Mmm... nice: "Sitting in the room after having room service deliver my dinner and looking at a beautiful sunset is my way of relaxing." Maybe a little far, but I will have to look at that option! Joanie: I'm in Northern Virginia. How far to go? I would go as far as the West Coast, but don't want to go overseas (because of the extra travel time --would rather that time be spent at the location). Camlan: Have no problem spending time with the nephews -- on the contrary! They always make me laugh. (Until I get the dinner bill!) A few more details about me: Lived in Miami Beach, so I kinda got my beach fill there; Visited Sanibel -- is it basically the same as Captiva?; lived in Chicago, still love it -- looked quickly at New Year's week for a quick getaway, but really expensive (had I thought about that a few months ago, that would've been among the top choices); also have a niece in Boston, and the last time I was in Boston for more than a day, I was in either junior high or high school! But I think I'd want it to be during warmer weather. I do want to go to the aquarium there and maybe a day trip back to Cape Cod and go on one of the dolphin-searching boats I was on years ago. Haven't been to San Francisco -- does anybody have any rec's for someplace that's a cross between a hotel and a more relaxing veg-out "inn"? I know there are bed-and-breakfasts there, but the quality and experience would probably be wasted on me. (Hmm. I guess there are a few nice options on my list!)

Wonderful pictures!! Karen, that place (location, food, everything) is utterly charming. Nicole, I'm glad you explained your picture because one might think you were on a sort of circular treadmill, turning a wheel with your feet. :-) I'm posting my picture and going to read about trench art......... An unusual planting for gravesites. I love it!

I prefer Disney to Knotts. We usually get the Park Hopper passes so that we can go to both Disneyland and California Adventure (which is just across from Disneyland). It is also whale watching season until the end of May in LA. They are seeing record sightings of humpbacks, fins and migrating gray whales this year in the South Bay of LA -- anywhere from 25-40 per day. There have also been quite a few pods of orcas. The hub of all the whale watching is the Pt. Vicente lighthouse in Palos Verdes, where you can watch the whales amongst the observers who are there from dawn to dusk counting the whales and observing their behavior. Or, you can charter a sailboat out of Redondo Beach for some up close action. The whales don't usually make it up toward Santa Monica -- too far into the SM bay. Just a few days ago, there were a group of humpback whales breeching and fluking at Redondo Beach while surfers and beachgoers gawked. If you are looking for a place to stay down there, I like Terranea -- it's on the water near the whale watching action and they have a nice spa and excellent French restaurant, Mar'sel. Here is a link that might be useful: Whales in the south bay This post was edited by pipdog on Fri, Jan 23, 15 at 0:46

@hummingbird678 and @Sherryl thanks for the discussion on granite. We picked our slabs last week and are going with a level 3, "Blue Dunes", but we're in the dark regarding the additional cost above the level 1 allowance. Lots of progress this past week. Most of the exterior stonework is complete. All cabinets are in except the kitchen, and interior trim has begun. We're doing SW "Snowbound" on all cabinets except the island and master bath cabinets which are SW "Stamped Concrete". Master shower tile is done as well