Imperial Valley-Ok not a destination but 1 year!

El Centro-The Center of what? 

Yes "the Valley" as I can now call it because we resided for a little over a year, that is something.  It a farm area which produces 1/3 of all the food produced in the USA, so you will smell manure...a lot of manure. It is located 120 miles from San Diego. It is a watered dessert and hot as Hades, sometimes it may be hotter. Now even if that sounds bad there are some good and fun things.  

Number One the people. We immediately meet wonderful folks who welcomed us into there homes and hearts.  Everyone says hello and will help you out.  [I miss you all]

If you go to the area(like stop on your way across to Phoenix). Here are 3 good stops. 

Burgers n Beer, it sounds like a yahoo cowboy bar but is more like a Chili's only with the best burgers I have found in California. Exit 14 about 2 miles up the road.

Camacho's, now this is just regular tacos and beer. The catch is the locals and location as a city dweller when I drive through nothing but farms and pull into a gravel small restaurant in the middle of n where and finds lots of locals plus  a friendly family staff ,the casual mix match tables, people all talking to each other, make it a fun experience. (get directions on website)

Taste of Thai is a find, fresh veggies in tasty Thai dished at reasonable prices, exit 4 pass up on the fast food head east about 1 mile on right.

Any comments from dessert folks are welcome, Smiles.

Nashville to Knoxville ...I see Green

OK the green is not money but lots of green trees, grass and hillside once you get out of Nashville's downtown. When you visit Nashville, so my sister told me, you go to the "Honktonk bars".  So off me and sis go at 9ish  at night on a weekday and yes lots of people are out and partying. The live music in each bar is a great taste of  different styles in country music, beers abound but expect jug wine. It is a fun, interesting, eclectic group.   Give it a try.

A definite stop should be Margot Cafe and Bar  in Nashville. We had an outstanding meal and excellent service(smiles).  Oh yeah...Leann Rimes was at the next table, no we didn't bother her and she didn't bother us....

Off to Knoxville, the folks are friendly and fun to be around.... if you can understand them.. as a Bostonian/Californian,  I find it easier to understand a thick Irish brogue.  Ever feel like your in a Charlie Brown comic  "waah wah waah wa" with a twang! (you know who you are..) Also, they all talk at once and seem to love a good fun argument which fits right in with my Devlin upbringing.  This is a friendly people town which  I 'll return. Thanks Alison for letting us keep her awake by the pool when she needed to get up at "oh dam dark thirty' for her Alison and Andy talk show which I listened to regularly, "understood"-see above sentence, and found it fun and let me know what was up in the city.

We visited Southern Market, an interesting group of local artisans lots of selection nice to stop in and shop.

We hiked Laurel falls in the Smokey Mountains and visited the Tuckaleechee Caverns. The hike was easy and nice for a day I'd sat a trip great for families.  The Tuckaleechhe Caverns are nice but the interpretative guide was poor. He was more interested in telling his life story than the geologic or interesting facts about the caves.  Even if he made up some exaggerated crazy story about large mountain men, aka Tennessee Bigfoot, living in the caves for 2 years eating possum, small people and large mammals it would have been better that his life's travel (which had nothing to do with the caves).  But what made it fun was the laughs we had making up how to better the "guided tour". P.S. Ladders and walking seem to be an issue for a lot of the "not in good shape" for a lack of better term, this was a moderate to easy caves tour.

Lastly, I had a great facial and massage from Beth Poore of Dermatology Association of Knoxville A nice way to relax while in Knoxville. She is knowledgable of facial needs and product.  Give her a try if your in town.

Thanks for listening!  Oh yeah wear Orange if you go they seem to love the color(hee-hee).

Plymouth, Massachusetts "the Rock"

Family bear with me, since it seems the entire clan in lives in the the vicinity of "the Rock" but for me last August was a vacation or a trip back in time.  

Plymouth, a great place for seafood, clams, lobster rolls and a lot of fried stuff. 

As a Californian for 25+ years, the land of fruits and nuts(yes, both figurative and literatally)- Do you guys always eat a lot of fried stuff?

I and a sister stayed in "a cottage", New England small beach house.  Plymouth is a trip back in time to the days when  a few family members would go to the beach---6 Coffey's, 12 Murphy's, 4-8 Devlin's all descended on  the 5 Mullen's  2 room cottage for a few days. It was always fun but a blur as you are overwhelmed with cousins.  Things never change!

The warm summer ,Plymouth beach or White Horse are beautiful not just in my memory but as I walked along as an adult I see the true beauty of this area. 

Places to see include Plymouth Rock, which is a bit disappointing as it is so small and no one really knows if this is "the exact rock" but commemorate it all the same.  I like the cemeteries walk through and see all the "original" settlers.  Food which is always a top on my list, go to the Lobster hut. Also, try steamers or steamed mussels in any of the small local restaurants.

Enjoy some local club with live music on a Friday to get the local flair(most likely there will be someone related to me).

Plymouth is summer fun, bbq's, beach bonfires,pleasant seafood meals, lite shopping, ice cream and of course mosquito's!

Now as far as actual names of places to eat I need my family to post there "best of" in the plymouth, cape cod area . Please tell me the name of the thai place, it looks like a small coffee shop?

New, New,New Orleans!

Our third visit back since Hurricane Karena was in March 2008 not only is New Orleans back but better than ever.  We decided to stay (a first) in a Bed and Breakfast-HH Whitney House on Esplanade.  Now we drove up and saw an interesting old house,  a big  home like Aunt Mary's for all of you who knew her friendly big home in Boston. I must admit -I thought Holy S*it, I don't know if this will work- the front of the white house had  graffiti  OK --- on closer look it was the  familiar Hurricane rescue symbol, a large diamond  of who went through and  how many people are in it (dead or alive)=marine arrived, "0" at home and thankfully "0" dead!

We decided at least lets go in  and we didn't regret a second of our time spent in this lovely home.

Our host Glenn and Randy are great. You will love how friendly and helpful they are. I love that Glenn has a rich southern history and shared it freely. The inside of the house is decorated in

antique southern style, each bedroom decorated differently.  We arrived on a week with only a few guest so we had the house frequently to ourselves.  Randy's pick of  food and restaurants is excellent, a man who thinks like me not only where to eat but what to order to make it terrific.

Now as we are ( in my case I sometimes think  forced marchers) walkers the HH Whitney is just outside the loud french quarter. Our host Glenn tells us the best BBQ oysters are at Drago's Seafood Restaurant, so off we go, they were the best! Even better than Acme Oyster House which are delicious too.  Upon return Glenn was amazed we walked all the way as it is on the far side of French Quarter on the river, later we discovered over 5 miles round trip, a bit much for an appetizer.

So I want you all to go to New Orleans, here are the places I want you to go. First stay with Glenn and Randy at HH Whitney House, if your a walker, take a cab to the house , skip the rental car and then even if you are out late in the quarter a cab is only about $5.00 to get home. I would not walk home late at night in New Orleans, remember we are still tourist and we look like it, don't do dump crap!  Otherwise we walked back until about 8-ish, like any one watch where you are going and who is around the entire time you are anywhere in New Orleans. 

New Orleans =Jazz and food.  Well, so some for folks it is also drinks. Me, It was wine with one notable  killer drink at Port of Call which kicked me into la la land by 8 pm and I only drank half of it!. God these New Orleans folks and lots of visitors are tough! But back to Port of call, great burgers and local folks, we sat at the bar. Oh yeah, My husband, Paul is my designated driver, walker, cab getter and greatest friend, enjoyed the bar he talked to strangers sitting all around.  I  know ....those of you who know Mr. Silent find this hard to believe but on vacation he must become Dr Hyde.

Another really great spot which is off the beaten path was Lola's on Esplanade, which had wonderful paella and overall a relatively inexpensive great meal.

Lunch at Commanders Palace, garden district,is not to be missed. This is in the garden district  take a cab or trolley and arrive 1-1 1/2 hours early to walk through the neighborhood. Work up an appetite for a great (expensive) meal, BUT  do get a few .25 Martini's to decorate your table. You will need reservations and get there on time.  (If you stay at HH Whitney ask to borrow book(s) which shows walking tours or other tours or just ask for directions).

Now we hike all over and ate muffelettas, oysters and lots of other good food. We went to museums, took the ferry over to the other side of river and walked around even did the dumb Mardi Gras manufacturer tour!  Lots of shopping with antiques  We will go back, this is a fun 3-4 day trip for any of you folks that want a quick get away.

Let  me know if you go and what you like, tell us interesting finds and of course more great food locations or jazz!!!

Oahu-Turtles,Islamic Art and Squid balls!(and of course,where Obama grew up)

A December visit to Oahu with the family proved exciting and different for all of us.  This is my ninth time to the islands and I always look for new things to do. Normally we hike but heavy rain and flash floods prevented any exhausting trail runs.   Let me explain! We did get to do one hike up to Diamond head, this beautiful pleasant hike turned into a new (family) record of 20 minutes to the top.  I find my family competes on how fast we can get up to the top of any hike which I find exhausting  but get sucked into every time-- too much testosterone in my 2 sons and husband.

What I really want you all to hear about are our three fun tours. The best by far was(1) "The Hole in the Wall Food tour",followed by(2) Hawaiian Nautical snorkeling tour and last(3) Doris Dukes Shangria la-Islamic Art.

If you go to Honolulu do the "Hole in the Wall Food Tour". Book it before you get there for the first days of your vacation.   This interesting tour of no more than 10 people  and will give you some of the best perspective(s) on dining locations and the city while trying lots of (albeit fattening) delicious and interesting foods most visitors would never try on there own.  The tour starts with a pick up at  your hotel then off to begin eating while they teach you some interesting history of the islands. Matt and Keira, the owners  knowledge will assist you on selecting your other restaurant choices while you are visiting.  The stop in Chinatown was so helpful  although we have visited Chinatown 2-3 times  prior this was the first time we actually felt an understanding of how "Chinatown" works.  I don't want to give away the entire tour but be prepared to eat and enjoy lots of foods you may never have tried -Go with an open mind and empty stomach. Try everything,  even Squid Balls! (they change foods, as available, so you may not get them). I suggests you read the reviews on Tripadvisor or Yahoo to get more opinions of this tour.  Note: my family of five are from 21 years to 54 years old picked this the best event of the week.

Second, we boarded the Hawaiian Nautical Snorkel tour. It is a catamaran with no more than 49 people on board.  We do a snorkel tour anytime we go to the Hawaiian Islands. Note:the larger boats are crowded and you do not get the customer service that is provided in the smaller boats. The tour has a guarantee that if you don't see dolphin or a whale you get a free return trip (good for 2 years from the date of issue). You will see lots of fish and probably some turtles.  They don't go out on ugly weather as some of the big boats seem to do.  They bring you to a calm area and keep a good watch on all of there passengers.  Lunch and drinks are provided.  A pleasant way to spend the day.

Last, The Doris Duke Shangria La tour I think you should try this tour it is only 25.00 and includes admission to the Hawaiian Academy of Arts museum.  This should be booked prior to your arrival to get an early morning time. I wouldn't waste the mid day for this tour as your whole day will be split up.  Doris Duke lived in this home and has an eclectic collection of Islamic Art, the tour is fast paced which is good any longer would become a bit boring.  We decided we liked the  fast talking tour guide and found Doris was not someone we would want to be around.  She appeared to treat animals(her children) better than people.  If you don't like art skip this tour and be aware when we arrived my husband and I were in the younger crowd and our 2o year old didn't have any real knowledge of Doris Duke other than PBS saying funded by "the Doris Duke Foundation".

To rap up in Oahu you could and should go to many other places of interest but here are a few things that are different from most "tourists" locations. 

Every one will point out Obama's home , church, school etc but eating  great manapua's  now that a vacation!

Do you have any interesting fun tours or hikes that you think should everyone  should try?