Midnight Plane to Georgia

Ah the Red Eye. I always say I’m not going to take it – but there is something so appealing about having a full working day and arriving at my destination with another full day to burn. No matter how bad my last experience was I always seem to want to try the red eye again. Since being stationed in California I seem to do a lot of red eye flying. Since my family is in Atlanta and all my friends seem to be getting married and having babies in east coast locations I have become a frequent red eye taker.

There are a few key tips to surviving:

First: Make it Quiet. (Earplugs & Noise Canceling Headphones.) I put in the earplugs as soon as I get on the plane just to start quieting everything down. If I haven’t fallen asleep by the time the plane is at its cruising altitude then I switch to the Noise Canceling Headphones. I plug them into the plane’s audio system and set it on the classical music channel or hook it up to my Ipod and set it to an audio book or relaxing mix.

Second: Blackout Curtins. (A good sleep mask.)You will need a good sleep mask – one that fits comfortably without pulling your hair or inhibits your breathing. When looking for my perfect sleep mask I even found some for people that don’t like pressure on their eyes. I choose a mask with a pretty print that also houses a lavender insert over the eyes to release stress.

Third: Get Comfy. (Stick to your Routine.) At home I might be in my flannel jammie-jams but on the plane I wear comfortable, loose fitting, dark clothing. Something I can sleep in and still walk off the plane and look presentable. I like to wear a scarf for easy temperature adjustment. I always change out of my contacts and into glasses before I board the plane so I am ready to sleep as soon as I get on. Pack your carry-on bags with the boarding process in mind. Place items like your MP3 player, phone & headphones in your small personal bag so they are easily accusable under the seat in front of you. This makes me efficient when I get on the plane, pleasing the flight attendants and fellow passengers, and limiting how much up and down I’ll need to do on the flight. Additionally, I try to have a new movie or tv show uploaded on my ipod just in case I wake up with an hour or less of the flight to go. This gives me something to do or listen to as I wake up. You can always entertain yourself by flipping through the Sky Mall Catalog and creating your own “The 7 Most Useless Things” list.

Fourth: Good Linens.(A pillow & blanket set.) Some airlines provide a pillow and blanket but it is just not the same as having something from home. I have a great little set where the blanket stuffs inside the pillow case. When an airplane pillow is available I put it inside my pillow case and use the blanket as a cover. This way I know exactly what is rubbing up against my skin. It also helps me feel a bit more at home.

Finally, bring a toothbrush and toothpaste. Nothing makes you feel better when you wake up then being able to brush your teeth. Your fellow passengers will appreciate it as well.

When I arrive in my location I stay awake even if it means caffeine, sugar and a cold shower. I’m always tired on the first day but come evening I’m ready to go to bed with the rest of the East Coast and then on the right time for the rest of the trip. I also try to remind myself that I choose the red eye to have more time at my destination – not to sleep!

On this particular trip to Atlanta my sister and I both red eyed in for a family reunion. I booked manicures and pedicures for both of us this morning at 10Ten Nail Bar in Morningside. At 10Ten they do your toes in a backwards recliner – so while I relaxed with an eye pillow over my tired eyes, my toes were made beach ready. Then we scheduled lunch with friends at our favorite Atlanta pizza place, Fellini’s. We were home in time to enjoy an Atlanta evening on the porch while updating blogs and reading books. It hardly feels like I’ve only had three hours of sleep, although I know I will be ready for bed a bit earlier than usual this morning. The best part is I got a full day of activity in today and tomorrow I will be ready to head to the beach with the family.

The OC

A post by guest blogger and traveling buddy, Bethany.

We've seen the TV shows but we had to check it out for ourselves! An easy Saturday morning drive about 3 hours, brought us to Huntington Beach and a few miles south, to the Balboa peninsula of Newport Beach. And then we looked for parking… and looked, and drove in circles until we finally found the one metered space left in the whole town and parked it! This was a reoccurring theme and our one big complaint - parking was hard to find!

We rented a boat from Balboa Boat Rentals, a small, easy to drive electric boat with a shade canopy and removable plastic sides, and even a table for snacks! Apparently this is the vehicle of choice, as we saw many docked at private docks as well as at the rental locations. Included with the boat is a guide to the most famous houses around the harbor, and information about the area. The boating area is a bay sheltered by the Balboa Peninsula, but watch out for the Balboa Island Ferry, other small boats and large yachts sharing this small waterway!

Just a few steps from the boat rental dock Balboa Fun Zone was calling to us with its Ferris wheel, Carousel and old-time-y arcade with some addictive Skee-ball. Unfortunately, bumper-cars are gone now, but it’s still a fun place to be a kid until you run out of quarters! Also think about checking out the Maritime museum right next door.

Taking the ferry across to Balboa island cost us $5 with the car, and saved us a 15 minute drive back off the peninsula and around the mainland. You can also walk or take a bike for $1 per adult. The ferry docks on Balboa Island with a cute village for walking and shopping, if you can find a place to park... If you are hungry grab a Balboa Bar – an ice cream bar dipped in chocolate and your choice of toppings, a local specialty, along with chocolate dipped bananas.

North of the Island is the Back Bay Area with marshland full of wildlife, quiet and perfect for kayaking. We tried to stop by the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive center but it was closed by 4pm, so if you are a nature lover, plan to go there earlier in the day.

For dinner we were looking for fresh seafood, preferably served with a harbor view. The Rusty Pelican was the perfect choice, with all fresh caught fish and yachts parked right outside. If you reserve a boat slip you can actually dock your boat and go eat. For something a little more casual our second choice was the Crab Cooker.

To end our night in Newport Beach we walked along the beach ocean-side looking into all the beach houses open to catch the sea breezes. Bring a jacket even in July, and dip your toes in the cold Pacific!

An all around favorite activity was tidepooling at Little Corona State Beach. Check the tides before you go, and bring some good water shoes for climbing on rocks. Some of the creatures spotted were hermit crabs, sea urchins, sea anemones, mussels, and a few little fish. The rocky coast was beautiful with the waves crashing – definitely a must do activity!

For more outdoor activities you can hike or bike through the hills of Crystal Cove State Park, with views of the water from most spots. Or cross the Pacific Coast Highway and take an easy walk on the bluffs, and wander into the historic area of Crystal Cove to see the 1930’s beach resort.

We headed south into downtown Laguna Beach for some lunch at The Sundried Tomato Café (as seen on Real Housewives of the OC) where we sat outside in the courtyard enjoying the sunshine and some good food before heading home.

If you are a fan of the TV show the OC pick up a Newport Beach local guide and do a tour of famous spots seen in the show. For the surfing crowd there is the International Surfing Museum at Huntington Beach. If your taste runs more towards the Arts, all summer long Laguna Beach hosts an Arts Festival, check out their website for a calendar of what is going on while you are there, and don’t forget to check Blue Star Families – the Laguna Art museum is free for military families this summer!

Summer Day in LA

A few times a year I drive into LA to get my haircut. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I found a great place to get my hair done and Jeff enjoys the free time in LA. On this particular trip our neighbors joined us for the day in LA.

Bethany and I headed to Muse Atelier to see Nikki. While the webpage makes the place look a bit uppity – it’s actually a very relaxing and cool place. They have a patio outside where you can wait with a glass of wine or lemonade until your stylist is ready. The atmosphere is great and the prices aren’t bad for an LA Salon. Between my cut, color & style and Bethany going from long hair to a cute bob we spent most of the afternoon hanging out with the gang at Muse Atelier.

Meanwhile the boys headed off to the Griffith Observatory. The Observatory is a must visit in LA. The park is always crowded with families milling about but still nice to walk around. The museum also has lots to offer. Our favorite is the solar telescope. On any given weekend you’re bound to new find exhibits set out on the front lawn. We have never been to the planetarium show, but it always seems to be popular and is on our list for a future visit.

After an afternoon at the observatory for the boys and a day at the salon for the girls we met back up for an evening in LA. We had plans to go to dinner at Umami Burger after reading an article about it in Travel & Leisure and hearing from some LA Locals that the #1 combo is the way to go. My hairstylist, however, recommended a place just around the corner called Stout (1544 N. Cahuenga Blvd (at Selma) Hollywood, CA.) After checking them both out, and since Nikki has never steered us wrong, we decided to try the burgers at Stout. While the Six Weeker 9 (with Camembert, fig chutney, mild jack, arugula, caramelized onions and smoked Gouda) came highly recommended we all chose separate burgers and split an order of the seasoned fries and sweet potato fries. The boys ordered from the beef menu with one ordering the hometown favorite, the Stout Burger (with blue cheese, emi gruyere, rosemary bacon, caramelized onion & horseradish cream), and the other ordering the Shu Burger (with pepper jack, light bell spread & grilled avocado chipotle sauce.) Bethany ordered the IOS 3am Chicken Burger (with tzatiziki, greek fries, eggplant spread & feta cheese) and I, of course, ordered a veggie burger called the Bollywood (with chutney mayonnaise, sharp cheddar, arugula, roasted tomato & avocado.) Our experience at Stout proved that every once and a while you just need a $10 burger.

With a bit of extra time on our hands we headed over to Frosted Cupcakery (1200 N. Highland Ave.) I would highly recommend the Ice Cream Cupcakes – they fill jumbo cupcakes with ice cream, making them perfect to split (from $4.95). As a note, by 6pm on a weekend they are basically out of cupcakes - come early if you want a specific flavor.

Finally, we snuck in a little visit to the LeBrea Tar Pits before heading to the Hollywood Bowl. The Tar Pits are fascinating. In the middle of this big city are these tar pits that have been there for millions of years. As long as the pits have been there things have been walking into them. The museum has a display of all the stuff they have pulled out of the pits - but the really cool part is looking into the fishbowl window to see the archeologists at work as they pull more artifacts out of the pits. Despite the smell, the LeBrea Tar Pits is worth a visit.

Goldstone Deep Space Network

2 hours northeast of Edwards - 105 miles away, lies the Goldstone Deep Space Network (DSN). It's one of three NASA communication complexes spaced 120 degrees of longitude apart around the world (plus Spain, Australia). It's also one of those places in Southern California that I'd like to call a 'hidden gem.' They offer public tours weekdays multiple times per week; here's the info! Or just call Karla Warner at 760-255-8688. Her e-mail address is kwarner@jgld.gdscc.nasa.gov. The tour is free and includes seeing the DSN museum (Shuttle tire, Aerogel, historic displays, first satellite/rocket replica) and a handful of the giant satellite dishes (including the Apollo 11 dish). While a long drive, seeing the dozen or so satellite dishes was worth the trip. Consider adding lunch or dinner in Barstow (Chipotle, Chili's, In n Out) or in Boron (Domingo's).

The kids will love looking out for tanks on the long drive from Barstow into Goldstone, as the complex is adjacent to the Fort Irwin training area.

For a dramatized version of satellite ops during the Space Race, check out "The Dish," available from Netflix!

The Hollywood Bowl

The Hollywood Bowl should be on your LA Bucket List. The Bowl is one of our favorite night time activities in LA. Since opening in July of 1922 the Hollywood Bowl and the LA Philharmonic have been enchanting audiences with their magic under the stars. They offer a variety of summer concerts and you are sure to find something you will enjoy. We recently went to the 4th of July Concert & Fireworks that featured Vince Gill. Last year we attended a concert of John Williams’ music directed by John Williams. With seating for just under 18,000 every seat in the Bowl is a good seat (so go ahead and get the $15 tickets instead of springing for the $120 ones.)

My favorite part about the Hollywood Bowl is being able to picnic on the grounds before the show. There are a variety of picnic grounds, although they can fill up quickly before the show. Bring a bottle of wine and your favorite picnic food (we like to go by the whole foods on our way for some snacks) and enjoy the view before the show.

Here are a few tips:

Choosing your seat: If you like your personal space you should pick a seat on the side of the Hollywood Bowl. The new seating system allows you to choose a section - making finding a non crowded seat much easier.

What to Pack: Make sure to bring a blanket – even in the summer it gets cold in the evening. It’s also a good idea to bring something to sit on – the wooden benches can get hard.