"If you don't know where you're going, any bus will do"

We took a family vacation to the mainland in between our hectic and often conflicting school schedules. We didn't waste anytime getting into the vacation mode! We arrived in Atlanta on the morning of June 20, 2003 and went to the Braves vs. Orioles game that night (sleep is for sissies!)

During the first half of our vacation, we went down to Isle of Palms, South Carolina, with my dad and step-mother (Bill and Teri). Dad rented us a terrific house with a pool and boat dock. Matthew was the king fisherman (the one night we went out WITH live bait and WITHOUT a camera, he caught a spot that was TOO big to keep!). Mari and I took one evening and went into historic Old Town Charleston - the whole week there was spectacular!

The second half of our vacation was up in East Tennessee. Mari and I explored some of the stomping grounds where I grew up while the kids spent time with Grandma Judy and Grandpa Gaston. We went to Dollywood Amusement Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with my cousin Leigh and her two sprouts (Kylie and Kevin). Both Kylie and Kevin somehow ended up with strep throat! Luckily, Melissa and Matthew didn't catch it (they had to start back to school the week we returned to Hawaii!). We went back to Norris Days (AKA The Fourth of July) and had a mini-family reunion with some of the Simpson Clan. A good time was had by all!

All in all, it was a most EXCELLENT adventure!

Select the section of vacation highlights you wish to view

• Atlanta Braves vs. Baltimore Orioles
• Isle of Palms and Charleston, South Carolina
• East Tennessee
• Dollywood Amusement Park, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
• The Fourth of July at Norris Days
• Cruising on Lake Lanier