Saturday, March 26, 2005

back from our second spring break trip

So we just came back from another trip, this time to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. I'm definitely not complaining. :-)

Day 1

Our first stop was Casa de Fruta in Hollister. The nice thing is that the store had lots of free samples. I felt guilty after eating so much and bought some chocolates before leaving. The rest of the drive was uneventful, although we made a quick stop for pictures at San Luis Reservoir. The lake was huge!

It was late when we got to our hotel. Dad and I watched Rambo III on TV before going to bed. That was a cool movie.

Day 2

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks awaited us in the morning. Some parts of Kings Canyon were still closed for the winter, but Sequoia was pretty nice. The fresh air made for a great hike. All of us enjoyed walking among the giant trees. That was an amazing experience and my favorite part of the trip.

I saw a store in Fresno called WinCo Foods on our way home. Seeing that everything was super cheap, the three of us bought dinner to eat in the car before going back for groceries. This was a great way to end our vacation. Looks like we have a new favorite place to shop!

March 28 update: I'm now back at Berkeley as spring break has ended. I didn't feel like making another post as the rest of the break was uneventful.

Currently watching: Rambo III

Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available here.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Yosemite trip report

I just got back from Yosemite National Park with my parents. This was our first spring break vacation in five years. All of us definitely had a great time.

Day 1

Our trip began with a 200-mile drive to Oakhurst. There was plenty of free time as it was barely past 2 p.m. when we arrived. The alpine air was fresh and made for a great hike. It was a wonderful experience.

After returning to the hotel for some rest, my parents and I had dinner at the on-site restaurant. Though the food wasn't cheap, everything was delicious, especially the pasta I ordered. On the whole, the dinner was the best part of the trip.

Day 2

The three of us headed back to the park after breakfast to see the famous waterfalls. The spray from Yosemite Falls was quite refreshing. Our last stop in the park was Yosemite Village in the afternoon. The Village Store is easily one of my favorite places.

Mom wanted to go to the Gilroy Premium Outlets for a shoe sale, so that was our next stop. We managed to get there with about an hour to spare. This was followed by dinner at the Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant in San Jose. As with our previous visits, the food didn't disappoint. It was a great end to a great vacation.

Currently listening to: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 by J. S. Bach