Debi Huang is a Los Angeles-based wife, mom and adventure guide for two young boys. Her blog at GoExploreNature.com is all about getting kids and families outdoors and connected to nature. You can follow her on Twitter at @goexplorenature.
Yosemite National Park in California has a special place in my heart. I’m lucky enough to have spent at least of couple of weeks there almost every summer thanks to a family cabin in the park. As an adult, I have now begun to relive some of my most cherished childhood experiences with my kids (ages five and two).
Whether you’ve never been before or have visited annually since you were a kid, there’s always something to discover in Yosemite. My husband and I are especially keen on low-cost, off-the-beaten-path activities that are fun for the little ones. Here’s how you can enjoy five of our favorite Yosemite adventures:
Enjoy a stagecoach ride in Wawona’s Pioneer Yosemite History Center
1. Take a Trip Back in Time I admit I’m partial to Wawona– a tiny town located about 10 minutes from the South entrance. It’s home to the family cabin and is a quiet refuge from the crowds that Yosemite draws every summer. Here you can stop by the historic Wawona Hotel with its enormous grass lawn that beckons you to enjoy a picnic or an afternoon snack.
Another of Wawona’s gems is the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, complete with historic structures from different eras of Yosemite history including a jail cell, blacksmith shop, and covered bridge. For just a few dollars, you can take a ride (albeit, a rather bumpy one) on a horse-drawn stagecoach with a driver who’s been giving rides since he was 14-years-old!
Insider tip: After roaming through the Pioneer History Center, cross the covered bridge and head down to the South Fork Merced River. Let the kids search for rocks to skip or dip their feet in the water. Pack a snack (or lunch) and plan to spend a few hours here.
Posing underneath the famous California Tunnel Tree at the Mariposa Grove
2. Head to the Big Trees The Mariposa Grove, located just two miles from the South Entrance to the park, is home to roughly 500 giant sequoias. These trees are some of the largest living things on the planet. They stand so tall you’ll have to strain your neck trying to see the tops. This place inspired my oldest to utter one of his first words: “trees.”
There are hiking trails to explore as well as a one-hour tram tour. The Grove is open from April through November, weather permitting. You can reach the entrance by car or, during the summer, take advantage of the free Wawona-Mariposa Grove shuttle.
Insider tip: Skip the pricey tram ride and scout out the surroundings on foot. We usually take the short hike to two of the more famous trees in the Grove: The Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree.
Dreaming of the day he’ll become a Yosemite junior ranger
3. Become a Junior Ranger Kids 7 through 13 can become a Yosemite Junior Ranger. This program allows kids to interact with the park at their own pace, then share their findings with a park ranger. To participate, simply buy and complete an inexpensive self-guided booklet at one of several locations throughout the park. To earn a patch, kids will also need to collect a bag of trash and attend a ranger-led program.
Insider tip: If your kids are too young to be junior rangers (like ours), you can still take advantage of ranger-led events. I always learn something new and I’ve got almost 40 years worth of visits to the park under my belt!
4. Visit the Nature Center A visit to the Nature Center at Happy Isles is a great way to introduce kids to the plants and animals found in the park — and it’s free! There are plenty of hands-on, interactive displays, plus stuffed replicas of local wildlife. My kids love pressing the buttons to hear the sounds each animal makes.
Insider tip: Just outside the center are four short trails worth investigating. My five-year-old likes to play follow-the-leader on the short “hike” to the center from the shuttle stop. Don’t forget to stop and admire the Merced River flowing right alongside the path.
Tyke hikes need rewards, like this great waterfall view
5. Enjoy a Tyke Hike No trip to Yosemite is complete without a hike. There’s simply no better way to see the park than on foot.
When it comes to hiking with little ones, success comes with short trails that offer big payoffs. Our favorites are the Lower Yosemite Fallstrail and the path to Bridalveil Falls. If you’ve got older kids, take the steeper three-mile trek to Vernal Falls.
Insider tip: For a quieter experience, check out the Chilnualna Falls Trailin Wawona. The complete hike is more than 8 miles long, but kids will be content to stop about a quarter of a mile in, when you’re rewarded with two waterfall cascades.
Do you have a favorite spot or activity in Yosemite that’s great for kids? Leave a comment below!
Katie writes about anything and everything that pertains to families at OCMomActivities and Disneyland-specific content at KidsandMice. Katie is a busy, working mother of two boys ages eight and six. When they aren’t riding the roller coasters at Disneyland, heading to the beach, or on some other adventure, you’ll find them at home in South Orange County, CA. You can follow Katie on Twitter as @OCMomActivities or become a fan on Facebook.
Katie’s husband and sons exploring tide pools at Crystal Cove Beach
Since Orange County, California is probably best known as the home of Disneyland, it’s easy to overlook how many other amazing things there are to do! Here are several other family-friendly activities in the OC:
Pretend City
This is a new attraction in Orange County that is rapidly gaining attention of families. You should plan to spend an entire morning or afternoon exploring the small scale town at Pretend City. Parents can sit and relax while children work in the field (picking plastic fruit out of the cubbies in the walls), work at the café (serving pretend drinks), or performing the duties of many other occupations. The kids earn play money by performing each task. It’s a great learning experience that keeps the kids entertained for hours!
Discovery Science Center Located in Santa Ana just off the Interstate 5, the “Discovery Cube”it is hard to miss – it’s the giant black 3-D cube next the freeway. Admission is quite inexpensive and it offers a great educational experience for the children. The Discovery Science Center alternates different learning programs every couple of months and have a number of unique exhibits that kids love!
The Irvine Park Railroad
Irvine Park
There’s so much to do here it’s hard to know where to start! With the Irvine Railroad, hiking, Orange County Zoo, pony rides, paddle boats, and more; it’s easy to be overwhelmed with choices at Irvine Park. There are numerous holiday themed activities occurring throughout the year, so be sure to check their website to see the current events scheduled.
Knott’s Berry Farm
This Orange County amusement park often gets lost in Disneyland’s shadow. With a multitude of rides, shops and other entertainment, Knott’s Berry Farm is a great value! A tip is to buy and print your tickets at home through their website to receive almost 20% in discounts for adults. They also offer AAA discounts. Be sure to say hi to Snoopy!
Santa Ana Zoo
California is very lucky to have a number of wonderful zoos, but one that frequently gets overlooked is the Santa Ana Zoo. The admission price is very affordable and has a number of attractions ranging from the Zoofari Express Train Ride and the Conservation Carousel (with endangered animals) to the Crean Family Farm and the Colors of the Amazon Aviary to Amazon’s Edge. You can spend an entire day here exploring!
Tide pools at Aliso Creek County Beach
Tide Pooling Exploring the sea creatures and plant life in tide pools, or shallow rock pools beside the ocean, is a free and relaxing way to break up an active vacation. We have a number of beaches here in OC, but my family’s top two favorites for tide pooling are Crystal Cove California State Beach (right off Pacific Coast Highway at the Laguna Beach/Newport Beach border) and Aliso Creek County Beach/Montage Beach (south of downtown Laguna Beach).
More Fun Other favorites if you have the chance…If you’re here in late winter/early spring, check out the whale watching boat tours that leave from Dana Point. They are spectacular! Take the ferry out to Catalina Island; it’s just a plain fun day trip! If you visit during the summer, be sure to check out Wild Rivers for a day of water slides, lazy rivers and wave action for the whole family!
What is your favorite Orange County activity? Please leave a comment below!
Many San Diego visitors forego visiting the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in favor of the more glitzy SeaWorld. The aquarium offers a wonderful, low-key alternative to its famous competitor.
The Birch Aquarium’s Kelp Tank in the Hall of Fishes
If you only have a few days in San Diego, you have some cash to spare, and you want to see killer whales and dolphins performing splashy tricks, then go to SeaWorld. If you are on a tight budget, you are looking for an educational hands-on experience, or you are traveling with a baby or toddler who will have little interest in shows, choose Birch Aquarium. Admission prices are significantly lower and parking is free. Also, the aquarium’s interactive exhibits encourage children and adults to think, not just be entertained.
Here’s a bit about what the Birch Aquarium has to offer…
“The Legacy” Whale Sculpture Fountain & Memorial The impressive “Legacy” Whale Sculpture Fountains greet visitors to the aquarium. Kids love dipping their hands in the water and chasing each other around the giant whale statues just outside the aquarium’s entrance.
“The Legacy” Whale Sculpture Fountains
Hall of Fishes Wander through the Hall of Fishes and peer at amazing creatures like jelly fish, eels, and colorful fish from around the world. The octopus exhibit is my favorite. When my daughter was a baby and I held her up to the glass to view the eight-legged creature, the normally fuchsia-colored octopus shrunk itself into a small white ball before violently throwing itself against the exhibit’s glass. From reading the exhibit information, I learned the octopus will change colors before attacking prey or when agitated. Apparently my infant looked like a yummy (or threatening) snack!
Jelly fish in the Hall of Fishes
Another crowd pleaser is the large Kelp Forest Tank, which spans an entire wall and is filled with leopard sharks and other fish, huge and small. This is a nice place for parents to rest a bit while the kids climb up and down the carpeted bench seats and gaze at the giant display of fish.
Tide Pool Plaza In the outdoor Tide Pool Plaza kids can pet animals like sea cucumbers and sea stars. Staff and volunteers are pleased to share their knowledge of the sea life with you. The sweeping view of the ocean in the distance isn’t bad either.
Feeling the Heat: The Climate Change This exhibit uses interactive videos, games, and displays to teach how the actions of human beings impact nature’s delicate balance and what we can do to have a positive impact on our oceans’ future.
One of the many interactive displays in the
Feeling the Heat: The Climate Change exhibit
There’s Something About Seahorses Learn about seahorses and seadragons, as well as tricks these unique animals and others use to camouflage themselves in There’s Something About Seahorses.
My son playing in the Camouflage Corral, where kids can attempt
to “hide” stuffed sea creatures in manmade seaweed displays (2010)
Smargon Courtyard The Smargon Courtyard is an outdoor area where you can ham it up in a giant model of a shark’s mouth, view tropical shark tanks in the Shark Reef, and learn about water through play. I always have a hard time pulling my children away from the Wonders of Water display, where kids build dams, create rapids, and race plastic boats in tables of moving water.
My mom and daughter posing for the camera at the aquarium (2005)
Splash Café The aquarium’s outdoor café offers sandwiches and salads. The food is fine but my advice is to bring a sack lunch or plan to eat elsewhere before or after your visit. Whereas at some sites, the food is part of the experience, here the marine life and exhibits are the stars.
The Birch Aquarium’s Splash Café
Book & Gift Shop Visitors can find an array of ocean-themed toys, books, wind-chimes, and other tchochkes in the aquarium’s Book & Gift Shop. Proceeds benefit the aquarium, which is a non-profit. Those with wheelchairs or strollers will exit through here. For an inexpensive souvenir of your visit, imprint a penny with a shark, whale, or fish design in the machines just outside the store.
Why I am a Member of Birch Aquarium I have nothing against SeaWorld. I have visited the amusement park numerous times with my family. But as a San Diego resident, I renew my membership year after year to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The cost of membership is reasonable and comes with a pack of passes and discount coupons for friends and visitors. Plus, I feel good knowing my money is going towards saving our oceans.
The beauty of a visit to the Birch Aquarium is its simplicity. The focus is on education and conservation, not big shows and rides. Its small size and low cost make it an easy activity to tackle with children. And, kids just love getting upclose to learn about fish and other sea creatures!
Which are you more interested in visiting, the Birch Aquarium or SeaWorld? Please leave a comment below!
As a fifth-year San Diego Zoo member and a mama of two young children, I have spent a lot of time at this world-renowned zoo. I know the best places to eat, which animals kids love to see, and the special extras that make a visit memorable. This zoo is huge so if you have little ones who need to nap or you just don’t want to spend an entire day gazing at animals, you should focus on the best the zoo has to offer instead of trying to see every single animal in one day. I provide the location of each recommended attraction in parentheses. View a map of the zoo.
The flamingos and ducks are favorites for the zoo’s youngest visitors.
An Unexpected Favorite – Flamingo and Duck Pond (Lost Forest)
Imitate the flamingos standing on one leg and “quack” at the ducks at this pond. This is an easy exhibit to work into your schedule since it is located near the zoo’s entrance. Even though you will see many more exotic animals at this zoo, these birds are always a favorite, especially for toddlers and preschoolers.
Mama panda Bai Yun is one of the zoo’s most beloved residents.
Best Path to the Zoo’s Most Famous Residents – Pandas (Panda Canyon)
The zoo’s most popular residents are its pandas, Bai Yun and her newest baby, Zhen-Zhen. On busy summer weekends you may have to wait in a long line to see the Oreo-colored bears. There are several paths to reach this exhibit in the zoo’s center, but I recommend taking the Monkey Trails through the Lost Forest. View monkeys and apes of all sorts as well as pygmy hippos and more along this route. If you have a stroller or a wheelchair, you will need to walk through Owens Aviary (past colorful birds and flowing water) and along the Sun Bear Trail (past bears and more monkeys) to reach Panda Canyon. Other visitors can take a more direct route via stairs at the end of the Monkey Trails. View the live Panda Cam.
Most Beautiful Exhibit – Gorilla Exhibit (Lost Forest)
This lush exhibit is overflowing with waterfalls and greenery. Get a sense of just how big these apes are by placing your hands in gorilla-cast imprints. Kids love climbing on the life-size sculptures of the gorillas.
Most Elaborate Exhibit – Elephant Exhibit (Elephant Odyssey)
This newly updated area of the zoo is definitely worth seeing. Learn about the world’s largest land animals and their prehistoric relatives, the mastodons, while wandering past live Indian and African elephants. You will also see camels, jaguars, and lions, among other animals. View the live Elephant Cam.
That’s me with my daughter, Karissa, aboard the SkyFari Aerial Tram in 2006.
Most Uplifting Experience – SkyFari Aerial Tram (Discovery Outpost and Polar Rim)
You can board the SkyFari Aerial Tram near the Children’s Zoo in Discovery Outpost or near the lovely water-filled polar bear exhibit in the Polar Rim. The ride sends you soaring above the treetops and gives a birds-eye view of the animals below. It’s also a handy way to get from one side of the zoo to the other. View the live Polar Bear Cam.
Best Hands-On Experience – Feeding the Giraffes (Urban Jungle)
If you’re visiting during the summer or on a weekend, check the schedule for giraffe-feeding times. Your kids won’t soon forget handing branches of leaves to these sweet, towering animals.
This koala surprised me by climbing the branches of this eucalyptus tree
rather than engaging in its usual koala activities – eating leaves or sleeping.
Cuddliest Creature – Koalas (Outback)
A visit to the cuddly koalas is probably a necessity, especially if you are traveling with an elementary-school-aged girl. Take a peek at nearby adorable creatures like wallabies and tree kangaroos while you’re at it.
Here’s the Discovery Playground in the Children’s Zoo.
Best Place for Kids to Play – Children’s Zoo (Discovery Outpost)
This is a great place to let the kids get their wiggles out. The Discovery Playground has a twisty slide and climbing equipment but beware that toddler feet will likely get caught in the rubber climbing netting. There is a petting zoo with goats, sheep, pigs and the like. The playful otters who take up residence in the Children’s Zoo tend to be a big hit with children and adults alike. Also, kids love to watch mice crawling through the Mouse House, which is fashioned from a giant loaf of real bread.
Best Way to Squeeze it All in – Bus Tour (Near Zoo Entrance)
If you want to see most of the zoo (75%) during a short timeframe, you can cough up a few extra bucks for thebus tour. You see a multitude of animals with the added benefit of the driver’s educational commentary. Plus, most kids love sitting on the top level of the double-decker bus. However, if you have a child age three or younger, skip it. The tour takes 35 minutes+ and you’ll spend most of your time placating your little one rather than enjoying the ride.
Best Food – Sabertooth Grill (Elephant Odyssey) andCanyon Café (Asian Passage, near Panda Canyon)
The Sabertooth Grill is one of the best eateries in the park. Most zoo food comes deep-fried and tastes like, well, zoo food. However you can find healthy, tasty options like wraps and salads at this restaurant. Their soups are surprisingly delicious.
At my other favorite zoo restaurant, Canyon Café, I recommend the chicken taco platter. It’s not the best taco you’ll eat in San Diego, but it may be the best food you’ll find at the zoo.
At restaurants throughout the zoo kids’ meals are served in plastic buckets, which are perfect for taking to the beach. They are filled with standards like chicken strips, hot dogs, or quesadillas depending on the restaurant. Outside food and drink besides baby food are not allowed but the zoo is pretty lenient when it comes to packing children’s snacks.
A ride aboard the Balboa Park Railroad Miniature Train
is a fun way to top off a day at the zoo.
Best Finale for Good Behavior – Balboa Park Railroad Miniature Train and Balboa Park Carousel (Outside the Zoo’s Entrance) A miniature train located just outside the zoo’s entrance typically runs every day during the summer and spring break but only on weekends during off-season. If sharing a train with a gaggle of school-age children, beware that field-tripping kids scream in unison through the tunnel. It’s best to wait for the next train.
The Balboa Park Carousel, built in 1910, is one of the few carousels left in the world that still offers the brass ring game. Big kids and adults who want to play choose an outside horse and reach out to grasp the small rings on each spin. Iron rings don’t count; only the rider who nabs the brass ring wins a free ride.
Do you have a favorite exhibit or zoo activity not listed above? Or do you have any questions about how to make the most of your visit to the San Diego Zoo? Leave a comment below!
I love poring over hotel review websites, destination guidebooks, and travel chat boards to plan out every detail of upcoming vacations. This time, however, I would have to wing it.
My son’s bout of chicken pox delayed our trip and forced me to revise the itinerary. Instead of a trip to Atlanta and Hilton Head Island this spring, our family of four flew to San Francisco at the last minute. Type-A traveler that I am, I worried that a getaway without structure would result in cranky kids and grumpy grown-ups rather than rest and relaxation.
Day 1
Not having time to scour the web for the very best deal on a hotel with a kitchenette and a heated pool, I booked a room at the Hilton San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf through Priceline using their Name Your Own Price option. I snagged the room at $125 per night, whereas the official price would have been $149. The room was small and sans fridge, but acceptable and the location was convenient.
After settling in, we took a 15-minute walk from our hotel to Pier 39, a mecca of shopping, dining, and entertainment perched over the bay. The plan was to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. because our children’s screeching would go unnoticed in the theme restaurant. However, there was a line out the door of other families thinking the same thing. Instead, we went to Pier Market, a seafood restaurant with a view of the boats bobbing in the harbor. The most memorable part of the meal was the warm sour dough bread – tangy, crispy, and chewy in all the right ways. I had the grilled swordfish with lemon garlic butter, which was adequate but bland ($18.95). My husband got a crab melt ($12.95) – I’m still not sure what pocessed him to order such a thing but it was good if you dig creamy, cheesy, messy sandwiches. Standard kids’ meals went for $4.95 each.
Day 2
The next day we headed back to Pier 39. We regarded the sea lions barking and flopping about for a while. Then we happened upon a juggling show, which I was “volunteered” to join. You would think my preschooler would find it cool to see Mommy on stage, but noooo, she cried the whole time. Apparently, she was jealous that I was picked instead of her. After that we took the kids for a spin on the double-decker carousel.
My children are good on-the-go sleepers so at naptime the baby dozed on his daddy’s shoulder while Karissa curled up in the stroller. When Leo woke before his big sister, I took him to the Aquarium of the Bay. I have seen my fair share of aquariums and for the price, this one can be skipped. The moving walkways were broken, the exhibits were not well lit, and while there certainly were fish, I didn’t see anything spectacular. If you must go, look for employees in the center of the pier handing out coupons for $2 off for adult tickets and $1 off children’s prices. Regular price admission is $15.95 for adults, $8 for children ages three to 11, and free for kids under three.
If you need a stroller in a pinch, check out Perrykids, a clothing store at Pier 39 that sells adorable handmade sweaters from Peru and rents strollers for $10/half day and $20/full day.
Late in the afternoon we texted San Francisco friends for recommendations on good Chinatown eats. Two families pointed us to the same restaurant: House of Nanking. The Sizzling Rice Soup, with its lemon-scented broth filled with vegetables and crispy rice, was worth the 40-minute walk from the pier. The lightly tempura-battered Salt and Pepper Shrimp with Mushrooms was divine, but the Famous Nanking Sesame Chicken was fatty and not worthy of its name. We all got a kick out my Hot Blossoming Flower Tea. What started as an innocuous green ball of leaves opened into a lovely pink bouquet floating in my glass. There is no kids’ menu but you can order thick round chow mein noodles without sauce, vegetables or meat for picky eaters. Dishes cost about $9-$14.
After our early dinner we meandered through Chinatown on our way back to the hotel. Karissa loved the exotic shops filled with plastic golden cats and dragons carved of jade. I bought Karissa a pair of red embroidered satin shoes for just $4.00. She still adores her “fancy” shoes, which she delights in pointing out to friends and strangers alike. I also treated myself to a Japanese puzzle box to add to my box collection from my travels.
Day 3 Traveling with children is a bit like child birth, in time all you remember is the joy, not the pain. That must be why my husband and I always convince ourselves that booking a single standard room will be fine. Why would we need a suite or connecting rooms? Sleepless nights, a screaming baby waking the four-year-old, and a lack of sleep for all. Oh yeah, that’s why.
After a couple nights with everyone crammed into one room, Phil inquired about booking a second room when I came down with strep throat. (I never said traveling was easy!) The manager on duty was a bit snarky about the fact that we had booked through Priceline, but eventually we were granted the second room, at a higher rate.
Since Leo was still napping twice a day at this point, we took a long drive to induce his morning nap. We drove around for some time searching for Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world. After two jaunts down the winding road we stopped for lunch at Mel’s Drive-In. The food was mediocre; I didn’t even finish my watery vanilla shake (a sin for a dessert lover like me!). However, the kids enjoyed the free balloons and jukebox stocked with doo-wop songs. Karissa was impressed when her chicken nuggets drove onto the table in yellow car made of paper. Kids’ meals served in a Mel’s car cost about $5-$7, including a drink.
Next we headed to the Golden Gate Park. Covering over 1,000 acres, it is even bigger than New York’s Central Park. In fact, it may be too big. There are numerous attractions, like the Academy of Sciences natural history museum, the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Buffalo Paddock where you can view American Bison. However, everything is so far spread that you can only plan to hit one, maybe two sites in a single day. The park lacked sufficient signage so I purchased a map for a couple of bucks from a little hut that sold post cards and the like. We were stopped frequently by other visitors who wanted to take a peek at the map so they could figure out where the heck they were in the massive park.
After a long walk from the underground parking garage, we finally caught a glimpse of the Children’s Playground. Karissa shouted, “Mommy! That’s the biggest playground I ever saw in my whole life!” She took off running and joined up with the other children working industriously together on an assembly line of fun in a stream of water that ran through the sand. Young children played on standard slides, swings, and climbing structures while older kids slid on torn pieces of cardboard down a two-story cement slide built into a hill.
Again we texted San Fran acquaintances, this time to inquire about Italian food. We took their advice and headed to Mona Lisa in Little Italy. It was a fabulous spot for families: busy, noisy, with lots of colorful eye candy. It’s the kind of place where waiters coo, “Bello bambino!” at your toddler, and the tables are squished together creating forced camaraderie with neighboring diners.
Day 4 On our last morning we walked along the harbor to Ghirardelli Square, named for the chocolate factory that was once located on the site. Today there is a Ghirardelli’s Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, which doles out free chocolate samples at the door. You can indulge in gooey sundaes or stock up on cable-car-shaped tins filled with treats as souvenirs. You can also view a few original machines stirring up vats of chocolate and read the signs about how chocolate is made aloud to your kids, if they’ll listen.
My husband noticed Karissa and I gazing longingly at the darling, pinkety-pink Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon. Phil suggested she and I have a mommy-daughter tea while he and Leo grabbed lunch at the diner also located in the square. Karissa was served the Nursery Tea, which came with three tea sandwiches (cucumber, PB&J, and egg salad), a scrumptious scone with clotted cream and jam, and four mini sweets as well as hot or cold tea ($14, for children 12 and under). I opted for a slice of quiche Lorraine served with a green salad ($12). Karissa spent the meal fishing the colored heart and star sugar shapes out of the sugar bowl with which to overload her cup of fruity tea. It was a lovely, sweet ending to our long weekend away.
I always say planning is half the fun (and the battle!) of any trip. But not having set plans forced us to experience San Francisco as it unfolded before us and led to fun surprises and impromptu experiences we may have otherwise missed. I wouldn’t change a thing. (Well, except for the strep throat!)
Do you have any San Francisco activities, sites, restaurants, or hotels that you would like to recommend to other Travel Mamas? Leave a comment below!
Before I brought my daughter to Disneyland to celebrate her first birthday some well-meaning friends warned, “It’s better to wait until she’s five or six to go. What’s the point in taking her now? She won’t even remember it.”
When I held my birthday girl in my arms as we soared through the air on Dumbo’s back and she clapped her hands, grinning and baring her two teeth, I knew that moment mattered. Even if she doesn’t remember it, for that moment she and I were soaring through joy.
Now that I am a Disneyland Annual Passholder, I visit the Happiest Place on Earth once every couple months or so with my four-year-old daughter, Karissa, and one-year-old son, Leo.
Many parents worry there are not enough rides for babies and toddlers, but amusements for all ages abound at Disneyland! The best part is that the entire family can enjoy most attractions together.
Here are my picks for best Disneyland attractions for babies and toddlers:
1. Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Fantasyland
After failing to get my daughter (then age three) to ride Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and instead taking my infant son, who clawed at my face with fear throughout, I have given up waiting out the ridiculously long lines for the dark rides in Fantasyland. Instead, we head to everyone’s favorite flying elephant.
2. It’s a Small World in Fantasyland
It is worth getting the cutesy Small World song stuck in your head all day for the smiles this ride will induce for your child. Plus, you get a big return (an eight-minute ride) for your small investment (typically a brief wait in line).
3. A Bug’s Land at Disney’s California Adventure
This area includes three rides for little ones that you can hit pretty quickly since the lines tend to be minimal. While Tuck and Roll’s Drive’Em Buggies bumper cars are fun for preschoolers, the other two rides are wonderful choices for kids and babies alike. There is Flik’s Flyers, which is a slightly less magical version of Dumbo’s ride, and Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train, for which you board a talking caterpillar who chews his way though a garden of sweet-smelling treats like watermelon and animal crackers. Wait until kids are older to brave the 3-D film It’s Tough to Be a Bug! I took my daughter when she was a little over age two. Too scary!
4. Minnie’s House in Mickey’s Toontown When you tire of waiting in lines, this walk-though attraction keeps toddling kids busy with dials and buttons galore.
5. Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
Here’s an old-school ride for the whole family. Adults will chuckle (or groan) at the humorous commentary of the adventure guides. As for the kids, I remember believing I had actually been to Africa and back when I embarked on this ride during my first trip to Disney World at age four. What fun!
6. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country
This is my four-year-old’s favorite ride! I keep hoping my 15-month-old son will warm to it, but the overwhelming bright colors and loopy feel are not his cup of milk. It’s worth checking out to see what your wee one will think.
7. Mickey’s Fun Wheel at Disney’s California Adventure’s Paradise Pier
Formerly the Sun Wheel, this huge Ferris wheel provides a great aerial view of the park. Skip the long lines for the swinging, scarier gondolas and opt for the milder, merely-swaying ones.
8. Disneyland Railroad
I have yet to meet a child who is not enthralled by choo-choo trains! You can climb aboard or disembark at Main Street U.S.A., Tomorrowland, Mickey’s Toontown, or New Orleans Square. The best part is the “surprise” trip through the Grand Canyon and Primeval World (a scene of animatronic dinosaurs) between Tomorrowland and Main Street.
9. The Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland Birds and flowers serenade the audience in this pleasant indoor show, giving you time to rest your tootsies while the baby nurses or sips a bottle out of the sun (or rain, as the case may be). Beware of a brief, somewhat scary tropical thunderstorm at the end of the show.
10. King Triton’s Carousel at Disney’s California Adventure’s Paradise Pier or King Arthur’s Carousel in Fantasyland
Whether you choose Triton’s underwater-themed carousel with seahorses, whales, and other ride-able sea-creatures or you choose Arthur’s classic hand-carved horses, most tots love a carousel! It may seem like a boring choice to grown-ups, but not so for the kiddos!
What are your favorite rides for young children at Disneyland or Disney World? Leave a comment below!
An Interview with Jennifer Marx, co-author of the PassPorter guides to Disney
Hanging in my office is a page torn from a PassPorter’s guidebook to Disney World, across which I have written, “DO WHAT YOU LOVE!”
PassPorter was developed by Disney enthusiast Jennifer Marx. Jennifer originally made homemade binders filled with itineraries to take on Disney trips with her husband and PassPorter co-author, Dave Marx. The organizers helped her plan their vacations and served as a souvenir scrapbook. During one of their Disney adventures, it occurred to Jennifer that she could sell a combination organizer/guidebook to help other vacationers plan and remember their trips too.
During a recent interview, Jennifer gave me her top tips for touring Disney with kids and divulged some of her Disney favorites.
Top Tips for Doing Disney with Children: Jennifer suggests, “Go at their pace. Don’t try to do 50 rides. Try to keep to their schedule as much as possible and get back to the hotel if you can for a nap or to go swimming.”
Jennifer also recommended bringing along a good stroller instead of renting one of the hard plastic strollers from Disney. Her favorite is the McClaren Quest, “because it folds in half for getting on and off the buses and monorail plus it reclines for naps.” She sewed patches on her four-year-old son Alexander’s stroller from the 15 countries their family has visited together.
Favorite Park:Epcot. “It’s probably because of sentimental reasons because that was the first park that I ever went to when I was a teen. We went just for one day and didn’t go to Disney World until a couple years later.” Epcot is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It is divided into the Future World (which focuses on technology and innovations) and World Showcase (with shops, restaurants and attractions representing the cultures of 11 countries).
Favorite Disney Restaurant: “Victoria and Albert’s because that’s where Dave and I got married. We had a small wedding with 18 people – just immediate family.” Victoria and Albert’s is the most upscale of all Disney restaurants. It is located at the Grand Floridian hotel at Disney World and is solely for guests aged 10 and older.
Favorite Disney Attraction: “The Carousel of Progress at Disney World. It is quintessential Disney. There are a lot of new great rides these days but this is old school Disney. It’s kind of cheesy, but I like it. It just feels like Disney.” The 21-minute show was created by Walt Disney for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair and then was moved to Disneyland in California. The show moved to the Magic Kingdom park in Florida in 1975.
Jennifer and Dave’s authenticity and approachability has helped to sell nearly a third of a million PassPorters to fiercely brand-loyal fans. Jennifer seems like one of your best girlfriends- unpretentious, fun, self-depricating. She said, “I don’t look like a supermodel. I look like a mom.” It is this couple-next-door realness that readers can relate to. Jennifer admits, “I’m really shy so at events Dave is in charge and I’m standing back and smiling and trying not to say something stupid.” I never would have guessed that from our conversation – she seemed nothing but confident, witty, and easy to talk to.
This year PassPorter is celebrating 10 years of helping people enjoy Disney World, Disneyland and Disney cruises. Jennifer and Dave are currently on a weeklong Disney Cruise to Tortola with about 150 readers. The festivities will continue at Disneyworld next week. Plans are in the works for a Disneyland party in the fall for West Coast fans.
I read PassPorter several months ago while planning a family trip to Disney World. The guidebook’s easy-to-read format and neighborly advice prompted me to flip to the to the front to read more about the authors, where I discovered how Jennifer was inspired to create the first PassPorter. I tore the page from the book (sorry, Jennifer and Dave!) and put it on the bulletin board in my office.
Jennifer’s story encouraged me to follow my dream. She transformed her love for Disney into a successful career writing a unique series of Disney guidebooks. She inspired me to turn my love of traveling and writing into a career too.
You can imagine how thrilled I was to interview the woman who has been such a source of inspiration to me! I just hope I didn’t say anything stupid.
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Are you a fan of PassPorter or another Disney guidebook? Or do you have any Disney tips to share with other Travel Mamas? Leave a comment below!
Traveling with children is not as relaxing as seeing the world without kids. It is harder. It requires more planning. It requires more compromise.
But the same is true of parenting. And the joys of parenting more than make up for the inconveniences. Children live so much in the present moment that we are forced to slow down and see things as they do…right now…right here. And that brings traveling to a whole new and exciting dimension!
A few months ago my husband, Phil, and I took our two kids on a road trip to a quaint town of Julian, California for the day. It is a town known for its abundance of apple pie shops and its country small-town-ness.
We had a quick lunch at the Cowgirl Café before savoring slices of apple pie with vanilla ice cream at Mom’s Pie House. Then we perused kitschy shops as long as the kids would allow it. The baby, Leo, began flailing his head into my chest and grunting. Karissa (then, three-and-a-half-years-old) got that scary overtired glean in her eyes as she started tossing merchandise from shelves. This was our signal – time for naps!
The winding drive to go apple picking at a local orchard induced sleep for both kids. My husband and I lingered in the parking lot and chatted quietly while the kids dozed.
A short while later, we pushed Leo in his stroller through rows of apple trees while Karissa delighted in filling her paper sack with tiny ruby and green fruit. She zipped through the orchard, grinning through bites of apple. She cried when it was time to leave.
Next we drove to Lake Cuyamaca, a smallish lake lined by colorful fall trees. I marched ahead with the baby strapped to my tummy in his carrier. I wanted some solace from three-year-old squeals and was lacking the patience to go at a three-year-old’s pace.
At one point I was so far ahead that I could neither see Phil and Karissa behind me, nor hear any sign of them. I worried I had walked too far ahead and my daughter had gotten tired, forcing them to head back. I stopped to stare at the lake through a twinkling of golden leaves. I hugged my son to me, leaned my face into the warmth of his fuzzy head and breathed in his baby smell. I enjoyed the serenity of that moment.
But even then, I felt a tugging at me. I wanted to be with my other child too. I wanted to see her reaction to the leaves as they crunched beneath her feet. I longed to watch her blue-moccasined feet scamper through the grasses, arms spread like an airplane’s wings. I strained to hear those squeals I had sought to escape.
I waited.
Soon I heard, “Mommmmmy! Where aaaaaare youuuuu?!” Then I saw her, a streak of hot pink running toward me. I was greeted by a giant smile and little arms encircling my legs and stories of birds seen in the sky.
Karissa led our pack of four back down the path to our car. We rambled over rocks and roots and fallen leaves. We wound through trees, over tall grasses, around muddy puddles and past a lake dotted with tiny boats.
I witnessed, and therefore was part of, my child’s pure joy in the journey.
And that, my fellow travel mamas, is why traveling with children is worth the interrupted sleep, the noisy meals and the constant potty breaks.
Do you love traveling with children? Why or why not? Please leave a comment below!
Day 1
Late in the afternoon we texted San Francisco friends for recommendations on good Chinatown eats. Two families pointed us to the same restaurant: 
Day 3
After a long walk from the underground parking garage, we finally caught a glimpse of the 
