Retro Trailer Park

One of the trailers at The Shady Dell

...and the interior

The other day I was reading the March issue of Sunset Magazine (I would highly recommend getting your hands on a copy), inside was an article regarding unusual places to stay on a trip. One of the places noted was The Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona. It's a retro-style trailer park (all of the trailers have been refurbished in 1950s-chic decor) and it's completely adorable. Prices for a night's stay there start at just $45.00 a night! Wouldn't that be a great place to stay for a night or two on a roadtrip?

Childhood Vacations

When I was a kid my parents didn't have a ton of money, so trips were generally made in our car to a campground somewhere. At the time I didn't always appreciate it, but now I'm genuinely happy that I've been so many places all over the U.S. and stayed at so many campgrounds. My favorite place to camp as a kid and as an adult was/is Hendy Woods State Park in Philo, CA-- a couple hours North of San Francisco. It's quite a drive from Southern California but well worth it. When I was young the redwood forest seemed magical, and now there's the added bonus of all the nearby wineries offering free tastings! Dusty and I made a trip up there last summer and had so much fun that we hope to do it again this year. Where are your favorite destinations? Did you go on lots of trips as a kid? Do you like camping or prefer the comfort of a hotel?

Ballet

Check out these crazy shoes by Alexander McQueen, he calls them Titanic Ballerina Pumps. I first saw them today on www.rachelzoe.com. They're like art-like futuristic robot ballet shoes (haha)! Did you do ballet or dance when you were a kid? I tried dance when I was 4 or 5 and HATED it, I am definitely NOT the graceful type. However I did like looking at Degas' ballerina paintings and sculptures at the Norton Simon Museum.

Dancers in the Rotunda at the Paris Opera
Edgar Degas, 1895 (image from www.nortonsimon.org)

Baby Books

The Rose Garden at Huntington Gardens, San Marino, CA

So the other day I was reading through my baby book (quite fun, highly recommend it) and in it there was a section about trips I'd taken and things that I liked to do as a baby. It was really fascinating to see how much stuff I'd loved as a baby that I still love. For instance, trips to the Los Angeles Zoo to watch the monkeys, the tidepools at my great aunt's beach house in Cayucos, all of the beautiful plants at Huntington Gardens, and ice cream! Have you ever read through your baby book?