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Trip Length: |
8 Days |
Pickup Date:
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November 8th |
Drop-off Date:
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November 15th |
Rough Distance Traveled:
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1442 Miles |
Pickup Location: |
Travelodge, Las Vegas |
Drop-off Location: |
Embassy Suites, SFO |
Overnights: |
Los Angeles, San Simeon, San Francisco |
Group Size: |
3 adults, 1 teenager |
Vehicle: |
Toyota Sienna Minivan |
Guide: |
Jeff Lowe |
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The Allens' trip began in Las Vegas with a tour of
the Strip, took a long day to drive route 66 and see
the Grand Canyon, and then headed to the California
coast for 3 night stops in Los Angeles and San Francisco
sandwiched around a trip up the Central Coast with an
overnight in San Simeon. The group took advantage of
guide Jeff Lowe's expertise in photography both to document
their trip for them and to provide instruction to Shelley,
Wendy's 15 year-old aspiring photographer. |
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Las Vegas |
3 nights (2 before
we joined them) |
We met Wendy and her family in Las Vegas
at the end of their second day there.
They had spent their first two days enjoying
the Strip, and doing some serious shopping.
We weren't scheduled to meet them until
the morning of their third day, but Jeff
was excited to start the tour, and volunteered
to give them a proper tour of the Strip
as a prequel to their coming adventure.
After their tour, the family braved an
8 hour time difference to catch Manchester
United vs. Arsenal (despite living in
Manchester, Arsenal is their favorite
team) in the MGM Sports Book before rejoining
with Jeff early the following morning
for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.
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Las Vegas Highlights
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While Ethel shopped,
we enjoyed unsurpassed views from
America's tallest observation deck,
the 1,149' tall Stratosphere tower.
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The family rode a gondola
on the canals at The Venetian Hotel
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Visited a real, Western
town and Shelley was taught how to
use a whip by a cowboy |
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The women shopped at
exclusive and souvenir shops along
the Strip |
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Took in the exciting
night life at the Fremont Street experience
highlighted by the group Queen, a
family favorite. |
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Experienced the 24/7
action and bright night lights on
the Las Vegas Strip |
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Upon leaving, we stopped
to take memory photos in front of
the famous 'Welcome to Las Vegas'
sign |
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Grand Canyon/Route
66 |
Day trip from Las
Vegas |
The official start to the Allen family's
tour came with very little sleep, after
Arsenal's late night/early morning win
over Man U. It's a long day getting to
the Grand Canyon and back from Las Vegas
by car, but with the family's limited
time, and other priorities, they decided
to go ahead and brave the long day, in
order to see one of the world's true wonders...
and also to do some driving on Route 66.
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Grand Canyon Highlights
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Wendy fulfilled a lifetime
dream by driving on (and thereby getting
her kicks) America's famous Route
66 in Williams, Arizona. Jeff had
Nat King Cole's version of "Route
66" playing in the background. |
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Enjoyed a delicious
lunch at the local Route 66 Cafe in
Williams, Arizona |
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Visited a real, Western
town and Shelley was taught how to
use a whip by a cowboy |
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Los Angeles/Hollywood
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3 nights |
After the long day of driving
to see the Grand Canyon, the group would
take their time leaving Las Vegas, being
sure to get some shots in front of the famous
sign on the way out of town. A five hour
drive brought them to the City of Angels,
where they would spend 3 nights, allowing
for plenty of time to see the sights and
play in the surf. Having 3 nights in one
spot also allowed the group to relax a bit
after the hectic pace of the previous few
days. |
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Los Angeles and Hollywood
Highlights |
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The group fulfilled
another dream, with Jeff getting them
to the closest possible vista for
the Hollywood sign. |
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Shelley's lifetime dream
came true when she was "surprised"
with visits to several filming locations
of her favorite TV shows, "Charmed"
and "Buffy The Vampire Slayer |
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Wendy's favorite TV
show, "Friends", became very personal
when she and the entire family got
to visit the actual set and sit on
the famous couch. |
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The girls
got to play in the Pacific Ocean for
the very first time |
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Sunbathed and wrote
love letters to their boyfriends in
the wet sand surfside in Manhattan
Beach |
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Wendy and Shelley became
real California surfer girls by "borrowing"
a surfer's surfboard in the crashing
waves of the Pacific |
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Shelley saw Heath Ledgers
joker outfit at Warner Brothers |
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Enjoyed a delicious
lunch at the local diner, Uncle Bill's,
after visiting the sand and surf in
Manhattan Beach. They would continue
to enjoy Jeff's suggestions for hidden-away
local flavor throughout the trip. |
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Strolled and shopped
Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and saw
the hotel and Julia's Robert's apartment
balcony in "Pretty Woman" |
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After a fun day of continual
surprises provided by Jeff taking
the famly (especially daughter Shelley)
to many TV shooting locations of her
favorite TV shows, Jeff provided another
of many excellent dining choices selected
throughout the Allen's tour at California
Chicken Cafe, in Venice, California
where everyone enjoyed the fresh rotisserie
chicken and fresh salad and side order
selections. |
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Shelley found the perfect
dress for her high school prom |
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San Simeon |
1 night |
San Simeon worked as a perfect
overnight location, about half way between
Los Angeles and San Francisco. They visited
Central Coast's most famous attraction,
Hearst Castle, before continuing north. |
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San Simeon Highlights
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Ethel absolutely loves
Christmas and its decorations and
so she was thrilled to see the decorations
being put up at Hearst Castle |
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The girls really wished
they could go swimming in the pools
and do some sunbathing at the castle
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Jeff lead a nature walk
to the cliffs overlooking the pounding
Pacific surf |
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Jeff surprised the Allens
and took them to the "anti Hearst
Castle" Nitwitt Ridge. The girls shopped
in the quaint village of Cambria |
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San Francisco |
3 nights |
Scared off by the windy roads
of Big Sur and a propensity for motion-sickness,
the group opted to take the straighter,
faster inland road to San Francisco, Highway
101. For the next 3 days, the group would
enjoy the City by the Bay, and Wendy would
see if her nerves would allow her to walk
across the world's most famous bridge. |
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San Francisco Highlights
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TV's "Full House" set
in San Francisco, opens with a shot
of beautiful Victorian homes with
downtown San Francisco in the backdrop.
Wendy got to stand in the exact spot
and get the very same view. |
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Experienced sunset underneath
the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge |
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Despite some fear, the
group walked across the Golden Gate
Bridge. This was an important milestone
for Wendy, who has a lifetime fear
of bridges that go over water. |
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The ladies got fresh
flowers for their hair, in order to
honor the well-known lyrics to "San
Francisco" by Scott McKenzie. |
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Rode the cable cars. |
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Shopped on Pier 39 and
Fisherman's Wharf |
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Wendy, Grandpa and Shelley
toured world famous, Alcatraz Prison
while Ethel got to shop on Fisherman's
Wharf and Pier 39. |
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Drove down world famous
and very windy, Lombard Street while
listening to comic Bill Cosby speak
humorously of driving Lombard Street
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Jeff writes:
I love pleasing my clients and they almost always
become lifelong friends. Wendy and I had emailed each
other a few times while I tried to gather any information
that might help me provide added tour treats for them.
She mentioned various interests that each family member
had and so my research began. The grandpa loved church
architecture, grandma loved shopping, Wendy wanted
sunshine and to drive on Route 66 and to see the Hollywood
sign. But, 15 year old daughter Shelley absolutely
adored a TV show, "Charmed". It was her very favorite
and her lifelong wish was to be able to see the main
house where it was filmed.
Boy, did I get busy. I joined Charmed online chatrooms
and posted on message boards in addition to doing
other research. I eventually identified not only the
main house but several other locations some of which
included grand churches for grandpa. I let Wendy know
my findings and she got very excited. We agreed to
try to keep it a secret from Shelley but I think word
leaked out because Wendy told me Shelley saw an email
and was getting excited, too.
After visiting a few shooting locations all over
Los Angeles that I had mapped out and learned about
so I could speak intelligently with Shelley, I told
Wendy that I was going to pretend to get lost on our
way to the Charmed house. Of course, Shelley just
thought I was driving them around town. I told Shelley
and everyone to be on the lookout for someone walking
on the street that looked trustworthy because I was
"lost" and needed directions back to the freeway so
we could return to the hotel. Wendy of course, knew
the truth and the folks knew by this point in the
tour that Jeff never gets lost. But, Shelley was busy
with her video in the back seat and was looking out
once in awhile.
I drove around for about 10 minutes reminding everyone
to be on the lookout and making sure Shelley was looking
out, too. I finally said I saw someone safe and pulled
over. You guessed it. Shelley saw her house as I pulled
to the curb in front of it. I loved watching her reaction.
Her mouth flew open, hands covering it, eyes wide
and then she started to cry tears of happiness. I
helped her out of the car and whispered a special
something in her ear as she continued to sob for joy.
Wendy whispered "thank you" in my ear and we all
watched teary-eyed as Shelley moved toward her lifelong
dream.
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