Kids Travels October 2008 - Gold Country Families E-Magazine

Callorodo

I went to Callorodo and I went a muzeum that had sience and histery. In there I saw bones of dinosorse. It was relley fun ther and I saw mummys to. after I went back to my coisens house the next day we went to my sisters ice skating compitishen. She got 3erd her first tri the secont tri she got 2end place. then we went home again. then we plaeyd sum video games. that day was a big day.

--- Ayden, age 7

Coche Island Paradise

As I get out of the plane, a burst of humidity and the smell of the ocean overwhelms me. Huge palm trees stories high, the whitest blue sky I have ever seen, and a bright orange desert. I pause for a moment, taking it all in. Whats this magnificent place called? Coche Island Paradise.

Not only is the island itself spectacular, but the resort is beautiful. When we arrived at the resort the receptionist gave us our room keys to our cabana. I bolt to my room, and when I opened the door my jaw drops. A enormous king sized bed, a window seat, and a plasma TV. The bathroom wasn't as great as the bedroom, but the rest of it made it all worth while. I unpack all my belongings and thought about what to do next.

After taking a long, warm shower, my mom announces that we were going to go to the beach. I put on my bathing suit as quick as I can and sprint outside. The beach is literally twenty-five strides away from the resort. I stop when I got to the water. Its the most breathtaking sight I have ever seen. The whitest sand ever, oysters served on the beach, the warmest sea water I have ever felt, the water is so clear that when I put my feet in the water I can see my freckles on my toes, and when I look out onto the horizon I feel like I could live here forever. Talk about a dream come true! We stay at the beach all day long playing badminton, swimming, tanning, eating, and explore more of the beach. It ended up being three miles long.

Then after the beach we were all starving. We decide to got to the buffet. We get piña coladas and get our food. They had the best steak you can ever have. Just the smell of it made my mouth water. They also had pasta, chicken noodle soup, arepas, cachapas, salad, and for dessert they had brownies! We went to sit down and we heard on the loud speaker that we were going to have a little performance. Seven girls come into the middle of the room. All of a sudden they start dancing the joropo. The joropo is a typical Venezuelan dance resembling the waltz. A group of people stand up and start dancing the night away.

Coche Paradise is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. After a whole week there I learned to appreciate more of what my home country has to offer, and that sometimes you need to relax. When you are relaxing you have some of the greatest moments you can ever get. I will never forget Coche.

--- Andrea, age 12

Puerto Vallarta Mexico

Have you ever wanted to go forty feet below sea level? Well thatʼs exactly what I did. I went scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Me and my dad took a class to teach us how to scuba dive in the resort pool.

We left early in the morning with my grandparents, my parents and my brother and sister. Me and my dad stopped at a in a scuba shop to meet our dive partners. There we also got our wet suits and equipment. Then we took a cab to the docks were our boat was waiting. We got on the boat which took us over to the spot were we where going to dive. While my mom, brother and sister went snorkeling, my dad and I went scuba diving.

This was my first dive ever. I was very nervous and a bit seasick. We put our scuba tanks on our backs and went into the water. When we got in the water, our instructor Sebastian took us to the front of the boat. Then we began our decent and we would stop every three feet to pop our ears and adjust to the water pressure as we got deeper. At the bottom the water was cold. At this spot on the bottom there were rough rocks and big things of coral. There were little holes in which eels and fish were. The current at the bottom was really strong and I kept hitting the rock and they scrapped up my knees. Then the worst thing that could possible happen happened. My regulator, which allows me to breathe, fell out of my mouth and I stared to panic. I swam vigorously to the surface which is extremely dangerous. This swim was from forty feet below the surface. I remember thinking on the way up Iʼm going to die. But I made it to the surface undamaged. When I hit the surface I deployed my life jacket. The really dangerous part about surfacing fast like that is that my lungs couldʼve over expanded and I couldʼve died. Then Sebastian came up and took me back down with the group slowly. When I back down with the group I saw a bunch of eels, a sea snake and a lot of different fish and marine life. Then on my way up Sebastian took me up slower than the rest because my lungs are smaller and needed more time to adjust to the different water pressure.

We surfaced and swan back to the boat and met up with every one. Then we went to our last diving spot. On the way there I got sea sick and threw up and almost couldnʼt go on the next dive. But then Sebastian let me go after I lied and said I felt better. I was so happy that he let me go. I was anxious to go back under the water again. I wasnʼt scared even though minuets ago I almost died. Finally we got our tanks and weights on and got in the water. We went down the same way as last time. This time the bottom was sandy like a beach. There also was no current witch made it easier to relax. When we were down there we saw a puffer fish and Sebastian made it get all big and blow itself away. This time we saw a sea urchin, a sting ray and a moray eel. This time I went fifty feet below the surface. Then we made out assent up and like before me and Sebastian went slower than every one else. I got to the surface and deployed my life jacket and swam to the boat. The boat took us back to the dock and we took a cab back to the resort.

Scuba diving was an excellent experience and was lots of fun. I learned how to scuba dive and about the marine life in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. This was awesome and I would do it again anytime.

--- Matthew - age 13

Trip to the Grand Canyon

Have you ever experienced the feeling of what it was like to go to the Grand Canyon? Well when you read this, you will get to know what I experienced when I went to the Grand Canyon. You will get to read all of the places I have seen. Also how the Grand Canyon was formed. Last you will read on what this trip to the Grand Canyon taught me.

It was a Saturday morning. I knew that was going to be an awesome day because that was the day I get to go to the Grand Canyon with my family! I jumped out of my bed, put pants, a short sleeve shirt, and socks on and ran downstairs. I ate breakfast and then ran back upstairs and brushed my teeth. Then I packed all of my clothing and ask my parents and sister if they were ready. They said yes! Then we loaded up the car and drove to the airport. When we arrived at the airport, we got our entire luggage out and walked inside. Then we boarded the plane.

When we arrived in Las Vegas and hour later, we got our entire luggage and had lunch. After we had lunch we rented a car and put our entire luggage in it. When I got in the car, it smelled good! Then my dad started the car and drove onto the freeway. While my sister and I were playing a game, my dad drove the car and my mom looked at the map. About two ours later, we arrived at the hotel. When we walked inside the hotel with our luggage, I was amazed! The hotel was beautiful! After we checked in and put our luggage in the room, we went and got dinner. Then my dad got tickets for a train ride that took you around the Grand Canyon and you got to see inside the canyon! After that, we went back up to our room and got ready for bed.

The next morning, I woke up to a cold frigid air. When I looked outside, I saw everything covered in white stuff. I knew that it was snowing and I wasnʼt prepared for it! All I had was long pants, long socks, short sleeves shirts, and a sweater! That wasnʼt enough to keep me warm. Then I told my dad that it was snowing and we then went to the gift shop and got a jacket and gloves. After we got them, we got breakfast and then went back up to our room and brushed our teeth. We then got on the train. After it left the station, the snow started to disappear! I knew that we were at lower elevation. When we arrived at the Grand Canyon, the person on the loud speaker said that the Grand Canyon was formed millions of years ago and that it had many layers to it. There was a layer that you can see on the Grand Canyon that was white. The guy told us at one point of time, the Grand Canyon was once covered in sand! I was fascinated because I never knew that the Grand Canyon was once a sandy area! The person on the loud speaker said that the Grand Canyon is carved by the water because the rocks in the water rub up against the side of the canyon and carve it! Also that the Grand Canyonʼs deepest part is about one mile tall! Then the guy on the loud speaker said we are heading back to the station. When we got back to the station, it was already dark! When we got off the train, we then headed back up to our room and got ready for bed! The next morning, it was time to leave! we then headed back to Las Vegas and took a flight. Then we drove back home. When I got home, I has happy! But I was even happier that we went to the Grand Canyon!

In conclusion, this trip had taught me a few things. I learned how the Grand Canyon is formed, how tall the deepest part of the Grand Canyon is, and how mother nature was involved in it! I also got to see what the canyon looked like! Plus I learned some intersting facts that I will remember! This was my favorite family vacation to go on!

--- Jessica, age 13

Dillon’s Beach

“Are we there yet,” I exclaimed from the back seat eagerly. It was the first time I had ever gone to the beach instead of seven years ago a baby. My mother said that I would love it, but for now I needed to relax and enjoy the ride. Being eight years old I, of course, never enjoyed the ride. Apparently my eyes didn’t think so, because after an hour of complaining I was really tired and fell asleep. I woke up to the sound of people talking and realized it was my father buying passes at the registering counter. My mom looked back from the front seat and told me to look to my right.

“Why” I asked questioning her authority as always.

“Will you just do it and not argue this one time” she scolded.

Usually I would continue the argument but this time I didn’t want to push my luck “Whoa” I said, “the ocean’s really cool”

“I told you so” she teased as my father was getting in the car.

After a ton of looking we finally found the perfect campsite to set up our tent. Our campsite was just a dune bank away from the ocean. By the time we set up our campsite completely night had already come.

“Can we go to the ocean now and play in the water” I asked knowing that the answer was probably no.

“I’m sorry honey we can’t go, it’s too dark and it would be really dangerous” she said sympathetically.

“Aww pleeease” I begged.

“No” she said in an angry tone, “and I don’t want to hear another word about it tonight, we’ll go tomorrow after breakfast ok!”

That night I could hardly sleep I was so excited, well that and because of my two year old chocolate lab was kicking me in her sleep. The next morning I practically inhaled my breakfast burrito.

“Can we go to the beach now” asked impatiently

“We have to get ready first silly goose” my mom explained knowing how excited I was.

“Just hold your horses there Skippy we still have to get our swimsuits on, and don’t forget about your life jacket.

Finally we were headed to the beach. As soon as we reached the top of the sand dunes and I saw the ocean I raced ahead of my parents. I stopped and stood waiting about ten feet from the water, eager for my parents to HURRY up.

“Go ahead” they said simultaneously

“Yeah!!” I yelled rocketing towards the water

But as soon as I got about waist deep a wave overtook me, and I was swept under the current helpless as my life jacket floated away. It felt like an eternity before my dad pulled me out of the water. After that experience I learned one thing.

“Slow and steady wins the race, fast and shaky gets last place..”

--- Kody, age 13

Fairy Land

On my summer vacation my Nana, my coisin, and I went to Fairy Land. First we got a key then I went down 2 big slides. Then we got some food. Then we went to the play yard. I liked all the rides because they are awesom. I would like to go there again because it is fun.

--- Anthony, age 8