Reporting in after travel from east coast to Hawaii. Many people are out and about. Restaurants were busy, and airports, especially Phoenix, were very busy.
I’m glad we made reservations for restaurants well ahead of time. They were hard to come by once in Hawaii.
“Excursions” were also booked up well in advance. We had ours ahead of time.
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Small potatoes compared to all you international travelers, but I just booked my first flight in well over two years to visit son in Seattle for Mother’s Day weekend. Assuming (1) husband recovers well enough from hamstring tendon tear repair to take care of himself and (2) no new virus variation explodes and son is willing to go out to eat and such. Last year we had the drive up and back after his visit here, but we didn’t even stay overnight in the city because nothing was open. This year looks much more promising even with the cautions we likely will still be taking.
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We just got back from a 10 day trip to Phoenix. It was terrific! So much to do outdoors there. Lots of outdoor dining.
It was a LONG travel day from where we live, and wearing a mask for 9 hours or so was not exactly my cup of tea…but it was so worth it!
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Heading out for our last ski trip of the season this weekend. All during Covid skiing has been a great option since we are outdoors. Looks like we will have spring skiing conditions so we will probably just ski half days then do a few miles of hiking in the afternoons. Can’t wait to be in the mountains again.
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Don’t know where you are going but Steamboat had 21 inches of snow last week. My brother said it was the best skiing in years, and he’s been a Patroller for 40 years (most at Steamboat, some at Winter Park). Steamboat has a lower elevation so it does turn into
spring skiing faster than some other places.
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@twoinanddone - we were at Steamboat and Winter Park a couple of weeks ago. This time we are headed 6.5 hours north to Mammoth in the Sierras. D1 and her bf are bringing their husky so that he can play in the snow after we are done skiing!
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Canada will drop pre-travel test requirements for fully vaccinated travelers starting April 1st. Just in time for spring blooms at the Butchart Gardens! Tea time at the Empress! 
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YES! YES! Going to Canadian Rockies in June!
Now, if the US can do the same for vaccinated folks returning home to the states…
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Indeed would love to go for Easter!
Spent all day (literally) yesterday figuring out and booking an 11 day train trip in a couple of months for FIL’s 94th birthday. He’s never been out west, so got to pick a couple of dream spots near Amtrak. We’ll be going to the Grand Canyon and San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge was the attraction, but we’ll take the Big Red Bus around it all). Then I had Amtrak companion coupons to bring an aunt along who has also never been out west at almost no cost to us (since most of the cost goes toward the first traveler).
I absolutely love hearing the excitement in their voices as they look forward to the trip.
We’ve wanted FIL to start using his retirement money. He won’t/can’t (mentally). This gift is our way of helping him do just that (essentially it comes out of our inheritance sometime in the next 10 years or so). My aunt never married and doesn’t have kids. Her only real travel has been with my family once when I was young and then to my and my kids’ weddings. She was my favorite aunt as a kid. We’ll see what traveling together is like!
It’ll also be interesting to see if they like it or end the trip with BTDT and don’t need to travel that way again. At least we’re not taking them camping…
FIL won’t fly and can get uncomfortable with long distances in a car - hence - let’s try Amtrak.
ETA: If anyone knows of a good hotel/car rental near the Flagstaff train station, please share. Ditto that with a nice hotel near a Big Red Bus stop in SF. Finding those will be my project in a couple of days.
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What a great idea! I like train travel in general. There’s a route I heard about I think it’s Chicago to Seattle (I’m probably wrong) that includes some of the Rockies. I think I’d enjoy a train trip. I hadn’t thought about debarking at various locations and staying for a day or so. Now I’m even more curious…
You’re thinking of the California Zephyr which runs between Chicago and Emeryville, CA (across the bay from SF). It’s, indeed, gorgeous, but we dislike how Amtrak only lets passengers stay in the Observation Deck for 2 of the 6 hours of prettiest scenery. Nonetheless, we’re returning that way and will hope for the best. FIL and H have a room, so have a decent window there plus can see the other side across the hallway if they leave the door open for when they can’t be in the Observation Deck. My aunt and I might crowd in with them. We’ll see.
https://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train
If one just wants to see that part (and more) far better than Amtrak, take the Rocky Mountaineer. It’s a Canadian train running a line in the US. We (H and I) really want to take that one to compare, plus go down into Utah, but it didn’t work out for this trip with FIL.
https://www.rockymountaineer.com/train-routes/rockies-red-rocks
Otherwise we’re heading west on the Southwest Chief since it heads near the GC. We opted for a car to go to the GC from Flagstaff over taking the bus into Williams and taking that train - mainly because we want more freedom with our time at the GC. I wish there were hotel openings at the GC, but we’re making reservations really late to get that unfortunately.
And yes, one can stop along the way, sightsee, and pick the train back up a couple days later to enjoy the journey with Amtrak.
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I was going to do rockymountaineer in one year, but I decided to substitute with a trip to Switzerland for a fraction of the cost. We were the only 2 in first class.
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Thank you whoever canceled their GC hotel rim reservations for the same night that we’ll be there. Just scored rim view rooms for our trip - and it’s only the day after FIL’s birthday. No rooms were available yesterday anywhere at the Canyon as per Xanterra. Today I just got an urge to check again and there were two, exactly what we wanted… not anymore. I have the confirmation receipt.
Do you ever have the feeling someone is looking out for you? My mom loved to travel with us and loved to help her sister (my aunt) when she could. I can’t help but wonder… who/what gave me the urge at the correct time?
Regardless, I’m going outside now and doing a happy dance.
I still need a hotel for one night in Flagstaff, and a car, but I’ll get around to those. They’re less “specific.”
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Oh! Thank you for so much to look at and fantasize about!
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I believe! I’ve had wonderful “visits” before that made a believer out of me. 
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We stayed in Williams, Az, rode the train by the Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canon, some of the most scenic views, and also got robbed by cowboys, the park was sold out in Spring. We also got to experience a small town in America, that was a fun trip in Dec.
We considered that train for a bit as it would mean we didn’t need to rent a car, but didn’t like that they only give folks 3 1/2 hours at the GC, and if you stay at their hotel overnight to get more time, it’s a quarter mile from the rim - not a good option for FIL compared to staying right next to the rim. He’s mobile, but that wouldn’t be an easy walk for him and we’d have no car. Glad you liked it though. Perhaps with different folks with us we’d choose it. One never knows.
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…and also got robbed by cowboys
Do tell!
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Funny, we got robbed by cowboys on that train ride as well! 
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