An Afternoon at the Santa Ana Zoo

By: Andrew Bermudez

     I'm very sorry that this post was delayed, but please bear with me. I was a little busy earlier, so I've just found time to put this up.

     A few weeks ago, I had the opprotunity to visit the Santa Ana Zoo! Located in Santa Ana, California in Prentice Park, the Santa Ana Zoo is certainly one of the smaller zoos I've been to. There are a few attractions, including an expedition train, a carousel, and an elephant ride (which was closed the day we went). Regardless, it was still very enjoyable. Here are some photos from the Santa Ana Zoo.

Daniel and Teri Bermudez pose in front
of a statue at the entrance to the zoo.

Oh, no! It's only the start of the day and we're already stuck in a rut! *GROAN*

Just Kidding. We had a lot of fun!

The zoo's newest exhibit, called Tierra de las Pampas,
recreates the plains of South America.

A black lemur. This is a rare sight indeed!

The zoo train travels through Tierra de las Pampas.

     If you are planning to visit the Santa Ana Zoo, then check out their website to help you plan your trip. Keep in mind, though, that this is a VERY small zoo, so a one-day visit will allow you to cover every nook and crany this zoo has to offer.

A Vacation Itinerary

By: Andrew Bermudez

     As with any vacation, a good deal of planning must be made before your trip starts. After all, you wouldn't want it to hurt when you hit the floor! *GROAN.* Anyway, to help you get started with your own vacation, here are some planning and packing tips.

     Pack lots of food and clothing: This bit of advice comes naturally. You're certainly going to need food and clothing, since you won't get the chance to eat at a fancy restaurant for every meal. If you won't be washing your clothes at a laundromat, bring enough clothes to last the entire trip.

     Be Flexible: While some argue against this advice, I really urge you to take this tip seriously. Life can get in the way of your perfect plans. For example, your car could break down, or a bear could drive you out of the road, or a five-inch cockroach could drive you out of your camping cabin. By staying flexible, you don't stress about being somewhere at a certain time and can focus on what really maters: resolving the situation at hand. However, on the other end of the spectrum is...

     Don't play it out by ear: Deciding that your vacation is to just drive and see where you end up is a one way ticket to an empty gas tank and ending up lost. Take my word for it: do some planning first!

     Pack appropriately: Taking your giant tent that requires a giant trailer to haul around on a vacation where you'll only be staying in hotels is a bad move. On the other hand, someone who worries endlessly about cleanliness should probably avoid a camping trip. Do some research on where you'll be staying, and use that information to decide what to bring. Also, many hotels and campgrounds offer free wi-fi connections, so you can bring along your laptop.

     Pack water: About 70% of the human body is water, so pack lots of water! Along the way, you'll be able to refill your water supply with either a water jug bought at the store or a water spout at a campground.

     Bring money: Along the way, you'll need to buy stuff, so bring along your money! Just be careful and don't leave your money anywhere. Have it on your person at all times (except when you're sleeping. In this case, keep it close, like under your pillow or on a nightstand).

     I hope this list of tips and some general itinerary will help you out on your own vacation! Now it's just about time to hit the road!

Welcome to the Vacation: Unlimited Travel Journal!

By: Andrew Bermudez

    I would like to welcome everyone reading to the Vacation: Unlimited Travel Journal! For the next splendid fourteen months, we will be taking you to many wonderful destinations. From theme parks to zoos, and museums to forests, there always will be something exciting and new here.

Once every week, a new journal entry will be put up here about a vacation destination, along with photos and travel tips geared towards that destination. Some of the entries that you may see are:

• Skipper Dan (aka Daniel Bermudez) takes us into the unknown wild aboard the world-famous Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.
• See massive LEGO displays and thrilling brickfilms at LEGO World Chicago 2012.
• Journey through the history of the written language at Muzeo.
• Travel with us into a full-scale recreation of Radiator Springs for a sneak preview of Cars Land, opening June 15th at Disney California Adventure.
• Journey into a climate-controlled reptile house, known as The Lair, coming soon to the Los Angeles Zoo.
• Travel to San Francisco for a ride on an iconic street car and a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum.
• And much more!

     So pack up your gear, check your map, fill up the family wagon, and let's hit the road!
Oh, I almost forgot that I have a tendency to write bad jokes, but never fear. If you read a bad joke, you will see a cue like this. (*GROAN*) When you see it, be sure to groan!
     Example:
     "Did you hear about the rubber ball?"
     "No. What happened?"
     "He went to a restaurant, but he bothered the customers with his stories. He said they were true, but he was just stretching the truth. The manager came and rolled him out of there, telling him never to come back. Now the ball is sad."
     "Why is that?"
     "He's now a rubber banned ball."
     *GROAN*
     There. This shouldn't be too bad. But I'll try to keep this to a minimum.