Family Trips – Page 6 – Carey & Donna's Travel Site

Very Large Array – March 2015

I visited the VLA on the way home from a Rotary conference in Albuquerque, NM. The Very Large Array, one of the world’s premier astronomical radio observatories, consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna 36km (22 miles) across, with the sensitivity of a dish 130 meters (422 feet) in diameter. Click on their website to learn more about it. http://www.vla.nrao.edu/

There are many exhibits at the Very Large Array site

Wedding – Jon Penn – April 2014

Donna & I attended Jon & Kelsey Penn’s wedding in Plano, TX. We also visited the George W. Bush Memorial Library during this trip and spent time with the Penn & Mannino family at Jan & Steve Penn’s home in Dennison, TX. We took Mimi & Beamy with us on the drive to Arlington and dropped them off at my sister – Carole’s home for the 7 days we were at the wedding.

Campfire & picnic at the Penn’s house in Denison, TX

Donna with her boys and their wives (George Bush Memorial Library)

PA/DE Christmas Trip – December 2013

Here are pictures we took while on our trip to Pennsylvania & Delaware for the Christmas holiday season. We drove over 5000 miles total and had an opportunity to see all the kids and grandkids.

Christmas with the family at Kevin’s house

California Trip – November 2013

This was a three-week camping trip which began with a family visit to Donna’s brother Carl’s home in Vista, CA. We stayed at Guajome Regional Campground and visited several places in the area, including the USS Midway. From there we drove to Peggy Sue’s Dinner near Barstow, CA where we met our traveling companions from the Rotary RVF group. We all had dinner at Peggy Sue’s then traveled to Death Valley for a week at the 49er Encampment. Death Valley was an incredible place this time of the year and we saw as much of it as we could. The group disbanded on Monday after a week of fellowship and sightseeing. Donna & I headed east toward Chaco Canyon and spent two nights seeing the wonders within this National Historic Park. Getting to it was a real challenge, because the entry road is 18 miles of washboard dirt. The temperature at night hit 25 degrees but we had a great time.

Badwater Basin – Death Valley National Park

Hueco Tanks Hike – October 2013

This was a trip we took with the Las Cruces Southwest Environmental Center as part of their “Back by Noon” outings program. The trip included a hike into some of the most interesting areas of Hueco Tanks State Park.

For thousands of years, people have trekked to these rock hills in far west Texas. In earlier times, they came for the rainwater pooled in natural rock basins, or *huecos* (“whey-coes”). Visitors today marvel at the imagery left by those ancient people.

One of the many challenges while hiking in the park

Massacre Peak Petroglyphs – September 2013

This was a trip we took with the Las Cruces Southwest Environmental Center in conjunction with their “Back to Noon” outings.

Our hiking crew as we approach Massacre Peak along the Butterfield trail

The complex includes at least one Lithic site and a four-room Classic Mimbres dwelling that may provide important information regarding Mimbres sites in an environmental zone where they usually do not occur

Mt. Cristo Rey Hike – March 2013

This was another climb up Mt. Crista Rey with the local citizens as part of the Easter pilgrimage. This time Charlie and Barb hiked up to the top with us. It was quite an accomplishment for them.

Standing atop the Sierra de Cristo Rey (Formerly known as the Cerro de los Muleros, Mule Drivers Mountain), in Sunland Park, New Mexico, the 29 ft. tall limestone statue of Christ serves as a shrine to thousands of faithful in the El Paso and Southern New Mexico area.

Vista, CA Trip – March 2013

We took Barb & Charlie to visit Carl at his home in Vista, CA. Carl entertained us by taking us on several tours in the area; fishing on the pier in Oceanside and along one of the inlets. Donna & I stayed in the camper at Gualome County Park – our favorite spot when we visit Carl & Dawn. Steve & Cheryl were able to join us on this trip as well.

Alta Vista Gardens has developed a new standard for botanical gardens. While holding true to traditional scientific approach to botanical gardens, and providing an interactive, living classroom for North San Diego County students, the gardens take a new approach to creating a completely new interpretation of what a botanical garden can become.

PA Christmas Trip – December 2012

This was one of our annual trips back to PA for the Christmas holiday season. We stayed at Donna’s parents’ house and made frequent visits to see the kids and grandkids. It’s always fun to go back to Pennsylvania to see everyone.

Iceland – August 2012

We flew to Iceland and rented a car to travel around the country. We drove a little more than 800 miles around the Circle Route. This is a land of scenic beauty, numerous waterfalls, volcanic rock, geysers and the famous Blue Lagoon. It also has many glaciers, and we stayed a few days with the Rotary District Governor of Iceland who was kind enough to guide us to the most scenic parts of the country.

Click here to read the complete Trip Report