Family holiday in the States

A throwback post

Don't worry, I'm not turning into a mummy blogger (not that there's anything wrong with that!), but I was looking through an old family photo album and thought I'd put together a throwback post about one of the few family holidays we’ve taken, to the United States of America.

Family trip States 1

Growing up we only went on holiday within New Zealand until our early teens when our parents took us to the Gold Coast. Those photos do not need to see the light of day ever again so I won't be writing about that experience! These photos of photos aren't great either, to be fair. Anyway, following that, our only other international trip all together as a family was to the West Coast of the USA. 

Family trip States 2

We travelled to three states; California, Nevada and Arizona on accident. We hired a car and hit all the tourist spots along the way; Hollywood, San Diego Zoo, Santa Monica Boulevard, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, and of course, Disneyland.

It was an awesome family holiday because there wasn't the stress of a language barrier, the people were very friendly and kind, we always felt safe and the food was very similar to what we have in New Zealand. As a parent, I can imagine this would all help make travelling with kids a lot less stressful, and as a (big) kid I can testify that there were no food-related tantrums. Except when we struggled to find a breakfast joint in Las Vegas because apparently nobody there is up at breakfast time. I get hangry OK... a girl's gotta eat! 

Highlights of the trip:

  • Watching the night light show at Disneyland

  • Watching the fountain show outside the Bellagio

  • Seeing pandas at San Diego Zoo

  • Standing next to a Bugatti on Rodeo Drive, which would've cost more than I'll earn in this lifetime

  • Spotting Jamie Oliver on the street, though it was kind of sad that he was the only celeb we spotted…he's not even American!

  • Witnessing an entire military base stand with their hands on their hearts, deathly silent, as they stood for the national anthem

  • Watching the Shamu show, which I now know I shouldn't have done, but it was incredible to see such majestic creatures showing off their acrobatic skills

  • Eating food of epic proportions

  • Tootsie rolls every day :)

  • Standing on the border between Nevada and Arizona, being in 2 timezones and 2 states at once

All in all it was a really fun trip and I'm still incredibly grateful to my parents for taking us. 

Have you been to the States? Where would you recommend visiting?