Things I Learned On Our West Coast Vacation

It had been a l-o-n-g time since I'd been out west, and several of the places we visited on our family vacation this summer were brand new to me.  Here's some of the discoveries I made along the way.

• It really is possible for it to rain in Death Valley.  We were there in a light mist, maybe 80 degrees, in early August even.  Doubtless a far, far better way to explore it than if it were 40 degrees warmer.
• That's not white sand in the pictures of Death Valley…it's salt crystals, leaching out of the parched and broken soil.
• It had been far too long since last I'd played blackjack, but playing against a three-deck shoe probably didn't help either.
• Trona, CA, is one of the most depressing places any of us have ever been to.  Run-down, unkept, just screaming "don't live here!" to anyone passing through.
• Go to Disney's California Adventure first thing in the day.  Everyone else went to Disneyland/the Magic Kingdom side, so we were essentially walking right up to rides for the first hour or two, including the Tower of Terror.  California Screamin' is a very good coaster ride.  The wait for the Cars ride was too long, but the ride itself went a long way towards redeeming it.
• Some of the rides (Matterhorn) really show their age.  Sarah found herself preferring Kings Dominion over most of the classic Disneyland rides.
• I bow to LA traffic as truly the worst in the nation.  It never stops!  There's never a time when there's not some miles-long backup as part of our day.  Get off the roads, people, and get into your offices!
• The geographic diversity of California is really amazing.  Dusty, dry deserts and steep rocky canyons to the south, foggy San Francisco, simply stunning coastal drives near Mendocino, and hairpin turns through redwood forests in the northern extremes. 770 miles long, and it shows it!
• The legacy of student protest remains at Berkeley.  Administration buildings never have two door handles, either one or none, so students can't chain administrators in (or out). Not sure that factoid sat too well with David or Sarah during their tour.
• The folks at Alcatraz have done a marvelous job preserving The Rock and the audio tour was great at relating stories and events.  In all the time I've spent in SF, I'd never been out there before, and was blown away at being able to see it all.
• Getting over the mountains to the Pacific Coast Highway was an adventure, with more switchbacks than I had counted on.  And the thick, thick forests and the first of the redwoods made it a dark and sometimes intimidating drive.  But, oh, once the coast pops into view…I know I've found a landscape I can wake up to each morning in retirement.
• I bought the most expensive gallon of gas I've ever bought in Mendocino, CA, within sight of the gorgeous Mendocino Bay.  $6.26 for a gallon of regular!
• I truly cannot recall having been to Redwoods National Park before, so being able to see what Mary remembered as a teen was special.  Again, up through the mountains with the switchbacks, before coming to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove and the mile-plus walk exploring those immense, ancient trees…stunning all in their own majesties.