Official family business

Tara.
California?

The boys have filed a formal request. Shaw has co-signed it. It now needs one signature: yours.

Takeoff in — days · Sat Oct 10
Boarding passAir Canada · on points
YUL
Montréal
LAX
Los Angeles
SFO
San Francisco
YUL
Home, tired
DepartSat Oct 10
ReturnSun Oct 18
Nights8
School days missedOnly 3
Paid withPoints 🪄
GateSay yes ↓

Passengers

  • TaraChief Snack Officer · final say on everything
  • ShawDriver, DJ, luggage mule
  • Enzo, 7Window seat (non-negotiable)
  • Ness, 6Also window seat (also non-negotiable)

The plan, in 3 acts

9 days. 1 minivan. An unreasonable number of snacks.

Act 1 · Los AngelesOct 10–13
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood
Super Nintendo World
Santa Monica pier and beach
Santa Monica Pier
  • Universal Studios on a quiet Tuesday. Mario Kart. Minions. Screaming (happy kind).
  • Santa Monica Pier, the beach, and sunset at Griffith Observatory.
  • A real Space Shuttle at the Science Center. Free. The boys will lose their minds.
  • 4 nights near Universal · hotel has a pool (it's a requirement)
Act 2 · The coastOct 14–15
Kelp forest tank at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
  • Road trip up the 101. Lunch in a tiny Danish town with windmills (Solvang).
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium: sharks, otters, a giant kelp forest.
  • Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. Yes, we stop for the photo.
Act 3 · The giant treesOct 16–18
The Shrine Drive-Thru Tree
We drive THROUGH a tree
Roosevelt elk in Prairie Creek Redwoods
Wild elk, up close-ish
  • Avenue of the Giants: redwoods taller than a 30-storey building.
  • Elk meadow at breakfast. Then a giant Paul Bunyan statue or a canyon made of ferns.
  • Fly home Sunday morning from San Francisco.
  • Pack a rain jacket · 16°C by day up north

The fine print

Tap to open. Everything's negotiable except the window seats.

How much school do they miss?

3 days. Thanksgiving Monday and a ped day do the heavy lifting.

Who's paying for all this?

Points cover the flights, the hotels and probably the car. Cash is mostly tickets, food and gas.

That's a lot of driving.

It is. The long days are broken up with stops. There's also a lighter version with less driving if you'd rather. Just say so in the box below.

Estimated "are we there yet?" count

400+. Snack-based countermeasures are included.

Why do you need an answer now?

Points seats go fast. The minute you say yes, flights get booked, then hotels.

So… are we going? 🌴

Your answer goes straight to Shaw's phone.

🎉🌴🦈🌲

Boarding pass stamped!

Shaw got the message. Booking starts now, before the points seats vanish.

Changed your mind? Answer again
🥲

Message received.

Shaw got your answer. The boys have not been told. Yet.

Changed your mind? Answer again