vacation w/ Kids

[Robert M. Gary]

My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island. My boys are 9 and
10 so I'm not sure if either of these could actually be made
interesting. We've done so many trips, I'm having a harder time trying
new things. Last summer we went to Vancouver and the boys had a great
time canoeing and seeing the sites. Last March we went down to Mexico
again and got to pet baby grey whales. Last week we went to D.C. to see
the capitol. Would Victoria or Catalina Island offer anything
interesting to boys of this age?

-Robert

[Robert M. Gary]

I agree but I've done Santa Barbera (my brother graduated from UCSB a
few years ago) with the kids several times as well as San Diego and
Long Beach. Two summers ago I Priceline'd a hotel in Long Beach and
ended up staying at the nice hotel right next to the Queen Mary (on the
"island" side of the ship) for only $60/night (regular was around
$200/night). Our room looked out across the little bit of water at the
city. So we were able to walk to the Queen Mary. That was actually a
last minute trip because we were in Tucson and scheduled to visit
Albuquerque and that fell through so we thought we'd see Long Beach. I
actually picked up some unexpected ice on the descent into Long Beach
in the middle of summer. It melted off coming through 10,000 though.

A couple months ago I stayed in Oceanside. In the morning the fuel
pumps were broken (one of the reasons I'd stopped there was because of
the great fuel price). Since I only had an hour of fuel I jumped over
to Carlsbad. The only fuel is from the truck. I bought 60 gallons at
$4.00/gal. I didn't even look at the credit card receipt until I got
back. That is some expensive gas.

-Robert

[Peter Duniho]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island.

Is it possible that you mean Vancouver Island? Canada has a Victoria
Island, but it's a long way away (Artic Archipelago) and may not be the best
place to take your children. California has a Victoria Island, but it's a
little chunk of land in a river near Sacramento; not much in the way of
tourism there. :)

If you mean Vancouver Island, then sure...there's lots of stuff to do there.
Victoria (the large city on the southeast end of the island) is smaller than
Vancouver, BC but has a wide variety of tourist interest stuff. Lots of
marine activities, nature, government (BC's capital), and the usual general
urban things. The rest of the island is more rural, but surely there's no
shortage of activities. Worst comes to worse, you're an easy flight or
ferry to activities elsewhere.

Pete

[A.Coleman]

You assign high expectations to your sons, causing you unwarranted angst!
Have them fly commercial and rekindle their appreciation for the privilege
of having a Super Dad with your skills. They should be thrilled just
getting into the plane and going anywhere without being treated like
criminal/cattle on an ..."air-bus"... with cloth seats laden with the
lingering odor of a thousand sweaty-smelly butts having been sat in them,
attended by angry dowager amazons, whilst sitting next to snoring fat people
that haven't bathed in a fortnight. Then perhaps they might say: thanks
poppie, anywhere is fine with us!!


"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island. My boys are 9 and
> 10 so I'm not sure if either of these could actually be made
> interesting. We've done so many trips, I'm having a harder time trying
> new things. Last summer we went to Vancouver and the boys had a great
> time canoeing and seeing the sites. Last March we went down to Mexico
> again and got to pet baby grey whales. Last week we went to D.C. to see
> the capitol. Would Victoria or Catalina Island offer anything
> interesting to boys of this age?
>
> -Robert
>

[Bob Gardner]

The Victoria airport is about 20 miles from the city, so once you land you
will have to either rent a car or use something like Gray Line buses. The
downtown area is located on the Inner Harbor, with plenty of motel rooms
within walking distance. I defer to the Victoria website for details. Ten
miles or so north of the city (but not directly toward the airport) is
Butchart Gardens, which is well worth a visit at any age. Long time since I
was 9 or 10, so it's hard to remember what was important back then. The
flight up, over the San Juans, is priceless...you might even consider
stopping at Friday Harbor.

Catalina pretty much requires signing up for a tour. Much of the island is
controlled by the Wrigley estate, and some roads are not open to casual
traffic. There are buffalo to be seen (from the tours) and another beautiful
harbor. The airport is miles away from anything.

My choice would be Victoria, for the number of great side-trips that would
become available.

Bob Gardner

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island. My boys are 9 and
> 10 so I'm not sure if either of these could actually be made
> interesting. We've done so many trips, I'm having a harder time trying
> new things. Last summer we went to Vancouver and the boys had a great
> time canoeing and seeing the sites. Last March we went down to Mexico
> again and got to pet baby grey whales. Last week we went to D.C. to see
> the capitol. Would Victoria or Catalina Island offer anything
> interesting to boys of this age?
>
> -Robert
>

[Mike Rapoport]

Snorkeling at the marine sanctuary is pretty good a Catalina. They will
need wetsuits.

Mike
MU-2

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island. My boys are 9 and
> 10 so I'm not sure if either of these could actually be made
> interesting. We've done so many trips, I'm having a harder time trying
> new things. Last summer we went to Vancouver and the boys had a great
> time canoeing and seeing the sites. Last March we went down to Mexico
> again and got to pet baby grey whales. Last week we went to D.C. to see
> the capitol. Would Victoria or Catalina Island offer anything
> interesting to boys of this age?
>
> -Robert
>

[Robert M. Gary]

That sounds interesting! Is the water really clear? Who would I contact
for more information? Do you have to pre-register? I would **LOVE** to
take the kids to do something like this. They are really into marine
life (they've visited numerous aquariums, etc) and they love to swim.
I've never actually been anywhere where the water was actually clean
enough to see stuff.

-Robert

[Brad Zeigler]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island. My boys are 9 and
> 10 so I'm not sure if either of these could actually be made
> interesting. We've done so many trips, I'm having a harder time trying
> new things. Last summer we went to Vancouver and the boys had a great
> time canoeing and seeing the sites. Last March we went down to Mexico
> again and got to pet baby grey whales. Last week we went to D.C. to see
> the capitol. Would Victoria or Catalina Island offer anything
> interesting to boys of this age?
>
> -Robert
>

Geez, when I was that age I was excited to set the tent up in the back yard.

[Robert M. Gary]

We actually attend 3 boy scout camps per year. At least one of them is
"Residence Camp" which means the boys get to do archery, BB gun
shooting (with NRA/BSA certified instructors) canoeing, fishing, etc. I
want to give my guys the best little-boy experiences I can. The funny
thing is that my boys think they are deprived because we don't allow
them to have video game systems and we restrict their T.V. access. We
also live in a town where they aren't the only kids in their class that
take lots of vacations per year.

-Robert

[Robert M. Gary]

We actually took our first airline trip last week. Our plane has been
down for a long annual (fuel senders, gov, prop, etc overhaul) so it
wasn't available. My youngest son (9) was too afraid to look outside.
He loves to look outside in our plane. He said something about looking
outside with so many people on board. I don't think we can understand.

[BTIZ]

there is also a horse ranch for some riding on Catalina.. and snorkeling
adventures..

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island. My boys are 9 and
> 10 so I'm not sure if either of these could actually be made
> interesting. We've done so many trips, I'm having a harder time trying
> new things. Last summer we went to Vancouver and the boys had a great
> time canoeing and seeing the sites. Last March we went down to Mexico
> again and got to pet baby grey whales. Last week we went to D.C. to see
> the capitol. Would Victoria or Catalina Island offer anything
> interesting to boys of this age?
>
> -Robert
>

[Mike Rapoport]

Water clarity is whatever it is when you get there. It varies a lot with a
huge number of factors. The times that I have dived there it has been
pretty good. You can access the area from the shore. It is a kelp forest.

Mike
MU-2



"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> That sounds interesting! Is the water really clear? Who would I contact
> for more information? Do you have to pre-register? I would **LOVE** to
> take the kids to do something like this. They are really into marine
> life (they've visited numerous aquariums, etc) and they love to swim.
> I've never actually been anywhere where the water was actually clean
> enough to see stuff.
>
> -Robert
>

[Morgans]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote

>They are really into marine
> life (they've visited numerous aquariums, etc) and they love to swim.
> I've never actually been anywhere where the water was actually clean
> enough to see stuff.

Go south, young man! There are tons of places in the southern regions, such
as the Mexican resorts, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Florida Keys, and
coastline, Bermuda. (not so south, but beautiful)

The list goes on, and the water is much warmer, with coral, everywhere.
--
Jim in NC

[Carlos Villalpando]

In article om>, rmg1
@my-deja.com says...
> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island.

AVX, Catalina Island's runway has gotten bad enough with the potholes
and soft spots that our Club has banned it as a landing spot. The last
person who landed there came back with an airplane with a dinged prop
and looking as dirty as if it came off a dirt runway. Everybody is
waiting for the Conservatory to approve repairs to the runway.

--Carlos V.

[tony roberts]

Hi Robert

You did mean Vancouver Island didn't you?
Victoria is the capital, and seat of government, for BC.
I live in BC and visit Vancouver Island often - so I can give you some
firsthand knowledge.

Victoria is the seat of government (booooring) and the whalewatch
capital (exciting - especially from a rented inflateable) of Canada.

It has a fabulous museum, if you want a historical experience it has
thee Empress Hotel - terribly English old boy :)
And it has an undersea aquarium.
It also has the largest totom pole in the word (Alert Bay), some
incredible scenery, fabulous ferry tours of the gulf islands - the West
Coast Trail is in the top ten hikes on the planet, Tofino - which has a
runway - is my favourite place in Canada - spectacular west coast -
think fishing, whale watching, hiking, sunbathing, stormwatching, etc.
etc.


If you want lots of specifics & advice, please email me privately and
I'll help you plan your itinerary.

Tony

--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

In article om>,
"Robert M. Gary" > wrote:

> My boys are seasoned Mooney travelers. This year I'm considering adding
> a trip to either Victoria Island or Catalina Island. My boys are 9 and
> 10 so I'm not sure if either of these could actually be made
> interesting. We've done so many trips, I'm having a harder time trying
> new things. Last summer we went to Vancouver and the boys had a great
> time canoeing and seeing the sites. Last March we went down to Mexico
> again and got to pet baby grey whales. Last week we went to D.C. to see
> the capitol. Would Victoria or Catalina Island offer anything
> interesting to boys of this age?
>
> -Robert




--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Montblack]

("Brad Zeigler" wrote)
> Geez, when I was that age I was excited to set the tent up in the back
> yard.


Tent? We put an old canvas tarp over the picnic table (and) benches. The
benches gave your 'fort' that bump-out feel. <g>

And you hoped like heck the flashlight wouldn't conk out before you did.


Montblack
"Sleeping out," listening to the distant trains all night - good times.

[Flyingmonk]

Montblack wrote:
>>
Tent? We put an old canvas tarp over the picnic table (and) benches.
The
benches gave your 'fort' that bump-out feel. <g> >>
>>

You had tarp? I, we, had to steal trash bags from the local Mickey Ds
(by going into the bathrooms, lifted the bag out of the trashcans and
getting unused bags that they stored below the used bag).

We'd slit them open, spread them out, taped them together strung them
up and Voila' We had a tent. We even gathered up enough bottles to
return and bought hotdogs to roast on the fire we built in the nearby
bird sanctuary.

Boy! That reminds me, we stumbled on five Ganja trees one summer in the
Sanctuary. We were only about ten years old and didn't even smoked
cigarettes yet.

Bryan "The Monk" Chaisone