The Dahlem Dish: Vegas and San Diego trip

Since Thanksgiving tickets were too expensive for a family of three, we flew out to Las Vegas to visit Jim's dad and step-mom. Avery had never been to Grandma Dahlem's house and this was also her first time to Nevada and Arizona too! While there, we took a road trip to San Diego to visit a couple friends from when we lived there.

We hopped on the Metro for our flight out of Reagan National Airport

Avery (with a blue lollipop) and Daddy on the Metro

Avery kept herself entertained very well, which is good because we had three flights to get to Vegas

Once we landed Avery of course liked riding up front in the tram at the Vegas airport

The first day we were there we woke up early (we were on eastern time still!) and went for a sunrise run in the neighborhood and caught a nice sunrise

Then we went to Valley of Fire State Park which is about 60 miles north of Vegas. As a bit of advanced notice for anyone who is considering stopping by there while in Vegas, the website makes the rock arch look like the huge famous one in Utah. When we got there, the rock arch was about 2 feet high. We creatively took some neat pictures to make it look like a bigger arch in the background, but it may not be worth the drive and $10 park fee for most people as a side trip from Vegas.

Later back at Grandma Jamie's house, a diapered Avery did "yoga" with momma out on the patio:

(Colleen says that that is not her best attempt at a pose, it was to let Avery join here on the mat!) The diapered Avery also liked practicing her putting skills on the putting green in the back yard:

Avery also went "fishing" with the pool noodles:

The next day we drove to San Diego, and of course drove in when they were having their first rain in over a month. Still, even though it was cold and rainy on the beach, Avery didn't mind at all

Here she is in a full sprint with a handful of sand:

We were at the beach with LJ, and notice how Colleen and LJ are all bundled up and Avery is playing around like it's 80 degrees out!

That night we went to Luigi's, a pizza place we used to go to when we lived there. We met up with Ryan that night too. "Uncle Ryan" gave Avery a nice gift, a my little pony. Avery loves it a lot and still plays with it at home all the time!

The next day was a lot nicer out. We had Breakfast at the Wavehouse on the boardwalk, and Avery colored while we watched the waves having our coffee and pancakes.

Avery then saw Santa on the beach:

Colleen went to a yoga class with Ryan, while Jim played with Avery on the sand.

Then Jim pushed Avery for a long 15 mile run around the bay and boardwalk while Avery napped.

Enjoying a coffee right before a long run

Afterwards we all met back up again for a late lunch in La Jolla at the Juice Kaboose. The sandwiches and smoothies are really good there!

We stayed with LJ at her place on the campus of UCSD where she works (thanks to her so much!!). We stopped by the Dr Seuss and the Cat in the Hat statue on the UCSD campus

(Dr Seuss was from San Diego originally)
We went to see the seals at the La Jolla cove:

That night we went with LJ and her sister to a sushi place in downtown La Jolla. (Our old favorite sushi place, Kabuki Sushi, closed and is now a new restaurant). It was called Sushi on the Rock, and we sat on the upper patio deck

Avery said she had to "be a doctor and perform brain surgery" on her baby with chopsticks at the restaurant

The next day, Avery found this steal of a real estate deal in La Jolla, a free house overlooking the cove, but said "it has no mailbox" and left. Dang she passed up a good deal.

We then stopped by the playground at La Jolla Shores.

Then Colleen went for a long run (her own half marathon from La Jolla to Mission Beach and around the bay). Jim meanwhile took Avery to the Model Train Museum in Balboa Park. She was fascinated by it

And loved running on the tracks on the floor

Her favorite part was the Lego Train exhibit.

We stayed at that spot for a long time, and she wanted to take it home with us!

Then we went to Windansea beach until sunset when it was time to head back to Vegas

The next day we went to the Shark Reef Aquarium in the Mandalay Bay. It was billed as full-fledged aquarium and even part of the Zoo and Aquarium consortium. However one should be aware that they don't honor the reciprocal memberships that the others do nationwide (they said the casino owner wouldn't allow it), and it is a bit small for the price. But since there aren't many things to do with little kids in Vegas it may be a good option for parents but the Lied Children's Museum (see farther below) might be a better option for the money. Anyway, here is Avery seeing some of the exhibits

The next day we went to Hoover Dam,and the water level was still very noticeably low in the lake, like it has been for the last 5-10 years, notice the ring of white rock

(of course as a side note, when visiting a playground the next day we noticed where some of that water goes...to water the basketball court and also shoot water / mist right into the air where it was evaporating before even hitting the grass

While we were at the dam, we got proof that Avery has been to Nevada and Arizona, Notice the little sign on the state line halfway across the bridge, the arrows on the bottom point to Arizona and Nevada, Avery was happy to show off both sides!

The last full day there we went to the Lied Children's Museum. It is just north of downtown but it is moving to a brand new bigger building west of downtown in a few months. Avery liked playing with the giant green screen, and seeing herself on TV playing hockey, volleyball, etc