CityWalk

Like Orlando, there is a CityWalk area just outside of Universal Hollywood, with a cinema, some shops, and several restaurants. It's a bit smaller than the one in Orlando though. We ate lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe there. This was the 24th HRC I have visited.

We visited the CityWalk again on the way out to try the Voodoo Doughnuts there. They were not as good as they are in Portland.

We then drove up to Central California to pick up the dogs and spent the night. On Saturday we drove through Monterey to visit family, and take the dogs to the beach in Pacific Grove. Sunday we drove back to Bend.

Universal Studios Hollywood

On our way back north from Disneyland, we spent some of Friday at Universal Studios in Hollywood. This was Jenn’s first visit, and my first since I was in college. This park started as a working studio which began offering tours, then added shows, then rides. It's composed of three parts - the upper lot, the lower lot, and the back lot. The entrance is in the upper lot, which has a great view of the valley below.

The Harry Potter area is a recent addition to the upper lot. It's pretty similar to the one in Orlando, just a bit smaller. It only has two attractions, Forbidden Journey and the small Hippogriff roller coaster. The back lot is only accessible via the tram tour, since it's still a working studio. The tram tour goes through several sets and sound stages, during which several physical or film effects are shown.

After lunch we enjoyed the WaterWorld stunt show, but didn't have enough time for other shows. We bought season passes, as they were fairly cheap and we figured we’d make at least one more visit before the end of the year and see the other shows.

Disneyland Part 2

I rode the new Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout ride several times. It was good although I would have preferred they left it as Tower of Terror.

I also spent some time checking out the future entrances to the Star Wars land, and trying to take photos of the construction work.

Jennifer had made capes to wear with her Disneybound outfits, so she wore different ones each day as she met with the various characters. One day several of her Southern California friends came to the park so they could take photos with the capes. 

This morning we enjoyed breakfast at Storytellers Cafe. Chip made Jenn a button to let everyone know she was “Chip’s BFF”. Then we checked out and headed north.

Disneyland

Saturday morning, Susan, Jenn, and I drove down to Central California. Bryan was starting his new job on Monday so had to stay behind. We left the dogs with family and on Sunday arrived at the Disneyland Resort for a few days. The holiday decorations were still up on the castle.  

And the Christmas tree still up in Town Square. We enjoyed riding on the holiday versions of Small World and Haunted Mansion. 

We stayed at the Grand Californian, and our room overlooked the Grizzy Peak area of California Adventure. 

Over at California Adventure, they were celebrating the Festival of the Holidays. Besides eating at several of the usual counter service restaurants, we enjoyed a dinner at Steakhouse 55, although it wasn’t as good as the first time we went, and Monte Cristo sandwiches at Cafe Orleans.

North to Bend

On Christmas Day, we drove through New Mexico to Phoenix, where we stopped for the night. Tuesday morning we stopped at a Bass Pro Shop on the way out of Phoenix. 

 

We then continued north, stopping at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas (No 23) for lunch. From there we drove north through the desolate center of Nevada and stayed the night in Winnemucca. 

Yesterday morning we drove into Oregon. We made it to Bend in the afternoon and and enjoyed a late Christmas dinner with Susan and Jenn.

Across Texas

Sunday morning we drove south of Houston to the San Jacinto Monument. This is the site of the battle that won Texas independence from Mexico.  

The monument was closed because it was Christmas eve, but we were able to walk some of the grounds, and view the USS Texas battleship nearby.

 

We continued on to San Antonio, where we visited the Alamo.  

We also walked along the Riverwalk, and had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe (No. 22).  

We then drove west, stopping for the night in a little town in west Texas.

Leaving Tampa

Earlier this month Bryan got the opportunity to work in Portland, so I flew out just before Christmas to help him pack up his stuff and drive back to Oregon. This would be my tenth drive across the U.S.

He finished his last day at work and we headed north, stopping at the Hard Rock Casino outside Tampa to eat dinner at the cafe there. This was the 20th HRC I have visited.

We stopped in Tallahassee for the night, then continued west Saturday morning. We turned off I-10 as we approached Pensacola in an attempt to visit the Gulf Islands National Seashore, but the headquarters was closed for the weekend. We decided against continuing to Fort Pickens, and instead took I-110 through Pensacola to rejoin I-10.

We then drove through southern Alabama, and stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe in Biloxi Mississippi for lunch (No 21). This one was located inside a casino as well. We continued on through Louisiana, and stopped east of Houston for the night.