Dubai

A long weekend, starting December 15:

I found (nice) hotels on tripadvisor for $600-$800 for 5 nights.

Direct flight Mauritius to Dubai on Emirates 3704 Dec 15 11:20pm (6.5hr) $832 pp incl tax on Orbitz

$755 incl tax on Dec 16 at 6:20pm

Dec 20th DXB to HAU, $564 with FOUR flights
Dec 20th DXB to LON, $360 one stopover

Ryanair, 50GBP LON to HAU Dec 22 or 35GBP on Dec 19

Norwegian (via supersaver.no) flies with only one stopover in Oslo from Dubai to Haugesund for NOK 2500pp incl tax

Check if a flight from Mauritius to Haugesund is possible with a stopover in Dubai:

http://emirates.com/no/English/destinations_offers/dubai_stopovers/how_to_plan/how_to_plan.aspx

Chess in Sieam Reap

Not much chess here ...
Native Khmer Hotel lists chess club as one of their services, and that is it ...

Sailing options

One place left on a six day competent crew sailing course leaving Phuket on Dec 12 and arriving in Langkawi (Malaysia)

http://langkawisailingschool.com/courseprogram.htm

€700

Or, on the 30th of January you could do the same thing if we spend Jan in Thailand with friends/family. I could fly to our next destination from Thailand and you could fly from Malaysia.

Singapore

I really like the looks of this resort in Malaysia right outside of Singapore:

http://www.johorresorts.net/index.html

I think it would be a good place to stay in December up until the chess tournament (when we would need to move into the city). It costs about $90 for a studio, and the resort complex has lots of children's stuff as well as three pools and pretty much everything else you could want.

Singapore Sailing

3 day "Competent Crew" Course: http://www.rsyc.org.sg/seasports/sailing_courses.htm#keelboat

The Competent Crew Course is an introductory crew training course that teaches the basics of sailing onboard a sailing yacht. Upon successful completion of this course the sailors and participants will have sufficient knowledge and skills to be an able crew member on any sailing yacht. Suitable for both the complete beginner and those who have some experience of either dinghy sailing or cruising.

costs $550, is offered on December 4th, 5th, and 12th in Singapore.

I checked six marinas in Singapore, this is the only one offering a course in December.

Compare to Whitsundays sailing school, costs $1350 for five days:

http://www.sunsailwhitsundays.com.au/sailing-school/rya-sailing-courses/competent-crew-sunsail

Resort

On a secluded private island, Telunas Beach Resort http://www.telunasbeach.com/ has rooms/dorms available in December. It is a ferry ride away from Singapore (3 hours), in Indonesia. Eco-lodge style, no hot water, no tvs, no internet, no aircon, but flush toilets and nature/snorkling activities.

Dorms $50, rooms $120, stilted bungalows $160

Singapore Chess

Chess tournament in Singapore, December 24-30

http://singchess.gotdns.com/scf/general/Calendar2010.xls

TripAdvisor doesn't really list anything for these dates under $100 that sound okay. For $130-$150 there are some nice places though.

Lonely Planet's only reasonable sounding budget choice is Sleepy Sams: http://www.sleepysams.com/. A room with shared bath is $65, it is mostly a hostel, just a few private rooms. Trip Advisor says they aren't really private rooms at all, it gets pretty bad ratings considering Lonely Planet says it is the best budget option...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294265-d626257-Reviews-Sleepy_Sam_s_Bed_Breakfast-Singapore.html

Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen is the highest rated hotel under $150 ($110) available over Christmas and New Years. But it is 35km away from the zoo, I'd like to maybe be closer since I envision going there at least a few times (it is one of the best zoos in the world apparently)

Thailand

If Aud and Torlief wanted to come along (or anyone else for that matter!) we could stay at a SunWing resort in Thailand for about $65 a night (long term stay discount may be available):

http://www.khaolakemeraldresort.com/index.htm

They can fly charter from Oslo direct to Phuket, 25.000kr for 15 days for two people.

http://www.ving.no/thailand/khao-lak/sunfamily-khao-lak-emerald-beach-resort-spa

Be carefully booking, though, I found another SunWing Resort that also cost 25,000 for the charter booking but instead of an independent rate of $65 per night, it was $200! So it pays to spend time really comparing the choices!

Cycling in Cambodia

Guided private cycling tours, family friendly

http://pepytours.com/tours/custom-tours


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Free teaching in Siem Reap

At an orphanage, $200 for four weeks (part time available)
http://www.acodo.org/

School in Veal, outside of Siem Reap
http://www.soidngo.org/

Nifty place to stay!!! Cheap-o 5* rooms at a hotel training center! $20-$35 free wifi, cable TV, cafe and restaurant on site. Maybe no pool though?

http://www.ecolepauldubrule.org/html/index.php?p_lang=en



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Vietnam Resorts

A pretty complete looking list of resorts in Vietnam:

http://www.vietnamstay.com/hotel/resort.htm

Examples:

3* Sandy Beach in Danang costs US$83/night

http://sandybeachdanang.com/english/default.php

4* Romana Resort in Phan Theit costs US$110/night

http://www.romanaresort.com.vn/en-US/default.cco

3* Eco-Lodge (no air/con, solar powered showers, etc) Mango Bay in Phu Quoc costs US$75-125/night

http://www.mangobayphuquoc.com/noflash.html

Flights to these cities on Vietnam Airlines from Ho Chi Mihn cost about 500NOK (1.300.000 VND) return.

Cook Islands

To stay (houses from $90NZ):
http://www.murihillside.co.ck/rates.htm

Most popular hostel in the south pacific (according to frommer's), has beach cabanas with bathroom and kitchen from $95NZ:
http://www.varas.co.ck/rates_rooms.htm

Package deals:
http://www.islandsinthesun.com/hotdeals/hotdeals.asp

Those packages look good because airfare (air new zealand) looks expensive out of Sydney, $1000NZ pp

More sailing in Australia: (whitsundays, £800 for 6 days or £1400 for 23 days)

http://www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk/Australia-Sailing-Course

I sent an email requesting information about this volunteer program in Cambodia, near Angkor Wat. 3 weeks £750:

http://www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk/Cambodia-Floating-School-near-Angkor-Wat

Some links

Volunteering in Malaysia:

http://www.gviusa.com/projects/Asia/Malaysia/volunteer-community-conservation-project-borneo/home

Day care classes in New York City:

http://www.gymboreeclasses.com/b2c/customer/programIndex.jsp

Day care in Sydney, $46 per day:

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/childcare/RedfernOccasionalChildCare.asp

http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/www/html/2173-occasional-child-care.asp

RV in Australia

$134AUD per day for a 4 berth campervan, auto transmission:

http://www.aussiecampervans.com/vehiclespecs.aspx?VehId=762


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Sailing in Australia

Sailing courses in Australia. They start every week on Mondays.

Cruise Port

The Sapphire Princess leaves from San Francisco, details about the port are here.

Port of San Francisco

Pier 35

Borneo

7 day package, turtles and orang-tangs!! I sent an email asking about pricing...

Sleeping in Queensland

Farm Stay in Queensland, $64 per night (maybe discount on longer stays?), 30min from Cooktown

Apartment with communal pool in the Whitsundays, $420 per week.

Flights - Japan

On japan airlines website with flexible dates from the first week of october to first week of november I found round trip tickets to Tokyo for about $1200 per person from Mexico City, LAX, and Las Vegas. All go via LAX but the extra leg doesn't seem to change the price of the ticket.

www.igougo.com found a flight via Beijing for ca $800 per person.

Also consider a san francisco departure, I saw one on travelocity for $1100


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Japan airline tickets

Special domestic flights / island hopping for foreigners:

http://www.churashima.net/jta/company/islandpass_en.html

The guide book says good deal rail passes also have to be purchased before you arrive in Japan for "foreigner discount"


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Castillo de Santa Barbara

The 16th century fortress is the main attraction in Alicante, where admission is free. There is a lift reached by a footbridge opposite Playa del Postiguet, fir the easiest access.

Kontiki

Vis større kart

There is a street in Alicante called Kontiki. Also, a company called Kontiki runs boats from Alicante to the Isla de Tabarco, an island with snorkelling and scuba diving from quiet beaches.

Festival in Alicante

The Bonfires of Saint John is a big festival in Alicante each year from June 19th to June 24th. Every evening there are bull fights and every day some kind of parade. It all culminates with fireworks the last day.

Volunteering in Haiti

Hands On Disaster Response has volunteering options in Haiti. I've asked to join them in September. Plan is to fly from Las Vegas. Fly in on Fri Sep 10th and return on Sun Sep 26th.

Fort Bragg Festival, Mendocino Coast

Paul Bunyan Days, three day festival with logging competitions, parades, miss redwood forest beauty pageant and more!! Labor Day weekend, September 4-6

We can even enter Juju in the kiddie parade!

Oregon Caves

Candle light tours through the Oregon Caves go every Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm all through summer. Normal tours every day from 9am-6pm. Reservations are first come first served.

In the park there are additional activities:

• 4 designated hikes.
• Off-path caving classes. Only for the fit.
  
• Other "nearby" activites.

Lodging is possible at a chateau in the park.

Folsom Street Fair

On September 27 the Folsom Street Fair has public spankings for local charities. It is perhaps the World's largest leather event.

Shakespeare outside in San Francisco

Bring your family, friends, a blanket and a picnic to enjoy FREE professional theater in a beautiful park setting.

Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen in Verona is played outside these dates and locations.

Murderers Creek

$50 a night for small cabins (2 available).  Must carry own water!

4 hours from Bruneau.  Suggest staying two nights, August 14 + 15.

Star Gazing in Idaho

Bruneau Dunes State Park : The tallest single-structured sand dune in North America rises to 470 feet high above small lakes in the high desert south of Mountain Home. The state park includes desert, dune, prairie, lake and marsh habitat with opportunities to observe nocturnal species. Activities include fishing, birdwatching, camping, hiking, swimming and viewing the stars at one of only two public observatories in Idaho.  Bruneau Dunes Astronomical Observatory is open to the public Friday and Saturday evenings at dusk from mid-March through mid-October, weather permitting.

5 hours from Jackson, WY

Hotel Las Vegas

You can compare 8 different hotels on this page (all owned by Harrah's) for a whole month to find the best rate.  Bally's Sept 6-9 (midweek) costs $42 per night, for example.  It has a walkway connecting it to Paris ($80) and is in the middle of the strip which is nice.  Bally's has a buffet deal:

"Stay here at classic Bally’s Las Vegas for three nights of fun, and get two Buffet of Buffet passes that get you a full 24 hours of access to seven of the city’s most spectacular buffets."

That deal isn't available in September, but maybe something similar will be?

River trip Grand Tetons

$58 3-hour "river float" (easy rafting) or $73 for an evening float with supper.  On Snake River, starting in Jackson Hole, within the Grand Teton National Park.

Llama Trekking

$125 for a (6 hour) day hike with llamas carrying your gear.

World Cup 2010

The World Cup is this time (it is only played ever 4 years) played in South Africa from June 11th until the final on July 11th. Spain is one of the favourites. In the group stage they play:

• Switzerland on June 16th at 16:00
• Honduras on June 21st at 20:30
• Chile on June 25th at 20:30

The only Nordic country playing is Denmark. England play in the same group as the U.S.A.

Stuff around Alicante!

A bonfire festival June 20-24 (with some stuff continuing to the 29th) in the city of Alicante

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Bulls into the sea July 5-11: This celebration is part of the Santísima Sangre fiestas in Denia (100km north of Alicante).

This is one of the most unusual events in the province of Alicante. The name of the fiesta means “bulls into the sea” and involves bull-running through the streets of the town: young people run in front of the bulls on a route that ends up in Denia’s bullring in the port. The bullring is square-shaped and one side is open to the Mediterranean Sea, meaning that bulls and runners alike sometimes finish up falling into the water. A boat then rescues them.

The Els Bous a la Mar spectacle can be seen every day, morning and afternoon, during the Santísima Sangre fiestas. There are also other activities such as competitions, concerts, open-air dances and fireworks.

Buses go between Alicante and Denia every hour or so and take between 2-3 hours depending on the route.  Tickets cost 10 euros.  There is also a tram that runs along the coast, 3 hours to Denia.

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The chocolate industry in Villajoyosa (40km north of Alicante) is as famous as it is ancient. The local factories gladly open their doors to travellers visiting the city.

Guadalest

63km north of Alicante, the town of Guadalest and surrounding valley is supposed to be one of the nicest day trips in the area.

View Larger Map

backcountry shuttle

Our Backcountry Shuttle Service can carry up to 6 people, gear and boats to backcountry drop-off locations and campsites on Yellowstone Lake.

Set up a base camp from which to explore remote locations (by paddle or foot) of Yellowstone. Use the service to get you to a better starting point for your backpacking trip. With this service, you can have a true Yellowstone backcountry experience with all the conveniences of car-camping.

Bridge Bay Marina is 20 miles from Grant Village.

Drop off points include: Eagle Bay, Wolf Bay, Plover Point, Promontory, Columbine Creek on the east shore of the mouth of the Southeast arm. The shuttle can be booked one way, round trip or for any point-to-point service from the five mentioned drop off points as well as to and from Bridge Bay Marina.

$152 for the shuttle, but we could try to meet up with some other people and share the cost since the shuttle can take 6 people.

ROOSEVELT OLD WEST DINNER COOKOUT

In Yellowstone, an activity to do one evening is a cowboy dinner cookout:

Grab the saddles and hitch up the wagon for an evening you won't soon forget. You can ride out to Yancy's Hole on a horse or in a covered wagon. When you arrive you'll find those cooks dishin' up some real cowboy grub at our popular Old West Dinner Cookout. The coffee's brewin' over the open campfire, and our wranglers love talkin' your ears off over a strong "cup o' Joe!" When we ring the "dinner bell", you'll line up for real western beef steaks cooked to order, our signature Roosevelt Baked Beans, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread muffins, and fruit crisp. And if all this is not enough, you'll find your boots tappin' to old western songs sung by our singin' cowboy. You may have come here as a city slicker, but you'll go back as a regular cowpoke! 

$55 if you ride in the wagon, $80 to ride a horse for 2 hours.  Babies free.

Camping gear

I like this tent, 3 kilos $240.

Granada, places to stay

Footprint guidebook recommends Hostel Oasis Granada. Private rooms $19 per night, they have a pool and free wifi and phone calls. (picture left)

On vrbo, I found an okay studio apartment for $600 a month, need to check if you can use the pool though.  I think if the main house is rented out you can't use the pool.

This garden apartment is $670 and is nicer (picture right) but again, need to double check that you can use the pool!

Review of traveling in Cuba with a 2 year old

http://www.babygoes2.com/editorial_location_cuba.asp

Possible camping route

Vis Camping Trip i et større kart

Gran Alicant

10 minutes south of Alicante, our villa is located in Gran Alicant

View Larger Map

There is a medical clinic located on Avenida Escandanavia opposite the commercial centre and BBVA bank. Dr Fernando Gomez Soler speaks English. Telephone 966 697 411/24 hour emergency 608 666 455.  This is VERY walking distance from our villa, maybe 500 meters

Public buses run from Gran Alacant to Alicante, Santa Pola and the beach at Los Arenales. For the beach take the Alicante bus.

The weather in San Francisco

See this fantastic video of the weather in San Francisco. Then you know what to expect :)

Dude Ranch

Nevada: Ranch Stays at the Cottonwood Guest Ranch ($275/day per person – all inclusive)
April through October (Flexible Dates) in Wells, NV (Northeast) 
"Ranch activities include: horseback riding, Cattle Roundups, trap-shooting, arena games, roping, Bird watching, hiking, camping, rock-hunting, ATV trips, hot tub, relaxing,—And more!"

Nevada: I like the sound of Seven Mile Canyon Ranch ($170 pp per day, plus activities) in Virgina City, which looks like a really nice town.  But their website doesn't seem to work.

Wyoming: The cheapest week-long dude ranch experience I've found is at the CM Ranch in Dubois, WY.  Two adults and a baby about $3700 all inclusive.  I looked at 30 dude ranches in Wyoming, they are all very similarly priced and none accept shorter-than-4-night stays in the summer.

Colorado: About 30 dude ranches are listed here, I haven't looked at any but assume they are similarly priced to the ones in Wyoming.

Nevada Northern Railroad

Trips on the Nevada Northern Railroad, just under 2 hours for $25 ($35 to ride in the caboose). 

"The line is considered the best-preserved short line in the country and, along with the history Ely yard complex, locomotives and rolling stock, ranks as a National Historic Landmark."

Northeast Nevada, 5.5 hours from Bruneau

Quirky but Romantic

In Lovelock, Nevada (an hour and a half from Reno) you can buy a padlock to put on a chain at Lovers Lock Plaza.

"Thousands of simple metal locks adorn chains and fences, placed with care by those who wish to symbolize their enduring love. Fasten a lock on the chain and throw away the key, thus uniting your love for eternity. "

Lava Hot Springs

2.5 hours from Yellowstone, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.  Plenty of mediocre camping nearby.  Or we can stay in a cottage or a barn for $100 a night.  The barn is on a working farm so you can feed the animals, child friendly.

Football or baseball?

The two big teams in San Francisco are:

• The successful football team San Francisco 49ers plays at CandleStick Stadium (see picture). The season runs from August to December and tickets go from $59.
• The baseball team San Francisco Giants plays at At&T Park (see map below). The season runs from April to October and tickets go from $10.
  

Vis større kart

Heart Lake and Mount Sheridan

In The Rough Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton the hike from Heart Lake to Mount Sheridan is considered a fantastic first choice for an overnight trip into Yellowstone's backcountry (p 155).

Kepler Cascades to Lone Star Geyser

In The Rough Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton on p. 78 there is a map over West Thumb. It should be a nice two day walk to go from Kepler Cascades to the camp site after Lone Star Geyser and back again. It was also recommended in the Lonely Planet guide which had much fewer suggestions for Yellowstone.

Mount Washburn

In The Rough Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton the hike up Mount Washburn is said to be rated by many rangers to be the best for those who only have time for one hike (pp 125). It is a 5 mile roundtrip estimated to take 3-5 hours. It is possible to camp half way to the top to make the trip to the top less strenuous.

Hotel in Morelia

Here are pictures of the hotel I was thinking of booking for Morelia.  In an email they said:

The Patzcuaro Suite is off the large courtyard entryway and also consists of two rooms. One is a den with a futon that pulls out into a bed if needed and also has a single bed. The other room is a bedroom with a queen size bed. This suite has a private bathroom with shower that is NOT in the suite. You have to leave the suite, go through the courtyard, and enter the main house to get to the bathroom. For the sole purpose of bathroom location, this suite rents for $55 US per night. It is a very nice large bedroom and den, original to the house.

But they may be flexible on the price for a long-term rental.  Other suites in the hotel rent for up to $95, but there is one for $65 with private bath.

Camping in Yellowstone

Reservations for campsites must be made by phone if we want to stay inside the park.  Showers are only available at Canyon and Grant Village campsites!!  $20 and walking distance to good stuff (restaurants, sites, trails).

Otherwise we can stay 6 miles outside the Yellowstone West Entrance at a KOA site that has a pool.  Camping costs about $40.  Or, for under $100 we can stay in a cabin inside the park (shared bathrooms) if booked a few months in advance.  The cheapest are $66.

Reservations for everything should be made about 2 months in advance, or as early as possible if we want a campsite in the park within walking distance of a shower.  Some campsites in the park are first come first serve so even without a reservation we stand a chance, but in July and August they fill up by 8am...

Soccer in Barcelona

Camp Nou is Europe's largest soccer stadium and normally the crazy Spanish cup final is in the end of May. In 2011 it will room more than one hundred thousand people.

Chess Museum, Miami

Miami, Florida - World Chess Hall of Fame

The World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum in southwest Miami-Dade County opened in early October. The museum chronicles the history of chess and honors its heroes.

World Chess Hall of Fame:
Address: 13755 SW 119th Ave, Miami, FL [Show Map]
Directions: World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum
Hours: M-F 10:30-4:30, Sa-Su closed. (Call to verify)
Phone: 786-242-4255

Festivals, Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona

Mesa County Fair, July 20 - July 25 in Grand Junction

La Plata County Fair, August 11 - August 15 in Durango

San Juan County Fair, August 18 - August 21 in Farmington

Navajo Nation Fair, September 6 - September 12 in Window Rock

Festival, Idaho/Utah

Raspberry Days Festival, August 5 - 7.  

40 minutes south of Montpelier, ID

Strange Rodeo

CoEd Bikini Barrel Race
Dates: July 30, 2010 - July 30, 2010
General Info Phone Number: 208-589-5484
Location:
Idaho Falls, ID

   

County Fairs and Festivals, California

Sonoma County Fair, July 27 - August 8

Bluegrass Festival, Aug 13 - Aug 15 (Tres Pino, 50 miles south of San Francisco)

Wine Country Cycle Tours

In Napa Valley, guided tours (full day) $140 per person, or bike rental alone $40 per person ($25 for baby-wagon).  Also have electric bikes, and you can arrange to have any wine purchases picked up so you don't have to cycle with them.

In Sonoma Valley, bike rental alone $25 per person

La Leche League Meetings

Meetings in San Francisco:  http://lllnorcal.org/groups/PeninsulaCA.html

In Durango on the 1st Monday of the month http://www.llli.org/groups/@llli*group*durango

Solar Power Institute

Lots of good classes to take at the Solar Living Institute in Ukiah (2 hours from San Francisco), including:

July 17: Raising backyard goats

July 29 - Aug 6: Photovoltaics Design and Installation (certification course, exam follows)

Aug 7: Raising backyard chickens

Aug 28: Urban Beekeeping (in San Francisco)

Aug 29 - Sep 3: Off-grid Systems

Sep 9 - Sep 12: Electricity, Plumbing, Carpentry

Onsite camping $10 per night

25 mile hiking

Lost Coast 3-day "serious" backpack trip very near Humbolt Redwood State Park.

The hike follows The Lost Coast Trail between Orchard Camp and Usal Camp, a strenuous trek best done in three days. For being along the coast, there is virtually no level walking on this hike: the trail constantly encounters sheer creek canyons, descending quickly and ascending steeply hundreds of feet at a time. The two ends of The Lost Coast Trail are far apart by road (2-3 hours driving time) and two vehicles are required for transportation to and from the trailheads. While the hike can be done in either direction. Those wishing to dayhike from the north trailhead should turn around at Wheeler Camp, making a round trip of 9.4 miles with an elevation gain / loss of roughly 1000 feet.

Do this hike from north to south, so that you have the brisk north winds at your back, not in your face.

Redwoods

Humboldt Redwood State Park, camping must be booked in advance.  Easy hikes on well maintained trails.

Park headquarters and the Visitor Center are located on the Avenue of the Giants, State Route 254, between the towns of Weott and Myers Flat. This is 45 miles south of Eureka and 20 miles north of Garberville off of Highway 101. Weott is 228 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 101. The 32 mile long Avenue of the Giants runs roughly parallel to Highway 101 from Phillipsville in the south to Pepperwood in the north.


Latitude / Longitude: 40.3225 / -123.9928

4 hours from Redding and 4 hours from San Francisco

Mommy says...

"Sharon, with the 4 month old twin adopted boys, and Dan have a cabin, which would be more like a shelter or shed on some land near Ridgeway. You could probably stay there for free."

Ghost Town

Super nifty state park, the best preserved ghost town from the gold rush era of California, 3 hours from Lake Tahoe/Reno: Bodie State Historic Park (picture right).  No camping.  Maybe a good place to stay is Mono Lake Tufa State Park(picture left)?  Less  than 20 miles south of Bodie

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Calistoga Mud Spa

This is a family friendly place recommended by Lonely Planet for mud baths and tourism in Napa Valley (1.5 hours from San Francisco).  $170 per night:  Calistoga Spa Hot Springs

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Chess in Morelia

It turns out the World Championship tournament of 2008 had its second stage in Morelia. So there should be some chess club or the other, but I need to learn Spanish before I figure out this confusing site about chess in Mexico. From this blogpost, however, there are pictures of outdoor chess in the city of Morelia. Promising :)

Montpelier, Idaho

Long drive (almost 5 hours) from Vernal.  Should stay in a hotel in Montpelier?  For example, Fisher Inn

Third stop, Dinosaurland KOA camping site

Dinosaur National Monument, KOA camp site with heated pool near Vernal, UT

3 hours (150 miles) from Grand Junction

Second Camping Spot, Colorado

James M Robb, Colorado River State Park, Island Acres

I-70 to Exit 47, five miles east of Palisade.  $16 camping, $6 day pass ($60 for a year pass)  Booking can be done at reserve america.

Two hours from Ridgway, 100 miles

Chess in San Francisco

The Mechanics' Chess Club is the oldest US chess club and it is open weekdays 11am-9pm and weekends 11am-5pm.

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Hotel in San Francisco

Recommended as very family friendly:

HOTEL DEL SOL
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, UNITED STATES
3100 WEBSTER STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

ca. $150 per night?

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First Camping Stop

Colorado State Park : Ridgway

3.5 hour driving from Farmington, $16 per night camping plus $6 daily park entry fee.  Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campsite, site 291 looks best, furthest from bathrooms in loop H