Under the Sign

There is a lot happening today at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Disneyland is launching their version of Star Tours 2.0 and Disney’s California Adventure is continuing its expansion with the debut of a new Little Mermaid ride.

That’s right, visitors at the Disneyland Resort are going to explore space and the deep, blue sea all in one day. That’s adventure, people!

The updated Star Tours ride will have the same amazing modifications as the Walt Disney World version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re talking 3D and multiple Star Wars experiences in each journey! I’ve heard good things.

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is a dark ride featuring some of our favorite scenes from the movie BROUGHT. TO. LIFE. Believe it.

If you’re going to the parks today you should be prepared for some pretty big crowds, but as someone that has attended plenty of big events and special occasions at the Disneyland Resort, I can assure you that it is worth it!

Churros not included in the price of admission.

Photo from The DisneyParks Blog

In the wintertime, Arizona is a paradise for motorcyclists. Take this weekend – it’s supposed be sunny and around 70 degrees here in the Valley of the Sun. Arizona motorcyclists actually tend to take the summers off, when the temperatures are over a hundred degrees – or else we stick to the towns in the higher elevations, where the temperatures range in the 80′s and 90′s. Really, though, we cram as much riding into the months of October through April as we can.

There are some fantastic, picturesque rides throughout the state, so if you’re visiting on two wheels I highly recommend that you check these routes out:

Kingman as seen from Route 66.

Historic Route 66 South of Kingman:

This ride takes you through the Black Mountains and offers spectacular views. There are a number of tight turns and curves that motorcyclists covet, plus you’ll be near Lake Havasu City, and will drive past the original London Bridge. The road starts in Kingman, AZ (about 70 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada). From Kingman, look for the signs directing you to Route 66 and head soutwest towards Oatman. When you get to Oatman, continue down to Topock, and you are at the end of the route.

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Legoland front entrace

My husband and I have amusement park-phobia.  (There must be a scientific name for that.  For now, I’ll go with the clunky made-up version.)  When we travel, we prefer to head to destinations in the middle of nature, with as few other people around as possible.  Now that we have two young children, however, entertainment and conveniences are much more necessary.  Stick a ton of both of those things in one place, jack up the price, and poof!  You have an amusement park. Read More »

Easy riding on the Hiawatha Bike Trail

First thing they do each morning is clear out the bears.

Because you really don’t want to meet a bear while you’re biking through one of the dark mountain tunnels of the Hiawatha Bike Trail in North Idaho.

The Hiawatha is the ultimate family bike trail in the United States.  According to me, anyway.  The trail winds along 17 miles of abandoned railbed, through nine tunnels, across seven high trestles, and among some of the most stunning mountain scenery you can imagine.

One of many tunnels on the Hiawatha Bike Trail

You start your adventure about two miles off Interstate 90, right across the Idaho-Montana border.  After parking your car and paying a trail use fee, you’re immediately faced with a black hole in the side of the mountain.  It’s the 1.7-mile Taft Tunnel, the longest and darkest of the many tunnels you’ll experience on the trail.

This is where you’d better have some good flashlights strapped to your bike.  We rode through the Taft Tunnel with one good light and several weak ones.  My son took the strong light and the lead, and we followed a tiny flashing red light clipped to his backpack.  It didn’t take long for me to start hallucinating as I followed that bouncing little light into the pitch black.  In the cool, quiet center of the mountain, you start to feel like you’re cycling off into space.  And you miss the spot, about halfway through, when you cross from Montana into Idaho.

Eventually, as the tunnel curves, you see a little white dot of sunlight on the other side, and you exit the tunnel to find a lovely little waterfall and creek.  Here’s where the scenery begins as you start your descent of 1000 feet over the course of 15 more miles on a compact dirt and gravel trail.  With a 2% grade, it’s an easy ride for everyone, regardless of experience and skill.  My son easily did it at the age of 7.

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