Category: Los Angeles

Abilene to Los Angeles

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usa-flight-2017-boys.pngDuration of this trip was from 28th November to 13th December so that we could take advantage of the boys’ early school break up to do one last overseas trip with them altogether

Leonie has been out for past month visiting her mother and took the opportunity to fly home with us. The purpose of this trip was to visit family in Abilene Texas so our grandsons could meet and reconnect with US family as well as experience a belated Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Leonie. We love our turkey day celebrations that is for sure!!

via Qantas QF7 (A380) Direct to Dallas great flight well looked after. Scott and Leonie were there to meet us. We picked up our Dodge Caravan hire car which was perfect for our needs.

Having previously had this type of vehicle in LA with four adults and two children on that occasion. So this time it was perfect for three teens and the grandparents (us) for our planned road trip to Los Angeles.

Beautiful West Texas Sunset
Headed West

In no time at all, we were away on our way to Abilene (2.5 hours west Dallas Fort Worth)

The first stop unanimously voted on as Cracker Barrell at Weatherford where we meet Scott and Leonie for dinner. Everything was up to its usual standard and the boys reminiscing about previous visits on their last trip.

After eight days in Abilene which included a couple days back up in Dallas/FortWorth where we did the JFK tour and visited the Fort Worth Stockyards before catching up with more family for dinner and movies.

A highlight of the stay in Abilene was the opportunity to watch a high school playoff game in the new Abilene Christian University (ACU) Stadium. It was amazing the Graham Steers were playing the Sweetwater Mustangs. Scott’s sister Stephanie teaches at Graham High and the rest of Scott’s family live in Graham, Texas so we happy to hop aboard the bandwagon and become steers supporters for the night.

Our Abilene stay included lots of good food at places like Perini ranch and BBQ brisket and a visit to Sonic which intrigued the boys no end having their orders served to the car window.

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A highlight was a visit to the Abilene Heritage centre which provided a fantastic insight to Abilene down through history, the boys loved this and spent hours exploring and watching the shows and reading stories.

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Soon it was time to hit the road towards Los Angeles taking in El Paso, White Sands National Monument the Santa Rosa Blue Hole and some of Route 66. It was pretty cold and miserable and wet when we set off but we made good time to be at the border for our first night. I always wanted to drive west of Abilene and keep going. Screen Shot 2018-07-18 at 11.11.53 am.png

Alberque was our next overnight stop where we ate at the Standard Diner before settling in for the night at another LaQuinta Hotel. These hotels are great budget rooms when traveling and the complimentary continental breakfasts come in handy as well.

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The next stop along the way was at the historic El Ranch Hotel the historic El Rancho Hotel provides a unique Southwest Experience in the midst of the American West.  The El Rancho Hotel is a pillar of the West and was the Home of the Movie Stars throughout the 1930s to 1940s who filmed Westerns in the area.

Back on the road to our last overnight stop at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Kingman Arizona before arriving in Los Angeles.Dinner was at yet another diner, this one had not changed a thing in 50 years, Rutherford’s 66 Diner  2011 E Andy Devine Ave, Kingman. 

We hit the road early the next morning and ready ourselves to handle the LA traffic. As I have driven in LA peak hour(s) a number of times before we thought we endeavour to get there before the peak.

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We achieved this and had a good run into Hilton at Universal and checked in about 2pm.

Ian and I returned the car to the closest car hire which was at the Bob Hope airport. We took a taxi back to the Hilton and settled in for our final few days. It is always a relief to get rid of the car’s unscathed. The Hilton is the perfect location for everyone to do their own thing and for the boys to explore all that universal and the CityWalk where everyone could do their own thing. The grandparents could get a bit of a break and relax in the hotel before a full day at universal and our flight home.

We used a great car service Lansky Transfers (used previously when in LA) to collect us from the hotel and get us to LAX in plenty of time to check in and board QF12 for the flight home. Very reliable and no fuss, takes all the stress out of getting to the airport that is for sure.

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This trip goes down in the archives as another successful travel experience with the boys we love being able to broaden their horizons. We like to spend their inhertiance on having great adventures and experiences with us not on us after we are gone.

13th December Flew home on QF12 from LAX

LA again….

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It seems we have been in LA many times as anywhere but here we are again. The weather is wonderful and it feels so nice to see decent sunshine and enjoying the 20c plus temperatures especially after the last few weeks. It will hopefully help us to acclimatise somewhat before we head home to the heat. Ian said he will never complain about the heat again…I give him two days, three at the outside before it’s too hot and he can wait for winter.

Our flight from New York was uneventful and we very smoothly made easier by staying close to JFK in a very nice La Quinta. Best part it only cost $20 because I had earned enough loyalty points from other stays and managed to get a free night (exception taxes). It had recently been renovated and water very comfortable.


We decide as we are in Los Angeles we should visit the Walk of Fame etc. We had picked up a car at the airport on the previous night so getting there was easy with trusty Tom. We had a pleasant day wandering around and check out the Kodak Theatre (Oscars) and other attractions. On the way home, we headed to the coast and drove from Venice beach down past Del Rae marina. I have never seen so many watercraft tied up in one place. It was incredible to think of how many people own boats here. I guess lots of money, water and sunshine are key factors.

 

The next day we headed to Disneyland which was fun and we put in a full day. It was good but maybe not quite as good as the Orlando Disneyland but still well worth the money. We didn’t go to other parks in the complex just Disneyland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was perfect and we walked all day before boarding the train for one last ride around the park before heading home to an Italian dinner. We found this place on our first night in from New York and it was outstanding so we thought it fitting to have our last dinner here.

Tomorrow we check out and return the car before flying out to Oz at 10.30pm and the trip will be done.

First, we have to pack and getting everything it will be fun. Each case must be under 23kgs and that is the challenge.

We land at 8.30am Sunday 17th and should be home at lunchtime.

The coast road from San Fransico to Los Angeles

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We set off early with only a 2 hour drive through some really pretty countryside. Monterey was decided on as our first of two overnight stops along the way. Monterey was is just outside Carmel by the Sea which is a very exclusive place to visit and the quaint little shops were interesting but certainly on the high end price-wise and if you didn’t have a dog on a leash you felt positively underdressed. Each of the stores had a dog water bowl on the footpath for the pooches. We wandered for a couple of hours and then headed back to Monterey for an early dinner at Chilli’s before retiring to the hotel. The food was great as was the hotel.

Day two we headed off down highway 1. The weather was clear and the drive again was very scenic. Today we were headed for Ventura which is only two hours north of LA. This is certainly worth doing and I would recommend this drive to anyone. The driving was not too difficult and there are lots of places to pull over to take pictures and a break.

A highlight was a stop off to view the elephant seal colony, although they were not what you would call energetic.

Tomorrow we fly to Abilene where we will stay for Christmas. Bring on the West Texas BBQ.

LA to Las Vegas

Ange Bowman1 Comment

We drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas yesterday and it was a good trip. No incidents and driving were easier than getting around Sydney especially with our trusty mate Tom or as sharpie keep referring to it Tomboy or Thomas the Tank. We could not get over the sparseness of the Mojave desert and lack of trees between LA and LV. We are arrived at about 4pm and checked into Paris Paris Hotel. Parking was free another thing that does not happen in Sydney. With only a short stop in Barstow for a coffee at Maccas and another pit stop at a rest area, the trip was only about fours hours.

Last night we headed to the buffet in Paris and for $22 I ate more snow crab and prawns than I’ve ever seen, topped my meal off with banana and apple crepe. Yum!! Everyone ate too much and needed a walk along the strip to work some of the dinner off. We wandered for a couple of hours and watched the Bellagio fountain and back to the room to turn in.

We’ve arrived and all in one piece

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Arrived in LA at 9.50am on Sunday morning which was five hours before we left. The A380 what can I say, the quietest flight, the best food, the best crew and all on the newest largest plane I have ever seen. The flight was terrific and seemed to go quickly, usually does for those of us that sleep well on a plane. Excellent onboard entertainment including tail webcam which allowed us to watch the takeoff and landing like never before. The non-plane sleepers are sleeping now in our room at the La Quinta Hotel which is no more than 10 minutes from LAX. We will rest up today and collect our thrifty rental car (100 yards down the road) tomorrow and head for Las Vegas.

The news has reported dust storms in Arizona and snow in San Diego so we are in for a interesting trip weather wise. Today sunny and 24c.