Laughing Sal and Me.

 Last month my husband and I enjoyed a weekend getaway to San Francisco.  We had a marvelous romantic time.  However, I must confess we spent most of the weekend exclaiming, “The kids would love this…we’ll have to bring the kids here.”  One Fisherman’s Wharf attraction that will be equally fascinating for the kids and adults in your family is the Musee Mechanique.  It is a collection of many vintage mechanically operated arcade machines.  One of my favorites is “Laughing Sal” a talking clown.  My mother and grandmother both remember visiting him (her?)  at its former location by the Cliff House in San Francisco.

For more great ideas on fun and cheap family activities at Fisherman’s Wharf check out my post on Uptake.

Happy Trails,

Bridget

Since snow conditions continue to be great up the in Sierras, I thought I would share a few pictures for our South Lake Tahoe Adventure over Christmas.  The snow was very powdery so it didn’t create optimal conditions for a traditional big snowman, but Justin and Destiny managed to put together these very cute ones using found objects and some dried cranberries that we had bought for snacks.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in South Lake Tahoe, a hotel I would highly recommend.  The patch of grass in front of our room had been transformed into a winter wonderland.  We could send the kids out, keep the curtains open, and keep an eye on the snowman building, snow angel making, and snowball fights, without getting chilly…awesome.  Our kids favorite part of this hotel is that it also offered doughnuts with breakfast.

If you have a long weekend head up to South Lake Tahoe for a fun ski vacation.  Checkout the prices at Sierra at Tahoe.  It was by far the cheapest ski resort a short drive from South Lake Tahoe, and for the most part  our experience was very good.  I’ll share more of our Sierra at Tahoe adventures and misadventures in a later post.

Please stop by Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday Blog Roundup.  Looks like she visited one of my favorite places in the world.  Makes me homesick!

Happy Trails,

I had big plans for my birthday this year.  I considered a trip to the zoo or a day exploring Torrey Pines State Beach.  I thought about taking a big family hike in some part of San Diego that we had never explored before.  Well, the entire family was recovering from colds and very tired.  We had alot of fun around the house, but weren’t able to get our act together until 4pm.  Even then, I was getting some major grumbling as I pushed three kids, one husband and the dog out the door.

I “settled” for a very short walk along Agua Hedonida Lagoon in Carlsbad and was rewarded with a spectacular sunset walk.  It was the perfect way to end my special day.  As you can see the kids ended up having alot of fun despite their grumbling.

Here’s a final glimpse of the birthday girl (ME).  My husband and I are leaving on a San Francisco getaway tommorrow.  Ken is a really thoughtful guy, and I’m excited to become reacquainted with the city that I used to visit when growing up in San Rafael.  Last time we spent the weekend there, my ten year old was only a few months old, and we came back to San Rafael in the middle of our getaway so I could nurse the baby to sleep .

Since I will be on the road I will be missing the Underwater Parks Day Festival at the Sea Life Aquarium.  For more information about this great family event click here.  Receive two free child admissions to this exciting event on January 16th by clicking here.

Family Adventure Guidebooks participates in Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.    I love Debbie’s Photo Friday Post on Unicorn Crepes .  Will have to try some next time I’m in Seattle.

Happy Trails!

Bridget

Is it just me or do the words “Snowmobiling Kids Drive” strike terror into any other parents hearts?  Maybe if you live on a Minnesota farm things would be different, but for my San Diego kids they will be licensed drivers before I let them get behind the wheel of a snow mobile. 

Anyone else see a funny sign on one of their adventures?

Happy Trails,

Bridget

The winner of my LEGOLAND adventure turned out to be Jim Benning, one of the founders of World Hum an amazing travel website.  After Jim won the prize I paid World Hum a visit.  Wow!  What amazing insightful travel writing.  This is going to be one of my must visit sites in 2010!  Jim, if you’re reading this the LEGOLAND tickets are in the mail, and I will be stopping by the Sheraton tommorrow to pick up your prize.  I’ve been trying to find a moment when I could bring as few small children as possible.  Looks like the best I can get it down to is one crazy five year old.  Wish me luck.

Once again, thanks to LEGOLAND California and The Sheraton Resort at Carlsbad.  I approached these companies on a whim after I had heard about Passports with Purpose and they were very very generous.  The Sheraton has its own private entrance to LEGOLAND, so it’s a great place to stay if you are planning to visit.

I also wanted to give one more plug for a different school building fundraiser that we are doing with our cub scout troop.  If you missed out on Passports with Purpose, but still want to have your kids help “change the world” check out Pennies for Peace.  It’s a super simple project,. Put out a big jar at your kids, school preschool, cubscout pack, etc.  Collect pennies and send them in.  All proceeds go to building and outfitting schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  What a simple and powerful way for your kids to make a difference and give them a wider world view.

Happy Trails,

Bridget

Can it really be New Year’s Eve already?  Hard to believe that it has flown by so fast!  I’m thankful for this year filled with Smith Family Adventures and for you my faithful readers.  One of my resolutions for next year is to go back to bi-weekly posts.  This fall I returned to life as a college student, and it has taken some adjustment to discover a work/school/life balance.  Well actually I’m still searching…

The above picture is one of my favorites of 2009.  I captured it while leaving Disneyland before the end of the fireworks show to beat the crowds.  It was a magical moment and a small miracle to catch the shuttle without the lines.

This year I hope to develop another Family Adventure Guidebook, perhaps take an international trip with the kids, and enjoy some family camping adventures.  I hope you’ll join me!

Happy Trails,

Bridget

My regular readers may have been waiting for a follow up post about a Mexican getaway this past  Thanksgiving.  I was overruled by three kids who were rooting for a white Christmas.  Our family hadn’t made a trip to the snow for almost five years, and my little guys had never made a snow man or a snow angel.

So instead of a tropical Thanksgiving we spent a snowy week before Christmas in South Lake Tahoe. Getting there and back was quite the adventure.  This was major roadtrip and I have lots of tips to share.  We stayed in South Lake Tahoe, skiied the fun and affordable Sierra at Tahoe, and generally had a great time. 

We drove home on Christmas Eve, stopping for a beautiful Christmas Eve Children’s Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Santa Clarita.  (Thanks to our spirited five year old Jared with a penchant for making up his own religious songs a trip to mass requires the assistance of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  She was with us that night.  Jared even made it up on the altar to listen to the sermon!)

 I have a lot of great info to share, but am a little under the weather today so I’m going to sign off.  Hopefully everyone had an incredible holiday.  Here’s hoping for a fun year of travels for 2010.

Happy Trails,

Bridget

Trekaroo families  have been voting for their favorite kid-friendly activities and hotels in and around San Diego.  We’ve tallied their votes for 2009 and here’s the line up!

Top Activities for Kids in San Diego, CA – voted by parents

Top Kid-friendly Hotels in San Diego, CA – voted by parents

Living in San Diego leaves local families little excuse to stay home.  These moms bring you their personal recommendations of the best places to take kids in their hometown.  Want the local scoop?  Here it is!

Bridget Smith, the author of The Unauthorized Legoland Guidebook not only shared with us her Top Tips for a Legoland Adventure with Toddler and Preschoolers, but now gives us some great ideas about Fun Things to  Do After Visiting Legoland, California. Bridget spent countless hours in Legoland one year and made more than full use of their family’s season pass to bring us the blow-by-blow of making the most of your visit to Legoland.  Follow their family’s other adventures on her blog:  Family Adventure Guidebooks

The Q Family  isn’t local but lives to travel.  If you have 5 days to spend in San Diego, here’s their list of the Must See Attractions with Kids in San Diego. This is a family who’s constantly on the go!  The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog chronicles their adventures with wonderful photos, fun stories and helpful tips.

Balboa Park is a wonderful urban park that families love.  But when hunger strikes, Carolina has a list of Kid-friendly Dining in Balboa Park.  She is the mom behind the blog Kids Go West.  As a public school teacher, mom and freelance travel writer, she shares her insider tips on all the totally awesome places to go with kids in her home state of California. Bookmark her blog if you’re heading to California.

Rockinmama loves to mix fun and learning.  She recommends these 5 Fun and Educational Kid Activities in San Diego.  On her blog Rockin Mama, she writes with great humor about pregnancy.  She also write prolifically about parent-friendly products.  If you’re looking for the inside scoop on new products for parents out there, this rockin mama’s got it.

Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino brings us San Diego: Favorite Family Hotels . Ciao Bambino is a one of Trekaroo’s favorite partners because we share a common passion – inspiring families to travel.  Ciao Bambino provides tips and advice around all things related to traveling with kids and is a guide to the best kid-friendly hotels.

Sarah Wyles runs Toddler’s Travels – a local baby equipment rental company for visiting families.  Naturally, she’s a guru on Fun Activities for Toddlers in San Diego.  Instead of lugging all those bulky items on the plane, rent it when you arrive from Toddler’s Travels.

Colleen of TravelMamas has the scoop on the 5 Best Family-friendly Restaurants in San Diego County.  Her blog, Travelmamas, gives tell-it-like-it-is tips about traveling with kids.  Relying on her own family’s experience as well as the advice from other traveling parents and experts, she gives loads of practical advice on traveling well with kids.

La Jolla is one of the most beautiful suburbs of San Diego and La Jolla Mom shares with us her list of Things to Do in La Jolla With Kids. Her blog La Jolla Mom has become a meeting place of sorts for local moms looking to connect.  Her Family Fun section is full of popular and off the beaten path places to go with kids.  Hop on over and see why La Jolla is a town you must stop at when visiting San Diego.

Other Resources for San Diego, CA

• All 104 Activities for kids in the San Diego County
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around San Diego County

Which Hotels came up at the top?

Top Activities for Kids in San Diego, CA – voted by parents

Next stop, Denver, CO (that’s right, the launch of Colorado is coming soon)

The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while

1) expressing their unique point of view

2) getting a web of link exchanges.

Join us for one of our next stopovers.

Happy Trails,

Bridget

The school is on its way to being built, but the Passports With Purpose crew is still dreaming of a kitchen garden, cook, and gardener to give the kids at our new school some healthy lunches.  Malnutrition is a serious problem throughout Cambodia and our school can make a difference.

Here are some kid friendly prizes that have great odds as of today:

• The Legoland Prize Pack including 4 park hopper tickets and two nights at the Sheraton Carlsbad. Family Adventure Guidebooks contributed this prize after the deadline, so with a ten dollar donation you have pretty good odds for winning this fabulous prize.  Don’t worry.  There are lots of fun things to do here in Carlsbad on that second day.  I’d be happy to fill you in.
• $150 gift certificate to Restaurants.com.  Food is a major expense for any vacation.  Just think about how many days you could spluge on dessert with these great gift certificates.
• $100 My Busy Kit Certificate  I am a big fan of these fun kits that keep kids busy while traveling.  Lorraine at Keeps Me Smiling comes up with some great travel toys.  Get some as gifts or give them to your friends.
• $100 Gift Certificate to Tots on the Go- This would make that cool new umbrella stroller you dream of taking on your next vacation alot more affordable.
• $75 Southwest gift card.  With three kids, air travel is very expensive.  Southwest fares are so low, this gift card would make a big difference.

See more prizes with great odds here.

Happy Trails,

Bridget

“Mom,  mom!  Do you know this is the place where dreams come true?” , my five year old asked me as we  walked in the gates of Disney’s California Adventure. 

“So I’ve heard, Jared” I responded.  I had to laugh, because Disneyland has not always been the place where my dreams came true.  I have plenty of fond recollections of tantrums,  soggy shoes, long lines, and rude crowds.  Still, just for this evening I did have a dream.  I was dreaming for a perfect birthday visit for Jared’s fifth birthday.

Since Jared’s birthday fell on a school day our time was limited.  We arrived at about 3:30 p.m. I stopped by the ticket booth and picked up Jared’s birthday fun card worth around $60. (Since we are members we received the cost of admission  in Disney cash for Jared’s birthday visit.)

Jared chose a light up Buzz Light Year as his birthday present.  This simple toy turned out to be a  perfect way to keep Jared occupied in line.

 It was a short visit, but we had a delicious dinner at California Adventure and hit most of the roller coasters appropriate for the 5-10 set.  Jared was so excited to finally be old enough to ride the Indiana Jones ride!   The Nightmare  before Chrismas was also a highlight of the evening.

We used our $60 gift card to purchase some matching Micky Santa hats that will keep our heads warm and merry all season long!

 Happy Holidays from the Smith Family to your family.  I hope that all your holiday travels are merry and stress free (ha ha).  I’m busy planning a pre Christmas trek to Lake Tahoe.  Outfitting three San Diego kids for skiing can be rather expensive-I highly recommend Play It Again Sports.

If you would like to start the new year off with a visit to Legoland including a stay at the lovely Sheraton Carlsbad Resort, please check out the Family Adventure contribution to Passports With Purpose here.

Happy Trails,

Bridget