Drron rambles around the USA

[drron]

I am going to break our last trip up into 2 TRs so hopefully i can finish before the next trip starts.So this part is about our 25 days in the USA.We have been travelling to the States now for 30 years.Most,but not all,of the major tourist sites have been visited so this TR will give you some of the lesser known sites and a few tips about touring and shopping-I'm sure mrsdrron will add her knowledge of shopping at some stage.
This part of our trip starts with our arrival at ORD after flying AA from FRA.Our plane got to the furthest gate from Immigration just after 1700.It was a long walk but despite our ****y knees we were first from our flight to Immigration.There were only a few left from the previous flight from China.Everyone was getting their photo and 10 digits analysed-I just put my 4 right fingers on the reader and the fellow said OK on your way.Our bags were just coming out as we arrived at the carousel.They were not in the first lot but who cares-the baggage handlers were obviously efficient as it was about 15-20 minutes from deplaning to leaving the airport.
So it was off to Dollar rentals.It appears to be an ORD thing but once again we were downgraded getting a Chevvy Malibu as a full size(the last time was with Hertz).It didn't make that much difference as we still had everything in 2 bags.Then it was off to the HGI Oakbrook Terrace-a brand that we enjoy.This one selected as it was close to a Mall with all the major Dept stores plus not far from a major factory outlet mall-Aurora Premium outlets.
here there was absolutely no difference in our treatment as HH gold to when we were diamond-room on top floor on side away from road with complimentary brekkie and 2 waters.As with most HGIs there is a complimentary business centre with 2 computers.
The next morning we were off to Aurora along with thousands of others for the Labor Day sales.By the time we left there were long lines of cars waiting just to get into the parking lot.Mrsdrron was in fine form so we had quite a few parcels to drop back at the HGI before we hit the Department stores.After that we go off to Red Lobster for dinner-one of our favourites.
Tips-always take your RACQ,NRMA or whatever card with you.You get lots of discounts-eg an extra 10% off at Gap outlets(not stores) and 20% off at Rockport,Reebok outlets.Sometimes you have to point out the AAA logo on the back of the card.For all discounts look here-
Welcome AAA Affiliates
If you want to shop at Macy's go to the store office and get a visitor's discount card.You can get this at any Macys store in the States.It usually gives you 10% off but occasionally it is 11%.
For chain restaurants go to their website and see if they have a frequent diners program or even just coupons.For example we have both joined up Red Lobster's Fresh Catch club and regularly get coupons for $3-4 off main meals.For the month after your birthday a coupon for a bit extra-and we were in time for mrsdrron's birthday coupon to be valid.
Next-off to the Napa Valley.

 

[docjames]

If you want to shop at Macy's go to the store office and get a visitor's discount card.You can get this at any Macys store in the States.It usually gives you 10% off but occasionally it is 11%.

Note you need photo ID to receive the discount card (I used Australian Drivers Licence so not a problem if your passport is in the hotel safe).

 

[drron]

Note you need photo ID to receive the discount card (I used Australian Drivers Licence so not a problem if your passport is in the hotel safe).

Not with my accent.Have not had to show photo ID for some years-but then again we usually are in the burbs or regional areas.But yes they may ask for it.

 

[RB]

Note you need photo ID to receive the discount card (I used Australian Drivers Licence so not a problem if your passport is in the hotel safe).

No problem for me in June, maybe the accent was sufficient

 

[docjames]

Have been asked three times (once/year!) in NYC.

 

[drron]

Docjames,they must think you are a shifty character!.NYC is different to most of America though.Whilst on shopping though you can also get the shopping discounts at Bloomingdales and also we have got it at Dillards in NYC-other dillards though have denied knowledge of it.
The Chicago stay was just to recuperate from Europe and begin the shopping so the next day we were off to SFO.Down to breakfast early but there was a large Chinese tour group having brekkie so we missed the hot breakfast.Then a leisurely drive back to ORD.The Dollar lot is right at the end of a runway so every 20-30 seconds there was a plane overhead-

The driver of the courtesy bus,Alvin,was a cheerful fellow who was not a bad singer.He was quick to unload our bags and I was happy to tip him-others didn't.To F checkin.Bags now weigh 38,42 and 46.5lb.An increase of 13kg since arriving 36 hours before!Obviously HCO is not for us.through the priority security lane quickly and to the Flagship lounge at K18.Now no where near as good as F lounge in SYD but IMHO better than the SIN Flounge.Very quiet.
AA451.ORD-SFO.ETD-0945.ETA-1230
Actual pushback-1035.At gate-1315.

The obligatory QF009 shot.
A new B738.Woman captain.Seats 6D,F-changed as change of equipment-though with FEBO these are not a problem.efficient service and meal reasonable-

Mrsdrron's chicken salad.

And I had the quesadilla.
Amazing flying over Colorado and Utah.

Once again we are at furthest gate from baggage carousel.Ours are out first.To get to rental cars you have to take the airtrain to the rental car centre-a bit of a hike and I would prefer the courtesy coach set up.At Dollar we do get the booked car-a Dodge Charger but for the first time we are hit with the bring it back empty line.However i say we are just going to Napa and we are allowed to bring it back full.
Heavy traffic on 101 and I80 until we go over the Solano bridge.One of our favourite restaurants,The Dead Fish,is here but we are not feeling hungry.So on to Napa.Bumper to bumper traffic on hway29 into Napa.Maybe should have considered elsewhere on a holiday long weekend.
The Napa stay is next.

 

[drron]

Staying at the HGI Napa.It was chockers.Room on second floor.When I went out to get the rest of our luggage a football whizzed past my head-several young fellows were practising their grid iron passes in the hallways.We thought we were in trouble especially as a lot of the youngsters appeared to be smuggling beer in.Fortunately though they all went out asnd weren't unduly noisy when they returned.
We went to the CBD and they had a Riverfest on.stayed a while but all restaurants were chocker so we took a drive towards St.Helena.It looked like it was going to be Chucky duck for dinner until we found Go Fish which appeared fairly empty-was this a bad sign.We were not hopeful when the sign outside said it was an Oyster bar and Sushi restaurant.Turned out to be very nice.We sgared a soft shell crab roll then I had a Cajun whole snapper and mrsdrron had a lobster bake-

With a bottle of local Sav Blanc-$US135.We thought it was worth it.
The HGI breakfast here is a little different and has several Mexican dishes so during our stay I tried the Breakfast Burrito and the Huevos Rancheros.Pleasant staff.On the second day we took a trip over to Vacaville-another premium outlets.But for others there is the Jelly Belly factory with tours and a shop to buy cheap seconds.there is also a Budweiser Brewery with a free tour and tasting.Also the Travis AFB and another air force museum though you have to ring before to see if you can get an escort onto the base-not always available.Lunch today was a Mongolian BBQ at only $6.For dinner we took it easy and bought some local fruit including lovely big raspberries.
Tuesday and we took a drive to Petaluma-yes another outlet mall-but also vineyards.then Santa Rosa-shopping and the Charles Schultz museum-$10 entrance.Then a pretty drive down route 12 to Sonoma.
There we went to the Stone Corner gardens and had a late lunch.An upmarket cafe with trendy huge salads-2 salads plus a side of 4 different beetroot was <$15.However it did remind me why some veggies are heirloom-they should remain in the past.

There is also wine tasting there with several of the smaller vineyards bought together.As is usual in the US the tasting is $5 but taken off any wine you buy.The gardens are quite whimsical with different landscapers doing various sections and unusual sculptures.But just to show drron is just a little fellow-

More pics to follow.

 

[drron]

Some of the whimsy of Stone Corner gardens-

Next-another travel day.

 

[drron]

Wednesday morning.The B team is on for brekkie.Slow service.Bacon burnt-ie really black.We leave at 0820 for our midday flight out of SFO.No problems until we cross the Solano bridge.Then bumper to bumper traffic-an acccident is slowing the traffic.Mrsdrron is getting nervous but we still manage to get to the Dollar lot by 1030.However it takes 15 minutes to get to terminal 3 and 7 in front of us in priority queue who are taking their time so she is still edgy.Then one fellow starts arguing as he is being charged excess baggage fees,fortunately another 2 agents appear and we are checked in.Our bags are 37.5,46.5 and 53lbs-but allowed through like that.At checkin we are told that the flight is delayed until 1240.In the AC by 1100-do you want drink coupons?Oh yes says mrsdrron and soon has a wine in front of her.We soon find out that AA flights disrupted as the remains of Hurricane Hermine are over DFW today.
AA1923. SFO-LAX.ETD-1200.ETA-1330.
Actual pushback-1340.At gate-1435.
Only a drinks service on this sector.once again a new 738.Once again we are at furthest gate from baggage carousel.2 bags out first-mrsdrron says she only saw 2 bags loaded,she is right third bag does not make an appearance so off to baggage services.Told it will be on next flight.later on we find it actually was given a ride to JFK.
off to the Dollar lot.Here they have a separate queue if you have an international voucher.only 1 agent so we spend 45 minutes in queue.Everyone is getting the hard sell on insurances and upgrades.When I get to the agent i tell her it is my third dollar rental for the week,I have all the insurances i want and I have AAA.However this time I cant get rid of the bring it back empty bit-the agent tells me it is Californian law which is obviously BS.later I look it up online and cant find the law.Email dollar on 3 occasions-no reply so i email the californian Attorney general-immediately get a reply from Dollar but basically saying tough.Interestingly since arriving home i have had an email from the AG thanking me for bringing this potential consumer fraud to his departments attention and that the authorities will investigate it.Motto-dont BS drron.
After all this excitement we set off for Carlsbad.I405 is in gridlock.Not to worry,with 2 people in the car we can go in the HOV(transit)lane and soon we are whizzing past all the traffic.Review of HGVC Marbrisa here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s/hgvc-marbrisa-resort-carlsbad-ca-25543.html
Next-what to do in Carlsbad.

 

[docjames]

You seem to have a very high rate of "lost" (misdirected) luggage

 

[NM]

Next-what to do in Carlsbad.

Visit LegoLand, of course

 

[drron]

It was dark by the time we checked in and unpacked.so we went down to Carlsbad village and had dinner at the Fish House Vera cruz-nice but not great seafood.We then went to the supermarket to stock up as we were in an apartment for 3 days.If we can we go to Albertson's.most US supermarkets have shoppers clubs with discounts for members.At Albertsons if you say you are from Australia at the checkout they get out a card and give you the discount-saved us $12 on a $49 bill.
Well NM the HGVC Marbrisa overlooks Legoland so a great place to stay if with the kids or grandkids.But been there,done that so naturally the first thing on the agenda for Thursday is a visit to the Carlsbad Premium outlets.Less than a mile away.however you could get the shopper in your party to drop you at the Crossings golf club whilst they go shopping-staying at the HGVC you get a discount on the golf.If you are into that sort of thing you can do a timeshare presentation and get tickets to seaworld or even Disneyland or a $100 Macys voucher.We declined that.Also for the golf tragics Carlsbad is home to Taylor Made,Callaway and Cobra.
by the time mrsdrron had finished shopping it was time for lunch.We went to Bellefleur which is in the Outlet Mall.It was good and i would reccomend it.I started with Ahi Tuna served with wasabi and teriyaki sauces-excellent.Mrsdrron had the mussels but they were the NZ greenlipped variety which we think are inferior.Mrsdrron then had a salmon main course whilst I had a combination seafood with crab cakes,salmon,coconut prawns and calamari.Great value at $16.95.Accompanied by a "wine flight"for each of us.A taste of 3 different wines-Sav Blanc for mrsdron and Cab Sav for me.A great idea.All up $80.

After lunch back to the hotel for my nanny nap-these few days are chill out time.When we got back our missing bag is there.SFO-LAX via JFK and AA2121.Now if I could get EQP for the extra distance the bag went.
Friday and just took a drive along the coast and went to the San diego Botanic Gardens(close to Carlsbad).$12 entry and not worth it.Had lunch at P F Changs-short ribs,VIP duck and beef with snow peas.Very nice.With a half bottle of wine-$70.Then spent the afternoon on the balcony sipping wine.
Next-9/11 and a day at the baseball.

 

[Sprucegoose]

loving it!!!

 

[drron]

When we first bought our tickets to the baseball the San diego Padres were also rans.by the time we arrived they were head of their division but just ahead of the SF Giants who they were playing today.So instead of the game starting at 1730 which would have been easy for us it had become the TV match of the day starting at 1300.So we had to check in early.Fortunately we were able to check into the Sheraton Suites at 1030.Review here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....views/sheraton-suites-san-diego-ca-25594.html
We walked down to Petco Park-the weather was beautiful.Just over 41000 attendance and the atmosphere was great.Now San Diego is a naval town and this was 9/11.The National anthem was sung by a female naval officer,the Navy did a fly over,a giant US flag was brought onto the field by the crew of 1 of the ships in port.The first pitch was thrown by a former NY fireman who had gone into Tower 1.You can imagine the emotion.
On the lighter side the Padres mascot is a Friar-it is Spanish mission territory.So the Padres have a Frequent Friars club-I believe they get any time access!Entering the ground we were both given a Padres sports bag and leaving a coupon for 2 tacos.We were in a serviced box which was enjoyable-it cost us just over $A60.Things as usual for a sporting venue were expensive-beer-$8,wine-$7.We did consider this area-

Yes all you can eat hotdogs,popcorn and free flowing sodas-yum.
As to the game the Giants had bases loaded with none out in the second but failed to score.The Padres hit a home run in the third and that was the end of the scoring.At the end of the 7th innings that had a time out for the crowd to stretch.I really enjoyed the day.So some pics.
After the game we walked over to the Convention centre and registered for my conference-the only reason this trip occurred!We then walked back to the hotel.We were snacked out.
Next-more of San diego.

 

[drron]

Sunday and a short drive to the Mexican border.Yes you guessed it another factory outlet.Mrsdrron was not finished yet.These were the Las americas outlets and boy were they busy.Then we drove back to the Fashion valley Mall-you can get there on the light rail.Upmarket shops,lots of eating choices plus theatres.Then it was back to the Harbour and a walk along the foreshore.A Californian Sea Lion was basking on one of the docks.The USS Midway stands out and can be toured plus you can eat on board.One of the things advertised was an afternoon sailing with Dennis Connor.However by now we were thinking of our stomachs and went to the Fish Market restaurant-fantastic.Ginger,lime prawns and then we each had a 2lb lobster tail.A bottle of Oyster Bay Sav blanc and a total bill of $135.By the we had had enough and back to hotel for an early night.

Bob Hope.

And I'm not too sure who these two are.
Next-the conference and other things.

 

[Fantic125]

And I'm not too sure who these two are.

The statue's called "Unconditional Surrender" and is based on a photo taken of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square after the announcement of V-J Day in 1945.

Catching the ferry over to Coronado and a walk around there is a nice way to spend the afternoon (weather permitting).

Liking the trip report!

 

[drron]

Monday and i was at the conference all day.The americans certainly can come up with the goods.This was a heart failure conference but the speakers for the first session were an engineer,a zoologist and a rheumatologist-really thinking outside the box.The engineer was a fantastic presenter-she worked in nanotechnology in telecommunications-didnt cause me to have much faith in the NBN.
Outside the Convention centre overlooks the harbour and there is always something going on-

Even the Dole ship with only dole containers-

That night we drove out to Mission beach and had a tony romas ribs meal.
Tuesday and back to the conference.Mrsdrron went to the Horton Mall in the CBD-tip you can park here for free for 3 hours,validating machines throughout the mall,no purchase necessary.Dinner that night was another PF Changs-we really like it.
Wednesday and the conference winds up at lunch time.We have a 3pm checkout.We enjoyed the Sheraton suites and on a Z4R rate was $A140 a night.Staff really were great.
We then drove to San bernadino and the HI Colton,review here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ws/hampton-inns-colton-ca-jonesbro-25638.html
Quite unusual putting in $10 of gas at a time not wanting to leave too much fuel in the tank.Commute was up I15 to I215.amazing how many new housing estates since we last drove this way several years ago.however reminded me of the old Tom Lehrer song-Little boxes-and theyre all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same.
On I215 you pass the Marian Field AFB and another air museum.On arriving at the HI find the place full of old bikers who have just finished the Annual Route 66 ride.However after unpacking it was a short drive west to Desert Hills and another outlet Mall.Dinner at Outback steakhouse-amazing what is passed off as Australian.However the steaks were very good.back to the HI and had a great nights sleep.
next-off to LAX.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

The statue's called "Unconditional Surrender" and is based on a photo taken of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square after the announcement of V-J Day in 1945.

Catching the ferry over to Coronado and a walk around there is a nice way to spend the afternoon (weather permitting).

Liking the trip report!

Liking the report too +2

OT: The found the lady who was taken in that picture ("Unconditional Surrender"), but not the guy. It was on CBS News or one other news channels a few years ago.


The harbor looks great!

 

[drron]

Friday and we start with the usual but adequate HI breakfast.This one though did have a waffle maker.We then stopped off at Ontario Mills for a spot more shopping and a snack from Cinnabon-cant resist those rolls.
Again hard trying to judge the fuel and unfortunately as we go through downtown LA the fuel light goes on so off the freeway and put another $5 of gas in.We then drive down Alvarado Street to get back to the freeway-this is real third world.A mexican area but all the street stalls look more like Siem Reap than the USA.Pass a park with literally hundreds of homeless people lying around on their cardboard boxes.
Decide to have an early dinner before going to the hotel.so we go to the Manhattan Mall just south of LAX where there used to be a lot of restaurants.most now closed.So we go to Olive Garden-not even a good impression of Italian food.Before paying the bill I went to the rest room-walked in on a fellow shooting up-he was very happy,laughing all the time.
Then to the Radisson LAX-mrsdrron had joined up goldpoints before we left and a promo had given us a free night so we used it here as unlikely to be able to use it any time else.Review here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....periences-and-reviews/radisson-lax-25604.html
Left before brekkie.i had expressed concern to mrsdrron that 1 bag was quite heavy-she was unconcerned.But at checkin it weighed 57lb and we had to repack-now bags weighing 52,49 and 48lb.You would think that would be the end of the shopping right?Wrong.But that is later.
had to queue to get into the priority security lane but didn't take too long to get through.I set off the alarm twice-?why.The TSA agent said run through so i did and no problems.We get to the flagship lounge around 0600.Only 2 others there and 1 extra arrives in the next hour.very comfortable.Great selection of fruit,a sparkling from Sonoma is out plus a selection of spirits.sausages,beef patties,tomatoes and a frittata are the hot items.
AA2422 LAX-DFW.ETD-0740.ETA-1240.Push back-0747.At gate 1255.
Reasonable brekkie-Quesadilla with scrambled egg and cheese,fruit and a buttermilk biscuit(scone).

This is our first MD-80 of the trip.Not much room when seat in front reclined(this is the F cabin).

But OK if upright-

At DFW there is an AA bird in Oneworld livery-

After brekkie I do my usual trick of falling asleep.Wake as we begin our descent.A lot of turbulence.A tray of glasses hits the floor in the galley.The sound suggests several break.Now we are at gate a little late-1255 and at C2.Next flight going from D21 at 1345.Do we make it-that next.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Fantastic.

Keeps the pictures coming!

Fingers crossed you make the next flight.