Surprise Vacation 2016 / Solved

It's my most favorite day of the year behind my birthday!!! Surprise vacation has officially started and my dad is here for his annual guest post to break it down... take it away dad!

#1: Getting there, Getting where? Flying always has a cost, maybe I can get it waived.

This starts with the lead as to where we land flying into Surprise Vacation. The cost of flying can be termed a "Fee", and if I can get it waived that is then "nixed" - Fee Nix = Phoenix!!!!!!!! How simple ............

#2 The second half of an abbreviated Very Wise Night, thus short but sweet. 

The hardest clue in the bunch, but when you see the answer - no swearing allowed, at me or yourself!!

Second half of an abbreviated .....VW then N - second half: VW Golf and Night Club = Golf Club!!!!!! Short in length but a sweet swing! Yes sir - no winners on this one!!

#3 Yea, Yea, Yea, Blah, Blah, Blah; go fetch. Always a great day. 

Continuing in the same mode: The first part refers to Talking, and what do dog's fetch - Sticks
Talking Stick is a golf course in the Scottsdale area.

#4  He wasn’t totally wrong, nor one of the pair, but he integrated well.

Some of you pulled up Frank Loyd Wright - strong performance. Not the Wright Brothers. FLW integrated architecture with the surroundings - with a famous home: Tailisein West in Arizona (Scottsdale). Applause for Liz and Annie!!!!!!!

#5  Ex Top Dog TJ’s and the Jim’s neighbors, down the hill amongst the trees; and arriving ahead of schedule. Always a good time!

Another sweet one referencing not where we re going but who we are going with!!!! Yes this was Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe - all lived in the Charlottesville area, up on hills with majestic views. BUT, down the hills amongst the trees (Redwood Lane) arriving ahead of schedule (Earlysville) is another Dalkin Clan (who lives in Earlysville on Redwood Lane) meeting us in Arizona. These family gatherings with 5 cousins and two marriage add ins are always great fun!

#6  A city, town, village, municipality or other? I don’t know but : It makes watching grass grow more exciting, especially looking down at it from the hills.

To those of us who lived outside of the Phoenix area we never really considered Chandler, Messa, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley etc separate towns, just all were "Phoenix"!!!! (Sorry to all those that live in these towns) So for this: Making grass grow faster - Scotts Turf Builder, and down from the hills are the Dales - THUS SCOTTSDALE!!!!!!!!! (Big Hand for Lizz AGAIN!)

#7  Next to Peter’s Pointer, then all together something like “You’ve Got Mail”

Next to Peters Pointer is Tom's Thumb. All together - rhymes with : You've got mail - TOM'S THUMB TRAIL - in Scottsdale. On the agenda for this Friday- should be EPIC! 10 points for Diana!!

#8   After the winter thaw, they come outside to enjoy the sun and warming weather. More than a dozen of them, frolicking and playing, a wonderful spectacle for all who want to enjoy.

Scottsdale and the Phoenix area are a travel mecca in Feb/March for SPRING TRAINING - The Cactus League. 15 teams come to prepare for the upcoming season. And after the miracle of 2016 - CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN (Harry Carey fans) - and I grew up on the north side of Chicago. Mesa will again welcome the CUBS for a repeat in 2017!!!!!! (Lizzy again - so STRONG, or just as deviant minded as me!!)

#9  We cannot have a Christmas-time Surprise Vacation without a Christmas clue: The three Magi, on the back of their mounts, following the star above the mountains, into Bethlehem to see the babe.

The Magi rode on the back of Camel's (Camelback), following the star above the "mountain" to visit Bethlehem and see baby Jesus. Camelback Mountain is the hike planned for tomorrow.

So here we are in a great big house in Scottsdale sharing our time. There's a whole lotta hiking, spa time, golf, Gaby's cooking up a storm, we're doing game nights every night, hot tubs, pools, and family! Pretty pumped about this. Stay tuned for next year!