Take a Vacation

[Pelado]

My nephew and his wife are actors at that place. That absolutely love it. I'm planning on going next week to support them, but it sure doesn't seem to be my jam. We'll see how it goes.

I'm actually shocked it's survived this long. I guess there are enough geeks out there to keep it alive

Yes, there are plenty of geeks there. The biggest geek I met over the weekend was a dude staying in our hotel. The Pleasant Grove Hyatt was right next to Evermore - I didn't realize how close it was when I booked the rooms. Anyway, this guy lives near Park City and he said that he goes to Evermore pretty much every week. I can't imagine subjecting yourself to that every week. If not for accompanying my daughter around, no way I would choose to be there, much less pay money to be there.

That said, the entry fee was relatively inexpensive ($15 for adults) and I presume that people who are into Dungeons and Dragons or Magic the Gathering or whatever other fantasy world crap would really enjoy it. Part of the allure for those people who come time after time may be the vendors in the park. They have several people in tents and such selling their fantasy-world-themed hand-crafted wares. Even my teenage son (who left very early) thought some of the artwork and crafts were pretty impressive.

In fairness to the park, they have done a nice job of building the medieval theme. Some of the structures are pretty cool-looking. And they are still building it out. Several of the structures and water features are unfinished, so it should look even better when it's done.

I think the unfinished structures do indicate that they may be struggling a bit financially. I would think that the pandemic hit them pretty hard. They must have gone several months without patrons or with a significantly reduced capacity. I doubt that they built a pandemic into their business model.

Anyway, both my daughters had a really fun time at the park.

After one of the fire dancing shows, we walked by Greg, the fire dancer, and he was teaching a couple of high-school aged girls how to twirl the fire baton (minus the fire). We sat down for a little bit waiting for them to finish practicing so my 11-year-old daughter could have a turn, but, before the other girls had finished, the announcer called for us to clear the stage area in preparation for the next show. My daughter was a little disappointed that she didn't get a turn, but we walked down the steps out of the way. Greg chased after us and said he'd seen us waiting and asked if we needed to talk to him. I explained that she wanted to learn, too, and so he had us move over to the side of the stage area and showed her how to do it, letting her practice while he went and performed with some different apparatus. I think that was her favorite part of the whole night.

Edit: While I guess you could make an argument that dragons and wizards and pirates and dwarves and fairies all belong in a medieval fantasyland, the train running though it all seemed a bit anachronous.

[Commando]

Yes. Deep fried. That’s what I always order anyway.

I honestly can't tell if you're mocking my post or not.

[Pelado]

I honestly can't tell if you're mocking my post or not.

Around here, if I don't understand something, I just assume I'm being mocked. And probably with good reason.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I honestly can't tell if you're mocking my post or not.

From my photo archive:

fish tacos.jpg

[Bo Diddley]

From my photo archive:

fish tacos.jpg

Those look tasty!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Spent a few days with our son and DIL in their new digs in Monterey. They live within walking distance of Del Monte beach. We did the aquarium, 17-mile drive, Big Sur, etc. Holy cow, what an amazing place.

We told them to buckle up because we plan on visiting often.

[Flystripper]

It really is very very special.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PaloAltoCougar]

Spent a few days with our son and DIL in their new digs in Monterey. They live within walking distance of Del Monte beach. We did the aquarium, 17-mile drive, Big Sur, etc. Holy cow, what an amazing place.

We told them to buckle up because we plan on visiting often.

Among our favorite activities there are hiking around Point Lobos (lot of interesting tide pools and views) and whale watching tours--not very expensive and we've always had very good results. The main drag in Carmel has lots of interesting (and pricey) shops but we aren't shoppers. There are also a few decent golf courses around, but that may not have much appeal...

[Jeff Lebowski]

Among our favorite activities there are hiking around Point Lobos (lot of interesting tide pools and views) and whale watching tours--not very expensive and we've always had very good results. The main drag in Carmel has lots of interesting (and pricey) shops but we aren't shoppers. There are also a few decent golf courses around, but that may not have much appeal...

Haha. Well played.

We were going to do point Lobos, but ran out of time. Next time for sure.

I liked this sign:

[Bo Diddley]

Among our favorite activities there are hiking around Point Lobos (lot of interesting tide pools and views) and whale watching tours--not very expensive and we've always had very good results. The main drag in Carmel has lots of interesting (and pricey) shops but we aren't shoppers. There are also a few decent golf courses around, but that may not have much appeal...

We did this several times when I was a kid. Loved it.

[Northwestcoug]

Spent a few days with our son and DIL in their new digs in Monterey. They live within walking distance of Del Monte beach. We did the aquarium, 17-mile drive, Big Sur, etc. Holy cow, what an amazing place.

We told them to buckle up because we plan on visiting often.

My daughter drove to Big Sur and stopped at a few points along the way her first time this weekend. She has upgraded her retirement wish plans from a condo in Berkeley to whatever shack she can afford on that magical drive.

That is my favorite aquarium. I wanted to buy a family pass when I was down there helping her move, thinking it would motivate everyone to go when we visit her. Sadly, only 2 of our kids are now young enough to qualify for the pass...

[RC Vikings]

Spent a few days with our son and DIL in their new digs in Monterey. They live within walking distance of Del Monte beach. We did the aquarium, 17-mile drive, Big Sur, etc. Holy cow, what an amazing place.

We told them to buckle up because we plan on visiting often.

I'm going to check a bucket list item off at the end of the month, I"m taking my two sons and my best friend from high school and we're playing Spanish Bay, Spyglass and Pebble Beach. They have never been in the area before and are very excited about it and for me I didn't want to be lying in my death bed one day and thinking "Damn, I wish I would have played Pebble at least once". It's a amazing place down there.

[The_Tick]

I'm going to check a bucket list item off at the end of the month, I"m taking my two sons and my best friend from high school and we're playing Spanish Bay, Spyglass and Pebble Beach. They have never been in the area before and are very excited about it and for me I didn't want to be lying in my death bed one day and thinking "Damn, I wish I would have played Pebble at least once". It's a amazing place down there.

Damn. That is an amazingly expensive trip. Lol.

When I graduate grad school and sign paperwork on my first school psych job...Pebble is how I am going to celebrate.

[clackamascoug]

I'm going to check a bucket list item off at the end of the month, I"m taking my two sons and my best friend from high school and we're playing Spanish Bay, Spyglass and Pebble Beach. They have never been in the area before and are very excited about it and for me I didn't want to be lying in my death bed one day and thinking "Damn, I wish I would have played Pebble at least once". It's a amazing place down there.

Pebble checked off my list in Sept 1982 - Try and beat an 84. I went 44 40 - with a 12 missed foot birdie putt on 18.

For you educated people - what's a better place to spend the last 20 years of your life - Santa Barbara or Carmel by the Sea?

[bluegoose]

Spent a few days with our son and DIL in their new digs in Monterey. They live within walking distance of Del Monte beach. We did the aquarium, 17-mile drive, Big Sur, etc. Holy cow, what an amazing place.

We told them to buckle up because we plan on visiting often.

Love that area. We went on our honeymoon to Monterey and Carmel 25 years ago, and we try to get back every couple of years. One place that's on my Big Sur bucket list is McWay Falls. From the pictures that I've seen, when the water is flowing, there's not a prettier place around.