Boston Week! Day 2

Freedom Trail

Another really nice day of sun and fun. We took the T to downtown Boston and walked the freedom trail for a few hours. The freedom trail is an amazing collection of historic sights in Boston. From the old North church to the sight of the Boston massacre. The sights were amazing and the history was very fascinating. We were also able to see the rest of downtown while on our walk on the freedom trail. 

For those that don't know the "T" is basically the name for Bostons subway. Ridding the T is always a fun experience but the system can get confusing. The Green line splits into 3 different directions and it is very easy to get on the wrong train. The different halls and stairs that lead to other stops and up to the street can also be very confusing because you have stairs going to other platforms, back to the same one, and up to the street. Even with all of that its a great experience ridding the T.

Some of the sights I went to:

State House

John Hancocks grave

Paul Reveres grave

Old south meeting house

Sight of the Boston Massacre

Fanueil Hall

Fenway Park

After seeing downtown Boston we headed over to Fenway park to see a Red Socks game. The stadium is one of the greatest in the country and is full of history. The game was a lot of fun. We got to see the culture of the sport in Boston and what its like when hundreds of people are waiting to get in. All of the food sold there looked and smelled amazing. The weather was perfect and it made watching the game even better. The Soxs ended up losing but I still had a great time and got two see watch to drunk guys fighting.

Day two ended great and the hole day was a lot of fun. I love learning more about the city and I am loving this weather. Cant wait for day 3!

Boston Week! Day 1

Red Eyes are Death

I finally arrived in Boston around 730 this morning after a long red eye flight. After flying the thirty minutes to Seattle in a tiny plane we finally departed for Boston. The flight was not what I hoped it would be at all. I was put in the row right in front of the emergency exit which meant I could not recline my seat which ultimately meant that I got about a half and hour of sleep. After landing we picked up the car and headed for our hotel to get settled in.

Fort Independence

After about an hour at the hotel it was time to head to the coast and see something I had been looking forward to. Fort Independence is a giant granite fort built to keep the British out of  Boston harbor. The fort was amazing. I could not believe how something so impressive could be built back in the day.

Taking the tour really gave me the perspective of a soldier that was stationed there. I got to see the rooms that they stayed in and the cannons that they operated to defend the port. Some of the cannons were massive and very impressive.

Largest gun in the fort

The fort is also surrounded by some great beaches that were full of people. We had a great day for being out so we really got to see great views of Bostons skyline and the sea from the top of the fort. I highly recommend this sight and the people giving the tours really know what they are talking about.

Battleship Cove

Right after Fort Independence we headed for Fall River to see Battleship Cove. Here we were able to step onto history. First we toured through the WWII battleship USS Mass. This ship was amazing, huge guns all over its deck.

 We even got to go inside and see what life was like aboard the ship. Standing in front of the big guns was amazing. I have wanted to see this ship for years and I am so glad I got to see it.

We were also able to go inside the USS Lionfish which is a WWII American submarine. It was crazy how small the inside was and how cramped it was with all of the equipment. Its crazy to see how far technology has really come first hand.

Lionfish logo

Torpedo room

Battleship Cove was a great place to spend a few hours walking through the ships and learning more about how war was fought back in the day. I highly recommend this to anyone that is interested in war history.

The North End

We finished the day with a trip to the North End for dinner. For those that don't know the North End is the Italian part of Boston. We decided to grab dinner at Caffe Pompei. 

I ordered a chicken breast stuffed with cheese, basil, and prosciutto served with vegetables and a red sauce. This meal was amazing. This by far is the BEST thing I have ever eaten in my ENTIRE life. The sauce was so fucking amazing and the food was cooked perfectly. This is what the North End is all about and that is authentic, really good, Italian food.

After dinner we stopped in at Mikes Pastry for dessert. You could already tell this place was good because of the mobs of people waiting to get in and buy from this amazing Italian bakery.

 I got an espresso cannoli and it was the second BEST thing I have ever eaten. The filling was creamy and the shell was sweet and crunchy.

All together it was a perfect first day full of amazing sites, good weather, and life changing food. I can already tell this is going to be a great trip. Now I'm going to bed after not sleeping since 10 am Saturday morning. 

Boston Week! Day 0

Departure

Starting tomorrow I will be blogging daily about my week in Boston. I'm flying out tonight on a red eye and will be arriving in Boston around 7 in the morning. 

I will most likely be posting each days experience around 10 or 11 at night eastern time. Hope everyone enjoys my journey!

Places I plan to visit:

The North end
Freedom trail
Fort Independence
Battleship Cove
Basketball HoF
Salem
Red Sox games
Revolutionary war sites
and many other great places

Crater Lake

Five Friends on a Mission

One weekend four of my friends and I were sitting around and we were bored out of our minds. We couldn't think of anything to do until someone said as a joke "lets just drive to Crater Lake". We laughed then some silence and we all kind of looked at each other like "fuck yea lets go".

We spent a total of about ten minutes planning and we decided we would go the following weekend. This would be the first time we all went on a road trip together on our own. We were all pumped to be on our own and explore Oregon. 

Finally the week passed and we got ready to go. Our plan was to drive East to Madrid and then head down toward California before going up to Crater Lake and then back home, a three day giant loop. That was our route next came the food and sleeping.

On our way out of town we stopped at Safeway and pretty much decided we would get food for ourselves for the trip. After we got our food we headed for the road. At this point we decided that the cheapest way to sleep was to stay in Walmart parking lots, this sounds worse than it was.

Driving to Madras was nothing special and we had all done it before. At the end of the first day we found our way to the closest Walmart and prepared our sleeping area. Luckily we had a very large suburban that could fit all of us mostly comfortably. After about thirty minutes of people fighting over space to stretch out we knew it was going to be hard to get a good nights sleep. The next morning we woke up around six and we were all feeling great so we got back on the road.

Back of the burb where we slept

Driving south we were able to see a lot of amazing country and some pretty cool sights. After driving all day we made it to California where we took pictures and then found a place to stop and eat lunch. We found this nice park and sat down to eat. When we were finished we headed to the car which at this point was full of wasps. We dropped our bags and ran like our lives depended on it. After about ten minutes one of my friends jumped in the car and drove out of there as fast as he could. We all ran to the car and got in. As soon as we started driving a wasp flew right past me in the front see and I started screaming. Everyone except me jumped out. Then another one of my friends jumped in the front and got the car father away from the bees and we were finally safe. That was the craziest moment I have ever seen, we were freaking about and laughing so hard the rest of the day. 

Our make shift can opener

That night was a pretty horrible night. This time we had to sleep in a crowded parking lot that was hotter than freaking Africa. In the morning we woke up in a car that was like a oven and it smelt like men, not in a good way. At this point we just wanted to see the lake we had gone through so much to see.

On our last day we finally made it to Crater Lake. Everything we had gone through from sleeping in parking lots to the bee attack was worth it. The area around the lake is freaking amazing. The perfect blue of the lake itself is unbelievable. This is truly a place everyone must see. Its so hard to explain it to someone that has not seen it. Think of the most pure water you can and your close. It is truly an amazing sight to see and the country side just makes it that much better. 

The Seattle Experience

Sunday Night Football

My whole life I have grown up watching the 49ers which made me into a 49ers fan. I would always watch the games on TV and follow their season along. The one thing I wanted was to go see a 49er game in person. 

About two years ago, after months of persuading, I got my parents to agree to go to a game. They didn't want to spend all the money on tickets and airfare to San Fransisco so we decided we would stay with family in Tacoma and got to a weekend game in Seattle. We picked a December Sunday when the 49ers were playing the Seahawks and we got the tickets. I cant remember the last time I was so excited. Unfortunately buying these tickets was a big mistake. 

F**K the Seahawks

The weekend finally came so we headed up to Tacoma to stay the night so that we would be closer to Seattle. The morning of the game was full of friendly trash talk between me and my family. Finally we headed for the train station for our trip to Seattle. Once there we found a few groups of 49er fans and tried to stick close to them. 

This is were shit started to go south real quick. 

Walking from the station to the stadium was horrible. There were tons of people and since we were in Seattle that meant it was hard to find other 49er fans. People would talk crap about my 49er jacket and even threaten me. I could already tell that this was going to be a horrible night.

All the way to our seats we had to listen to a bunch of shit from Seahawk fans. We finally got to our seats and waited for the game to start. At this point I noticed that we were surrounded by Seattle fans and about 99% of them were already past drunk.

As the game went on the trash talk directed at me got worse. People started to threaten my life because of what I was wearing. I was talking shit back which probably didn't help but I didn't want to just sight there and say nothing. This got worse and worse as the night went on and people got more and more drunk. At one point a guy dumped his beer on my feet so when he turned around I spit right on his head, he was to drunk to notice. Towards the end of the game I yelled something about how bad Seattle's QB was. Suddenly this guy turns and around and trys to punch me. He was so drunk that he just fell and I just laughed at him. 

When we started to leave our seats I noticed the group behind us suddenly jumped up to follow us. The next thing I know my dad is about ready to murder this guy for trying to push me down the stairs. We had to avoid a few more people by the exit that wanted to start a fight while the cops just watched and laughed. Avoiding people that wanted to hurt me and the puke puddles was just fucking great. 

This is easily the worst experience of my life and unfortunately it was my first NFL game. The people in Seattle can not understand that this is just a game. I have never seen grown adults try and attack a sophomore in high school because of the jacket they wear. 

This experience has greatly affected my Seattle views. I hate going to Seattle no matter what the reason is. Today I will only go there if I really have to but I avoid it at all costs. I always try to tell people about this experience because I don't want it to happen to anyone else. Take my advice and stick to the tourist spots away from all the crazy people.

One last piece of advice. Don't wear a 49er jacket any where in Washington. EVER. I have gotten many death threats just walking on the street or at the farmers market. When I go to visit family there I will only wear 49ers gear just to piss people off, probably not the best idea. That really is a time where I don't feel safe. 

Yellowstone Road Trip

Long Ass Drive

The drive from Portland to Yellowstone was not something anyone should look forward to. The trip started with a long morning of trying to get all of our stuff together that we had forgotten to get the days before. As we left the city I was excited for the chance to see one of the greatest parks in the world. Then I realized just how long I would be sitting in a car, sadness. At this point in my life I had just gotten my license recently so I made it clear to my parents that I was going to do all the driving, big mistake.

Driving into Boise the first night was an interesting experience. It was dark and the roads were pretty much empty. Just as we got into the city it seemed as though there were hurricane force winds and I really struggled to keep our SUV in one lane. Finally we got to the hotel and I had a chance to breath and release my death grip of the wheel.

We started the morning early packing all of our things and getting back on the road. By the afternoon I was getting tired just because of the boring scenery I had to look at. At this point I began to fall asleep while driving.

One of the worst experiences I had was falling asleep then waking up not knowing how long I was out and trying to figure out how I didn't crash. A few minutes later my dad asked if I wanted him to take over but being me I said hell no I'm fine. Falling asleep of and on went on for about an hour until I finally decided to pull over and let my dad drive. I know now that I was a complete idiot for trying to sleep and drive.

Hell Pays Off

Finally we reached our hotel just outside of Yellowstone on the second night. We were just minutes away from seeing amazing sites but that would have to wait for the morning. The next morning I woke up ready to go exploring. As we entered the park it was clear that it was going to be busy. The road through Yellowstone is basically a giant loop that takes you around the park. The wilderness you drive through is amazing.

Soon we started to see animals. Buffalo are everywhere. When you see one there is usually about 200 more over the next hill. He ran into a few large groups along the circle. We also saw a lot of the common animals and even some bears. We were able to get out a lot and explore different areas off the beaten path and some of the sights were amazing.

 Next we stopped to see Old Faithful which is definitely something you need to see in person. Unfortunately for us there was a section of road being repaved so it was just gravel. As I was driving along the car in front of his shot a rock right into our window and lodge itself there, thankfully it didn't crack the hole window. Towards the end of the loop we could see where a forest fire had burned a lot of the forest, the change was like night and day.

A few days later we began the boring and long drive home. This time we decided to take a route through Washington on our way home. As we crossed into Oregon we hit a bump and the tiny crack from the rock quickly spread across the entire window, great way to end the trip.

Yellowstone is a must see for everyone before you die. The Forest's and landscape are amazing. The animals are really cool to watch, you have not lived until you see a full grown buffalo swim across a river like no big deal. All the driving was defiantly worth it and I would definitely do it again. This long ass drive was a great success.

Travel Blogging

The Barefoot Nomad

Reading through this blog website has really helped me with how I will structure my posts. He has posted a lot of good blogs of his experiences as well as his family's, they've even got pictures! He has stories from all over so it is perfect for someone who doesn't really know a place and is interested in learning about what a traveler might see. Not only is there the blog but they also have great tips and recommendations for traveling. Check out The Barefoot Nomad the next time your planning a trip.

Travel Sites

One of the better websites to visit when you want to plan a trip would be Discover America. This site gives you all the tools to plan a fun trip in the US. You can look up the perfect destination and view all of the best cities to travel to. It also gives you suggestions of fun activities and a way to plan out a whole trip. This is great for the person that likes to plan out a trip so that no time is wasted.

I am a huge fan of AAA because of their ability to help plan some great trips so that all you have to do is say a place and how long you want to be there. I usually use them to get all of the tickets sorted out and help to plan my vacation. There are also a lot of great travel websites out there that help with booking airlines, hotels, and rent a cars. Websites can be extremely helpful when planning a trip. I always look on a city's website to help get ideas of places to visit and what I should do while I'm there. Traveling is all about getting out there and exploring. Finding something new is an adventure and only makes your trip that much better.

First time to Cabo

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Oregon winters, like many other places, are not fun. We don't  have to worry about snow falling by the foot but it was no summer. My first experience out of the country would be in December and I would be going to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A week away from cold weather just having fun in the sun. I have never been more excited in my life.

The day before we were to leave was filled with packing and re-packing, making sure we had everything. I was so excited that nigh that I could not sleep. Finally came  the time to leave for the airport. Normally I would hate getting up at six in the morning but this time was very different. Even though I had only slept about three hours the night before I was full of energy.

We got to the airport and I was surprised to see that it wasn't the ghost town I thought it would be. I thought to myself, who travels at six in the morning? As usual going through all the security was a load of fun but we finally got to our gate. Being a kid all I was worried about was wandering through the airport and seeing everything it had to offer. After about an hour of entertaining myself it was time to head to the gate for boarding. Most people don't really look forward to a long flight but I was nothing but excited, I loved flying. As fun as it would be talking about a long flight I think I will just skip to our arrival.

Arriving at the Cabo airport is an experience. The airport is very small and is surrounded by hot dessert, it is nothing like home. Getting off the plan we had to walk down a stair case onto the tarmac. There wasn't an air conditioned hall to the building, it was straight into the overwhelming heat. The airport was nothing like I had seen before and was definitely not what I expected. At this point all I cared about was getting to the resort and see what it would really be like.

Riding on the shuttle bus was a very different experience. We were surrounded by people from all around the world heading to a resort for what I hoped to be an amazing experience. The roads were very bumpy and rough. After a while the bus came to a stop by a small store. The driver wanted to give people a chance to get some beer for the rest of the ride. When I look back on this I still laugh. Finally we got to the resort and it was like going from a third world country to a private palace.

Pueblo Bonito Blanco

This week would be full of swimming, exploring, and eating all the great food. Walking on the beach was always full of new things. I even had my first chance of snorkeling in the ocean. I will never forget this week but I would have many similar weeks in Mexico over the years but those are stories for another day.

My top 10 travel destinations

Out of all the places I have been in my life these would have to be the best.

1. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is easily my number 1. The city is full of amazing sites and a great deal of history. I have always loved the way the city looks with all of the old buildings and architecture. I always tell people this is a must see city before you die.

2. Washington D.C.

Seeing the nations capital is a very overwhelming experience. Being surrounded by marble buildings and memorials for almost everything you can think of. I really enjoyed my time there and it makes what you see on TV look completely different once you have seen it for yourself. 

3. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

I have been to Cabo many times throughout my life and have stayed at only two different resorts. The weather is always amazing. Nothing beats sitting by the people or walking on the beach. Going into town is a very fun experience and it is always easy to find some good food.

4. Yellowstone, Wyoming

Going on a road trip to Yellowstone will always be one of the highlights of growing up. Yellowstone is a very beautiful place. I love being able to see all the wild animals roaming around. The herds of buffalo are everywhere. This place is truly unique and I would love to go back in the future.

5. Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake in the summer is an amazing sight. The water is an amazing blue that you have to see to believe. The forest surrounding it is equally amazing to drive through. Being here feels like you don't have to worry about a thing, you can just sit back and take in the amazing views and wildlife. 

6. Seaside, Oregon

Seaside will always have a place in my memories. I have lost track of how many times have been there and no matter what I always have fun. Seaside is a classic example of a tourist town but even for me its fun to go on a quick weekend trip to Seaside.

7. Mt. Rainier, Washington

Driving through the forest's of Washington and then all of the sudden you see a huge mountain. Driving up to the visitors center is very fun. So many beautiful sites to see and trails to walk on. The mountain itself is very impressive. 

8. San Diego, California

Sea world and fun beaches. Going to Sea world as a kid was amazing. Being splashed by a giant whale and seeing dolphins flip through the air. I remember being so happy here. The beaches were also a load of fan. Swimming in the ocean and then playing on the warm beach. The perfect childhood.

9. Disneyland, California

Every kids dream is to go to Disneyland. All the amazing rides and all the funny characters that you would usually only see in movies. Being at the resort for a week was so much fun and you really get to do so many really cool things. The only down side is the food poisoning.

10. Seattle, Washington

Seattle is so much different than most other cities. It is full of some interesting people and some pretty cool places. The space needle is a big attraction and it is always fun to ride to the top and look out over the city. 

The ocean at first sight

A Kid at the Coast

As a kid I really didn't know what the world had to offer. Like most kids I spent my time running around my backyard or going over to a friends house. I hadn't really been out of Portland just because I was so young. My first experience out of the backyard was a trip to the Oregon coast.

My first thoughts were excitement and the thoughts of what the beach might be like. I remember how excited I was as I was packing my things. I couldn't sleep the night before leaving because I was so excited. Then comes the drive to the beach. The drive seemed to never end, we just kept driving and driving. Finally I could see the ocean and the beach, I was so excited.

The First thing I had to do was run down the beach and start digging in the sand, when I think of it now it just makes me laugh. Nothing could make a kid any happier than digging on the beach all day.

Why the Oregon coast?

The Oregon coast is one of the most fun places to go in Oregon. You can drive up and down the coast and find something different every time you stop. For a kid there is nothing like seeing the huge ocean for the first time and having a weekend of playing on the beach. There is something that makes Oregon beaches special and they will always be the go to summer road trip. Whether you want to drive on the beach in Pacific city or go through the shops and arcade at Seaside, there is always things to do at the coast. For those that travel to Oregon the coast is a must see.

Where to go

The go to spot on the coast is Seaside. Seaside is the ultimate travel destination for the Oregon coast. The city is full of great shops, a large arcade, and all kinds of fun activities. Astoria is also a nice place to visit and was also the site of the Goonies movie. My all time favorite beach would have to be Pacific city. Not only is the beach surrounded by incredible dunes and great views but you can also drive on the beach which is pretty freaking awesome.

Seaside, Oregon