So Much More to See

I thought I had traveled a lot over the years and been to so many amazing places, but after visiting TravBuddy I realized there is still so much to see. Yikes-only 3% of the world. That's depressing! I guess I have a lot of travel left to do. I am hoping to cross at least one spot off my list each year, but that is getting harder to do. I'll just have to do it one country at a time!!

Orlando, Florida (Disneyworld)

This was the vacation of a lifetime and I don't think I can adequately write about all we did. We took the kids to Orlando this past Febraury for a week at Disneyworld. Yes, we pulled them out of school, but it was well worth it. The weather was perfect and it wasn't too crowded. I can't even imagine going in the middle of summer! We traded our timeshare week again and stayed in the villas behind the Marriott World Center-what a complex! We purchased a six day pass to Disneyworld, spending 1 day at each of the 4 parks and then letting the girls each pick their favorite for the final 2 days. Note that tickets are cheaper with each extra day you purchase. I think our 6 day pass was $800 for the 4 of us. I think it is easiest to break down our trip by each park, highlighting some of our favorite rides and shows. If you are taking kids with you, don't go without Walt Disney World for Kids by BirnBaum Guides. It is the perfect book to guide you through the park and it is kid friendly and full of space for autographs.

Animal Kingdom- What an amazing park! We spent 2 days here. As soon as you walk in and see the Tree of Life, you know you are in for a treat. The tree stands in the middle of the park and has animal carvings covering the trunk of the tree. It is spectacular! Make sure you get a fast pass for Expedition Everest-our favorite roller coaster in all of Disneyworld and Kilimanjaro Safaris-a amazing safari ride through Africa. Here are the other must sees:

-Finding Nemo The Musical

-It's Tough to be a Bug

- Festival of the Lion King

-Dinosaur

- Camp Minnie-Mickey for character photos

- Eating a turkey leg on Discovery Island

Magic Kingdom- Because we live in California and make frequent trips to Disneyland, we expected this park to be the same as what we have seen. Boy were we wrong! Yes, it had many of the same rides, characters and sites, but it was so much cleaner, more spread out and a very different experience. Cinderella's Castle was so much bigger, too. Take time to walk along Main Street and see the nighttime parade. Here is what we loved:

-Space Mountain - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Haunted Mansion

-Pirates of the Caribbean -Indy Speedway - Mad Tea Party

Hollywood Studios- We weren't expecting to find a lot to do at this park, but we wish we had another day here. There aren't as many rides, but the shows are amazing. There is so much variety, from the Disney-themed Beauty and the Beast show to the Hollywood-themed Stunt Show, Backlot Tour and Indiana Jones Spectacular. We also loved Star Tours, the High School Musical Pep Rally and the night was topped off with the amazing Fantasmic!
Epcot- Definitely the biggest and most diverse park at Disneyworld. We spent 2 days here, but could have spent another 2. The park is divided into two distinct areas, Future World and World Showcase. Future World features science of the land, seas, sky and outer space. We absolutely loved Soarin', Test Track and Ellen's Energy Adventure. Although Mission:Space was a once in a lifetime experience, it made Taylor and me sick for the rest of the day. It is a very intense ride on a rocket ship up to outer space and we had the worst motion sickness. I would recommend the less intense version.

World Showcase is a way to see the countrys of the world all in one place. We ate a German pretzel in Germany, ate Teriyaki Chicken in Japan, tried on sombreros in Mexico and visited with Belle in France. Make sure you ride Maelstrom in Norway, see the movie in Canada and watch the acrobats in China. It is such a spectacular learning experience for the kids. I didn't feel that guilty having the girls out of school! We ended the night with the fireworks show over World Showcase and wrapped up a wonderful trip!

British Columbia, Canada

Matt and I spent a fabulous week in British Columbia for our 10th wedding anniversary. This was one of our favorite vacation spots so far. It was such a wonderful mix of culture, adventure, relaxation and natural beauty. I did quite a bit of research before going on this trip and we decided not to rent a car. We walked to most spots in Downtown Vancouver and took a few guided tours along the way. It was a great way to feel connected to the city and experience its very diverse culture. We really felt like we were in a European city!
We spent one morning walking several blocks to Granville Island. It is a waterfront public market with great food, beautiful flowers and quaint shops. We walked across Granville Bridge and enjoyed the scenery of downtown. It was quite a popular family attraction!
One of our guided tour days consisted of a bus tour through Stanley Park and into the Capilano Salmon Fishery and up to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Our kids would have loved this! We walked across this giant suspension bridge would stands hundreds of feet above a river and ended up in these spectacular tree top bridges. It was a lot of fun and unlike anything we had ever done before. After the bridge adventure, the bus took us to Grouse Mountain. We boarded a gondola which took us to the top of the mountain. While on the gondola, we were amazed by the stunning views of downtown and the surrounding areas. Once up top, we watched a lumberjack show, visited a bear enclosure, did a little hiking and ate lunch.
We enjoyed our quick tour of Stanley Park so much, we decided to spend more time there on a different day. We rented mountain bikes and rode around the park, stopping for one of our many gelatos and reading the informative trail markers. While down by the water, we also stopped at the IMAX Theatre to watch a movie and relax.
Our two busiest days, but also most impressive, were our tours to Victoria, BC and Whistler.
We got up early, boarded a bus and headed to the ferry terminal for a day in Victoria. It was quite an experience sitting on the bus as it drove right on to the ferry. Once on board,we were able to exit the bus and head to the upper levels of the boat for lunch, sightseeing, and a few games of cards. After the 2 hour trip, we got back on the bus and drove into Victoria. The most breathtaking spot on the island is the Butchart Gardens. Words and pictures don't do them justice. They are the most well-manicured and beautiful gardens you will ever see! We also enjoyed time at the famous Empress Hotel, Parliament Building and waterfront area of downtown. This was an all day adventure, but worth every minute.
Our final tour was to Whistler by bus. It is a few hours from downtown, but is the most scenic drive I have ever been on! It was so nice having a driver/guide so we could both look around and listen, rather than focus on the road. Once in Whistler, we spent the afternoon taking pictures, having lunch and watching the mountain bikers race down the slopes. It was August, so there was very little skiing. However, we do believe there were a few snowboarders that headed to the glacier for a little summer snow. We vow to come back again in the winter. The village is really cool and the slopes looked amazing.
We were so impressed with the weather, people, cleanliness and tourism that British Columbia had to offer. It was an amazing and very memorable trip!

Sedona, Arizona

We set a day aside for a road trip to Sedona. It is a 2 hour drive from Phoenix, so you need to designate a full day, but it is well worth it! Even the drive to Sedona is breathtaking-so many Prickly Pear and Saguaro Cactus, gorgeous views and wildlife. As soon as you come into Sedona, you know you are there. It is unlike any other place we have ever been. The massive red rock formations are indescribable and absolutely beautiful.

Since we were only there for the day, we wanted to pack as much in to our experience. We were told the best way to see the area was on a 4x4 jeep tour, which we did. We had a native tour guide named Jimmy drive us through the brush and teach us all about the land and the way Native Americans made use of the resources. The kids were so interested and enjoyed the bumpy ride. I do have to say we enjoyed the tour, but would recommend a different jeep tour to others. The Pink Jeep Tour is much more adventure-packed and entertaining based on stories I have heard from other friends. We thought it was just more expensive because of the extensive advertising they do, but I guess you really do get what you pay for.

After our tour, we spent some time walking through the quaint downtown and getting some lunch. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the restaurants. Take time to visit the shops and take in the spectacular views that surround you. Don't forget to stop at the Black Cow Cafe for a scoop of Prickly Pear Cactus ice cream. It was a unique flavor and very refreshing.

Phoenix, Arizona

We traded our timeshare week in Maui for a week at the Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix. The resort was spectacular! The highlight was the lazy river and waterslide at the main pool, but there were also really nice pools right in our timeshare complex. It was also so convenient to have the Desert Ridge shopping center right across the street. There was a movie theater, great shopping and numerous restaurants to choose from for lunch and dinner.

We took the kids over Spring Break so we could see some of the final week of Padres Spring Training. We only made it to one game, but enjoyed watching the Padres play at the Surprise Stadium. It is so nice because there are so many ballparks in the greater Phoenix area. You could go to an afternoon game in one ballpark and head to an evening game in another park. They are all within approx. 20 minutes of each other.

Matt went to Arizona State University in Tempe for his 1st year of college so he was eager to show us around the campus. What a huge campus! We loved touring Sundevil Stadium and were moved by the Pat Tillman memorial that stands inside.

Although it was a little hot, we spent an afternoon at Rawhide Western Town in Chandler (about 20 minutes from our hotel). It was the girls 1st time seeing a town from the 1880's. They loved riding in the Stagecoach, panning for gold, visiting the local jail and watching the western-themed stunt show. We were also impressed by Downtown Scottsdale and the wide variety of activities Phoenix has to offer. I think March-April was the perfect time to go. It was certainly warm enough to swim and enjoy the outdoors, but not as hot as their unbearable summers can be. We look forward to another Spring Break in Phoenix.

Newport Beach, California & surrounding areas

We surprised the kids with a fun-filled trip to Newport Beach. Through our timeshare, we were able to secure 4 days and 3 nights at the Newport Coast Marriott Villas for $99. If you have been to this resort, you know what a good deal this was. We stayed in a beautiful 2 BD/2 BA villa with ocean views and a gorgeous pool and activity center. The kids loved it. Newport had a lot to offer. We spent quite a bit of time at Fashion Island Mall and we loved our day spent at Balboa Island. It is a wonderful beach community with shopping, restaurants, amusement park, bike and boat rentals and a gorgeous pier. The kids thought it was so fun to put our car on a ferry boat and head across the water!I think the other big highlight was waking up and surprising the girls with a day at Disneyland. It was a priceless reaction! We stayed all day and into the night to watch the holiday parade. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the park is beautifully decorated for the holidays.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

One of the most relaxing vacations we have ever had. Rehoboth is such a great summer getaway. We flew back east to visit Matt's Mom and her husband Rick at the beach house in Rehoboth. Our best days were spent loading up the pickup truck and heading to Dewey Beach. The beach is the best entertainment any of us could ask for. It is a great family beach and we met so many families that have been coming here year after year. It was almost like everyone knew each other.

After a day in the sun, the girls loved heading to Funland Amusement Park. It is a spectacular boardwalk full of rides, games and food. Rick's Dad worked at Funland so he provided the kids with plenty of tokens to go on the rides!

We also enjoyed riding our bikes into downtown and browsing in the local shops or taking a break for an ice cream treat. It was my first time on an east coast beach, so it was a real treat.

The highlight was our clamming adventure aboard Rick's boat. He let the girls drive and took us to a great sandbar where we could get out, walk along the sand and use a rake to find clams. The kids filled a whole bucket! Then we headed back to the house to make some fresh Clams Casino. Delicious!

Cincinnati, Ohio

We have been to Cincinnati several times to visit my girlfriend and her husband. Wendy and I have known each other since high school and she moved there after we finished college. She met her husband David in Cincinnati and has been there ever since. So sad! However, we have found so much to do on our many trips to visit. Over the years, we have been to a Reds baseball game, gone on several hikes and eaten at many different restaurants. We have braved the cold winters, but really enjoy going in the late summer/early fall.

When the kids were younger, our favorite spot was the Cincinnati Children's Musuem. It is full of water activities, hands on exhibits and lots of areas for imaginary play. It was a great destination on a cold winter day. When the weather is nicer, we like to head to Newport on the Levee. It is just across the Ohio River on the Kentucky side and it is a waterfront shopping area with a movie theater, aquarium and several shops and restaurants. They even had a street fair along the river the afternoon we were there.

I think one of my greatest memories from Cincinnati was our trip to Miss Annabelle's Tea Parlor in Loveland, Ohio. Wendy booked a great lunch there for just us girls. The parlor's walls are covered with hats and boas for you to choose from and the menu was very elegant. We had finger sandwiches, fruit, pastries and a wonderful variety of cold and hot teas. The girls felt like princesses!

San Francisco

San Francisco is full of unlimited activities to do with kids of all ages. We have family close by, so we have visited numerous times and experienced something different with each trip. I think the most well-known tourist stops are Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Pier 39 is a waterfront marketplace full of great shops, restaurants, street performers and fun-filled attractions. The kids enjoy the aquarium, carousel, arcade and the sea lions that make Pier 39 their home several months out of the year. The kids (and I) could spend hours watching them splash, bark and fight with each other. There are also incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. My daughters' favorite lunch/dinner spot is Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Pier 39. It provides great views and the best Coconut Shrimp you have ever tasted! The atmosphere is casual and friendly and your server may even test your movie knowledge from Forrest Gump!


Fisherman's Wharf sits adjacent to Pier 39 and is a great spot to "people watch" and taste some of the freshest seafood around. Although it is hard to watch the lives crabs meet their demise, it is fascinating to watch the process as they are prepared for sale. I think it is the most famous spot to get a bowl of piping hot clam chowder in a fresh sourdough bowl! Keep you eye out for entertaining street performers and kite fliers, as well.

Our family has strolled through this area several times and we always continue our stroll up to Ghiradelli Square. We vote this the best ice cream ever!! It is only a few blocks from Fisherman's Wharf and is definitely worth the walk. I always seem to get mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone, but the options are endless-from single scoops, sundaes, floats or chocolate bars.

Except for the cost of your food and/or shopping, everything I have talked about so far is free to do. San Francisco is a great walking city or there is plenty of public transportation, including the famous cable cars, to get you around. If you do have a car, make sure you take a few moments at some of the great photo spots in the city. Some of the best are Lombard Street (also known as the Crookedest Street), Coit Tower ( sits atop Telegraph Hill) and Golden Gate Park. All are free and offer stunning views.

As the kids have gotten older, we have expanded our tour of the city. One of the highlights is Alcatraz Island. It is an experience unlike any other. Also known as "The Rock", Alcatraz is a former penitentiary now run by the National Park Service. There is no cost to get into Alcatraz, although you must take a ferry across San Francisco Bay from Pier 33 to get to the island. Ferry tickets are best purchased through Alcatrazcruises.com and include the ferry ride and the selected tour package. They offer an audio tour with personal headsets, but we found this to be too difficult with small children. We were able to follow the posted signs with ease. Besides the jail itself, the kids loved the ferry ride, the views from around the island, hunting for different plants and birds and being challenged by the steep hill to reach the top. Although I wasn't aware of this at the time, kids have an opportunity to become a sworn Junior Park Ranger by completing a booklet of activities. Just look for a staff member when you first arrive. My last tips are pack snacks for the time on the island and dress in layers. San Francisco weather can be unpredictable!

Lake Tahoe

OK, this was a vacation we never could have done without taking advantage of a timeshare offer. We spent 3 nights, 4 days at the Marriott Timber Lodge in South Lake Tahoe for $249!! Not only were we given this great deal, we were also given 2 free lift tickets to Heavenly Ski Resort if we attended the timeshare presentation offered at the hotel. The 90-minute presentation was well worth the time we got to spend at this amazing resort.
For starters, the hotel sits at the base of the Heavenly Ski Resort and there is a gondola on the property which takes you up to the resort itself. We were able to store our skis in the hotel's ski lockers and board the gondola within minutes. The ride to the top was spectacular and provided a breathtaking view of Lake Tahoe.



Once at the top, we were able to enjoy some of the best skiing we have ever experienced. There were runs designed for all ski levels, from beginner to black diamond. We were lucky enough to have my parents watch the kids for a day so we could ski on one of our days, but we also loved that Heavenly offered a nice sledding hill for our girls to enjoy.


Skiing wasn't all this area had to offer. We all loved the heated outdoor pool after a long day in the snow. It was such a beautiful scene to sit in the warm water and look at snow all around you! There was even a entertaining children's pool for the girls to enjoy. Marriott resorts also offer great children's activity centers and this one was no exception. There were daily crafts and activities, like game night and movie night, and the center was full of board games and toys for the kids to play with. It was a great place to let them play while we attended our timeshare tour.

As we walked around the grounds of the hotel, we also spotted firepits surrounded by mingling skiers trying to warm up and wonderful restaurants to cater to anyone's appetite and budget. We were also pleasantly surprised to find an outdoor ice skating rink and arcade in the shopping center adjacent to the hotel. It was so convenient to have everything within walking distance, even some of Tahoe's most well-known casinos!
This was an amazing Spring Break getaway, even with the 10 hour drive from home. We will continue to take advantage of offers like this, if they come our way. Hey, you might even end up purchasing a timeshare in a destination of your choice!

Las Vegas

Many would say that Vegas is not a great family destination, but I beg to differ. We took our girls over Thanksgiving break and kept busy for 4 straight days. I will say there isn't much nightlife with the kids, unless you are seeing a show, but we were so wiped out we didn't care! We stayed at the Mirage hotel and it was perfect for us! The price was reasonable for a 3-night stay and the hotel grounds were beautiful. The kids loved the pool, complete with water slides. Yes, you can swim in November! They were even more intrigued by the Tropical Rain forest, White Tiger Exhibit, Aquarium and Dolphin Habitat. That's just in this hotel! Don't forget to have lunch at the Carnegie Deli. The food is delicious and there is something for every picky child. One of the best known attractions on the Strip is the Mirage volcano that erupts several times each night at the front of the hotel. Here is a picture:

Be sure to put on your walking shoes when touring the Strip. Because the hotels are so large, they look closer than they are. What looks like a block away, is usually about 6-7 blocks, so we only did a few hotels each day. Each hotel is like a Disneyland attraction, offering some form of shopping or entertainment. We enjoyed the dancing water show at the Bellagio hotel and the pirate show at Treasure Island. We were also pleasantly surprised to find an outdoor ice skating rink at Caesar's Palace. We didn't skate, but the girls sure had fun watching.
They couldn't wait to make it to M & M's World! It is a 4-story building with every color M&M and every souvenir possible. Next door is the Gameworks arcade and rock climbing wall. Our older daughter was even old enough to give it a try.
Need a change of scenery? We spent an evening in the older part of Las Vegas along Fremont Street. It is a street lined with restaurants, shopping, roaming street performers and an largest overhead movie experience you have ever seen. It is called the Fremont Street Experience and it was spectacular!
There is so much to do in Las Vegas and we barely touched the surface. I think they have done a commendable job making the Strip and surrounding areas entertaining and accessible for children. Just beware of the people passing out pornagraphy cards along the streets(seriously). We just avoided eye contact and kept walking forward, so this was never an issue. I don't think the kids ever knew what they had in their hands. It is such a great city full of great architecture, entertainment, shopping, food and sensory overload!!!

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is wonderful for all ages. We were last there when our kids were toddlers, but look forward to taking them again so they can put their elementary school history lessons to good use. We stay with family when we travel here, but I do have some good info on kid-friendly activities.

One of the best things about D.C. is that most activities are free! Here are my favorites:


1. National Zoo- This zoo has over 400 species of animals and it is free. Be ready to walk though and note that there is a charge for parking.

2. Smithsonian National Museum of History- This was probably our girls' favorite spot. There are breathtaking animal exhibits (including dinosaurs), discovery stations and educational areas. You could spend hours in this place and it is free, too.

3. Washington Monument- Take the elevator to the top to get one of the most spectacular views of D.C. The kids will learn a history lesson on the way up and be blown away by the bird's eye view!

4. National Air and Space Museum- Home to the Spirit of St. Louis and the Wright 1903 Flyer, this museum will sure keep the kids entertained! There are numerous exhibit galleries, hands- on demonstrations and interactive games. The museum has a large food court to satisfy anyone's appetite. Admission is free, but there is a fee to see an IMAX movie or visit the Planetarium.

It is important to note that D.C. has great public transportation, called The Metro, to get you all over the National Mall and its surrounding areas. Parking is very limited, so this is a great alternative. The Mall is well marked and guides you to the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and many other museums and government buildings. The kids also enjoyed the carousal that runs next to the Air and Space Museum and stopping for ice cream and popcorn at one of the many snack shacks.

Money-saving Tips....

I think it is important to take a break and share some of the tips we often use to help us afford all of these travel expenses. Even by taking advantage of some of them, you may be surprised by how affordable your trips can be.
#1-Open a travel credit card- We put most purchases (from groceries to major purchases) on a Southwest Airlines card. Southwest is the airline we fly most often and we usually earn 2-3 flights per year.
#2-Travel mid week or at least be flexible with your dates- Most hotels offer better rates on weeknight stays than Friday and Saturday nights. You may also save if you are willing to travel a day earlier or later than you had planned. I recently saved $90 per flight by switching our flights from Saturday to Sunday.
#3- Book a room with a kitchen- We save so much money by eating breakfast in our room and having snacks available. We pack snacks in our suitcase or add them to the grocery list. When we arrive at our destination, we stop at the grocery store to stock up on water bottles, fresh fruit, bread/bagels and anything else we might need. It is so nice to have a refrigerator stocked with fresh options. Not to mention- it is a lot healthier, too!
#4- Take advantage of Timeshare tour offers- Many timeshare hotels offer great deals if you are willing to sit through a 90 minute presentation. We have stayed at some of the nicest Marriott hotels for $199 for 3 nights. We have also been given restaurant gift cards and free vouchers for some great activities.
#5-Book travel as a package deal- You can often get better rates if you book airfare, hotel and rental car together. Price them separately to compare.
#6- Shop around- I often pick a destination and then price compare on several websites. I check travel sites such as Travelocity.com and Hotels.com as well as hotel and airline home sites.

Big Bear- Summer vs. Winter

Although the scenery in Big Bear is beautiful any time of year, summertime with 2 small kids left us scratching our heads, looking for ways to keep the kids busy. Our 1st disappointment came when we realized we had just traded our week in Maui for a week at the Lagonita Lodge in Big Bear! The lodge served its purpose (no frills), but it certainly wasn't oceanfront in Maui! It didn't seem like a fair trade to us, but we were trying to save money by not booking airfare. Big Bear is about 2 hours from anywhere in Southern California, so it made it our logical choice for a close getaway. As I said, the scenery was breathtaking and the weather was perfect, but since the girls weren't old enough to mountain bike or hike, we struggled to find activities.


We were able to find a little petting zoo, a children's museum in Lake Arrowhead and went on a small tour boat ride around the lake, but otherwise we spent lots of time playing at the playground and swimming in the Lodge's indoor swimming pool. Who wants to swim indoors in the middle of summer?



But Big Bear sure redeemed itself in the winter!


It was picture perfect. We enjoyed a great breakfast at the Teddy Bear Cafe and then headed to Snow Summit Ski Resort. The parking lot fills up fast, but they have shuttles running continuously so you don't have to carry your gear too far. I recommend renting your skis and boots at a local sporting goods store before heading up the mountain. It sure saves time and the hassle of waiting in line once you get up there. I also recommend coming up mid week, if possible. The lines are so much shorter and you may get more individualized time in a lesson. We put our older daughter in a 1/2 day lesson, which gave us time to teach the little one the basics. It's important to note that kids ski free through age 6, so teach them while they're young! Snow Summit has a nice bunny hill for beginners and was a great spot to teach the girls how to get on and off the chairlift. There is a ski run for every skier and snowboarder.


They also have a small daycare if you have a little one too young to ski. If you are just there to watch or need to take a break, there are plenty of viewing spots, picnic benches and outdoor restaurant seating areas to choose from.

Big Bear doesn't just offer ski resorts, either.
There are a few sledding and tubing locations and plenty of shopping in the quaint downtown area. You can also take a break from the cold and see a movie or play at the arcade.