Hawaii - Waikiki

After a fast and furious trip round the states, Hawaii was our last stop and time to sit by the pool and chill or have a lie - in and just do what we felt like, no tight time schedule to follow just relaxing time.

View from our hotel of pool, lagoon and sea just behind, quite close to all amenities you could say.

We did drive around the island in our hire car, actually Jasmyn's husband Dan drove, we just sat back andenjoyed the view.  The first day we had a jeep wrangler and the next we had a convertible chrysler, to explore the island , checking out some of the beaches, we found a waterfall at Waimea  and a massive pineapple plantation with lots of delicious treats on offer.

We did see some tv trucks setting up to film Hawaii 50 but unfortunately no actual filming and no Steve Macgarret :( So we were just left to enjoy the beach for all the normal stuff no perving at cute actors running around.

We did go for a half a day tour to Pearl Harbour, unfortunately to USS Arizona was closed due to government closure but we were able to go to the USS Missouri. 

     Deck of the Missouri with a re enlistment serviceman/woman

Las Vegas Baby

Vegas was full of over the top themed hotels and casino's, ours included! We stayed at the New York New York, guess what the theme there was, there was even a roller coaster around the top of the hotel.  Lots to enjoy as you walk along the strip passing Caesars, The Paris, The Venetian, Mirage.

Inside the Paris Casino and Hotel

Lots of hotels and casino's put on a show, like Bellagio's fountain, you'll see a few quirky characters on the streets, lots of super hero's and "hangover" characters or memorabilia and if you want a last minute wedding they can definitely do that for you.

 The pirate show at Treasure Island.

Hangover anyone ?

     Showgirls..on the street!

    Inside Planet Hollywood shops :)

A pop-up wedding chapel in the middle of the shops on the strip in Vegas, with tuxedo tee-shirts in case the groom wanted to dress more formally !

The Helicopter flight over the Hoover damn and Grand Canyon was amazing.

     Colorado river :)

We enjoyed a few shows, Cirque du Soleil's Mystere and Penn and Teller,and we even managed to find a Gordon Ramsay restaurant and enjoyed an incredible beef Wellington so it is possible to beat the sleaze and the slot machines to have some high end entertainment in Vegas.

     Penn and Jas

                 Teller and Jas

    Dessert!

Jasmyn jumped ( with the aid of some bungee equipment) off the top of the stratosphere

As much fun as Vegas was, we were 

relieved to move on to somewhere a bit more real, Hawaii next stop !

Orlando - Disneyworld, Kennedy Space Centre, Universal

Day 1 at Orlando and the weather at Disneyworld was fine for half the day then the weather turned with torrential rain for most of the day, but it didn't stop us from enjoying all the rides at Disney, with our lovely poncho's to try and keep us dry.

              All Stars Movie Resort

                 Teacup Ride

    Mickey Mouse Monster Rice Krispie!

Jasmyn's favourite ride, Emma only managed one ride on tower of terror, Jasmyn had many !

    Dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe, you got told off for elbows on the table and cousin Henry took your order and Momma made it when she felt like it! Lol. 

Day 2 of Orlando was spent at the amazing Kennedy Space Center, home of the shuttle Atlantis, of the original control room and lots of other cool stuff if you are a space geek like Emma.

            Astronaut Don Thomas

This is where they build the shuttles and control the launches at Cape Canavaral.

This is Atlantis, we met an astronaut who had been on the space station and in Atlantis, it was amazing to see the shuttle up close.

This is how astronauts sleep, upright strapped into a special sleeping bag with some home comforts.

    Launch rocket, how massive!

   Mans (and my) step on the moon!

                       Astronauts!

Day 3 and 4 of Orlando were spent at Universal.  Enjoying a burger at Krusty burger and a beer at Moe's bar, and drinking a butter beer and having a wand picked out for you just like Harry Potter are all possible here, as well as lots of rides.

                  Hogsmead

    Ollivander picking Jasmyn a wand!

                Frozen Butterbeer 

                    Hulk Ride

Rocket roller coaster, Emma didn't like the look of this one but of course this was a favourite of Jasmyn's.

   Just popping into the Kwik E Mart

Oh look, it's a Flaming Moe and a Krusty Burger!

     Hanging with Barney

          D'oh it's Police Chief Wiggins !

          Gru and the minions!

              Optimus Prime!