Goofy's Kitchen, Disneyland Hotel

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Disneyland’s premier character breakfast Goofy’s Kitchen, located in the Disneyland Hotel. We came for breakfast and loved it! Lots of character interactions (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chipmunks) all stopped by our table to say "hi". The food I thought was good too, I loved the Mickey shaped waffles and the desserts! We went during Halloween so they had festive desserts. I had a chocolate pudding with gummy brains and fingers. Also the peanut butter jelly pizza is really fun and actually really liked it! It was our anniversary so we got little cupcakes brought over that was above and beyond.

Eats
The best word to describe the brunch buffet is: extensive. It took me about 10 minutes just to photograph everything. There’s nothing repeated here, every available surface is covered with unique dishes ranging from customized omelets to peanut butter pizza to chicken fingers and entire island full of desserts. There’s just no way you can try everything, so be sure to look around first!

Overall
My first impression of Goofy’s Kitchen was that it was way better than Chef Mickey’s. The buffet was far more extensive, with a wide range of options you won’t find at Chef Mickey’s. The service was also great.

I'm hoping to go back again next year and will be going back to Goofy's Kitchen again for brunch for sure!

Los Angeles, California

LA.'s downtown is thriving business center by day and an emerging arts and entertainment district at night. The area between Sunset and Wilshire Boulevards, westward to the Pacific, is the heart of the modern city and is most often called L.A.'s Westside. Most tourists will find the L.A. they've always envisioned here, whether it's shopping in Beverly Hills, checking out the record shops and music clubs of the Sunset Strip, tracing the walk of stars in Hollywood.

Of course Los Angeles is known for its uniquely gorgeous stretch of beaches, each with its own identity. Starting with the stunning scenery in Malibu, drive down Pacific Coast Highway to check out Santa Monica and maybe even ride the Ferris wheel on the pier. Definitely head further south to experience Venice Beach.

Crystal Cove Park is a stretch of coastal cliffs and a beachfront cove situated between the Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean just north of Laguna Beach. The 3,936-acre park was established in 1979. The entire park hosts a total of 3 miles of beaches and tide pools, a 1,400 acre marine Conservation Area as well as underwater park, 400 acres of bluffs, and 2,400 acres of canyons.

Still not enough? Within 40 miles of Downtown L.A. are miles and miles and miles of sandy beaches and, of course, Disneyland.

San Fransico, California

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks as well as a piece of engineering art. You can walk across the bridge if you want (recommended), drop in at the visitor’s center to be briefed on the history of the park, or just stare at it from every angle. Don’t forget to make your way to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which offers a waterfront promenade, views of the bridge, and a number of hiking trails.

Tour Alcatraz

This former federal prison on Alcatraz Island was home to some of the worst criminals in the US. It was shut down in the 1970s and has since become a national landmark people can explore. There’s no charge to visit the island, but you’ll have to pay for the boat there. I’d suggest taking a tour during your visit so the rangers can provide you with some historical context. Be sure to book the ferry to the island early if you’re going in the summer, as it gets very full!

Visit Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square

This area covers numerous blocks along the waterfront and is one of the most popular things to do in the city. There are street performers, souvenir shops, and tons of restaurants. This is a good place to wander and for people watching. If you want to try some of the mouthwatering seafood that San Francisco is famous for, I really liked Waterbar and the Anchor Oyster Bar.

Ride the Cable Cars

Riding the cable cars is an excellent way to tour the city and experience various neighborhoods in San Francisco. Catch the cable cars from Market Street. They’re fun to ride and will save you lots of time walking up and down those hills.

Visit Lombard Street

While riding the cable cars, make sure to get off at Lombard Street and see one of the world’s windiest streets.

Head to Chinatown
Next to NYC, this is the most famous Chinatown in the United States (it’s also the biggest). Chinese immigrants first came to the West Coast and set up shop in San Francisco. Due to racial segregation, this neighborhood became predominantly Chinese and has remained so, though the segregation is over. Chinatown here has some of the best places to eat Chinese food (dim sum) in the country, teahouses, bars, souvenir stalls, and fortune cookie makers. Eat your heart out here. I do.

Circus Circus Hotel Las Vegas

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino

We got a room at the Circus Circus driving through from California back to Denver. It was around Halloween time so they had the fright dome going on and thought it would be fun to attend, and figured to stay at the same hotel. The hotel does have an actual circus and is aimed at being a family-friendly venue. But the hotel is really dated for our liking. Can't  complain about that because the rooms are the cheapest on the strip so we  didn't expect the four seasons but was disappointed with the hotel being so run down and our room was comparable to the Super 8. We had sleeping bags in the car we brought up and slept in those because we weren't happy with the cleanliness of the room. 

We expressed our disappointment with the hotel management after checking in and seeing the room but they weren't willing to do anything, so we just made the best of the night and checked out first thing in the morning. I wish I would have read the reviews before booking we would have just kept driving. We would have rather slept in the car, but we were only there for the Fright Dome so we left the room to go check that attraction out. Another let down we weren't scared and it was not what we expected for the price. All the reviews I saw said this was one of the scariest haunted attractions but for $60 general admission and fast pass admission we were really let down. Long lines and the attractions were really cheesy and didn't scare us at all. We love a good haunted house and expected better for a Vegas show but we will keep looking for a good scare. 

Of course, the reviews on Trip Advisor are packed full of puns relating to clowns and jokers. Generally, the reviews are far from favorable. Things are kicked off in blunt fashion with one commenter stating that they “don’t have any good memories of this place.” They then go on to criticize the slow customer service, average rooms, and booking confusion.Another reviewer claimed that the hotel was “too trashy to stay.” That particular comment makes it sound like a trailer park rather than a hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel is also considered to be one of the oldest-looking in Sin City, its biggest flaw being that it is in major need of an upgrade to drag it kicking and screaming into the 21^st Century. Unless you have a budget and family I would not recommend staying at the Circus Circus.

Has anyone else gone to Vegas for Halloween? Are there any good Haunted Houses there that you would recommend. 

San Diego, California

The Hotel Del Coronado is one of my favorite places in San Diego!

The Hotel Del Coronado is one of the most beautiful hotels that I have been to. This place is rich in history and is actually much older than I had thought (around since 1888).

Around the holidays, the hotel is gorgeously decorated with a large Christmas tree in the lobby. They even have an ice skating rink that is right next to the beach during the holidays.

La Jolla Cove is one of my favorite places in San Diego. It is a beautiful picturesque cove surrounded by seals, the beach and cliffs. It’s a great area to snorkel, people watch, or relax.

There is not much of a sandy beach along the cove. It is quite rocky but the plus side is that during low tide, you can walk along the rocks and see the tide pools. Be careful on the rocks though, they can get slippery.


The cove is beautiful and serene. You can sit above the cove and watch some surfers and body boarders but the best part is definitely the sea lions. Watching them swim in the ocean and enjoy the pleasures of beach life was mesmerizing.

Missoula, Montana

Nestled in the Northern Rockies of Montana, surrounded by seven wilderness areas and at the confluence of three rivers, Missoula is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. You can kayak, raft or tube through downtown or take a relaxing hike in wilderness minutes from your hotel. Missoula is known for its trout fishing and spectacular natural beauty. The outdoor recreational opportunities are limitless.

Missoula is also a regional destination for shopping and dining, featuring three distinct shopping districts and an abundance of restaurants, cafes, coffee houses and breweries with something to fit all budgets and palates.

Have you been to Missoula? What would you recommend doing?

Hot Sulphur Hot Springs, Colorado

Hot Sulphur Hot Springs Thirty-five thousand feet below the surface of the earth, the heat of volcanic rock is released through countless fissures that spread out through the earth’s crust. In Hot Sulphur Springs, there are seven natural springs flowing above the largest fissure that have been flowing constantly for hundreds of years, surfacing at about 104ºF to 126ºF. Over 200,000 gallons of natural hot mineral-rich water flow through our 21 mineral pools and baths every day at controlled temperatures of 95º to 112ºF.

Minerals in the water include sodium, sulfate, chloride, silica, potassium, calcium, fluoride, magnesium and trace elements of arsenic and lithium, all of which are good for the inside and outside of the body. There are no harmful elements in our water.