daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
I picked up Mariko from the airport tonight after her three-week trip to Japan. Quick tip: if you’re doing an evening pickup, meet on the departure level. It’ll save you a lot of time!
We’re back in Austin after an amazing road trip and holiday in California. Time to unpack and reunite with the kitties!
Today was a long travel day, starting in Sedona, Arizona, and ending in Torrance, California. We kicked things off with a yummy breakfast at the Old Town Red Rooster Café in Cottonwood before hitting the road. Bay took the wheel for the first leg, and I drove the California stretch.
After a full day of driving, dinner at CoCo Ichibanya hit the spot. I usually go for level 10 spiciness, but this location now offers levels 15 and 20! Naturally, I had to try level 15. It was spicy, though I feel like their old level 10 from years back packed more heat. Either way, I’m definitely trying level 20 next time!
We spent the entire day in Sedona, starting with a chilly but beautiful sunrise outside our hotel. Afterward, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast at the Coffee Pot restaurant before setting out for a few scenic hikes in the area. Later, we wrapped up the day by unwinding with a delicious beverage and burger. It was just about as perfect as a day could get!
We kicked off the day with a quick breakfast at our hotel before heading to the International UFO Museum & Research Center. It was my third visit, and I feel the exhibits have improved a bit over the years. It’s still quite hokey but undeniably charming – definitely worth a stop!
Next, Bay drove us to Albuquerque, where we enjoyed a tasty lunch at Taqueria Mexico. Bay’s birria tacos were incredible, and my carnitas burrito wasn’t bad either!
I took over the driving afterward, and we arrived at our hotel in Sedona by early evening. A long travel day, but fun to spend it with family!
