Waterfalls, Toucans and Hot Springs

Audrey and I love last minute trips. Or maybe we’re just lazy and don’t like planning ahead. But the reality is that almost every one of our vacations with or without the kids has been sorta last minute.

No replacement for Watson but he would have made a nice pet.

And let’s face it. If you move to another country and spend the first week grocery shopping, unpacking, etc. and then head off to school — that’s not exactly going to kick off your year abroad with a bang. Luckily, we cranked through most of the “must-do” items much faster than anticipated and were able to fit in some very cool last minute mini-trips before the end of the first week.

Ella and our toucan pal

 

Not as cool a pet as the toucan...mom gets over her fear of snakes (sort of).

Without knowing it (seriously…it was a bizarre coincidence) the two places we chose to check out are sister-properties owned by the same guy (who also happens to own the only place we have ever been to as a family in Florida…weeeeird). So whoever he is…we have now completed the trifecta and visited all three of his properties. Any-who. After settling in for a couple of days at the house, we fit in a trip to La Paz Waterfall Gardens (a little over an hour from the house) and The Springs Hotel in La Fortuna (3+ hours away, near Arenal). Both spots were AMAZING and will now be on our “highly recommended” list (albeit the “overpriced” portion of that list…The Springs won’t be on the “let’s go again for a quick jaunt” list for that reason but this time round, the kids were blown away and feeling good about Costa Rica…so mission accomplished. : ) Super quick summary of each… La Paz Waterfall Gardens...amazing views // toucans you can hold on your arm…Liadan and Ella wanted to take the baby one home, I think // enough snakes to keep the kids entertained for days (and a baby boa they could hold around their neck) // hummingbirds and butterflies // jungle cats (the only part that wasn’t interactive…luckily…) // and, of course, some very cool waterfalls a short hike away from the animal refuge area.

At La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Jack takes over as photographer for a bit

Hot Springs...the type of hotel that requires you by design to bump down a 3 mile dirt road at the end of the trip…meaning you STAY there (you aren’t hopping into town for a quick bite)...BUT they make it soooo worth your while to stay // tons of hot springs pools scattered about the property // incredible rooms and views // an activities area down by the river where we fit in some horseback riding and rock climbing (river was too rough that day for tubing, etc.) // and of course there IS the active Arenal volcano theoretically visible from every room and from all over the hotel property…but you never actually see it because of the clouds. I have now been to Arenal three times in my life and I have still never seen the volcano!

Liadan joins the guide

Evidently this was the last calm moment (lots of ups and downs, through the forest, through a river, etc.!)

Jack strikes a pose. Not sure for who...but definitely a pose. : )

We had no idea Ella was a rock climbing animal! : )

It was pretty cool. Bunch of people stopped to watch. She was the first person all day to make it. American Ninja Warrior here we com

Cool action shot of Charlie on the rock wall. Go Carlito Bandito!

Dad and Lia in the hot springs

OK. This entry has been more about facts ("we went here...we did this") than observations. There WERE a bunch of cool side notes to the trips (things seen along the way to/from). But I’ll save those for the next entry.  : )