SouthDakota2008: Sammy Goes Wild in the West

We just recently finished a large family trip to western South Dakota. Paul's parents, sisters, Grant, and cousins Liz & Doug went with us. We'll be adding some entries to the blog over the next week or two (or three) with our recollections.

In some ways the vacation was bittersweet as Michele's maternal grandmother had died--so she and Sammy flew back east for the funeral and joined us a few days into the vacation.

Paul, Sammy, and Michele at Mount Rushmore 2008...

March 2005: Santa Barbara

Back in March of 2005 we went on a vacation to Santa Barbara with our friends Daxa and Ashwin (Michele's schoolmates from college). Paul managed to lose the files and then found them (though he still can't recover alot of the MPEG's he shot on the trip). Over the years we've gone on numerous trips with them and always had a great time.

We consider Santa Barbara one of the most beautiful cities we've ever seen. It's terribly expensive to live there, but Paul would be willing to live in the streets there...because it really is gorgeous out there.

We arrived in Los Angeles, drove up the coast (well as far as we could go) and stayed at the Casa Del Mar (a 21 Mediterranean style inn only 1/2 block from the beach). Here's some pictures of where we:

• saw the sights in beautiful Santa Barbara
• ate at Fat Burger (perhaps the greatest burger joint...in the WORLD...Magic Johnson owns a few franchises)
• introduced Ashwin/Daxa to Chipotle
• went to reenact "Sideways" at the Firestone Vineyard (remember that silly Bachelor show?). Note: This vineyard was in the movie.
  
• had a great time at Universal City
  

Aswhin, Daxa, Paul & Michele on the West Coast

Some birds on the coast.

Casa del Mar...where we stayed a few nights....
...the room didn't have the flat-screen tv when we were there!

Ashwin & Daxa...
...is she hugging him for what he just bought her inside?

Paul and Michele on hills overlooking Santa Barbara

Daxa and Michele at an old Spanish mission in Santa Barbara

Tour guide, Ashwin, and Michele reading the map.

Paul is convinced these trees grew this way by chance and chance alone.

Fatburger...Paul's Mecca for hamburgers!!

2 things that make Paul happy: Michele & a Fatburger

The beach at Santa Barbara.

Daxa & Michele on State Street in Santa Barbara

Paul & Michele

Universal Studios...Ashwin, Daxa, Michele & Paul

Daxa & Michele overlooking what must be Los Angeles from Universal Studios...
....is that an overcast sky or just smog?

Paul & Ashwin unsuccessfully audition for the movies....
...All right Mr. De Mille, we're ready for our close-up!

Daxa always exceeds the requirements.

It's a fake backdrop...right?

Life imitates art...

...or is it art imitating life?

The vineyard, but no "bachelor" in sight...
...is that because we didn't see him...
...or because he is now married and thus there is no bachelor in sigh?.

Vacationing w/Ashwin & Daxa is always a barrel of fun.

Paul is the luckiest ex-bachelor around.

Paul & Aswhin dream of their own vineyard.

Ashwin & Daxa at the Firestone vineyard...
... Ashwin is a very lucky ex-bachelor too!

Daxa & Michele...sweeter than wine.

Where you'll find Paul & Michele if they win the lottery.

TRIP: SW Wisconsin 9/3/2005 - 9/4/2005

This labor day weekend, Michele and I went on a quick trip to southwestern Wisconsin. We had hoped instead to go to the Black Hills of South Dakota, but we faced time constraints. So at the last minute we were able to find a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) in Westby, Wisconsin called "Westby House."

It was a really nice B&B run by a husband and wife team. The wife runs the "inside" while the husband runs the kitchen and maintains the property. We spent just one night in the "Garden Room" and slept well. We drove around the town and saw the Amish folk baling their hay. Unfortunately, Paul didn't get any photos of that. But on before we left, we took some photos of the B&B and the towns we drove through.

The B&B owners suggested DiSciascio's Restaurant in Coon Valley, Wisconsin for dining. Since there isn't alot of choice, we decided to drive over Saturday night and give it a try. We've been living in the midwest for about 10 years, having been transplants from the east coast. This was the first time in all those years that we have found an Italian restaurant which has food like we could eat back home. As it turned out, the owner grew up in Ocean City, NJ and married a woman who graduated at the top of her class at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America)...which is impressive (the world's premier culinary college). His wife is originally from Zumbrota, MN so somehow they ended up opening a restaurant here. We now have a reason to come back here again!

After Michele finished her 'antiquing' at the local Westby stores, we drove around the countryside. Between Ontario and La Farge is a "Rustic Road" which is definitely worth taking. It is off of Route 131 just south of Ontario and it drops you back on Route 131 closer to La Farge.

We ate lunch at a diner called "Kelly's Cafe" in Viroqua, Wisconsin. The owner's husband seemd to take quite an interest in us and our little car. He spent about fifteen minutes talking to us and never gave us the menu. His wife came by to take our order and seemed a little upset (not alot though) that he was talking to us and not getting us to take our order. He seemed like a nice guy, and told us that east of that city there was an awful lot of maple trees and the colors will be great in about three weeks. We'll have to go back some year during autumn!!

We came back and swung by Winona, Minnesota to take a view from the looking point Garvin Heights...a big "mountain" (does Minnesota have any?) that you can look down on the island city of Winona. For a trip of lasting a little over 24 hours, we had a great time.

(click on the photos to see an enlargened version)

View of Westby Bed & Breakfast

And an small office building in Westby that Paul liked the proportions of....


A big brick building in Westby...

And our NBC (New Beetle Convertible) parked in Westby
as Michele shops for 'antiques'...

We drove through Cashton...it had a nice brick building...


And literally in the middle of nowhere, there was this big church called Saint Mary's...


Michele admiring the view on the Rustic Road, just south of Ontario, Wi...


A view from the Rustic Road between Ontario and La Farge, Wi. ...


A view of Winona and Michele from Garvin Heights overlook...

And to finish up, a bit of history (click on image to read)...