Games for Long Plane Rides

I am a big fan of the folks over at Our Muddy Boots, and loved this post with ideas for keeping kids entertained on plane trips. If you enjoy it, too, be sure to follow them on their blog and Facebook!

Read More

California: See San Diego on this Scenic Drive

The San Diego Scenic Drive is a 59-mile trek that takes you in and around and through San Diego. There is a great turn-by-turn plan available, and signs to keep you on track if you get turned around.
We followed the instructions on a smart phone, but appreciated having the signs as reassurance if it ever got confusing! You could also print a copy so you have it in hand.

It took us seven hours to make the loop, but the beauty of this route is that you are free to stop and start whenever you like! Do a few miles, do the whole trek – it’s up to you. We stopped often early in the day to check things out, and when the little one fell asleep after lunch, we did a lot more driving and viewing through a car window.

One thing I really loved about this drive was that I felt as though I saw so many different neighborhoods of the city. What a great way to get to know a community before deciding which part to settle in, or to explore a place you’ve lived your entire life, but never really seen.

Read More

Montana: Disc Golf Family Fun

Even the teenagers were talking about how much fun they had on our family outing to Makoshika State Park to play a round of disc golf. And you don’t have to be the parent of teenagers to know how impressive that is!

We had planned to spend some time checking out the park, and started our visit with a stop into the gift shop and museum. On a whim, we picked up a set of Frisbees from the park gift shop. Three brightly-colored discs in hand, we picked up a map (score card on the back) and pencil and set off down the road.

It was the first time playing for most of us (Justin had a little experience), and we didn’t take the time to read the rules, but if you’re planning an outing and want to be a little more official, check out this page for some direction. (We would have benefited from reading the part about out of bounds throws.)

This was a great fit for us because it was not restrictive of age – our three-year-old wasn’t competitive, but she was still able to play – and got us all out in the sunshine and fresh air for several hours.

According to the map, the full course was about a mile long, but we quickly learned that would only apply if we went directly from hole to hole. With a crew of inexperienced players, we were running all over the course and got a lot more exercise in than that! In the end we decided a 9-hole game was the best fit for our first foray.

On the way home, one teen was on his phone Googling locations of other disc golf courses, and one was talking about how we should make it our new family hobby. Success.

Read More

Nevada: A Buffet of Learning in Vegas

When you are three, everything is an opportunity for learning. Even a buffet! Here are some ideas for engaging your preschooler in learning by playing…with their food.

Colors

Challenge your child – how many different colors can you find to put on your plate? This is a great way to encourage kids to eat a variety of items from a variety of food groups. Bria found purple beets, green grapes, brown roast beef, and a white egg. We took our time browsing, talking about all the different hues we could spot.

Meatball math

As we explore early math, Bria has been talking a lot lately about “more than.” Is this more than that? Who has more, me or dad? To reinforce and play with this idea, we lined up six meatballs, and separated them into groups. There in two in this group and four in that one – which is more? Which is less?

Letters

What letter does beet start with? It’s B, just like Bria! What other letters can you find? Meatballs start with an M, what other words do you know that start with the M sound?

Vocabulary

What words can you use to describe the foot on your plate? Is it sweet or salty? Warm or cold? What consistency does it have? Have fun with your child, exploring different words that can be used in reference to the meal.

How Does it Grow?

Carrots grow in the ground, grapes grow on vines…where did this orange grow? How about this potato? Our daughter loves to learn about growing things with her Grandpa, so bringing that knowledge back around to the practical application of the food on her plate is an easy step that brings it home for her.

More Ideas

We had a lot of fun at the buffet making food fun. What other ideas do you have for turning dinner into a learning experience?

Read More

Nevada: Las Vegas Monorail

On the day we decided to explore the strip, we thought we’d try out the Vegas Monorail. The map showed it going from one end of the strip to the other, so we thought it would be a great way to explore and get around.

From the beginning we found that the conditions were not quite ideal for us. Staying at Circus Circus as we were, it was a fair distance to a station (You see that block on the map where it kicks back to the Las Vegas Hotel? Well, they do everything big in Vegas. So that block is not exactly a kid-friendly jaunt.)

In the end we decided to drive to the Las Vegas Hotel and board there – the last thing we wanted was a tired preschooler before we even started our adventure.

The monorail is clean, seems well-maintained, and is easy to go on and off. Since it is on the back side of the strip hotels, though, you can’t see much from the ride, so it isn’t a good way to cut through traffic and check out the sights.

We each purchased a one-way ticket, deciding we would buy another one-way trip if we decided to take it back. A single ride ticket is $5, and an all-day ticket is $12. Children five and under ride free.

For our purpose – exploring the strip, we ended up taking the monorail from the Las Vegas Hotel (note that even though the Sahara is no longer there, the station is, but there is not easy parking at that site) to the MGM Grand and walking back to Circus Circus. This left Dad to walk over to retrieve the car while Mom got the little to the room.

We struggle to see a situation where it would be a convenient way for families to get around. Maybe if you were going to a wedding at one place on the route and staying at another location on the route, and didn’t want to drive back and forth? In short, it just doesn’t feel like a family fit to us.

Have you used the Vegas Monorail to get around with your kiddos? We’d love to hear how it went for you! Leave your feedback in the comments.

Read More

Nevada: Visiting Hoover Dam (and dispelling the myth that all dams are made by beavers)

During one day of our accidental vacation in Las Vegas, the three of us made a trek to visit the massive feat of human engineering that is Hoover Dam.
The 726 foot dam forms a towering border between Nevada and Arizona. Shaped like a huge curved axe head, the dam is 45 feet wide at the top and 660 feet (that’s two football fields!) thick at the bottom.

Justin and I had both been to the dam before, but that was prior to 2010, when the new O’Callaghan-Tillman Memorial Bridge opened, which allows traffic to bypass the dam. So this was a new experience!

We had been planning our visit to the dam for a while (in fact we missed it a few months ago, so she had plenty of time to think on it), and Bria was very eager. Every time we discussed the stop, she had more questions. So when we arrived, she was ready to go with her list of discoveries to make:

• Did beavers make it? Or was it people? (though she was pretty sure at the beginning that beavers make dams)
• What is it made of? Wood? Cement? Something else?
• How big is it?

Now that the bridge is in place, access is only available from the Nevada side (there may be future plans to change this – check my facts before you drive around to be sure they are still current). We stopped at a security checkpoint, then continued down to a parking garage where we left our car and hoofed it onto the dam.

There are some restrictions on what vehicles are allowed to drive over the dam. Check out this pdf for details on the regulations.

By the way, pets are not allowed anywhere on the site, so if you are traveling with your four-legged friend, you may need to make other arrangements.
From the parking garage you can access the tours, the visitor center, and also a small snack shack (hooray for ice cream on a hot day in the desert). You can also walk down onto the top of the dam itself.

We opted not to explore the interpretive center or pay for a tour, instead checking things out for ourselves. We walked across one side of the dam and came back the other, stopping to talk about the signs we saw, photograph the view, and discuss Bria’s list of questions. It really is quite a beautiful site, and amazing to think of what went into it.

TIP: Parking in the garage is $7. If you drive over the dam and park on the Arizona side, there are several lots with free parking available. It is more of a trek if you want to walk down over the dam or to the visitor center, but the view from that side is better than any view on the Nevada side.

For another fantastic view of the dam after you have explored, head to the bridge interpretive center, which allows you access to walk out onto the pedestrian walkway alongside the new bridge. It can be found on the left side of the street as you head west back toward the highway.

Want to find out more? There is a learning packet available for download here.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a great addition to this itinerary. Check out our post on that visit here!

Read More

California: Orange County Great Park on a Monday afternoon

Just off Interstate 5 in Irvine, there is a beautiful, vast metropolitan park called Orange County Great Park. If you have been there before for an event, we think it is time you rediscovered this peaceful gem in the hustle and bustle of the OC.
Preferably when there’s not a thing on the park’s calendar.

We visited on Monday afternoon, and it would have been the ideal location to shoot a zombie apocalypse movie. Where IS everyone? Oh right, sitting in traffic.

The vast parking lots were completely empty, and acres of gorgeous park land was going completely unutilized. We even hit the park’s website to make sure it wasn’t closed. When an Irvine Police officer drove by, we wondered for a moment if we would be in trouble! But sure enough, the park is open from 10 a.m. to dusk on Mondays. (Check the site here for complete hours.)

Orange County Great Park is home to a list of fun events for the whole family, including free concerts in the park, a solar decathlon, farmer’s markets, and much more. Programming and events are great, but it’s the in-between time – the time when this is just a beautiful metropolitan park – that is where the action’s really at.

If you haven’t visited the Great Park during those in-between times, you’re missing out on a beautiful oasis in the city of Irvine. It has been called one of the great metropolitan parks in the country, and we see such potential to live up to that. Built by focus group and working hard at creating identity in this community, the idea for Orange County Great Park was born after Marine Corps Air Station El Toro closed in 1999. This is one of the things we loved most about this beautiful park – it is being reused and recycled! How cool is that?

This park is a beautiful space for reflection, and it is so much more. A trip to the park is one of the most budget-friendly, healthy activities you can do with your family. So…unplug the kids, get them in the car, and drive on over to the Orange County Great Park. Here are the directions.

Not sure what to do when you get there? Maybe one of these ideas will strike a chord.

Read More

Chasing Lions – Following Our Passions

Our three-year-old has recently become absolutely obsessed (as only a three-year-old can) with the movie Lion King, and as a result, with lions.

“Mom, did you know lions can jump really high?”

“Dad, do you know what lions eat?”

And so on, and so on. You get the idea.

There is nothing better than the joy we see on her face when she sees something she loves. So we take her to see the lions. There are more around than I ever realized! There are real lions, statute lions, and stuffed lions. There are lions on TV, lions in movies, and lions guarding city buildings.

The web is full of lions, too. We enjoy curling up with the tablet and watching baby lions play on the Savannah, and learning more fun facts about lions, too. There are Lion King coloring pages here, which can be printed out for hours of entertainment.

When you are on a mission to find something, it is everywhere! It’s a bit like the old “slug bug” game when we are out – everyone is on the look for lions.

What does your child love, that you could “chase”?

Read More

California: Getting around the San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is big. I mean, really big.

Check out this map to see just how big.

But have no fear! There are lots of transportation options available through the 99 acre park. The zoo is shaped like a bowl, which means there are many hills to climb. Take advantage of the guided tour to see more of the park at once, and the express bus and skyfari to take some of the load off.

Guided Bus Tour

The guided tour buses are double-decker, open-air buses that allow you to see 70 percent of the zoo. It takes about 35 minutes, and while it isn’t a great way to see most of the animals, and it is a good way to get acquainted with your surroundings and decide which places to visit and in what order. Included in the fare is unlimited use of the express bus throughout your visit. Once you know where you want to go, use the express buses to get yourself a little closer!

Our daughter loved riding the bus just for the experience of riding the bus – seeing the sights was a completely added bonus for her.

The fare is included in a one-day admission ticket, and is $8.50 for adult pass holders and $5 for pass holders 3-11.

Kangaroo Express Bus

Unlimited use of the express bus is included in your guided tour ticket. The buses travel continuously through the park – just find one of the green signs and one will pick you up (they run about 15 minutes apart). There are five stops available – a simple way to slice up the zoo into more manageable pieces.

Skyfari Aerial Tram

Included with your membership and most other pass types, this is a great way to get from one end of the park to the other. We used it to start from the far end and work our way back toward the gate. Really, we could do this on half a dozen visits, taking a different route back each time, very happily.

TIP: Double strollers are not allowed on the skyfari tram, but single strollers are!

Other Transportation

If you need a motorized cart, wheelchair, or stroller, visit Guest Services just inside the entrance to the zoo. There are multiple options available. There is also a shuttle available for guests with mobility issues – be sure to ask at the desk for details.

Read More

California: Baby Beach in Dana Point

We had seen it several times as we visited the harbor for various events – Baby Beach. It is a beautiful spot at Dana Point Harbor with calm water for little ones to play in. Sometimes the waves of the ocean beaches is just too much for our three-year-old, so this harbor beach is just the trick.

Since it is such a great place for kids, you’ll find that most of the crowd is families, which is nice. The little ones are sure to find other children their age, and they won’t be bothering any serious beach-goers with their play.

Even cooler, you can see the “pirate ship” from the beach! The Ocean Institute is nearby, and makes a great outing if you need a place to move out of the sun or wind for a while. You will also find a lifeguard during the summer months.
Parking is free, and fairly plentiful. Check out this parking map to get the lay of the land.

Note, though, that calm waters come with a price. Because the ocean waves are not washing the muck away, this is one of the most polluted beaches in the area. Be sure to check warnings and do your homework before trekking out. (Six of the seven beaches at neighboring Doheny State Park are also repeat offenders when it comes to contamination. You can read more about that here.) You can also check out report cards here.

Read More

California: Busking on Hollywood Boulevard

One of Bria’s favorite things is buskers. It doesn’t matter if they are singing, dancing, or pretty much anything else, she is enamored. In this video, she is cutting a rug with a group of young men dancing on the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard.

Read More

California: Disney Soda Fountain in Hollywood

When “I’m hungry” took over while we were cruising around Hollywood, we popped into Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio in the El Capitan Theater for a treat. And wow, what a treat it was! This old-fashioned ice cream parlor experience is open daily on Hollywood Boulevard, and features lots of yummy goodies for every member of the family.

In addition to the soda fountain and the theater, there is a Disney store inside, where you can check out all of your favorite Disney icons. Prices were reasonable ($7.95 for a BLT with chips, $8.95 for the banana split you see in this photo), and I love any place I can score a Vanilla Coke!

Read More

Utah: Hiking with Daddy in Zion National Park

The above is a short video of Bria hiking with Daddy in Zion National Park. Hiking doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking – when you are accompanied by preschoolers, you can just park at the trail head, grab a bottle of water, and head a few hundred yards down the trail to explore your surroundings!

On this particular hike, they found all kinds of neat things. With the bingo game from the Junior Ranger booklet in hand (she called it her “map”) they set off to explore. Along the way they found animal tracks, animal scat (two kinds), a beetle, and an animal hole. That’s a lot of discovering in just a very short distance!

There was a beautiful river, and the two of them climbed on some big rocks and watched the river become a water fall.

A hike can be a fantastic way to explore your surroundings. Where have you hiked lately?

Read More

California: 16 Things To Do at Orange County Great Park

There is always something to do at Orange County Great Park, even when a big event isn’t happening. Need some ideas? (Many of these will work at any other park as well – get creative! Have some fun!)

1. Hide and seek or tag – this may come as a shock, but you don’t actually need THINGS to have fun. Think back to your childhood, really stretch, and come up with your favorite games on the playground. Now teach your kids. And play with them, don’t sit on the sidelines and watch.
2. Cartwheels – while you’re at it, do some cartwheels. They’re good for the soul. (And Hoag is just down the road if you happen to get carried away.)
3. Photography– whether you are wanting to update that family photo, take senior portraits, or just add snapshots to your Facebook page, the Great Park makes a fantastic backdrop. Well-manicured spaces, beautiful trees and careful architecture all come together to make this a photographer’s dream.
   
4. Picnic – pack up some snacks or make a stop at Subway on the way. There is something really special about meals eaten in the outdoors, they just seem to be the stuff of memories. There are plenty of tables available, complete with chairs and umbrellas, or pack a blanket and lay out in the grass.
5. Birthday Party – the amenities at the park are available on a first-come, first served basis, and small gatherings are welcome. Better yet, they are free! (Contact the park if you want to have a larger gathering, or plan to have a tent larger than 10×10, inflatable bounce houses, or barbecue grills.)
6. Kick a ball around – with world-class soccer fields and lots of just plain grass to play on, the kids will have a great time kicking a ball around. Rows of palm trees make great obstacles, too!
7. Play on the playground – Orange County Great Park has a wonderful little kid friendly playground, with educational opportunities sprinkled throughout. Check out the footprints to learn about different animals, climb in and on the caves, and much more.
8. Run with the dog – take your four-legged buddy out for a run. If you forgot your poo clean-up bags, you’ll find dispensers (and hand sanitizer) throughout the park
9. Toss a Frisbee – you always have one in the back of your car for times like this, anyway, right?
10. Learn about nature – there are lots of trees to identify, plants to check out, and more.
11. Treasure hunt – dash out a list on the back of a grocery receipt and set out on an adventure.
12. Fly a kite – wide open spaces to unfurl your wings are becoming fewer and far between. You’ll find plenty of grassy fields in the Great Park to dust off those kite flying skills in.
13. Yoga – bring your mat, and trek off to a quiet corner of the park to commune with nature. Fresh air is so going to feel so much better than the air in that stuffy gym, anyway.
14. Relay race – remember egg and spoon races when you were a kid? How about hula-hoop endurance competitions and sack races? For more ideas, check Mamas Like Me’sfun list of 20 ideas for relay races with the kids.
15. Journaling – if you seek a beautiful, quiet space to reflect with some fresh air and sunshine, you are in luck. 
    
16. Let them lead – open the car door, let the children out, and see where they go. There are always new trails to blaze, and we don’t get the opportunity to do that nearly enough. This is the perfect place for unorganized discovery and play.

The list of things to do at the park is as endless as your imagination. Have ideas that aren’t on the list? We’d love for you to share them below!

Read More

Can you vacation with kids?

This Huffington Post writer says when you have little ones in tow, it’s a “trip,” not a “vacation.”

With Little Kids You Take Trips Not Vacations

“A vacation is for sipping drinks at 10 a.m. and taking those obnoxious pictures of the lower half of your legs while looking out onto palm trees. A vacation is for getting massages and eating nachos and overusing phrases like “beer-thirty.” A vacation is for pools and sun and servants, lots and lots of servants. Trips are just like that, except for everything.”

What do you think? Can you vacation with kids? Is it about surviving, not enjoying? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More

California: Dolphins at San Clemente North Beach

Dolphin sighting!

How exciting is it to be hanging out on the beach and spot dolphins playing in the surf?

It took a bit to get her to see them (maybe we had some binoculars to our beach bag in the future), but once she did, she was delighted to spend time watching them frolic and play from North Beach.

Read More

California: San Clemente Concerts on the Beach

We hit the beach tonight for the last of the 2013 Concerts on the Beach in San Clemente. It was a great time, with reggae music by World Anthem, and a yummy dinner for just $8 from The Fisherman's Restaurant. The band was really fun - Bria loved dancing in the sand! What a beautiful way to enjoy a sunset in our new hometown.

Read More

California: Packing for a trip to Sea World with small children

Knowing what to bring on an outing is never an easy feat! Here are some packing tips for Sea World with littles:

• Plenty of spare clothes - there are opportunities to get wet and messy everywhere you turn, and that's half the fun!
• Towel - in case of an animal splash or if your children want to check out the splash pads in Sesame Street Bay of Play.
• Stroller - or rent one near the gate. Prices are reasonable and several options are available for singles and doubles.
• Sun screen/hat
• Sweatshirt/jacket
• Water bottle - you can't bring food into the park, but water bottles are allowed. And you're going to need it!
• Quarters - everyone is going to want to feed the flamingos

Don't worry if you forgot to pack something, shops are located through out the park and have a great selection at decent prices.

Read More

California: Sea World San Diego All Day Dining Deal

Sea World San Diego offers a plan called the "All-Day Dining Deal." Basically it works like it sounds - you pay one price, receive a wrist band, and can eat in the park all day. We were headed to Sea World this weekend, and I am a researcher (in case you hadn't caught on to that yet), so I did some poking around first. Was the all-day dining deal worth it?

I read a few message boards with mixed reviews, and a blog post from a mama who felt the lines kept their family from taking advantage of the pass. A friend suggested there would be a lot of junk food involved, which made sense - it is a theme park, after all. But really, there was very little information readily available about how the deal would go. 

(As it turns out, much of the information I read ahead of time was incorrect - but these discrepancies could come from the fact that there is more than one Sea World location. Please note that we visited the San Diego location.)

We decided to try it out, and were VERY pleased we did.

Here's our experience...

Passes start at $32.99 for adults and $16.99 for kids 3-9. There appears to be a few dollars variation based on the particular day you go. We went on a Sunday in high season, and the online price was $35.99 per adult.

We purchased a one-year membership, which gave us 10% off the price, so our total for two adults came to $64.04. (More on that membership and why we chose it here.)

TIP: Children under 3 are free at Sea World, and they encourage sharing with little ones. Our preschooler, B, was a big reason we chose to try this plan out, as she prefers to eat at LEAST every two hours.

The pass is good for four restaurants in the park:

Shipwreck Reef Cafe (ribs, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, salads, kids meals)
Mama Stella's Pizza Kitchen (pizza, pasta, kids meals)
Seaport Market (hand crafted burgers, salads, breakfast bagels, kids meals)
Calypso Bay Smokehouse (smoked chicken, ribs, brisket, kids meals)

A glance at the map told us they were well spread throughout the park.

The deal is a wristband which allows its bearer one entree, one side or dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line. Simple enough.

We started our day mid-morning with the kiddie rides in Sesame Street Bay of Play, so Mama Stella's was nearby when little B decided she needed to munch.

The line was short, and we were pleasantly surprised by the choices. Brightly colored foods lined the cafeteria-style counters. Side options included large, fresh salads, cups of strawberries and sliced watermelon. The entree plates were large and included options such as manicotti, eggplant parmesan, pizza, and pasta with sauce. There were plenty of healthy choices available, and our selections were plenty of food for the three of us.

The average adult meal was somewhere between $13 and $18. Some quick math told us that if we were eating more than twice in the park, the deal was worth our money. Add in snacks, and we were coming out on top financially.

We ate well, and headed on through the park. It was great to know that we didn't have to worry about making the little one sit because this was her chance to eat - we knew we could just take her to get another snack when she needed it.

For our next meal we tried out the Shipwreck Reef Cafe - mostly because the smell of barbecue as we walked by was too much to resist! Again we found a variety of healthful sides and salads. We got a teriyaki chicken plate and a delicious salad with fruits and cheeses on it, and everyone ate together. The plates are plenty large to enjoy family-style.

And don't worry, not ALL of the food is healthy. We had a lovely slab of decadent carrot cake and B got her nosh on with a chocolate-covered Shamu cookie that made her very happy.

We enjoyed the versatility of being able to stop in and get a drink, or a drink and some fruit, anytime we chose. While we were concerned lines would be cumbersome, we found them easy to navigate and only skipped a stop once because they were a little long.

At the end of our day we enjoyed delicious fresh burgers with lots of choices at the Seaport Market and went back through to grab a couple of bottles of water for the trek home. Overall, we were pleased with our purchase and would make the choice again.

To sum it up, we highly recommend considering this plan if...

...you are going for more than five hours (give or take - we arrived at 10:30 am and left at about 5)
...you are going early in the day (things get busier as the day wears on, so you may find yourself less inclined to stand in line)
...you (or smaller members of your party) eat relatively often.
...you enjoy not having to worry about prices and who is spending what while enjoying family time.
...you want to save money but don't want to trek back to your car every time the kids are hungry

San Diego Vacations

Read More

California: Sunday at Sea World

It's Sea World day, and Bria couldn't be more excited!!! (OK, OK, I think Mom and Dad are pretty excited, too.)

She earned the trip with her star chart, and has spent the entire week telling us about the things she'll be showing us. After her July 28 trip she is an expert, you know.

The park was open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today (check out their website ahead of time for hours), so we decided we would aim for arriving about an hour after opening to beat some of the early rush. It worked like a charm, because we parked super close, stood in line for only a few minutes at the gate, then found no line at all at the customer service counter inside the park when we went to pick up our wristbands for the all-day dining deal. (Find out more about that choice and our review here.)

TIP: Purchase your tickets online ahead of time to save on standing in line!

There is a LOT to see, and we have the luxury of living close now, so we were careful not to stress and try to fit everything in. With that in mind, we decided to save the amazing Sea World shows for another day.

TIP: If you plan to go more than once or twice this year, we highly recommend getting the annual pass for one person in your family. Parking is included with the pass, and at $15 a pop, it becomes quickly worth the little extra. We also took advantage of the monthly payment plan, so it was nice to spread the cost out a little bit. In addition, there are other discounts which are great incentives.

We got things started in one of our favorite areas of the park - Sesame Street Bay of Play. Bria loves the big, bright characters, and all of the rides in this area are perfect for her age group. She wanted to bring Daddy on all of them! (Lots of rides are available for the bigger lot, too, not to worry.)

There is lots to do in this area for small children, including equipment to play on, climbing activities, rides, food, photos with Sesame Street characters, and lots more. It's a lot to take in!

TIP: Be sure to bring along a change of clothes and a towel in case kiddos want to enjoy the splash pad! It is especially wonderful for toddlers and offers multiple options for interactive play.

It just wouldn't be Sea World without the amazing water life, so our next stop was the otters and the dolphins. The bat rays are super fun to touch and feed, too! (While Bria and Dad went to the touch the rays, Mom checked out the Manta roller coaster. Woo-hoo!)

Bria's favorite part - everyone's favorite part - was a visit to the orcas. She could spend hours sitting next to their pool, just watching Shamu swim. The orcas are a memory both Mom and Dad have from their childhood, and we love sharing this experience with a new generation. We read that the first Shamu was born at Sea World in 1985, and 20 killer whales have been born there since. Wow! That's a lot of whales!

The Bayside Sky Ride was a great way to wind down for a bit and enjoy some quiet time as a family. This ride goes out over the bay and back, offering opportunities to check out the area from a great vantage point.

The best part of our visit was just sitting back and watching as Bria engaged with creature after creature, offering her observations everywhere we went. Aquarium fish, turtles, sharks, penguins - it was all equally fascinating and gave her an opportunity to learn and interact.

We ended our day with a visit to Wild Arctic, enjoying the non-motion version of the helicopter ride and then checking out the belugas and the polar bears. We appreciated the educational aspects of this exhibit, with buttons to push and informational signs spread throughout.

Our day was filled with so many great highlights, it's hard to pick just a few. We can't wait to get back and play at Sea World again.

San Diego Vacations

Read More

California: Hollywood Boulevard

It was Ella's last days in California, and she was wanting to see Hollywood, so we made a little jaunt over to Hollywood Boulevard to check everything out. Filthy and crowded, sure. But filled with fun things to see? Totally.

Read More

California: Dana Point Farmers Market

Admittedly, we have lived in North Dakota for a long, long time, and this may not be as exciting to other coasters, but we had an amazing visit to the Dana Point Farmers Market today. This is a great place for kids, because you can set them out to choose something to purchase, and you know it will be healthy and local.

We found everything from eggs, chicken, and fish to fruits and vegetables to delicious homemade tamales and hummus. We also picked up bread and some honey sticks, which my daughter thinks are the best treat ever. The atmosphere is wonderful, with a very family-friendly feel. This will definitely be a regular visit!

The market is held each Saturday at La Plaza and Pacific Coast Highway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring cash, most of the vendors are not credit card friendly.

Read More

California: Dana Point Harbor

We made a brief stop at Dana Point Harbor today to check out The Spirit of Dana Point is a 108-foot replica of a privateer from the 1770s, like those used during the American Revolution. This ship (which Bria calls the pirate ship) has 5,000 feet of sail! The girls had a great time checking it out.

Read More

Bahamas: Jokers Wild Comedy Club

The adults had a sneak away for a parents-only evening at the cozy little comedy club located between Beach and Coral towers inside the Atlantis resort, Jokers Wild Comedy Club.

We had a great time! It was nice to enjoy some grown-up time in the middle of such a heavily family-oriented trip. The evening was an intimate one — it was small to start with, and then was at least 3/4 empty — but fun. With a small crowd, everyone has to pull their weight in the feedback department. No room for Debbie Downer here! We all laughed and cheered and had a blast. (Oh, and a couple of cocktails, too.)

TIP: Make sure you bring your wallet along, this is one of very few places on the grounds that do not accept your room key as payment. Cash or credit cards only.

Mike Rivera, tagged as “America’s most hilarious teacher” (a name given when he won a contest on the TV show The View) did the warm-up act and played emcee.

Ron Feingold was the main act, showcasing his edgy mix of music and comedy he calls “Comedy A Capella.”

It was a fun little night out, and we would definitely recommend parents take advantage of the onsite childcare and pop in for an entertaining evening while staying at Atlantis.

Read More

Bahamas: The Caves at Cable Beach

The Caves at Nassau are located west of Cable Beach. Not a lot to see here, mostly just a quick stop to snap a photo or two.

Got five minutes? Come check out this little spot along the side of the road.Although not historically proven, local lore says the Lucayan Indians were the original inhabitants of the islands and resided in these caves, carved by the ocean many years ago.

In more recent years, they say Pirates and their bounty found refuge from the law by hiding in these caves. Kids love a good pirate story, right? The current inhabitants are a little more natural - the 'Buffy Flower Bat' (Brophylia Sezekomi) commonly known as the fruit bat, and indigenous to the Bahama Islands, calls these caves home.

Stepping inside the lower of this pair of caves, we saw dozens of these creatures sleeping in the heat of the day.

This is not a stellar place for children. Broken glass littered the floor and the girls weren't exactly excited abut the bats, either. But it's kind of cool to check it off the list and say "been there, done that."

Nassau Vacations

Read More

Bahamas: Atlantis Marina and Bimini Road

We had heard that Johnny Rockets was THE place to go with kids, but when we wandered to the end of the boardwalk and found it was a burger place, we decided to go back to Bimini Road, a bright and airy spot with local fare.

It was dusk, and there were buskers playing drums and singing on several spots along the marina boardwalk. Bria stopped to dance with some of them, and had a fabulous time - they even had little handmade instruments so the children could join in. She is a big fan of the beats of this island music.

Bimini Road was brightly colored and bustling. We joined the queue and the hostess added our names to a list, giving us a pager and telling us it would be 60-80 minutes. We took the pager outside and enjoyed the live music - but were pleasantly surprised when the pager went off after only about 10 minutes.

The service was fast and friendly, with a parade of smiles greeting us at our table. It had been a long day of travel, so none of us was especially hungry, so we ordered a variety of sides and enjoyed them as a family. The conch fritters and fried plantains went over especially well.

The drinks were a bit spendy, but that was to be expected, and overall we were very happy with this simple first night meal.

Read More

Bahamas: Tips for Atlantis with Kids

Here is the latest in our continuing series on visiting the Bahamas! Enjoy these travel tips for hitting the island with your children.

Taxi and Shuttle Drivers

We found that getting a taxi was cheaper than a shuttle to Atlantis. You may want to check into this for yourself, it will depend on where you are staying and how many are in your party. Either way, use that driver as a resource! They are more than happy to talk your ear off about the island, pointing out the hot spots and offering travel tips. On the way in, our driver offered to stop at the grocery store so we could pick up snacks for the kids. We definitely should have taken him up on it! See second tip below.

Grocery Store

After paying some seriously inflated prices for kid food and drinks the first day, we took a taxi to a grocery store and picked up a few essentials. We paid $1 for one liter bottles of water that were $10 poolside, and less than $10 for cereal (the kind that comes in its own disposable bowl) and a container of shelf-stable milk. We also grabbed a few snack foods for the children and some juice boxes for those in-between times.

Food Plan

If you plan to eat at the resort, the food plans really are a good idea. You’re on vacation, you don’t want to be stressing about prices! (And the prices are something else…) Food plans allow you to take care of the expense in advance. Word of caution, though -- the plans do not include drinks or gratuity.

Stay On Resort

Honestly, there’s not much to see in Nassau -– if you want to do a quick tour, do it on the way to or from the airport. A few hours to check out the sights will be plenty. Plus we found that we didn't really save much (if any) money by going off-site to eat. You're better off purchasing the food plan and enjoying all the resort has to offer, instead.

Sun Screen

Don't forget to apply and re-apply. And don't just concentrate on the kids -- mom and dad need protection in those intense rays, too!

Island Time

Be sure to check the hours on activities you want to check out. Things (like the water park) close earlier than you may think. It seemed a bit counter-intuitive to us to not really be able to avoid the heat of the day by going in the evening, but most outdoor activities were closed by 7.

Plan Down Time

The Atlantis resort has a LOT to offer for family members of all ages, and it is easy to get carried away and want to be everywhere, doing everything. Be sure to schedule down time into your day, especially if you are traveling with small children.

Adult Time

While you're at it, consider taking advantage of that awesome childcare and having some grownup time on the island! There's a casino, night club, and lots of other adults only spots to check out.

Pack Light

The resort provides life jackets for the little ones and towels at the pool - no need to tote them along!

Sun Screen

Did I mention to reapply that sun screen? Seriously, I meant it!

More on Taxi Drivers

Nassau is a small place with an extremely high unemployment rate, and people are definitely working to take care of each other. You can't really blame them, right? But be aware -- you are likely to pay a little more if you see the island with a driver rather than on your own. We were happy to do it that way, but it's nice to be aware in advance! (Example -- seeing Fort Charlotte is free, but our taxi driver walked us up to the gates and set us up with a tour, which cost us $5 an adult. He also brought us to specific restaurants and street vendors.)

What are your best tips for traveling to Atlantis with children? We'd love to hear. Please share them in the comments.

Family Vacation
Paradise Island

Read More