Category Archives: Uncategorized

August 7-8, 2026 Kaua’i is famous for its long golden beaches sitting and dramatic green hills. But the most beautiful of all the beaches we came across was this secluded cove just a fifteen minute walk down the hill from our AirBnB. We thought that seals were cold water animals but they apparently like aContinue reading “Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA”

August 6, 2026 It is just a short flight from O’ahu to Kaua’i but the two islands are quite different. Kaua’i is much less developed and is more mountainous and more lush. We started our exploration of the island by driving up to Waimea Canyon, which is sometimes known as the “Grand Canyon of theContinue reading “Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA”

July 31 – August 4 The rest of our time in Oahu was spent alternating between taking road trips and hanging out at the beach or by the pool. Among other things, we hiked up to Waimea waterfall And visited Dole pineapple plantation where the girls chose their own pearls straight from the oyster. AndContinue reading “Oahu, Hawaii, USA”

July 30, 2026 Over the last couple of months we have been sworn to secrecy as our son, Ben, has been organizing a surprise marriage proposal. His girlfriend, Taylor, was already in Hawaii with her family on vacation. The rest of us, surreptitiously, flew in on the day of the proposal. Ben surprised Taylor onContinue reading “Turtle Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, USA”

July 23, 2026 Balboa Island is a man-made island in Newport Harbor, connected to the mainland by a bridge and to the Balboa Peninsula by a historic ferry. It was created in the early 1900s when a developer dredged Newport Harbor and used the sand to build up what had been a tidal mudflat. LotsContinue reading “Balboa Island, Newport, California, USA”

July 9, 2026 After our tour of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, we walked next door with Kylie and Oli to visit one of LA’s other architectural gems. Designed by the acclaimed firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Gensler, the Broad art museum is covered in a white honeycomb-like exterior that filters natural daylight. TheContinue reading “The Broad, Los Angeles, California, USA”

July 9, 2026 The Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the world’s most celebrated concert halls. With our daughter-in-law Kylie and our grandson Oli, we decided to check it out. We will have to return at some stage for an actual concert. Opened in 2003 in downtown LA, it was designed by the lateContinue reading “The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California, USA”

July 7, 2026 Sunset is a classic little Californian beach community lying between Seal Beach to the north and Huntington Beach to the south. We started off walking down the long sandy beach. To the north we could see a navy ship, no doubt loading up munitions at the Naval Weapons Station at Seal Beach.Continue reading “Sunset Beach and Huntington Harbour, California, USA”

June 23, 2026 Sausalito is a small waterfront town just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. With its Victorian buildings, laid back vibe and location across the harbor from a large city, it reminded us quite a lot of Devonport in Auckland. With its slight shabbiness and surrounding steep hills it also hadContinue reading “Sausalito, California, USA”

June 23, 26 Just north of Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, are about 500 houseboats lining about ten docks. Each home is individually designed, so no two are exactly alike. The community traces its roots back more than a century, but it really flourished after World War II. When the nearbyContinue reading “Houseboats, Sausalito, California, USA”