An Unforgettable Road Trip through the Wild West

America is a country of vast and diverse landscapes.  One can travel just 30 minutes from home and experience a completely different culture and climate or drive for hours without seeing the horizon. 

To truly understand and appreciate America, you need to take a road trip.  There’s no better way to experience the charming little towns, stunning scenery and America’s varied landscape than from behind the wheel of an automobile.

The beauty of the road trip lies in its simplicity.  There are no fixed schedules and to-do lists.  It’s all about going with the flow and discovering what lies ahead just around the bend, over the rise, or beyond that distant horizon.  And with a little luck, you’ll witness a spectacular sight like a herd of bison crossing the prairie.

Someone once said that to understand America, you need to understand baseball.  I would argue that to truly understand America, a road trip is in order, to see and experience the diverse people and places that make up this great country.

I really enjoyed every road trip I’ve taken in the U.S.  I’m always mesmerized by the beauty of the landscape, and the large expanses of countryside carved up by the highways and freeways are just as iconic as any skyline I’ve seen. 

From breathtaking sunset over a purple desert in New Mexico, picturesque shorelines of the Pacific Coast Highway, to the stunning expanse of salt flat in Utah, being on the road has always enabled to me to discover the simple beauty of life.  And our road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park through the Wild West was no exception. 

The western half of North America is often described as a land of contrasts, and no route across it gives a sharper sense of the region’s extremes than Highway 80. Starting in the west, just outside San Francisco, winding up northeast through the Great Desert Basin in Nevada to the Great Salt Lake in Utah (where it splits into I-15 or I-89), this route traverses some of the wildest and diverse landscapes imaginable.  Besides offering up-close looks at mile after mile of magnificent and almost completely untouched wilderness, we were privy to the breathtaking nature of Montana and Wyoming. 

It was an absolutely spectacular trip, and with help of YELP, we were able find wonderful little mom and pop restaurants and hidden treasures along the way.

San Francisco, California to Carson City (or Reno), Nevada

Enjoy the stunning view of the newly renovated Bay Bridge.  Stop at Saul’s Deli in Berkeley and pick up the best pastrami sandwich and latkes in the West Coast and have a picnic in Live Oak Park.  The drive through Donner Pass is absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth the 20 minute detour.

Carson City, Nevada to Salt Lake City, Utah

The drive from Carson City to Salt Lake City through the Great Desert Basin in Nevada is long (a little over 7 hours).  Appropriately nicknamed “the Loneliest Road”, it passes through a largely barren uninhabited region.  However, the road, the actual driving surface is excellent, and there are a few interesting sights along the way: a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that sells delicious homemade pies in Elko, B.J. Bull Bakery, Steve’s Homemade Ice Cream in Fernley, and a decent selection of Mexican restaurants in Winnemucca. 

Definitely must see: Thunder Mountain Monument in Imlay, Nevada and Bonneville Salt Flats near the Nevada Utah border.

A Day in Salt Lake City, Utah

Spend half a day in the city strolling (or take a tram) around Temple Square and downtown.  Then, be sure to take a drive out to Antelope Island State Park.  It’s not only the most scenic place to see the Great Salt Lake, but also the landscape is absolutely idyllic!  We felt that we were in the midst of a National Geographic photo shoot. 

Take a leisurely drive around the island and enjoy watching herds of bison or magnificent antelopes crossing the prairie, and stay and watch breathtaking colors of the sky as the sunsets over the lake.

Hyatt Place and Hyatt House are located smack dab in the middle of downtown SLC and provides comfortable accommodation, and be sure to check out R&R BBQ and their finger licking ribs!

Salt Lake City, Utah to Driggs, Idaho

There are two routes you can take from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone, and depending on exactly what you want to see in between and how much time you have will determine the optimal route.

The most direct route is to take I-15 North via Idaho Falls, which is about 320 miles (4½ hours).  The more ambitious and adventurous route is via I-89 that takes you through Jackson Hole (about the same in distance but twice as long).

Although every travel forum recommends the second option, after spending 7½ hours on the road only few days back and recovering from road fatigue, we opted for the quicker route.  However, next time, I would definitely take the I-89 route and stay in Jackson, WY.

Nevertheless, we found a fun stopover, Idaho Potato Museum, in Blackfoot and Pitmaster BarBQue Company in Idaho Falls, where I had the best barbecues.

A Day in Yellowstone National Park

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this majestic park.  Yellowstone is so grand that it covers three states: Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. 

Take a short hike around Lower Geyser Basin, where you can see variety of geysers including the Fountain Paint Pots.  Grand Prismatic Spring located in Midway Geyser Basin is a must as the vibrant colors of the bacteria that inhabit the geyser's interior is absolutely stunning!  Have lunch at Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria or Dining Room while waiting for Old Faithful to erupt, which can take 45-60 minutes. 

After lunch, take a scenic drive along the Yellowstone Lake, the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet in all of North America, and on to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone where there’s a spectacular view of the waterfalls.  It’s an iconic view that has been captured in numerous paintings.

One thing I do not recommend is staying in West Yosemite at the entrance of the park.  Although it may seem convenient, the town is flooded with tourists and lacks infrastructure or decent restaurants.

Glorious Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

It may be just a stone’s throw away from Yellowstone, but Grand Teton National Park is a visual masterpiece in its own right.  Not only is it the home of the major peaks of the dramatic Teton Range, 13,775-foot Grand Teton, but also the West’s most defining wildlife, although we didn’t spot any during our trip.

The best part was hiking the scenic trails to the Inspiration Point with the stunning view of Jenny Lake.  Also, make sure to take a drive along the Jackson Lake with beautiful vistas and stop for a swim in the glistening lake, which was a remarkable experience.   

On your way out, stop at Jackson for dinner.  It’s a charming little town straight out of a Western movie set that offers a surprisingly great selection of restaurants.  Our favorites were Bunnery Bakery, which had great food and atmosphere, and Teton Thai Plate, where we had one of the best Pad Thai Noodles!

It was a real treat finding all these little hole-in-the-wall places, restaurants and sights during our road trip, and I can’t wait to go back on the road again!

A Glimpse of San Francisco's Rich Heritage & Culture

San Francisco is one of the great cultural plateaus of the world. One of the really urbane communities and a truly cosmopolitan place in the United States. – Duke Ellington

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. – Maya Angelou

How to survive “the happiest place on earth.”

After 6 years of pretending that Disneyland doesn’t exist, my husband and I finally caved into taking our little boy to “the happiest place on earth”.

I’ve had Disneypark-phobia for some time. Then again, just the thought of going on any type of theme park vacation used to give me an anxiety attack … literally.

It wasn’t because of the conventional reasons and fears: the crowd, the cost, and in the past months, life threatening measles outbreak (and only-god-knows what other germs and bacterias that infest in these parks).

Being a bonafide city girl, I don’t get intimidated easily by crowds. Actually, I tend to enjoy a dynamic space where there are a lot of people and tend to get wary when I’m walking down an empty street. And although the cost of the park is a hefty sum, $92 for adults and $86 for kids aged 3 to 9 (which I’m told will increase again this summer), as these are trips to celebrate a special occasion, usually our son’s birthday, we were more than willing to bear the cost.

Also, as frightening as this year’s measles outbreak has been, our son has been vaccinated since shortly after birth.  Therefore, we were not worried about the slim chance of him contracting the virus.

However, weeks before the trip, I felt a knot in my stomach, and while looking at the map of the theme park planning where we wanted to go, I began experiencing a panic attack. I couldn’t breathe or think, and it got so bad that I asked my husband to plan the day with my son alone, as I couldn’t bear to look at the map.

It was so unlike me to be panic-stricken while planning a trip, as I’m usually enthralled by excitement and joy of exploring and discovering a new place. Yet, the thought of being in an environment that feels like a giant souvenir shop, having to stand in line for every ride and being surrounded by screaming children and grumpy tired parents made me physically ill.

Then again, never underestimate what a parent will do for their children. Some mothers lift a car to save their child who’s stuck underneath, and I was going to Disneyland. 

However, I wasn’t going without a game plan. We planned our trip for a week during Springbreak, which in hindsight is one of the worst times to be there, along with all-dreaded summer vacations and Christmas holidays. Luckily, unbeknownst to us, it was the week before LA Unified School District’s springbreak, which meant we were able to avoid the local crowd.

Nonetheless, I was not able to get rid of the pit in my stomach every time I thought about the trip. So, I called a friend of ours who lives in LA, and asked if they could join us at the park. They were seasoned patrons of Disneyland and have been to several Disney parks all over the world, and they were more than thrilled to meet us there.

Also, in order to keep my sanity, we planned only one day at the park and planned to spend the rest of the week in LA.

Nevertheless, from the moment we landed in LAX, I could feel my heart palpitating, and I was still overwhelmed by the thought of being there the next day.

To our surprise, being at Disneyland in Anaheim or in Garden Grove was like being in a small town in Vermont. Everybody was so friendly and welcoming. Unlike the aloofness and indifference we’d encountered in central LA, it was as if there was something different in the air – Novocaine, perhaps.

Also, I couldn’t believe the special treatment we got just by mentioning our son’s birthday. Not only free upgrades but also special treats and notes from the hotel staff sent to our room wishing our boy a happy birthday. My husband and I have been all over the world to celebrate our birthdays, and we have never gotten such royal treatment!

After a wonderful evening of rest and relaxation at the hotel, we headed out early to Disneyland, and although I’d feared long lines at the entrance, we were able to get through the gate without waiting. It was so easy that I wondered whether we were in the right place.

Then, as we walked through the Main Street, reminiscent of a small town in Northeast, it became clear we were at a place designed specifically for children. Disney parks are their dream come true, and as cynical as we, adults may be about the pomp and the artificiality of it all, when I saw our son’s eyes light up with wonderment and joy, I knew it was worth everything I’d gone through to be there.

Unlike other travel experiences, he got to call the shots in Disneyland and decide where to go and what to do. He explored a galaxy far far away on a Star speeder, trained with Jedi knights to defeat the Dark Side, embarked on an undersea research expedition, raced around a scenic miniature motorway as as if he was a Formula 1 driver, and the list goes on.

As we visited each attraction, seeing the delight and excitement in his face sustained me though the long lines, and I began to enjoy myself as I rediscovered the inner child in me. As we watched the elaborately staged parade, which alone was worth the exorbitant entrance fee, and the magical fireworks in the evening, I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be with our little boy.

No matter how dreadful and overpriced Disneyland may be, there’s no disputing that our son had a fantastic time, and more importantly, it was a memory that will be etched in our minds forever!

Nevertheless, as parents, there are few things that we can do to keep our sanity and even enjoy the trip, and here are some of my tips.

• Visit the park during off season. From my experience and from what I've been told, the best time to go is in January and February. Also, the week before (or after) the LAUSD’s springbreak tend to be less crowded.
• Stay at a hotel nearby, and take the shuttle. As long as it's in the area, the distance doesn’t matter, and make sure that the hotel offers a shuttle service to the parks. It’s cheaper and more convenient than driving, as parking is difficult, and most likely, you still have to take the shuttle from the parking lot.
• Buy tickets online before you get to the park. It’s one less line you have to stand in.
• Everyone we spoke to told us that Fastpass would minimize the wait time at some of the rides. However, we didn’t need it, as we were there during off season, and the wait wasn’t too bad.
• Also, stay flexible and be willing to move on to other attractions or rides if there’s a long line at the one that you wanted to see, and come back to it when the line is shorter. Our boy’s favorite attraction in the park is Jedi Training, and when we tried to attend the 10:20am session, the arena was packed with little people. So, we went on to three other attractions and came back 1½ hours later, and there were a lot less people, which also meant that our son had a better chance of being picked to participate.
• More over, to maintain your sanity, you have to accept the fact that you will not be able to see ALL the attractions. Even after our second visit, we still haven’t seen It’s a Small World, as waiting in that long line usually means losing half a day and being totally exhausted.
• No photos with the characters! We enjoy sharing and commemorating the experience as a family. Therefore, taking photos with strangers hidden in costumes, especially waiting in a line for an hour to do so, is not our priority. I would rather photoshop Mickey and Minnie into a family photo.
• Last but not least, if/when it get too much, take a break or just leave, which is what we did on our first trip. After a day of fun, our son was exhausted around 3pm. So, we decided to call it a day, as if we pushed ourselves to see and do more, we would not have enjoyed ourselves as much. Understandably, parents who spend the big bucks want to cover everything while they’re there, but if your child(ren) becomes too tired, most likely, they - and you will remember how exhausting the trip was instead of how much fun you had.

Ultimately, we had a great time at Disneyland, and believe it or not, I would gladly go back to “the happiest place on earth!”

10 Fun Things To Do With Children In LA

While the "City of Angels" may not evoke images of children frolicking in the sun, every time we visit Los Angeles, I’m always amazed that there are so many wonderful activities for kids.  Although LA is best known for glitz and glam of Hollywood, there are plenty of fun things for the whole family, and here are our 10 favorite places and activities.

1. Disneyland

Yes, the price of Disneyland themepark is exorbitant, and the wait can be exhausting; however, after having been there with our 6 year old son, I agree that Disneyland really IS the happiest place on earth.  For people of all ages, this legendary theme park is packed with fun things to do. 

Stroll down Main Street USA to experience turn-of-the 19th century America, head Westwards at Frontierland and tune into the music of New Orleans square, or transport yourself and your little ones to a galaxy far far away in Tomorrowland.  All your favorite cartoon and fairytale characters and the Jedi Order come to life in dream-like environments.

Even the most cynical heart will find that Disneyland is the most magical place on Earth.

PS, I don’t normally give a shout out to a hotel, especially a chain one at that, but Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground (HOJO, as it’s fondly called) is nothing short of awesomeness. 

2. Santa Monica Beach & Pier 

When it comes to family fun, Pacific Park is our go-to destination.  Located on the historic Santa Monica Pier, it's the West Coast's only pier-set amusement park, including world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel that rises 130 feet above the Ocean.  From trapeze school that offers up a high-flying experience to ocean front walk, from carousel to arcade and aquarium, Santa Monica Pier offers plenty of activities to keep your little ones happy and active.

However, the best part of Santa Monica Beach is that you’re surrounded by 360 degree breathtaking view of the city and the ocean, and with almost 365 days of So. Cal’s sunshine, you can definitely count on having fun anytime of the year. 

3. Lemon Tree & Koreatown  
Every time I visit Koreatown in LA, I’m always pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful finds.  Aside from a great selection of restaurants and foods, there are malls and stores that carry one-of-a-kind goods and toys for our little one, which makes it a fun outing for the whole family.

During our last visit, we found Lemon Tree, a restaurant that had an indoor playspace for children (ideally for those under the age of 7).  It’s a perfect place for a playdate, as while kids are having a blast in the playspace under restaurant employee supervision, parents get to relax, enjoy a meal and even get to engage in a meaningful conversation.

As expected, the food and service is on the mediocre side, although it sure beats the greasy mess at other so-called kid-friendly dining establishments like Chuck E Cheese, where you can hardly hear yourself think.  There is a $9 entry fee for every child, and accompanying adult must order a meal, which makes it a pretty hefty sum.  Nevertheless, an afternoon of fun for our little boy and a peaceful meal and conversation for my husband and I – priceless!

Other kid-friendly restaurants in LA:
Giggles N’ Hugs  
Little Prince Kids Cafe 

4. Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is one of the most iconic landmarks in LA that no one should miss.  Especially if you’re visiting Los Angeles for the first time, you should definitely make the drive or hike up there in order to get the best view of the city – and the most breathtaking sunset. 

However, for children, it’s an awesome adventure into the outer space!  The observatory features 60 space-related exhibits designed to sparkle any and all children’s imagination, the highlight being the largest astronomically accurate image ever produced 20 X 152-foot porcelain enamel dazzler that's cleverly called "The Big Picture."      

Every time we’re in LA, we spend at least half a day at the Griffith Observatory, and on warm nights, with the lights twinkling below, this is one of the most romantic places in L.A.

PS. The only downside is that the parking lot can fill up quickly during weekends and holidays, and you will have no choice but to hike or take the shuttle (runs every 30 minutes) to the observatory.  So, if you’re traveling with young children, you may want to get there early.

5. Shane's Inspiration  
Disneyland may be the happiest place on earth, but Shane's Inspiration gets my vote for being the most inclusive.  This may not mean a lot to most people, but for me, it’s important that ALL children have access to a wonderful playspace without having to pay exorbitant amount of money – not to mention, there’s no better place to meet the locals.

True to their words, Shane’s Inspiration is an inclusive and universally accessible playground, and it's designed to allow children of all abilities to feel that the playground was made especially for them.  Each design was guided by a team of experts, the children with disabilities who use them and medical experts who work with those children every day.

And the best part of Shane’s Inspiration is the location, as it’s embedded in the most idyllic part of Griffith Park with the gorgeous Hollywood Hills as a backdrop. 

6. California Science Center & IMAX Theater

If you think visiting Los Angeles is expensive, then, a trip to California Science Center will change your mind.  Entrance to one of the most popular museum destinations in California, 400,000 square feet of fun and scientific exploration is FREE! 

The museum keeps young ones entertained by presenting science through exhibits tied to popular culture or blockbuster movies.  Plus, there are tons of hands-on activities and demonstrations in Science Court.  Last, but certainly not least, you'll all leave awestruck by the 7-story IMAX theater that brings worlds "as small as an atom and as vast as the universe" to life right in front of your eyes.

7. LA County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Traveling with young children doesn’t mean having to spend your vacation at crowded amusement parks, or going to places where entry is determined with a yard stick.  My husband and I have always taken our little boy to destinations that we enjoy like National Parks, beaches, and even museums.  The museums in Los Angeles are not only some of the best and the most unique in the country, but also provide tons of fun activities for children. 

The collections of the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) are housed in a vast 20-acre complex of buildings.  The focal point is the BP Grand Entrance, which includes the stunning installation of Chris Burden's Urban Light, which also happens to be an ideal spot for children to play hide-and-go-seek.  However, once you get them inside, there's Richard Serra's Band, an expansive ribbon of rusted metal that creates flowing spaces which simultaneously intimidate with their immensity and enchant with their intimacy.  The waves of metal provide a perfect space for children to use their imagination, and throw in a ride in Barbara Kruger's romper-room-sized elevator and the rain of rubber tubing that is Penetrable in Neon Lime by Jesús Rafael Soto, and you will be more than convinced that adult museums can be fun for children too. 

8. Getty Villa & Center 

Much like the LACMA, Getty Villa (Malibu) and Getty Center perched on top of the Santa Monica Mountains provide hours of fun cultural experience for children and adults alike.

The Family Forum in Getty Villa is a space filled with hands-on activities designed to encourage children and families to explore, play, and learn together.  Children can step into a scene from an ancient vase in the shadow-pose area, where they can dress up and transform themselves into an athlete, musician, or even a monster and act out their own stories.  There is an area where you can learn all about the world of ancient Greek vases and how they were made, decorated, and used.  You can rub patterns off designs inspired by ancient examples or draw on life-sized replicas of ancient vases, and learn about vase shapes by experimenting with three-dimensional puzzles that allow you to construct different vase forms by piecing together building blocks.

The Family Room at the Getty Center features five activity coves and treasure-hunt walls that surround the room.  It's bursting with cool things to see and do, where kids can decorate a giant illuminated manuscript, build a tube sculpture, and pretend to be in a parade scene in a painting, or play with camera lenses and a wall of mirrors.  Also, the art treasure hunt for kids throughout the museum will keep your little ones entertained as you stroll through the 20th century’s greatest artists.

9. Hollywood Walk of Fame

Spanning 2.4 miles, the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. encompasses more than 2,400 stars made of terrazzo and brass, and everyone who is - and was anyone in Hollywood is immortalized there.  No matter how touristy it is, I absolutely adore walking down these streets seeing the names of some of the greatest artists, actors/actresses, musicians past and present.  And the best part of the trip is to see the excitement in our little boy face when he finds the names he recognizes!

Then, we also like to stop by Grauman's Chinese Theater to see the handprints of the stars – our boy’s favorite being the ones of the Star Wars characters at the entrance.

10. Peterson Automotive Museum
If your child can't wait to get a driver's license, head over to one of the worlds largest and most beautiful automotive museums.  You'll see hot rods, Model-T's, custom vehicles, motorcycles, celebrity cars, and even the former LA trolley system's Red Cars.  The third floor of the museum is geared specifically toward kids with hands-on exhibits designed for them to climb up into the driver's seat.  This 300,000-square foot museum will fascinate young children and their parents alike.

Be sure to check out Johnny Rockets for lunch, as their tasty milkshake, burgers and hotdogs will surely satisfy even the hungriest little ones.