more choppy on the way there.  He took the two woman kayak and attached it to the back of his to help them out.  And off we went!  Good god, was it choppy – lots of swells and then waves were hitting the bottom of the cliffs next to us.  That part of every family vacation where you are the closest to death?  (Avalanche Peak and the Firehole River?  looking at you) – this probably was it.  (or course, after, the kids are like, that was great!  Was Sarah the only scared one?  probably)

The guide yelled to Zoe as she aggressively paddled past his kayak “Zoe, what’s the speed limit out here?” and she yelled back “90”. No one messes with Zoe.

We did get to go in a giant pretty sea cave and after, we gathered outside the cave in our kayaks, holding on to the kelp, and our guide was near the cliff of the island.  He was there a few minutes, no one knew what he was doing (images of Vacation and the rafting guide going crazy floating through Sarah’s head) and then he came around with a sea star!  He let us hold on to the calcified part of it, then returned it back to the wall.  Very cool!

B holding the sea star.

Alas, we headed back and it was much easier on the way back as the waves basically pushed us most of the way back around the island.  We got back to the rocky shore, and brought all of our equipment back.  Now, we had an hour left but no one really seemed in the mood for hiking quickly (no kidding, we were tired).  So we sat on the rocky beach while Zoe pranced about in the water on the rocks, and B skipped stones (kid’s got a skill).  

Zoe prancing on the rocks.

We got in line on the pier to get back in the boat and this time, headed straight into the downstairs interior part.  They had booths with 6 seats in each, so we grabbed one, bought some pop, and ate whatever random goodies were in our backpacks (hellooo, Belvitas).  

On the way back, we were treated to some spectacular dolphin displays – we didn’t even have to leave our seats, as the dolphins spun in the air and jumped in the air about 2 feet from the side of the boat.  It was beautiful!

So. Many. Dolphins.

We disembarked and were exhausted.  And starving.  So we did that trashy thing and went straight to In-N-Out down the road, got ourselves some burgers, then took the Pacific Coast Highway back.  That was an interesting experience.  Everyone says, it is so beautiful!  It is…. although I’m sure it is more beautiful along the rugged coastline north of all of this.  Instead we got treated to beautiful beaches filled with RVs of people living there (YES, Sarah googled and when Tori Spelling was kicked out of her house, she and her kids totally were staying in an RV on the beach in Ventura County and won’t lie, those beach campsites are gorgeous and no one should judge) and then we drove through Malibu, which was kind of insane.  $30 million dollar houses that look like shacks, but the coastline was amazing.  We cruised along in our basic Ford SUV, with a weird rattling above 40 mph that we cannot quite put our finger on (and haven’t tried too hard to do so), past all the fancy restaurants and houses.  But it also looks like kind of just, decrepit? here too.  It’s interesting.  

Either way, got back, collapsed, and got some IPAs from the bar and called it a day.  Ooof.

Day 4 – June 27, 2024 – Santa Monica, CA

After yesterday, we were pooped.  We all slept in until 9ish at least, then lazed about watching TV and enjoying electronics.  We had no firm plan for the day.  Matt and Noah wanted to hike, and Sarah and B and Z wanted to go to the beach.  Alas, Matt thought he found a State Beach/Park that would allow us to do both.  We ordered bagels from Yeasty Boys (Sarah just got the joke as she typed this), which were delicious, and had our sad room coffee (no free hotel lobby coffee is still an outrage).

Note: we may complain about the lack of free coffee, but this hotel was excellent otherwise.  Our favorite part is they had housekeeping daily as a standard (you didn’t have to opt in) and they brought you as many towels as you wanted, and if you hung them up neatly, didn’t remove the old ones.  By the end of the trip, we had dozens of large fluffy towels we were hoarding happily in the bathroom.  

We set off around noon – we did drop by an REI as Sarah finally figured out her 3 year old running shoes she brought for hiking were causing her pain, so we had to purchase some new ones for her.  Matt hit up a Trader Joe’s next door for some snacks for the drive.  Alas, that sad journey of several miles and two stores took over an hour and a half.  It was so painful.

We got on the Pacific Coast highway to head up to Matt’s park.  We passed beach after beach of people frolicking in huge surf, complete with empty parking lots.  We made our way through Malibu, and when we got close to the park, we figured out that the hiking trail involved driving 6 miles into the Santa Monica Mountains on this curvy road that Matt deemed “treacherous for a rental car”.  Well, boo.  We then drove through the parking lot near the beach, and the water was like glass.  That’s a hard no.

So we headed south to yet another State Beach – after changing into our swimsuits in the the car and walking through the tunnel under the highway, we exited onto the beach with the pending surf to see only surfers in the water.  Lots of families frolicking on the sand, but not in the surf.  That’s a warning.  And Matt noticed that there was a fair amount of rocks hidden on the beach too.

So like goldilocks, we continued on and the third beach we found was the best.  Zuma Beach in Malibu, with its massive waves, tons of families, and lack of surfers, was perfect.  Plenty of people, far enough away from Santa Monica so we would’t be attacked (that happened to someone the first day we were there), and huge waves.  Zoe and B ran into the water right away, Matt stood vigilant, and Noah and Sarah stretched out on the sand, and occ went into the water.  It was perfect.  Even the sea gulls that devoured the Cheez-Its (can’t go to the beach without those!) that Noah left out had a good day.

Perfect Goldilocks beach.
Loving the surf.

We stayed for a couple hours, watching B and Z whip each other with some seaweed they found, and enjoyed the sunshine.  10/10, would go back to that beach again.  Well, the bathrooms were super shady, but we expected that.  Pretty sure we got hepatitis trying to flush the toilet by pushing on a rusty bolt.

We then meandered back to the hotel, and up to the room.  For dinner we ordered in El Cholo (the VP’s Mexican place of choice per some article Sarah found) which was fine (but not great; we do judge you, Kamala Harris).  We hoovered all our food, and then Matt took a couple loads of laundry to get washed (sadly, that was the part of the hotel Sarah and Matt were most excited to find – it was not advertised that there was a laundry room available).  Everything got packed up, ready for an early start in the morning – off to Yosemite NP!

It was good, even better than good, but not great.
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