Los Angeles Vacation: Up, Up, and Away

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My loyal readers may remember that this year, rather than taking an exotic or slightly neurotic vacation, we chose to stay close to home and vacation all year long. 

Today's installment? A helicopter tour!

As you might suspect when an off-the-wall, out-of-the-ordinary idea makes it to our day planner, this was a deal we simply couldn't pass up. Not only was there a Groupon voucher for a 20 minute helicopter ride, but we had a still-unused Groupon gift card from last Christmas and a use-it-or-lose-it promotion code for Groupon about to expire. When all three aligned-- well, it was meant to be. (Besides, it is my birthday month.)

I suppose some might get upset at us for counting a tour of the Channel Islands (off the coast of Ventura) as part of our Los Angeles vacation, but our pilot/tour guide made sure to point out the various mansions and beach houses of the Hollywood stars on our way. The helicopter company also offered us champagne (we chose sparkling cider instead), and a commemorative plaque of our excursion (at the bargain rate of $25). What is more LA-like than taking a helicopter flight and adding champagne and fancy bling to make the event out to be an important accomplishment?

It was a beautiful day to be up in the air and out on the water... and to get both at once was quite fun, even if it was a teensy-weensy bit unnerving to be traveling above the water in a magical glass elevator. (Or so it seemed to me sitting in the front. SOS bravely took the back seat with both kids, one of whom had a death grip on his hand to keep him firmly rooted in reality.)






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