"Holiday Road" - The Official Vacation Thread

[HondoKillebrew]

Fredricksburg is worth a couple of days. The Nimitz museum will take most of a day. Lots of German restaurants , wineries, and pubs as well. Also a wonderful park with a fantastic overlook.

The Nimitz Museum, now called the National Museum of the Pacific War, is a large, fantastic, and moving museum.   Extremely high quality exhibits.  Not to be missed. 

[imref]

The Nimitz Museum, now called the National Museum of the Pacific War, is a large, fantastic, and moving museum.   Extremely high quality exhibits.  Not to be missed. 

yeah, I was on mobile and used shorthand.

The overlook I mentioned is called Enchanted Rock.  The LBJ ranch is worth seeing as well.

More here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g55863-Activities-Fredericksburg_Texas.html

[varoadking]

The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor has been reopened.

[imref]

The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor has been reopened.

[mitlen]

I see...

I lack North Dakota, Louisiana, and Alaska...guessing Vancouver this fall may be as close as I ever get to Alaska...

I spent eight weeks in Louisiana.     

[varoadking]

I spent eight weeks in Louisiana.     

...and got paid to do it! 

[Natsinpwc]

One highlight of the trip to Tokyo was a Japanese guy on the plane from DFW. He was rocking a Washington Wizards hat. Didn’t get a chance to talk him up. Go Hachimura-San.

On the shuttle bus from Narita to the hotel the American guy across from us kept saying it reminded him of Pittsburgh. LOL. Didn’t ask him why?  Smog?

Despite a lack of sleep yesterday we are up at 3 in the morning with no place to go. Just three hours until the breakfast buffet.

The New Otani is super nice.  We upgraded to a room that includes access to a lounge that has snacks and such all day. And the breakfast buffet. The workers here are so nice. Worth the price if you ever visit.

[DCFan]

Despite a lack of sleep yesterday we are up at 3 in the morning with no place to go. Just three hours until the breakfast buffet.

That's the way I was in Hawaii when we went many years ago.

[Count Walewski]

Attention canal heritage lovers: the C&O Canal in Williamsport, MD now has a functional aqueduct that carries the C&O Canal over a river. I have not been there to see it in person but read it in the news.

[Natsinpwc]

Saw some of the Fall Tokyo Sumo Basho yesterday. Interesting and fun. We were too tired to stay for the top flight guys who battle late afternoon. Kokuryu lost his first match in case you are keeping score. Still not time adjusted. While channel surfing caught some of a Yankees Tigers game. With Japanese announcers.

[mitlen]

Saw some of the Fall Tokyo Sumo Basho yesterday. Interesting and fun. We were too tired to stay for the top flight guys who battle late afternoon. Kokuryu lost his first match in case you are keeping score. Still not time adjusted. While channel surfing caught some of a Yankees Tigers game. With Japanese announcers.

I've watched some of the high lights from the Fall matches on NHK Japan here in Seattle.    It's all Japanese all the time.        I saw a Geisha at one of the matches.       I miss Bob and FP.        Wave next time.

Sumo is like being in the Loft pre-game.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

The Japan Times has a great baseball section.  And it's in English 

[Natsinpwc]

Saw some of the Fall Tokyo Sumo Basho yesterday. Interesting and fun. We were too tired to stay for the top flight guys who battle late afternoon. Kokuryu lost his first match in case you are keeping score. Still not time adjusted. While channel surfing caught some of a Yankees Tigers game. With Japanese announcers.

The worst is the area near one of the famous temples. Where they have foreigners walking around in traditional attire. Really looks dumb.

I saw one European looking guy in one of the matches today. I did wave!  On to Osaka! 

[Natsinpwc]

The Japan Times has a great baseball section.  And it's in English 

Yes it does. The version at the hotel also has a NY Times version inside it. They must have a partnership.

[mitlen]

Thanksgiving is coming soon.    Folks from around the country will be giving thanks for loved ones, friends, health, etc.    I will be thankful that I don't have to deal with the flying public for the foreseeable future.     

[Count Walewski]

I am flying out of Reagan the day before Thanksgiving, with a toddler no less. I am hopeful that, as they have done in the past on holiday weekends, they will have expedited screening procedures.

[HalfSmokes]

I am flying out of Reagan the day before Thanksgiving, with a toddler no less. I am hopeful that, as they have done in the past on holiday weekends, they will have expedited screening procedures.

That would make getting clear worth it

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I hear that the are rolling this out at some sports venues.  Not sure whether it is just an expedited security line or actual biometric ticketing, which would be pretty cool (except for my privacy geek friends with their Guy Fawkes masks). 

That would make getting clear worth it

[GburgNatsFan]

That would make getting clear worth it

Quoted for the level of sublime humor.

[imref]

Quoted for the level of sublime humor.

Barry Bonds reference in 3....2.....1......

[mitlen]

That would make getting clear worth it

Missus is a frequent (few times a year) flyer to Seattle.    I told her  ---  oops I mean suggested  ---  to apply to save the "hassle".

[imref]

Missus is a frequent (few times a year) flyer to Seattle.    I told her  ---  oops I mean suggested  ---  to apply to save the "hassle".

I have a TSA known traveler number, 5 years for $85.  Clear is $179 a year though there are lots of discounts out there through credit cards and frequent flyer programs.  The big advantage to Clear is that you essentially get to cut all the lines, I've never seen any line at a Clear checkpoint.  TSA pre lines usually aren't that bad though, I don't think I've ever waited more than 15 minutes.   I fly 10-15 times a year.

[HalfSmokes]

I have a TSA known traveler number, 5 years for $85.  Clear is $179 a year though there are lots of discounts out there through credit cards and frequent flyer programs.  The big advantage to Clear is that you essentially get to cut all the lines, I've never seen any line at a Clear checkpoint.  TSA pre lines usually aren't that bad though, I don't think I've ever waited more than 15 minutes.   I fly 10-15 times a year.

TSA pre lines are getting worse. Personally, I think it speaks volumes that you can do the government background pre-check and pay your fee, and still get passed (at government operated checkpoints) by people paying for the private version, but this isn’t uncensored

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I had a weekday flight from Logan to DCA where the TSA line was longer than the regular line 

Usually though it makes a huge difference, especially at long-haul hubs like Denver and IAD. 

[mitlen]

I got into the booth (x-ray) and the agent asked me how old I was.    They put me through the non-invasive scan.