A Tale of Two Rental Cars

That's my 12 year old "behind the wheel" of rental car #1. Hard to believe he'll be driving in 4 years or so.

Any vacation with my family is wonderful, but one of my favorite types of vacations is the "road trip". It's very special being confined in a small space with people you love & actually enjoy spending time with: chatting, pointing out landmarks, laughing and having long conversations about anything and everything. The drive--the journey--is part of the vacation experience.

Along with finding affordable lodgings, planning out a loose itinerary of activities, and researching the local area for good eats, we make room for the extra expense of renting a car. Our logic behind this has always been that it gives us less pressure and worry, as in, no stress on the wear and tear of our own personal vehicle, less stress in the event the car breaks down, etc... We've been renting a car for road trips for years, even before the kids were born.

On our way home from our recent road trip to Las Vegas, we were given validation as to why we have put this practice into place for so many years and will continue to do so for years to come.

As we were in the middle of some unpleasant traffic, the Huz and I could feel something slightly off about the car. It was shaking and making a strange noise. We both thought it was weird, but as my Huz pointed out (and I thought it was pretty logical), the car was fairly brand new (a 2015 model) and although sounding weird, will most likely not break down on us.  As we continued to car crawl through the traffic, the Huz makes a gasping noise and quickly pulls over to the shoulder of the HWY.

"It died," he says.
"Um...okay", I respond. (I'm not cool with this at all).

He starts the vehicle again and we're off...but at this point we're both very uneasy, hoping against hope it's just a fluke and will not happen again. After a few moments, the Huz makes another little gasping sound and pulls over to the side. But this time, he's a little more panicked because he felt the breaks struggle. Okay. Not good at all.  He grabs the phone, calls our rental company and speaks to a representative who tells him that there are no cars available in the closest location to us (Barstow), but there are a few cars available in the next 20 miles or so (Victorville). Can we make it or do we need to call road side assistance?  The car starts up again and if we wait, we'll be waiting for goodness knows how long since we're in the middle of nowhere (not the official name of our location, but it might as well be).  So, feeling like it might be okay, he starts up the car again and goes.  Luckily, at about this time, traffic had died down a bit and we start moving, albeit cautiously, looking out for the exit that we needed to take.  It felt like forever.

When we finally get off the exit, he finds the nearest gas station & calls the Victorville location. The representative on the phone then tells him that they have no cars available (this is not something we were thrilled about but we just wanted to solve the problem, switch cars and move on). The Huz, perpetually cool and calm in a crisis, asks the representative for the phone number of the next nearest location (Hesperia) and calls them. He explains the whole situation to a representative and fortunately, they have a car available to us. (Yippee!) Our car seems to be working okay at this point so we feel hesitantly confident it can get us to that location safely, fingers crossed.  On the way, I kept praying and hoping the car would just hold up.  I have full confidence in the Huz's driving and felt sure we were safe in his hands--if it stalled, he'd ease us on the side of the road as he'd already done.

We finally reach our destination (phew!) and very painlessly switch cars (I was even able to take a much needed restroom break.). Almost without a word, we all automatically transfer our belongings into the new rental car, climb on in, click our seat belts & off we go again!  Throughout this less than harrowing experience, our boys were often silent and sometimes encouraging in the back seat. They never panicked and trusted that their Dad and I would keep them safe. We lucked out with those two.

The car that will eventually get us home is not the car that took us on vacation. ☺

When we returned the second car to the rental company, they were very apologetic and one representative was visibly distressed that we had such an experience. They offered us a free day of rental and gave us an incentive for a free upgrade on the next vehicle we rent (which will come in handy very soon since we are scheduled for another road trip before the end of the summer). We've used this company for years and although we hope to never have a rental car break down on us again (or shut down in the middle of traffic), we're glad that we were able to get through it relatively unscathed.

The point in relaying this story is not to endorse any one rental company over another, but just that renting a car has its definite upside.  We left our original rental car in Hesperia and will never have to think about it again.  If that was our personal vehicle, we would have to worry about towing fees and repairs. Renting a car gives the road tripper less burden.

Our whole vacation was fantastic and memorable and this experience was a mere hiccup that was easily overcome. 

So, go ahead and plan that road trip. Rent a car. Be safe!

 

What's Happens in Vegas, Gets Captured in Print!

Every summer we schedule a trip to Las Vegas, & every year I think, am I really heading towards all that dreaded heat? And every year, I get home exhausted but very content & ask, how soon can I come back? This year was no different! We had a jam packed wonderful weekend & once again, my love for the city is renewed and reinvigorated (& I didn't once touch a slot machine!)

The most important part of any vacation is the eating! What? C'mon, you know that's true. I always try to make it a point to do a little back search on the restaurants in the area to find an affordable and unique eatery known to the locals. This time, I found a wonderful Hawaiian/Mexican fusion restaurant called Bruddah's Island Style! It was a hit with the family. Be sure to read my review on Yelp.

First up, nourishment at Bruddah's! 

After eating...it was time for drinking....Boba, that is! We found Kung Fu Tea in Chinatown. And of course, I reviewed it on Yelp so be sure to check it out.

It's Boba time! 

We stayed at The Silverton Hotel which is a pleasant hotel/casino off The Strip. Naturally, I also wrote a review on Yelp so be sure to check that out. It's a good option for those that want to spend much less on lodgings and get away from the hustle & bustle of The Strip.

The guys had the pool all to themselves for a little while.

They have a nice pool surrounded by trees and depending on what time of day you decide to swim and play (towards the later afternoon to evening), the trees offer much shade from the harsh rays of the sun.

Fish!

An added bonus is a beautiful 117,000 gallon 30-foot tank aquarium with lots of gorgeous fish and stingrays from all over the world. You might be able to spot a few sharks or two. There are real life mermaids and divers if you get excited about that sort of thing...which we do. ☺ It's a good place to stop and enjoy a serene and tranquil moment--if my family believed in that concept. But, we're in Vegas, so let's go, go, go!

Buffets!

This was at Paradise Buffet at Silverton. I split a cheesecake with the Huz.

You can't go to Vegas and not eat at a buffet or two! It's more food than you can possibly fit in your stomach, so pace yourselves, but make sure you leave room for dessert. The lemon cheesecake was pretty toe curling at the Paradise Buffet at Silverton.

This was at the French Market Buffet at The Orleans. International options! 

 The French Market Buffet at The Orleans is probably the most affordable buffet in the area. There are lots of food to choose: pizza, Mexican, Chinese, BBQ, American, Seafood, gluten-free options and sugar free desserts. Every type of eater should be able to find something.

Time to be tourists...

Since we go to Las Vegas once a year, I always make it a quest to do at least one thing we've never done before. And the great thing about Las Vegas, is that there are so many things to do that most people don't know about. It's not just about nightclubs, celebrity shows & gambling.

This year, we went to Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden for the first time. At the entrance, you are treated to a small M&M shop with lots of souvenir memorabilia--mugs, shirts, keychains, etc. Once you get passed those distractions and temptations (I did not leave unscathed--I got a t-shirt on clearance and two mugs), you can start the quick self-tour.

The Family right outside the M&M shop.

 You can actually see the workers making the delectable desserts and smell the sweet aroma of chocolate. Every once in a while, you'll get a worker who'll smile and wave, but for the most part, they're all concentrating on this serious job of chocolate making. It's an honorable profession & I for one, salute you all! At the end of our tour, we got a small sampling of milk chocolate which I popped directly into my mouth. Delicious! And then they offered a pecan brittle chocolate sample--also delicious! I wish I could buy the whole store. It's pretty pricey though so that helped with our consumer decision.

The beginning of the self-tour. Chocolate...one of my favorite words! 

We then headed to the Cactus Garden. It's a pretty spectacular garden, I must say.  I've always been attracted to these simple drought resistant plants. They can survive under such harsh conditions and add beauty to their surroundings. There are some unique looking ones I'd never seen before. If you're in the area, check this place out. It's a good experience for the kids and adults alike.

So impressed with the solar panels used to power up the facility.

Chinatown!
There is a huge Asian presence in Las Vegas. Something I wasn't fully aware of until this trip. It's awesome driving through Chinatown and seeing all the classic Chinese rooftops. There are so many lively businesses and you can shop til you drop. And eating options...only limited by your imagination (and picky eating companions). We stopped at the Chinatown Mall to see what they had to offer, and to get out of the blazing heat--hurry...from the car to an air conditioned building we go!

No, you can't climb the rocks. ☺

Not surprisingly, we found some pretty picture spots almost immediately. And yes, we found another Boba place and since it's a new day...why not? (Don't judge us...or go ahead, but we'll do what we want anyway).

The sign says, #1 Boba Tea.That's hard to live up to...but they do it! Delicious Boba!

Gorgeous wall art surrounding the staircase.

Dragons guarding the entrance. They are said to hold lots of good luck!

It's hot as heck, but we can't pass up the picture op. 

TownSquare!
Another thing we've never done before this trip is to visit TownSquare Shopping Centers. It's super close to The Strip and has it's own bridge coming off of Las Vegas Blvd. There are so many shops including an AMC Theater which of course, we took advantage of to take in a movie.

Love the big sign!

I think I like this poster better than I liked the movie. Ooops.

The biggest downside for this shopping center is that it is outdoors which is brutal during these scorching summer days.  There are lots of shade and an occasional spritizing machine coming out of magical trees, but it only offers a minimum amount of respite from oven like temps. I appreciate lovely landscapes and picture opportunities though.

I need that spray right on my face!

Nice park area...but we headed for the shade. Phew!

Isn't this just gorgeous?! Greenery, body of water, a bridge...yup, photo op! 

Las Vegas Premium Outlets South!

Let's head to the Mall!

 This place is one of my favorite shopping excursions every time we're in Vegas.  It is an outlet store (so if you have issues with that, we won't be shopping together). And yes, it's an indoor Mall! AirConditioning!! Hallelujah!  I head straight for the Skechers store where I've had luck every year finding good deals on my favorite footwear. This year, my oldest son (who goes through shoes a lot quicker than I'd like) and the Huz lucked out on a buy one get 50% of a 2nd pair deal on comfy sneaker shoes (with Memory foam).

Why are we outside? Oh, we have to take this picture! ☺

But first, let's take an eating break. Look! There's a Smashburger! I know it's a franchise, but we don't have one too close to where we live. So, we went for it!

Smashburger break! Can you see my salad? Might have to find one near us just for that deliciousness!

Now, let's get back to shopping!

Where's the toy store?

And finally, The Strip!
 We always have to walk The Strip at night. Some may say the oversized themed buildings and bright lights are gaudy and obnoxious, but I say, bring it!! There's nothing like it and I enjoy every flickering billboard, every honk from the typical impatient cab driver, ladies walking around in sky high heels, and crazy characters from all walks of life. The Strip is not just a street on Las Vegas Blvd, it's an experience.

So bright, you might need shades, even at 9pm.

On this trip, we visited the Coca Cola Store! I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. The store is fantastic, with many unique souvenir options. I found a "clearance" section and snagged myself a cute t-shirt and a mug. There are some "recycled" t-shirts and purses (supposedly made from recycled cans) so if you're into that sort of thing, you'll have a field day here.  There's also a soda shop on the top floor with a tasting of sodas from around the world for $8.00 (I'm sure this price will be raised when we return next year). An indication that not all the sodas are drinkable is that you'll see many people not drinking all of the cups. For $8.00 of our hard-earned money, I refuse to take that bet. Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable store to visit.

Good thing these guys don't melt in the heat.

Right next door is a multi-story M&M shop with lots of souvenirs and picture opportunities.

And then before we knew it, we had to bid adieu to Las Vegas. And see? No gambling! Til we meet again Sin(less) City! Mwuuah!

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Happy National Hotdog Day!

I apologize to all the vegetarians and vegans out there, but today we celebrate this all-American delicious treat, made especially tempting roasting on an open fire, but still delightful simply boiled, dressed up in an infinite amount of ways. No, certainly don't overindulge on a consistent basis, but every once in a while, during a backyard bbq or a celebratory bonfire, go for it!

And as a special treat, please enjoy this short "short" starring Skylander's Wrecking Ball. Encouraged by the creative team of the Husband & our two sons, this spunky character celebrates National Hotdog Day as only he can. If you listen carefully, you’ll be able to hear my special voice cameo! 
 

Here’s some hot dog facts…

Many restaurants are celebrating this day with special discounts & deals. Don't forget to check out what your local eateries are offering. 

Wienerschnitzel

So, are you craving it yet? Go ahead. Eat a hot dog.

 
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