FINALLY had an out-of-state vacation. Our last adventure outside of our state was New York in 2019. It felt good to adventure again but an almost 5-hour plane flight is just TOO much. I really don’t know how some people spend 10-20 hours on a plane. I guess I will have to slowly build my tolerance if I ever want to get across the globe.
The original reason we chose this location is because Mr. C&M wanted to hit the biggest (second biggest?) video game fighting competition in the country. Genesis. So really, the location chose us. Genesis decided it would be in San Jose, so that is where we made our plans. We met up with THREE online friends and their significant others, which was really cool. We’ve made a few really great friends online so it’s always exciting to meet up with people, even if some people aren’t as cool as others. The boys all won their first matches and one friend made it all the way to 25th place. (I should mention they were playing Rivals of Aether.)
There were quite a few adventures had, but this just highlights a couple of them.
We spent Easter, exploring a redwoods grove like a bunch of hippies and we loved every second of it. If there was one reason I would move to California, it would be to be a mountain hermit. That forest was magical.
Monday, my 35th birthday, we spent the day in San Francisco until we had to fly out later that night on a redeye. First, we went to Pier 39 and had lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp. Alcatraz hung out in the background while we ate.
After, I FINALLY saw sea lions in person! They smell. They also appear to only sleep or fight and occasionally swim. It was still exciting. I’ve wanted to see them since I was little and did a presentation on them.
We ended the adventures with a trip to the California Academy of Sciences. There was a biodome rainforest, planetarium (we missed that show), and a sweet aquarium.
There is SO much to see and do, just in the little section that we saw of California that I am positive we’ll have to return to check out more. Perhaps we’ll make our way back out there for Genesis next year. We’ll see. Either way, thank you for a fantastic birthday California! ❤
cupcakesandmachetes 
Happy belated birthday, and you certainly had a wonderful celebration. Five hours or more on a plane gets a little claustrophobic even in good times. We have family that are six hours away, and I have to really think about it before buying that ticket. 🙂
I almost prefer to drive double the amount. At least then I can get out and stretch my legs whenever I feel like. It definitely feels claustrophobic after so long. We’re talking about maybe going back in January, but I am already dreading the though of that
flight.
It was a great birthday. Everyone that went made me feel super celebrated as well. 🙂
The first time I rode a plane I was alone and sat between two dudes, who, I shit you not, basically had this conversation:
“Chicks in Florida?”
“Yep. You ever have chicks in Texas?”
“Oh, yeah. What about chicks in Colorado?”
“Oh, man, for sure.” ETC ETC ETC
And these dudes were definitely north of forty and wearing business suits. *SIGH
Both were probably liars and got zero chicks. Next time this happens though, you should pipe in and add all the states you’ve nailed chicks in too. Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not.
“Alaska, man. You ever meet a frozen chick?”
LMAO.
A very happy belated birthday, my friend! 🙂 Looks like you had a fantabulous time.
Thank you! I really did. 🙂
Welcome to middle-age’hood. I would recommend investing your 401K in adult depends. That company can only sell more! 😉
Sea lions really DO stink, don’t they? Glad you got to check off a box on the ol’ bucket list though…
Haha! I love middle-age’hood. 30+ has been pretty great. I might start fretting as I get closer to 40. Will look into Depends investment then. 😛
I could not even describe their smell lol. I checked 3 things off the bucket list, redwoods, giant sequoia (I only saw one though) and sea lions. 😀
Happy belated birthday!! That forest looks so freaking cool 😍
Thank you! It really was. I want to go back immediately!
You are Rob look exactly how I remember, and for some reason that makes me teary. 🥹
AWWWWW! <3<3<3
We will see each other this summer!!
I’m! So! Excited! And it will be even less COVID-y than the last time we saw each other! (I hope).
Your first glimpse of sea lions in person and the opener for them is “they smell”? Lol I don’t think you’ll ever be hired as their publicist. Just take a boat across the globe. All those weeks surrounded by all that water, no land in sight… is that any better?
I think it’s because I never really considered that they WOULD smell. I guess I thought they would just blend in with the ocean, but they had their own very specific smell, and it was NOT pleasant lol.
As I said, you’re not cut out to be their PR representative lol
Ah I hope California was beautiful! The farthest west I’ve been is Vegas and it was around 5 hours. I feel the same way you do about being on a plane for long, and I want to visit the UK. Either they need to invent teleporters or I need to be able to deal with a long plane ride…across the ocean o.O
There is quite a bit of trash in the cities just floating around but the woods were trash free which is the part that really matters. If I ignore that one factor, California was very beautiful. My husband is on a kick that he would love to move there if we had the money. I’m fine with visiting or becoming a mountain hermit in the redwoods, those are the only options.
Duuuude Cali is expensive AF. I think I saw how much just a one bedroom apartment costs and it was bananas. A lot of people are leaving for that very reason; they just can’t afford to live there. The mountain hermit idea sounds like it’s the most salient. Oregon might be an option. I hear Portland is pretty nice, though I have no idea what the cost of living is there either.
I have a friend who moved out to Portland so I could ask him. Out of curiosity, we checked to see how much the apartments across the street from our airbnb cost and they started at $2800/month. D:
Holy crap…it’s absolutely ridiculous.
What an awesome trip! Love the photos you got and glad you guys got to have such a great time out there! 🙂 Also, I totally remember that presentation you did, so I’m glad you finally got to see some sea lions in person! 😛
I believe you did lemurs, correct?
It was a great trip. The only thing that could have made it better was if you guys had been with us. ❤
Yes, I did!! ^_^ Crowned Lemurs!
Aww, that would have been awesome! ❤ Definitely love going on trips with you guys!! 😀