The boys have had a Hawaiian calendar up in their room for the last year, a gift from a friend of mine who lives in the islands. Several times over the last few months, Sidekick has pointed to one of the streaming waterfalls or sandy beaches in the photos and asked if we can visit. “One day,” I promised, “I’ll take you to Aulani and you can see ALL the special things about where I grew up.”
With SeaWorld San Diego opening a ton of rides and educational shows in recent years, I’ve had some visitors ask if it’s an appropriate spot to take kids who aren’t tall enough or won’t necessarily sit still for a presentation. I always encourage these people to go see the many displays and hands-on experiences available at the park. More often than not, I wind up playing tour guide because I’m so enthusiastic about the incredible learning opportunities that are available here! Here’s a look at what OUR family does at SeaWorld with four boys ages 6, 4, 2 and 9 months.
I’ve shared before that Downtown LA didn’t have a particularly awesome reputation when Nate and I lived in Westwood 15 years ago. It absolutely delights me that the area has seen such a massive uptick in development of family-friendly spots, from the installation of LA Live to the resurgence of Grand Central Market. It’s become one of our go-to spots for mini getaways and every time we go, I come back with a list of newly-discovered sights that I want to explore the next time we visit. The constantly-evolving nature of this historical area is fascinating, and the sentimental side of me thrills to see my kids exploring intricate pockets of the city where our family was founded.
One thing I really love about California is that there are so many places that are perfect for an impromptu weekend trip. The laid-back style … Read more
As I grow older, I really get the sense there are no guarantees in this world. The markets, employment, housing bubbles, and so on. Well, I suppose traffic in southern California is something you can always count on. That runs like clockwork! So many other things, though, don’t go as planned. I guess this is where the old adage comes in, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
South Lake Tahoe is often thought of as ‘the side with the casinos,’ but we’ve spent a lot of time there as a family and always had a blast without spending a dime on a slot machine! We love South Lake Tahoe’s laid-back vibe, adventurous activities and drool-worthy food. Here’s a look at all the action you can fit into a single day on the south side.
There is a distinct crispness to the air I breathe at just over eight thousand feet sea level. There even seems to be some sort of shortness in supply, as my California lungs aren’t yet adjusted to the thin yet clean air found at this outer sphere of the Rockies. Thinner though it may be, it still whispers and sings as it swims through the branches and needles of the evergreen trees standing tall around me. I close my eyes and the stress of civilization as I know it blows away.
I kinda just dropped that on ya, didn’t I? Yup. Happy Friday, we’re talking about pee! Seriously, though, this is a question that a LOT of readers have emailed me about. We travel so often with such little kids, and this is the burning issue on everyone’s minds when they’ve finished the potty-training phase and they’re staring down the barrel of a vacation. What if my kid pees on someone else’s expensive, fancy, fluffy white sheets?
Some of our good friends went to Orlando awhile ago and came back raving endlessly about the hotel. “Our room was as big as a house!” they exclaimed. I’ll admit I cocked my head to the side a bit and laughed. Of ALL the things to do in Orlando, it seemed strange that these guys were writing home about a resort. I love a good mattress and hot tub, sure, but can that really top thrill rides and fireworks?
So far we’ve talked about how to shell and what to do with kids in Fort Myers. I’ve gotten a few emails from parents asking where they should stay when they head to this Southwest Florida gateway. Don’t worry, we’ve got ya covered there too!