A Pickle Goes to Anaheim

I recently took a trip to California with my grandson Owen. We headed to WonderCon in Anaheim for a weekend full of costumes, comic culture, and some sightseeing around the area.

The Pickle

Owen went all in on his costume. He dressed up as Pickle Rick, the pickle character from Rick and Morty. He took it very seriously, and he got plenty of attention walking the floor.

Seeing him commit to the full experience made the whole trip worth it.

Person in a pickle costume with sunglasses posing with cosplayers at Anaheim convention, split photo showing indoor and outdoor shots

Some cool pictures of Owen

On the Floor

WonderCon is a great people watching event. Doctor Octopus, Freddy Fazbear, Ghostface (from Scream), Arc Raiders, and every other character you can think of walks past you.

It is a fun environment to wander through and enjoy the creativity on display.

cosplayer in a yellow shirt, blue puffer vest, white cargo pants, and a red-and-white helmet with mirrored visor, carrying a pickaxe prop on the convention floor in Anaheim

John Brandes in a Doctor Octopus cosplay with mechanical tentacle arms at a convention floor in Anaheim

Around Town

Beyond the convention, Owen and I got out to see parts of California together.

A few hikes, some good food, and quality grandfather and grandson time.

John W. Brandes taking a selfie at Lake Hollywood Park with the Hollywood Sign visible on the hills behind him, a cartoon pickle sticker overlaid in the foreground

Owen and I sightseeing together in California.

Conclusion

Trips like these mean a lot to me. Work keeps me busy, so making time to travel with family is something I always try to factor in. Owen and I had a blast, and I am already thinking about where we might go next.

Check back soon for more personal updates. Or read more about what I've been up to lately.