Trip Introduction
In February 2011, we joined some of Julie's family on a trip to Orange County, California. Her sister (Jolene) was still living in the area and we traveled with her parents (Gary and Surella), brother (Jeff), and brother's housemates (Nick and Lindsay). Julie's mom had booked a vacation rental near Newport Bay. The rental faced northeast and the house across the street backed up to the water of the bay. Newport Beach was only a block and half to the southwest.
Saturday, 02/12/2011 – Heading West
We and Julie's parents flew west and got checked into the rental property.
Our vacation rental location
Sunday, 02/13/2011 – Visiting a landmark
On Sunday James woke early and took pictures of the sunrise on the bay. After a morning walk on the beach with Julie's parents, everyone went different directions. Julie's sister went with us to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Hollyhock House in northeast Los Angeles. From the hill where it sits, we could see different landmarks around the city. We then returned to the Newport area and watched the sunset from the beach.
Jeff, Nick, and Lindsay arrived after dark Sunday evening.
Looking out the vacation rental window as dawn breaks
The sun is up
A fishing pier at Newport Beach
Beachfront properties on Newport Beach
A plaque at Hollyhock House
The west lawn at Hollyhock House
The idealized hollyhock flower used throughout the property
The Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory as seen from the Hollyhock House
The Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles from Hollyhock House
Sunset on the beach
Monday, 02/14/2011 – An Adventurous Valentine's Day
James, Jeff, Lindsay, Nick, and Surella decided to try a Segway tour near the beach and through the neighborhoods around our rental. It was a lot of fun and there was talk about getting them for use around the farms in Iowa. In the evening we grilled out at the rental house and enjoyed a family supper together.
James gets accustomed to the segway controls
A walking alley between some homes in Newport Beach
The tour group stopped for a photo on the pier
Newport Beach from the fishing pier
Looking east across the entrance channel for Newport Bay
Taking a short break from the segways on the tour
We stopped across from our vacation rental while returning from the tour
Tuesday, 02/15/2011 – Time on the Water
The clouds moved in on Tuesday, but we decided to take a boat tour to see some of the large houses in and around the Orange County area. Afterwards, we all went for a walk on the beach where Nick proposed to Lindsay. Surella had actually carried the ring with her to California because Nick knew Lindsay would find it in his luggage. It was a lot of fun watching them celebrate.
Heading out on a boat tour of Newport Bay
A sea lion floats in the bay
Someone didn’t want the sea lions onboard the Bad Habit
Snow fence or sea lion fence
One of the modest homes we saw along the bay
A less modest home on the bay
Wednesday, 02/16/2011 – A Rainy Departure
It was raining when we left the house and headed to the airport on Wednesday. We all got home safely after a fun extra-long weekend.
