Christmas Road Trip - The Grand Canyon

Day 11 - Phoenix to the Grand Canyon We left balmy Phoenix this morning for the colder but more beautiful Grand Canyon. As we made our way up I-17 toward Flagstaff we went from cacti everywhere to snow falling in the mountains. Our first stop was to be Sedona for lunch. Unfortunately, we drove by the exit and then realized it about 5 miles later, the next exit not being for another 9 miles! We decided it was worth turning around for and are glad we did. The red rocks of Sedona are spectacular!

Red Rocks of Sedona. 

We drove through the cute towns and stopped at a trailhead but decided it was too cold to hike without the proper clothing, which we did not have. So we must come back another time to take advantage of all there is to do in this area. We scouted out a Subway for lunch and pulled into a picturesque parking lot to eat our sandwiches. Cheap with a beautiful view! John and the girls hit the local dollar store for New Year's decorations and the ingredients for Shirley Temples so we could bring in the new year right.

Back on the road for another couple of hours to get to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We got there around 4:00 and were able to see the canyon from the south rim visitor's center. Amazing does not even come close to describing this incredible natural wonder! If it wasn't so cold, I'm sure we would have spent much longer looking at it. Again, we'll need to come back when it's warmer. It's supposed to get down to -2 tonight!

As the sun set, we headed back to the little town of Tusayan to our hotel. We checked in and then went to find dinner. Hmmm. . . not many choices and a number of them were pricey as they had New Year's specials for a night out. We ended up at the Plaza Bonita Family Mexican restaurant. Thankfully, they had something for everyone and it didn't break the bank! Then back to the hotel to watch the ball drop and bring out the party gear! And, I think we'll be calling it a New Year before midnight this year.

Christmas Road Trip - Day 10

Day 10 San Diego, CA - Phoenix, AZ We started the day off a little slower today. Before heading to Phoenix, we went to the San Diego Persidio Park & original mission site. The views from there are spectacular and it was a gorgeous day so we could see in all directions. Next we headed to the Mission Beach area and walked along the boardwalk. The waves were huge today! Knowing we will be driving many days on flat more barren lands, we soaked in the ocean view and beautiful sunshine. It's also a great place to do some people watching. Always a favorite pastime of mine.

It was time to hit the road. The drive from San Diego on I-8 East was actually quite beautiful. We traversed through some mountains or at least some steep hills. About an hour out, the terrain became very rocky like nothing we had seen before. John had planned a stop for us at the Desert Tower about halfway between SD and Yuma. The guy who ran the tower was full of information and the tower itself was an eclectic collection of memorabilia and artifacts from all over America and especially the desert.

The gentleman who ran the place told us where to get lunch in Yuma - Lute's Casino. Lute's was not a working casino but a step back in time with an old west feeling and lots of Americana all over the walls, ceilings, tables, anywhere something could be put. It was a great lunch stop!

Back on the road. We got a bit off the beaten path by taking 95 east instead of I-8. It was more of a 2 lane highway and took us right through the Yuma Proving Grounds which is where the military trains and tests weapons. It was barren, that's for sure. We made a stop somewhere along the way to get a picture of a cactus. We took this until it met up with I-10 and then made the final leg into Phoenix.

We're all getting a little road weary. Emotions were a little quicker to come out and patience ran a bit thin. Hopefully a good night's sleep will do the trick. Overall, everyone has done really well and so has the van. For those things, we are grateful! Tomorrow it's off to the Grand Canyon!

Christmas Road Trip - San Diego

Day 9 San Diego Today was a day of being tourists in San Diego. We spent the majority of the day at the San Diego Zoo - a world famous zoo that did not disappoint! The animal habitats were amazing as well as the variety of animals to see. We did not make it through the whole thing.

The giraffes were Abbey's favorite. Jackie wanted to make sure we made it to the reptile house. All of us had a great time walking and viewing God's creativity seen in the animal kingdom.

It began to rain and got quite chilly around 3:00 so we left the zoo and headed to the harbor area. We took a little walk around Seaport Village and the younger girls got official San Diego sweatshirts. It was a tough choice for Jackie whether to get pink or purple. She settled on purple and seems happy with her choice.

We then went over the Coronado Bridge and did a rolling tour of Coronado as the weather was quite rainy by now. Back to San Diego Old Town we went for dinner at Guadalupe Cafe with authentic Mexican food and a mariachi band to boot!

A great day in a great city. Off the bed and on to Phoenix tomorrow!

Christmas Road Trip - Day 8

Day 8 Santa Barbara to San Diego via LA We got a fairly early start from Santa Barbara and headed on our way to San Diego. We made a detour through Hollywood and Beverly Hills with a cruise down Rodeo Drive. We did not see any stars but we did see some very fancy cars! We made sure to see the Hollywood sign on the side of the hill just so the kids could say they saw it. We also saw 2 bums get in a brawl on Santa Monica Blvd. over who had rights to the median. So we got a little of everything on our little jaunt into LA.


On we went to Aunt Cheri Vanderstelt's house for lunch and a visit with her and Andrew, Kristen, Tyler, & Hayden. We had delicious White Chicken Chili, which I need to get the recipe from Cheri, and a good time of catching up with the Vanderstelt clan. With full tummies, we hit "the 5" south to San Diego.

After some harrowing traffic, we found our hotel, got settled, and then headed out for dinner at In & Out Burger. We each used our gift card from the Bergtholds and enjoyed a yummy burger and truly Californian experience. That place was jammed! After dessert at Cold Stone Creamery, it was back to the hotel and bed. Ahhh . . . it was good to hit the pillow.

Christmas Road Trip - Santa Barbara

Days 6 & 7 Santa Barbara, CA We had managed to check off a number of items on the Bergthold "list of things to do" on Christmas Eve and Day but there was still plenty of Santa Barbara to be experienced! We began the day with a trip to the wharf and the Sea Museum. It was a good display of sea life including sharks, jelly fish, and various unique starfish. After looking at so much sea life, it was time to eat some! So off we went to the harbor to get some fish and chips fresh from the harbor. Yum! Quite possibly the best fish and chips we have ever had.

Fish and chips at the harbor.

After filling ourselves beyond full, we drove up to Santa Barbara High to drop Claire off at water polo practice. As long as we were up that way, it was a great time to pay a visit to Tom & Jean Shrock, Genny Hykin's parents. We surprised them but they seemed to enjoy it. What a beautiful view of the city and ocean they have! Truly, a "million dollar" (or more) view.

Since we have some "thrifters" in the family, actually both families, we were off to Catholic Charities thrift store to see if any bargains were to be had. The Bergtholds were disappointed in the prices as they seemed higher than in the past, but the girls still managed to get a few items. Colin, our usual thrifty guy, did not find anything - probably because he thought it was too expensive too.

Not because we were hungry, but because in order to do Santa Barbara right, we stopped at La Supa Rica for some authentic Mexican tacos. Yum! Written up in 1000 Places to See Before You Die, it did not disappoint! There was one more stop to be made before picking Claire up from practice and that was the courthouse. Not many courthouses in the US are worth visiting, but this one is sure worth the stop. We made a dash to the top of the tower, snapped a few photos (it was cold and starting to rain) and then scooted off to get Claire from practice.

View from SB Courthouse Tower - Rainbow included for free!

We spent the evening hanging out at home eating leftovers and playing games. We were worn out from packing so much into a day!

Thursday morning began with a trip to East Beach for some sand castle building, walking, paddle ball, and relaxing. There are few places on earth I'd rather be than on the beach in Santa Barbara. A great start to our last day in this amazing place!

East Beach

The sand castle crew - no expense spared!

After lunch, we headed up the hill to Westmont College and a tour from Heather & Megan. It was a great chance for our kids to see the college. What a beautiful campus! Who knows, one of them just may end up going there. On the way back home, we took a drive by San Ysidro Ranch and Oprah's estate. We made a quick stop back home and then off to State Street for some shopping. We finished the day with pizza for the kids and a night out at Enterprise Fish Company for the adults. The time here has gone way too fast!

I wish we lived closer to the Bergthold family. We had a great time hanging out with them and appreciate their wonderful hospitality.

Christmas Road Trip - Christmas Day

Christmas Day - Santa Barbara Style As far as I can remember, we have not spent Christmas in a warmer climate. In some ways, it didn't really seem like Christmas but then in much of the world, Christmas is celebrated without snow. So why do we associate Christmas so much with snow? There certainly wasn't snow where Jesus was born, at least to my knowledge. Maybe all those song writers got us to think snow when we think Christmas.

Nevertheless, we had a wonderful Christmas with the Bergthold clan. We began the morning with warm pull-apart bread, coffee, stockings, and a few gifts. It was fun seeing what each of the kids got in their stockings and we found that the Bergthold santa is very similar to the McLaughlin Santa with a slant toward more practical items such as socks, deodorant, and a little candy. We followed the stockings with a delicious breakfast and then the guys and kids went for a hike in the mountains. Kurt & Colin went all the way to the top of Montecito Peak, the highest peak above Santa Barbara. We'll see how they fare in the days to come. . .

After a lunch of leftovers, we headed to the beach in time for low tide so that we could see the tide pools. There were tons of sea urchins on the rocks. There were also tons of Santa Barbarans walking the beach. The Bergtholds ran into a number of friends along the way and we enjoyed being on the beach on such a pretty day. It was almost surreal. We also headed over the harbor to walk along the dock and see Santa Barbara with the sun set shining into the mountains. Beautiful!

Beach walking was followed by a fabulous ham dinner, lots of laughter, and joyful hearts. It was a great day celebrating the birth of our Savior and the company of good friends.

Christmas Trip Day 4 - Christmas Eve

Flagstaff, AZ - Santa Barbara, CA  The final stretch to our Christmas designation and celebrating with the Bergtholds. There was quite a bit of snow in Flagstaff with temps in the high 20's when we packed up the van to pull out. I didn't realize that Flagstaff is at 6,000 feet altitude with mountains in the background. After our fueling up with Starbucks, we were off. The first part of the trip was a mixed terrain and very beautiful.

We reached the California border and fruit inspection station. We wondered if our apples would pass. Thankfully they were from Washington so we were free and clear to travel MANY miles through the Mojave Desert. It's a flat stretch with lots of sagebrush and that's about it. You definitely feel like you are in the middle of no where. We stopped for lunch in Barstow and then continued on through the desert and into the mountains. Just a few more hours to go!

Mojave Desert

We reached the California coast at about 4:15 - ahhh - the Pacific Ocean at last! We pulled into the Bergthold's at 4:45 grateful to see our dear friends and to have arrived safely. We had a wonderful authentic tamale dinner - a Christmas Eve tradition among Hispanic people and Californians. These were our first tamales and they were delicious!

Then it was off for a drive to see the Santa Barbara Mission at night. On the way, we saw an over the top house of lights. The mission was beautiful all lit up and with a nativity scene in the front with live donkeys. We had some time to kill before going to the Christmas Eve service at Santa Barbara Community Church. It was a beautiful service and we all managed to stay awake despite being exhausted.

We lay our heads down with grateful hearts.

Decorated Santa Barbara house

Christmas Road Trip Day 3

Amarillo, TX - Flagstaff, AZ We started off the day with essential stops at Walgreens and Starbucks putting us on the road a little later than we had hoped. Just a few miles down the road, we stopped at Cadillac Ranch - a field in the middle of nowhere with old Cadillacs wedged into the ground front end first. An unusual sight to be sure! The added fun is that you can bring spray paint and add graffiti to them. Layers upon layers of graffiti cover the old Caddies. A fun bit of Americana!

It was off to Albuquerque,NM for our next adventure, the Sangia Peak Tram ride. This tram is one of the longest in the world and takes you from 6000 ft. to 10000 ft. in about 15 minutes. The tram holds up to 50 people and has fantastic views! We had fun at the top of the mountain catching all the views. The backside of the mountain is for skiing although there was not enough snow yet for that. After numerous photos, we got back on the tram for the descent and then back in the van for the second half of the day's journey.

We drove miles and miles of just open land mixed with red rock formations. It actually was much more beautiful than I had anticipated. The sunset over the hills was gorgeous. We had dinner in Gallup, NM at a Wendy's. Not nearly as exciting as last night's dining. It did give us the local flavor though.

We finally arrived in Flagstaff at about 9:00 MST ready to crash and gear up for the last leg. About 9 hours of driving to go before we get to Santa Barbara and the Bergtholds!

Christmas Road Trip Day 2

Day 2: Springfield, MO - Amarillo, TX We had a wonderful stay at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield. After a fantastic breakfast, we departed on leg 2 of the journey west on I-44. About an hour west, we made a stop in Joplin, MO, the town so tragically hit by a tornado in 2011. The swath it cut through the town was almost a mile wide and it killed 1,000 people. The devastation was still evident but they are rebuilding and you could see that much had been done already.

I made sure to cue up "Oklahoma!" on Pandora as soon as we crossed the Missouri/Oklahoma border to add a little excitement to the trip. I have to say, the song describes the state quite well and the winds were blowing heartily along the plains. Makes for some tense driving in the "big rig" as it is a wonderful wind catcher.

Our next stop was Oklahoma City and the memorial site of the 1995 bombing at the Federal Building. It was a sobering experience. Colin was just 6 months old when it happened and I remember holding him closer that day as I watched the news unfold and the children from the day care center being pulled out. Being a new mom made the tragedy all the more real for me. The memorial is a beautiful tribute to the people that senselessly died that day.

Next stop - Amarillo and the Big Texan Steakhouse! Now that was an experience! The gift shop alone was worth the stop with souvenirs like a rattle snake cane, longhorns, and every type of cowboy hat imaginable, not to mention all the tacky stuff you can dream up. They are famous for their 72 ounce steak eating challenge. If you can eat the steak dinner (steak, potato, side) in an hour, it's free. If not, it's about $100. We watched one man try and fail. He at 44 ounces and just couldn't do any more. We were serenaded by 2 elderly cowboys with a guitar and violin. The violin player was on oxygen but he was still a fiddlin'! Next, in walked Cowboy Santa! Yep, it was a true Texas experience. One we won't soon forget.

The Oklahoma City Memorial. Each chair represents a person who died that day.

Tonight we lay our heads down thankful for another full day and a safe arrival at our destination. Time to hit the hay and get ready for the next leg - Amarillo, TX to Flagstaff, AZ.

Christmas Road Trip

Day 1: Grand Rapids - Springfield, MO We're off on another road trip. Maybe our last "big" one as Colin will most likely be going to college in the fall. I love road trips. The open country with highways and byways stretching endlessly before us. So many possibilities. So many different places people call "home". I love having my family all in one place. Sure, we have our moments of bickering and the normal family "stuff" but for the most part we're content to be together ready for new adventures.

 Our destination is California and Christmas with some very good friends willing to open their home and Christmas to 6 other people. What started out as a crazy idea is now a reality. We may be crazy but we're having fun and making memories.

 Today we pulled out at 5:45 a.m. (5:00 was the goal so that's not too bad for the McFam) The weather outside was frightful when we left. Sleeting and wind gusts up to 60 mph made for some treacherous driving, especially in the big rig. The weather cleared in Illinois but the wind remained scary strong. We lunched in St. Louis at the arch before taking the tram ride to the top. We had beautiful views and those who do not like heights or closed in spaces actually did OK. We had fun walking around the park being goofy. Nothing warmed my heart more than big brother giving his only slightly younger sister a piggy back ride.

That's the beauty of road trips. They free us from every day, too busy life and allow us to play and enjoy each other again. Home for the night is a hotel in Springfield, MO. We're tired but our hearts are full. Tomorrow we add Christmas lights to the van - interior festive illumination. For now, it's time to rest all snug in our beds, cozy & warm.