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Posts Tagged ‘holidays’
Monday, December 5th, 2011
The kids learn about animals, you skip the lines for Santa at the mall, and everyone has a merry time at Sunny and Angel Save Christmas at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego, California. Read on to find out how to win a pair of tickets to this fun and festive event for this weekend, December 10 or 11, 2011.
My family visited the rare, real-live twin horses Sunny and Angel this past weekend. To kick things off, children gathered around to listen to a story about why Santa has come to visit the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Most of the kids (besides my 3-year-old) seemed enraptured by this story, which included mentions of resident animals, such as Willy and Billy the goats and, of course, Sunny and Angel.
Next, everyone was led on a little tour to meet some of the animal shelter’s residents, like Oreo the sheep. Most of the animal visit time was spent learning about the stars of the event, the twin nearly two-year-old horses. We stopped by Angel’s stall while we learned about what makes this duo so special. For starters, there’s a one in 10,000 chance that twin horses will be born alive.
Sunny, one of the twin horses
After our tour, families were treated to cookies, hot cocoa, and peppermint candies. Kids could color Christmassy horsie pictures or play with a big tub of make-believe snow. My children had the most fun making their own snow by pouring some magical white powdery stuff into a cup and adding water–which spontaneously grew into fluffy, slightly chilly white “snow.”
We also got a chance to meet Rina and Ricochet, service dogs dressed up in their holiday best. Ricochet is quite the celebrity for his surfing abilities. He loves to surf with kids who are disabled. Both dogs love to be petted, lick a human hand or two, and give sweet puppy dog eyes in return for attention. You can read more about Ricochet’s adventures on SurfDogRicochet.com.
Ricochet the Surf Dog, with his pal, Rina
Soon enough, our kids were called to have their session with the big man himself—Santa! Whereas visits with Santa at the mall tend to feel incredibly rushed, our visit was more leisurely with lots of chitchat about wish lists and reindeer. Of course, our family had a photo taken with Mr. Claus. Santa gave both kids their choice of a stuffed puppy to take home. Each child even received a personally addressed letter from Santa!
Then it was back to the crafts and the faux snow to await our photo. Many families spent this time perusing the adoptable cats, dogs, and other creatures at the Helen Woodward Animal Shelter. My family, however, has enough pets already and my husband and I could not trust ourselves on such a journey.
My kids making snow at Helen Woodward Animal Shelter
We received our Santa photo in a sparkly paper frame before we left. We weren’t given the option to purchase wallet sizes and whatnot like at the mall. We did, however, snap a few shots with our camera so we can order photos from an online store like Snapfish or Shutterfly.
Are you looking for a sweet holiday event that is fun AND educational for kids? Sunny and Angel Save Christmas is the ticket! The cost is $20 per child and $8 per adult, which includes the story, educational tour, crafts, a Santa photo, holiday snacks, a stuffed toy, and a personalized letter from Santa.
Santa was quite impressed with the pile of homemade gifts my daughter brought for him
Here is the mission of this non-profit organization: “Helen Woodward Animal Center’s passionate belief that animals help people and people help animals through trust, unconditional love, and respect, creates a legacy of caring. Sharing this philosophy with others, the Center inspires and teaches, locally and globally, the importance of the animal-human bond.” Find out more about the Helen Woodward Animal Shelter!
Enter to Win!
If you are a San Diego resident or plan to visit San Diego VERY, VERY soon—you can enter to win a pair of tickets (for one adult and one child) to Sunny and Angel Save Christmas at the Helen Woodward Animal Center for this weekend. Tickets can be used on December 10 or 11, 2011. Shows are every 30 minutes, 10 am-2 pm.
To enter, just leave a comment below about why you’d like to win!
For a bonus entry, do a status update on Facebook about Sunny and Angel Save Christmas at Helen Woodward Animal Shelter that includes @TravelMamas (so I see it!) and leave another comment below (so your entry is counted!).
Enter now because this contest ends Thursday, December 8, 2011 at noon Pacific Standard Time! The winner will be selected at random using Random.org. If the winner does not claim the prize within 24 hours of email notification, another winner will be chosen.
Can’t wait to win? Register for Sunny and Angel Save Christmas.
You might also like:
• Disneyland-Hilton Garden Inn Passports with Purpose Prize Pack
• Roar & Snore Campout at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
• San Diego’s Birch Aquarium: A Worthwhile Alternative to SeaWorld
• The Best of the San Diego Zoo with Kids
A Note from The Travel Mama: My family and I received complimentary passes to Sunny and Angel Save Christmas from the Helen Woodward Animal Shelter. I have paid for my children to attend many other fun and educational programs through this charitable organization.
Tags: California, Christmas, giveaway, Helen Woodward Animal Center, holidays, San Diego, Sunny and Angel
Posted in Family Vacations, Giveaways | 8 Comments »
Sunday, December 12th, 2010
Knott’s Berry Farm hosts a holiday celebration complete with A Peanuts’ Holiday Parade, Christmas Crafts Village, visits with Santa Claus, and even a Christmas ice skating show! Located in Buena Park, California, Knott’s Berry Farm is America’s original theme park. It is better known for its scary Halloween Haunt, but a visit during the holiday season is sure to delight all ages with its fun and festive shows, decorations, and activities.
Snoopy & The Nutcracker waving to the crowd in the Peanuts’ Holiday Parade
A Peanuts’ Holiday Parade
This traditional parade features dancers, holiday music, and floats topped with Peanuts Gang members – Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder, and the crowd-favorite, Snoopy. The parade is just long enough to keep kids rapt with attention throughout. The parade ends with Santa ho-ho-ing and wishing a Merry Christmas to all.
My daughter, Karissa, was smitten with this adorable Knott’s Christmas Craft Village shop
Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village
What I remembered most from my last visit to Knott’s Berry Farm as a teenager was its plethora of roller coasters. As a grown-up, my favorite part of the park is no longer thrill rides, rather it is the Old West decor and feel of Ghost Town. I am a sucker for make-believe, especially when it is done well. This area of the park transports you back in time to an 1880s California gold rush town.
You can purchase a lucky horseshoe emblazoned with your name from the blacksmith, watch a knick-knack being whittled from wood before your eyes, pan for gold, or stop into the school house for a taste of old-school education. The school was made in 1879 and was purchased and recreated by Mr. Knotts in 1952.
Through Christmas Eve, Ghost Town is home to the Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village. Artists peddle their one-of-a-kind crafts, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, and more from these temporary storefronts.
It’s Christmas, Snoopy! ice show at Knott’s Berry Farm
Holiday Shows
If visiting during the holiday season, you absolutely must head to the Charles M. Schulz Theatre to see the It’s Christmas, Snoopy! ice show. I was fascinated by how these talented skaters glided, spun, and flipped on the small ice stage. The colorful lighting, elaborate sets, playful costumes, and snippets from the famous It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown television special are sure to keep even the wriggliest of kids entertained. White doves even fly onto the stage and snow drops from the sky! Arrive a half hour before the show starts to nab the best seats.
Traditional holiday shows like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and O’Henry’s A Gift of the Magi can be viewed at the Birdcage Theatre. Join the Peanuts Gang in Calico Square for a song-and-dance show, Snoopy’s Calico Christmas Tree Lighting, followed by the lighting of a huge, decorated Christmas tree. A Winter Wonderland show in Camp Snoopy featuring all the Peanuts characters can be skipped in favor of the ice show or tree-lighting.
A white Buche de Noel cake at Knott’s Farm Bakery
Rides, Lights, Treats & More Holiday Fun
It was chilly the day we visited Knott’s Berry Farm so we did not brave the wetness of the Timber Mountain Log Ride. This ride is tranformed every year into Elf Mountain Christmas, where you can see Santa’s elves readying for Christmas complete with lights and music. I was impressed with a giant drying station outside the ride where soggy riders warmed themselves with heat lamps.
Take little ones to the Ghost Town Bakery, where they can decorate their own Christmas cookie with frosting and candies from noon to 5 pm daily during the holiday season. You can also find delectable holiday treats at the Farm Bakery in the Marketplace. This area of shops and famous Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant is located just outside the park’s entrance and was the birthplace of Knott’s Berry Farm in 1934.
In the evening, head to Camp Snoopy, the area of Knott’s geared toward the preschooler-set with child-friendly rides and a giant Snoopy bounce house, for Snoopy’s Christmas Light Spectacular. Hundreds of thousands of holiday-shaped light displays twinkle in the dark from dusk to park closing.
Kids can even pay a visit to jolly old St. Nick during their visit to Knott’s Berry Farm during the holidays. Head to Santa’s Toy Barn to get some one-on-one time with Santa Claus and purchase a darling photo of your kiddo making their Christmas toy wish.
Here I am with my daughter in front of one of the Christmas trees at the Knott’s Resort Hotel
Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel Dressed Up for the Holidays
After a busy day at the park it’s nice to take a short stroll through Knott’s Marketplace to turn in for the night at Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel. The lobby is all dressed up in green and red, adding to the holiday spirit. We stayed in one of the 16 special Snoopy rooms, decked out with Snoopy and Woodstock headboards plus paw-print carpeting. The highlight of our stay was when Snoopy stopped by our table during breakfast at the hotel’s onsite restaurant, Amber Waves.
When you think of holiday activities, Knott’s Berry Farm may not be the first place that pops to mind…but maybe it should be!
What part of a Knott’s Merry Christmas would be the most fun for your family? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
You might also like:
• Holidays at Disneyland
• Holidays in Phoenix at Zoolights
• LEGOLAND for All Ages
• New York City Holiday Travel Tips for Families
A note from The Travel Mama: My family and I received complimentary park entrance from Knott’s Berry Farm and we were hosted by the Buena Park Convention and Visitors Bureau for our stay at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
Tags: Buena Park, California, Christmas, holidays, ice skating, Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Merry Farm, parade, Snoopy
Posted in Family Vacations, Theme Parks | 13 Comments »
Sunday, November 21st, 2010
Dear Santa Claus,
Last year I made ten holiday wishes. You certainly delivered on a few, my jolly old friend. I’ll be one happy Travel Mama if you can come though on all of ‘em this year!
1) Last Year: A Disney Cruise. I knew a Disney Cruise would be a difficult item to fit on your sleigh but I asked for it anyway and put a photo of a Disney ship on my vision board. Now I’m a believer because I was recently invited by Disney Cruise Line to sail on the new Dream ship’s inaugural cruise in January 2011! My family and I can’t wait spend two nights at sea and make a stop at one of my Bucket List destinations, Disney’s private Caribbean island, Castaway Cay.
This Year: An Alaskan Cruise. Now, I might just be getting greedy here. I should just be thankful for the Disney Cruise and leave it at that, right? But nooooo…I gotta keep dreaming!
2) Last Year: A Jogger. Last Christmas I camplained that I was the only mama in my Stroller Strides class bumping along at the back of the pack with my standard stroller. Well, I got my jogger, but I got a cheap one. Now I am the only mama in class whose front tire doesn’t turn so I have to push down on the handle and lift my son into the air every time I want to turn. If you are looking for a jogger, I suggest you spend the extra bucks and get a revolving front tire! By the way, I’m still at the back of the pack. I can’t blame the stroller anymore so I guess I just have to admit that I’m slow.
This Year: Fitness & Connection with Nature. I won’t request another, better jogger. But I do want to focus more on getting outdoors and being active as a family. It’d be nice to splurge on some fun classes to keep the kiddos fit too- like swimming, dance lessons, or Tae-Kwon-Do.
3) Last Year: Long-Sleeved Shirts and Pajamas.
This Year: Just Fit into Last Year’s Clothes. ‘Nuff said.
4) Last Year: A Publisher for My Book, The Travel Mamas’ Guide a humorous, how-to guide for traveling with babies and tots. My agent recently sent out my book proposal to mid-size to large potential publishers. They all pretty much said the same thing: Love the voice. Think the book fills a need in the market. Worried there’s too much information already online (ironically).
This Year: A Publisher for My Book. I am starting my search for a smaller publisher now. I know there is a need for this book. I know many moms and dads struggle to figure out how to continue to travel after becoming parents. I know I can help parents minimize the stresses of traveling with babies and children and enjoy the time spent together as a family on the go. I can’t give up yet. If J.K. Rowling gave up at this point, we never would have heard of Harry Potter!
5) Last Year: A Sponsor for BlogHer 2010 in New York. Well, I didn’t find a sponsor for the BlogHer conference, but JetSetBabies did sponsor my trip to the Travel Bloggers Exchange conference (TBEX) in New York this past summer! And, BlogHer is scheduled to come to my hometown of San Diego in 2011, for which I have already purchased my ticket.
This Year: Attendance at TBEX ’11 in Vancouver, Canada. I’ve always wanted to visit Vancouver and this conference gives me the perfect excuse to go! I look forward to chatting, touring, and toasting with some of my favorite bloggers and making new travel-loving friends.
6) Last Year: An Appearance on Oprah’s Show.
This Year: A Place in Oprah’s Audience. This is Oprah’s last year as a daytime talk show host and I’m just dying to attend a taping before it’s off the air. Sure, I’d love a spot on her couch but I’d settle for anything at this point. Do you think if I mention Oprah in enough blog posts that eventually one of her producers will stumble across Travel Mamas and invite me on the show?! (Hey – it could happen!) So far, I’ve included Oprah in five stories. Hmm…maybe you should expect to see her in a few more!
7) Last Year: Annual Passes to Disneyland. Well, I may not have gotten annual Disneyland passes but I was fortunate to have been invited to Disneyland three times in 2010 for Travel Mamas stories. As an added bonus, last year I attended Disney Social Media Moms, a conference in Orlando that enabled me to connect with other bloggers and to experience Walt Disney World with my mom and two kiddos!
This Year: Disney Gift Cards. Since we will be flying to Orlando for the Disney Dream Cruise in the new year, we have decided to extend our stay by a few days so we can explore the Disney World Parks and other Orlando attractions. I’m asking my family for Disney gift cards in lieu of holiday gifts to help us fund our park entrance tickets and vacation dining.
8)Last Year: More Date Nights OUT with my Husband.
This Year: More Date Nights IN with my Husband. We can’t seem to find a reliable babysitter or afford many fancy date nights. So now I’m wishing for some home date night fun. Specifically, I’d love a fire pit for the backyard by which the hubs and I could snuggle up after the kids are in bed. I’d also like a couple of date night movies on DVD to watch while nibbling popcorn on the couch with my honey, like Julie & Julia (what blogger doesn’t dream of having her story made into a movie starring Meryl Streep?) and Eat, Pray, Love (because I could use a spiritual tour of the world!).
9) Last Year: A Month in a Foreign Country.
This Year: Travel. Period. While I didn’t spend a month in a foreign country last year, I traveled to Texas, Puerto Rico, Cabo San Lucas, Arizona, Florida, Maine, New York, and throughout California. Being a travel blogger does not pay well, but it does have some great perks! I’m not sure where Travel Mamas will take me in 2011…but I hope you’ll come along for the ride.
10) Last Year: Good Health. Lots of Love. Family. Friends. This year has been quite the journey for me. I have struggled with some health issues related to stress and have made a few trips to the emergency room for complications related to my son’s asthma. My husband and I have argued more this year than any other during our 11 years together due mostly to our constant worry about his job in this stinky economy (he’s had six within three years), the difficulties of making a living as a travel writer, and the likelihood of making our mortgage payment.
I am incredibly blessed for my overall good health and that of my children. I try to focus on the love that surrounds me, even when the world seems filled with noise and worry. I am blessed to be part of our family of four and to have siblings and parents, who are always in my heart even though they live far away. And I am thankful for my friends…from my neighbor, Sara, with whom I often trade harrowing parenting stories over a glass of wine while our kids run in wild circles around us…to Erin who accompanied me on my trip to Freeport, Maine and reminded me of the giggling college girls we used to be…to my online friends with whom I share my hopes, frustrations, and love of this crazy world of blogging and social media.
This Year: Joy in the Journey. I hope to discover how to make a living doing what I love: writing, exploring the world, and helping others get the most out of their travels. I have been working so hard to make Travel Mamas and myself into a success story that sometimes I have forgotten to enjoy the ride. Wherever this year takes me, I plan to enjoy the journey. I wish the same for you in 2011!
What’s on your holiday wish list? Please share your wishes in the comments below!
You might also like:
• The Travel Mama’s Holiday Wish List - Year 1
• Build a Village in India & Win a JW Marriott Getaway
• Holidays at Disneyland
• How to Survive Visiting Family during the Holidays
Tags: Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise, disney world, disneyland, holidays, jetsetbabies, Oprah, TBEX, The Travel Mamas' Guide, vision board, waterslide
Posted in Mixed Baggage, Toys & Gear | 15 Comments »
Monday, December 14th, 2009
I’ve been caught up in my own worries lately. I used to give a lot of time and money to the causes I believe in. But then the economy crumbled. And, after a stressful high-risk pregnancy, I gave birth to my second, healthy baby. Then my husband was laid off…three times over the past two years. My focus turned away from helping others toward just making it through life.
I used to tutor students how to read once a week at the Monarch School, a school for homeless children. I always walked out of the school on a “high” - it was so gratifying to watch the improvement in these sweet kids who tried so hard and really wanted to learn. I picked out books specifically for each of my four students as gifts. My favorite pupil was Robert, a rambunctious little kid whose greatest dream was to one day work at LEGOLAND so he could design giant statues made of the tiny colored bricks. I gave him Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends because it was a childhood favorite of mine and he enjoyed reading its poems as a treat when he had finished his assigned stories. After he unwrapped the book, Robert said, “Is this for me, like to keep, forever?” You should have seen the look of joy on that kid’s face when I told him yes…over a book! My children have more books than I care to count.
My husband and I gave money at charitable events and more. We used to adopt one or even two families in need during the holidays, providing clothing, gift certificates for groceries, even a brand-new bicycle and microwave one year. We hosted three women at once through Women for Women International. I made sure I wrote each of my “sisters” monthly letters, often accompanied by photos and stickers. I went out of my way to make sure these women in far away countries like Rwanda and Iraq knew that someone cared about them and was rooting for their success from the other side of the world.
As money got tighter and our lives became more stressful, I slowly stopped donating time or money. I received a few letters from my Women for Women International sisters even after their sponsorships had ended. I couldn’t bring myself to write to them anymore. These women had so much less than me and yet wrote me letters of gratitude, telling me how they prayed for my health and prosperity. I used to tear open any letter from my sisters right at the mailbox. I couldn’t wait to read about their lives and to make a connection with a woman in a country so far from my own! It took me months to open the last letter I received; I was so wrought with guilt and shame.
When I first saw the information about Passports with Purpose, I didn’t think much of it. But then it kept cropping up on Twitter and in the stories of my favorite fellow travel bloggers. I’d gotten used to thinking, “I can’t give anymore. That’s something I used to do. Now, I just need to focus on me and my family.”
But here’s the thing. Giving feels good. Not giving feels bad. Not giving makes me feel lonely and isolated and pathetic. My family can no longer afford to donate money the way we used to. But we can still give a little bit of money and donate our time. Focusing all of our energy inward hasn’t helped. If anything, it’s made things worse. We are so filled with worry all of the time – worry about our home, worry about paying the bills, worry about making money. Focusing on our own problems seems to multiply all of that negative, sour energy.
I’ve missed the deadline for finding a sponsor to provide a prize for Passports with Purpose, but I can do this – I can tell you about it and I can give a small donation. Passports with Purpose is a fundraiser founded and promoted by travel bloggers. This year’s goal is to raise $13,000 to build a school in Cambodia in a village that currently lacks one. Learn more about how the money will be used to improve the lives of children in Cambodia.
For each $10 donated to American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC), you will be entered into a giveaway of your choice. You choose the number of tickets; you choose the prizes you’re interested in. Prizes range from $75 in value (for a Southwest airlines gift card) up to $2,746 in value (for a five-night Costa Rican vacation). Donate by December 21, 2009. Make a difference…and maybe win something in the process. Give now!
Tags: Christmas, donate, holidays, Monarch School, Passports with Purpose, volunteer, Women for Women International
Posted in Giveaways, Mixed Baggage, Travel Tips | 7 Comments »
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
Although I have been to Disneyland a multitude of times, up until last week, I had never visited during the holiday season. Now that I have experienced the happiest time of the year at the Happiest Place on Earth, I defy Scrooge himself to remain cranky during a trip to Disneyland during the holidays.
My son, Leo, and I standing in front of the
huge Christmas tree on Disneyland’s Main Street
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
A trip to Disneyland during the holidays is worthwhile, even if only to stroll down the quintessentially Christmas-y Main Street. Of course, the decorations don’t end on Main Street. Throughout Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park, everything is doused with greenery, ornaments, and twinkling lights. You can’t miss Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, in the center of the park all dolled up with snow, icicles, and lights galore.
Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle
Haunted Mansion Holiday
It is worth waiting in an enormous line to see the Haunted Mansion Holiday…for older kids and adults. The attraction is transformed with a jack-o-lantern-laden, red and green “Nightmare Before Christmas” theme during the Halloween and Christmas seasons. This ride may be a bit too spooky for youngsters; I’d say hold off on this one until age six or so.
“it’s a small world” decked out with holiday lights
“it’s a small world” Holiday Celebration
This ride is an absolute must-see at Christmastime. Yes, the line is long. Yes, you will get the cutesy song stuck in your head. Yes, your children will adore the animatronic dolls representing cultures from around the world dressed up in their holiday finest. The China display features fireworks in red and gold to commemorate Chinese New Year, while Polynesia wishes you a “Mele Kalikimaka” and includes hula dancers jingling in unison with strings of bells draped across their hips. Try to hit “it’s a small world” holiday early in the day before the line gets too long and stimulation-overload sets in.
A Christmas Fantasy Parade
A Christmas Fantasy Parade
Usually we skip the parades during our Disney visits. Rather than waiting with two wriggling kids for a viewing spot along the parade route, we use parade time to take advantage of shorter ride lines. On this trip, however, I got a sampling of what I have been missing out on. The Christmas Fantasy Parade features dancers, spinning snowmen, and trumpet-playing toy soldiers, plus floats topped with everyone’s favorite characters. Most impressive was the float on which Mickey and Minnie skated across a real ice rink!
The parade was my four-year-old daughter’s admitted favorite part of our holiday visit. When I asked her why she liked it so much, she looked at me as though I had reindeer antlers growing out of my head and said, “Because it ended with Santa Claus!”
Well, duh, of course!
My daugher, Karissa, posing with a festive Pluto and Donald Duck
Holiday-Clad Characters
Be sure to find your favorite characters decked out in their festive sweaters and scarves. You may even get a holiday-card-worthy photo out of it! Kids love to meet their favorite Disney characters. Parents love to snap those adorable photos. My daughter is stubborn about getting her picture taken so I take full advantage of Disney character meetings as the one time she merrily smiles for the camera.
My kids munching on Disney’s holiday brownies and cookies
Tasty Treats
Bring a sweet tooth and leave the diet at home during your Disneyland holiday visit. My family and I enjoyed brownies topped with red and green candies as well as snowman-shaped sugar cookies. And, next year, I vow to sample more holiday treats!
I stumbled across Guy’s Disney Holiday on the Food Network just after our visit. I wish I had seen this special featuring Guy Fieri BEFORE we went! Who knew I should have been on the lookout for waffle ice cream cones dipped in chocolate and crushed candy canes? Or Yule logs made of chocolate sponge cake, butter cream, and chocolate ganache?
Santa’s Reindeer Roundup
Apparently there are live reindeer and “western fun” at Santa’s Reindeer Roundup at Big Thunder Ranch. According to the Disneyland website, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Pluto the rein-dog can be found here in addition to festive face-painting.
I’m sorry to say we missed this attraction during our visit. It’s hard enough to squeeze in everyone’s favorite rides and shows on a regular day, much less when there are special parades and holiday-themed attractions to see! The summer crowds were nothing compared to the crush of people we experienced during our Christmastime visit. My advice? Plan to go for at least two days. One day just wasn’t enough!
“a bug’s land” holiday decorations
Magic in “a bug’s land”
Head over to ”a bug’s land” at Disney’s California Adventure to pose before giant Christmas ornaments and humongous glowing holiday lights.
My favorite memory of our Disneyland holiday adventure took place over here when I took my ride-phobic 21-month-old son, Leo, on Flik’s Flyers. It’s a circular flying ride, much like Dumbo, but with giant pretend boxes of animal crackers, Chinese take-out, or raisins functioning as the cars instead of elephants.
Leo said, “No, no, no” and clung tightly to me as we boarded the ride. But I sat him on my lap and whispered reassuring words into his ear and he settled down. I could feel his body tense as we slowly took flight, but he didn’t cry. He just leaned his head into my chest hard and stared at the wonder of the world whipping past him. He’s getting to be a big boy in a world full of so many things to explore and it’s hard to get him to slow down long enough to snuggle up with me too much anymore. As I rubbed my chin across the tufts of his fine baby hair, I wondered how much longer will the world seem completely safe to him, just as long as he is with his mama. It was one of those moments you want to stop and bottle up and keep forever – just the two of us flying through the crisp winter air together.
Beyond the decorations, treats and shows – this is what I love about Disneyland – magical moments that I will carry with me forever.
What is your favorite Disney holiday memory? Do you have any questions about visiting Disneyland during the holidays? Please leave a comment below!
Disclosure: My family and I received free one-day Park Hopper passes as part of Disneyland’s Family Media Day. This did not affect the content of this post in any way. I love Disneyland no matter who pays!
For more information on this topic see:
• Amusement Park & Disney Resources
• A Travel Mama’s Holiday Wish List
• How to Survive Visiting Family During the Holidays
• PassPorter’s Top Tips for Doing Disney with Children
• Top 10 Disneyland Attractions for Babies & Toddlers
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Tags: Christmas, Disney's California Adventure, disneyland, holidays
Posted in Family Vacations, Theme Parks | 3 Comments »
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Dear Santa,
I’ve been a good Travel Mama all year…well…most of the year. All I want for Christmas is…
1) A Disney Cruise. Why a Disney cruise? Because a Disney Cruise is a fabulous vacation option for a family with young children (especially with a child under age two). Everyone’s needs are taken care of, so there is no guilt for having fun. We had to cancel next year’s Disney Cruise due to this stupid, icky economy. We booked this cruise when I was newly pregnant with my son (who is now 21-months-old) while we were on our first Disney Cruise. In the larger scheme of things I wish for a better economy. Amen.
2) A jogger. More specifically, a BOB jogger. I am one of the only mamas in my Stroller Strides class bumping along at the back of the pack with my standard stroller. It’s kind of ironic, really, that Travel Mamas has a contest right now for a $150 gift certificate to JoggerMom.com. Is this a silly ploy to include my contest in another blog post? Maybe…but I WANT A JOGGER!
3) Long-sleeved shirts and pajamas. What?! I need some long-sleeved shirts and pajamas. It gets cold here in Southern California sometimes. You would never know it from looking at my wardrobe. The Travel Mama’s chilly!
4) A publisher for my book, The Travel Mamas’ Guide. My agent will be sending out my book proposal in early 2010. A nice big, fat advance would be nice too. Wish me luck!
5) A sponsor for BlogHer 2010 in New York. I read Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids and interviewed its author for the two stories I wrote on New York City’s Best Sites, Activities, and Restaurants with Kids and New York City Holiday Travel Tips, and now I’m convinced my family needs to go to the Big Apple! Since BlogHer takes place in NYC this year, all I need now is a sponsor! Interested? You just need to send me, not the whole Travel Mama family!
6) An appearance on Oprah. Did you see the show where Oprah talked about Vision Boards and people showed her how they had included Oprah on their vision boards and Oprah was all, “Wow! Isn’t that amazing!” Here’s the deal, Oprah, you are on EVERYONE’S vision board. If someone makes a vision board and doesn’t include Oprah, that’s crazy. Invite me as a guest on your show and you can quote this blog post and we can all sit around and go, “Doo do doo do doo do doo do…isn’t that crazy how she included Oprah in her blog?! It was meant to be!”
7) Annual passes to Disneyland. I may sound like I am trying to kiss some Disney booty. I’m not. I’m just a bit of Disney freak. Plus, when things were getting very stressful up in my house, it was really nice last year (as an annual passholder) to take a detour to the Happiest Place On Earth.
8) More date nights with my husband. I love my husband…I think…I’m pretty sure. It’s much easier to love him when we have time together. Away. From. The. Kids. I love the kids, but they can squelch any ideas of romance faster than…you know…stuff that kills romance…cockroaches, umm, boogers, you get the idea.
9) A month in a foreign country somewhere…anywhere! I’m open…Costa Rica…France…wherever! No, not really…I’d prefer Costa Rica or France. The point is…I’d like to go somewhere for a month or two with the kids. They are young (almost two and almost five) and they are not yet tied to any sort of school requirements. They would learn a heck of a lot more on the road than sitting at home. I just need to figure out where to go and how to finance the trip. Any suggestions?
10) Good health. Lots of love. Family. Friends. That’s all we really need, isn’t it? Oh…and I’d like to be able to pay the bills too. Bills suck.
I was inspired to write about what’s on my holiday wish list after reading A Flight Attendant’s Wish List (which happens to have been written by former Travel Mamas’ Blog Contest Winner, Sara Keagle!). Let’s face it, this is an excuse for me to blather on about what I want in hopes that Santa (my husband) will take notice.
Disclaimer: I did not receive any money or goodies from Disney, BOB, BlogHer, Oprah, or anyone else mentioned in this story. Oh, and I do love my husband. Really, honey, I do!
What’s on your holiday wish list? Leave a comment below!
Tags: BlogHer, Christmas, Disney Cruise, disneyland, holidays, Oprah, The Travel Mamas' Guide
Posted in Mixed Baggage, Theme Parks | 2 Comments »
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