Hood to Coast - Wayne & Kay's 2nd trip west

Wayne and Kay came to visit for a few days and so we added to their list of things they've seen in Oregon. We began with a MAX ride from the airport all the way to Hillsboro Airport/Fair Complex. Saturday 7/3 we went to Astoria, took the trolley tour, went to the jetty, ate pizza and then drove down to Seaside. Seaside was a zoo so we didn't get out of the car. Sunday 7/4 we went downtown to show them Powell's, Tiffany's, Pioneer Square (Mall), etc. Then we saw the Japanese Gardens and practically got shoved off the bus by a very angry TriMet driver who didn't appreciate that we wanted to ride his bus back to the zoo to catch the MAX instead of getting off at PGE Park to catch the MAX. Jerk. Monday we drove to Mt. Hood and toured Timberline Lodge after traipsing thru the snow to get there (on July 5th...really!)

Portland Rose Festival

June 5th: BBQ and Brew
June 12th: Grand Floral parade and Dragon Boat Races

2nd trip to GA - Grandma's Funeral

A lesson in last-minute travel. Knowing the Katie's grandma was dying, but not quite dead yet, made it hard to plan travel. But we did it. We flew Delta nonstop both ways, first class on the way back! Free checked bag on the way back but had to pay for it on the way down...go figure. The hotel we wanted to stay at (and a lot of the others) were booked solid for weddings and sports tournaments so we tried a new one. Candlewood Suites in Athens, off the Atlanta Hwy. Not bad, but we missed a lot of things we considered standard like a swimming pool! Got to see Ashlie and Hope again. Had dinner w/ Katie's Uncle Rick and Aunt Mary at Outback and breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Saw a lot of family (duh). Rented a car from Avis at the ATL airport again.

Katie's Birthday

We went to Seaside to continue the tradition of always being on the beach for Katie's birthday since she moved to Oregon. (24th: Newport, 25th: Astoria, 26th: Seaside) We got ice cream and watched the sun set.

Nathan's Birthday

We went to Newport (early) for Nathan's birthday. Stayed at the Hallmark Inn. Ate at Mo's (horrible wait first time, left, came back next day and froze to death) Ate at Georgie's next to hotel. Got great wine at Depoe Bay. Outlet shopping in Lincoln City.

GA Trip 2010

We went to GA for 8 days (and only used 4 of Nathan's vacation days...I should get a medal for learning how to manipulate the system like that! ha!) This time we stayed at the SpringHill Suites Marriott in Buford, GA which is right across the street from the Mall of Georgia. We flew Continental, rented a car from Avis from the ATL airport (which moved all the cars to a separate rental car location) and were amazed to see snow there while Oregon was actually having a heat wave! Got to see Ashlie's newest, Hope, who was only a week old! Shipped some of my stuff back UPS in addition to checking bags of old stuffed animals, etc.