I'm fresh in from a few days off spending time with my family in sunny California. It was sunny save for one day when the clouds unleashed a torrent of tropical rain. We didn't mind though. It made the lines shorter in Disneyland. My son rode the giant roller coaster four times in a row in a matter of minutes. Besides Disney we also took in the San Diego Zoo, Legoland (for my nephew and niece), and an Anaheim Ducks hockey game. In addition the kids ran rampant on the beach. All in all it was a great way to ring in the New Year.
Trips like this make me do a lot of thinking. First, I wish I had more time to sneak into the hills and mountains surrounding the urban landscape of southern California. It looks wild and sightings of mule deer along the highways had me itching for a closer look. I also would have enjoyed an afternoon of coyote calling in the region. I was outvoted, but the time spent in the Golden State was memorable.
It also makes me grateful to live where I live. Yes, you guessed it. I didn't appreciate the crowds and of course we were in Disney two days when they had record-breaking attendance that caused them to lock the gates midday. I just don't think I'm cut out to be around masses of people day in and day out. More people were attending the hockey game than live in my hometown.
I don't know how you guys do it, but I'm glad some folks can cope with the masses. We all enjoyed our trip to the West Coast, but it was equally as pleasing to return home to the snow, cold and low-population density. Maybe next time I'll come armed so I can enjoy California the North American Hunter way.
If we would have come the week before during the flooding we would have had the park to ourselves.