VACATION
Readers share their most memorable vacations
I It doesn’t get much better living in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach. We have the beach, the parks, the amenities and community events that make life so enjoyable here.
Still, the opportunity to explore parts of the world we’ve never experienced can create memories and unforgettable experiences.
This month, we’re happy to share recaps and photos of some of our readers’ most memorable vacations.
Cancun
Derek and Alycia Densberger, with their daughters Katelyn, 17, and Brooklyn, 15, spent a week at the all-inclusive Hilton Cancun Resort.
The family enjoyed the multiple pools with activities like pool volleyball, trivial pursuit workouts, and water aerobics for those who wanted to be active.
“For those of us who just wanted to relax, the resort had plenty of staff poolside to ensure that your beverages were always full and your plates cleared,” they reported.
Each pool had a variety of food selections such as tacos, pizza, sandwiches and salads. At night, guests had their choice of five different restaurants or a buffet in the ballroom. In addition to enjoying the many activities at the resort, the Densbergers took advantage of a full-day excursion that included horseback riding, an ATV adventure, zip-lining and swimming in the cenote. The excursion was a 5-hour event that ended with a nice dinner for guests to enjoy.
Disney World
One of the Obregons’ most memorable vacations was visiting Disney World and then going on a 3-night Bahamian cruise.
Tony, Becky, Evelyn, 9, and Bailey, 6, chose to visit Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom, and spent some time at Disney Springs, which is similar to Downtown Disney.
Since this was their first cruise, they opted for a shorter one to see how they would like it. Some of their favorite activities included the water slides, live shows, buffets, character meet and greets, pirate night, and endless soft-serve yogurt.
During the cruise, they visited Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, where they swam, ate, snorkeled and interacted with stingrays. The trip was unforgettable.
For years, Tiffany and Jeff Laird and their children, Easton, 21, and Regan, 18, had heard wonderful things about Costa Rica. It turned out to be one of the best vacations the family has ever taken.
The Lairds spent a few nights in Playa Conchal in the Guanacaste region on the coast where they enjoyed time at the pool and beach. They also took an “amazing” sunset snorkel cruise and drove through the cloud forest in Monteverde.
A nature night hike with a naturalist from their hotel was one of the highlights. The naturalist was able to show them many different birds, insects and animals, even using a telescope to get some close-up views. The sounds in the cloud forest on that hike were unforgettable.
The most challenging part of the trip, they said, was navigating the narrow and sometimes dirt roads.
But that just made the trip more adventurous, they said.
Croatia
Elaine “Izzie” Izzo said she visited Croatia because many seasoned travelers she had met on my past tours strongly suggested it.
As a single traveler, Izzie says, “Tours are the best way for me to travel safely and cover a lot of country in a small period of time.”
She likes to hop on tours and always meets wonderful people.
Food: The food was mostly homecooked with lots of emphasis on “farm to table.” Meals are huge — salads, pasta, meat, and vegetables.
“You won’t go hungry.”
Weather: She traveled from the end of October to the beginning of November and the weather was still beautiful and sunny for the most part.
“That is the time Croatia starts to close all of the tourist areas, and it was great because many of the locations were not crowded,” she said.
A highlight was a 5 ½ mile hike through Croatia’s National Forest!
It was quite the adventure!”
The wonderful people I met and hung out with on the tour made for a most memorable trip.
Redwood National Park
After visiting more than 25 national parks, there was one park relatively close that remained on the Parsons family bucket list: Redwood National Park.
So, Stephanie and Mike along with their sons Liam, 11, and Caleb, 7, hit the road to see the world’s tallest trees. Half the fun was just getting there: After a day of driving and a night at Harris Ranch, the family spent day 2 in San Francisco for a ride on the cable cars and a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The next few days were spent along the coast where they enjoyed New England-style clam chowder and sourdough bread, grilled salmon at Coast Kitchen and a stay at Timber Cove Resort.
A highlight for everyone were the rail bikes in Fort Bragg, following the historic logging railway along Pudding Creek.
Days 8-11 were spent in the Redwoods. The Parsons’ suggestions: Plan ahead and secure reservations to Tall Trees Grove. This 4-mile hike leads to a spectacular, ancient redwood grove. Stop by the Elk Prairie Visitor Center and hike the Karl Knapp Trail.