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Posts Tagged ‘miniature train’
Sunday, April 25th, 2010
Our family loves to visit botanical gardens when we travel. It allows us to spend time outdoors and we get a feel for the personality and natural beauty of our destination. Plus it gives the kids a chance to run around and get some of their wiggles out!
A plant sculpture at the San Diego Botanic Garden
In our hometown, we are members of the San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly named Quail Botanical Gardens). This is one of San Diego’s best hidden gems. It contains not one but TWO children’s gardens full of hands-on activities. Plus there are plenty of walking paths lined with beautiful plants and flowers from around the world. In total, there are 27 themed gardens to choose from.
The Seeds of Wonder Children’s Garden miniature train
is always a hit with kids
Seeds of Wonder Children’s Garden
This garden is all about simple pleasures for toddlers and preschoolers. There are buckets of soapy water with tons of wands for blowing bubbles. A sand pit hides small plastic dinosaurs perfect for little hands to dig up. Kids can pretend to be mommy or daddy in a child-sized wooden house outfitted with a kitchen and utensils. Children can get their hands dirty doing a bit of gardening by transplanting tiny succulents from one container to a take-home plastic pot, filling it up with a wee bit of soil and then spraying their new treasure with a spritz of water. My train-loving toddler’s favorite part of the Seeds of Wonder Children’s Garden is the miniature train that chugs through the garden.
My son, Leo, digging for dinosaurs last year
Hamilton Children’s Garden
This newer children’s garden is much bigger than the cozy original and is geared for a slightly older audience of school-aged children. The Hamilton Children’s Garden has less greenery and shade, but it is ever-so-fun nonetheless. The centerpiece is Toni’s Tree House, complete with rope bridges, tunnels, and a spiral staircase for exploring.
Leo climbing Toni’s Tree House
The Incredible Edibles teaches children about the plants and herbs we eat. The Pencil Arbor and Bonsai Sketching Area is equipped with coloring sheets and a trellis on which children can hang their creations. Garden Rhythms encourages children to make music with instruments made from items found in nature, like rocks, sticks and water. There’s a labyrinth, a sundial, a giant tic-tac-toe board, and more to discover in this sprawling garden.
The Spell & Smell Garden is filled with labeled potted plants, each of which starts with a different letter of the alphabet.
Tropical Rain Forest
After visiting one or both of the children’s gardens, you can meander through the rest of the gardens. All are beautiful, but one of my personal favorites is the Tropical Rain Forest. I love Hawaii and this feels like a wee slice of Polynesia in San Diego. This is a great place to sit on a bench to listen to the sound of waterfalls and breathe in the sweet scent of over-sized flowers in a lush landscape…for as long as your children will let you.
A waterfall in the Tropical Rain Forest Garden
Subtropical Fruit Garden
A visit to the Subtropical Fruit Garden is fun and educational because children can see with their own eyes how some of their favorite fruits, like bananas and oranges, actually grow on trees; they are not manufactured in a factory and delivered to grocery stores just so people can eat them!
A bunch of bananas growing in the Subtropical Fruit Garden
Mexican Garden
The Mexican Garden is a darling spot filled with plants in a fiesta of colors. There is also a fountain decorated with painted Mexican tiles and sculptures of a mariachi band and a flamenco dancer formed from greenery.
The fountain in the Mexican Garden
Bamboo Garden & Bamboo Pond
A walk through the giant stalks of bamboo feels otherworldly. Read the signs aloud to the kids so they can learn that Bamboo is actually a grass that can grow up to 30 feet in one season! The Bamboo Pond is filled with lilly pads and a hoppy frog or two.
My daughter, Karissa, in front of some of the smaller stalks of bamboo
Old World Desert Garden
Those unfamiliar with the desert landscape should walk through the Old World Desert Garden to get a peek at cacti, succulents and bright desert flowers. Just be sure to keep toddlers in their strollers in case they want to pet the prickly plants!
A splash of vibrant desert flowers amongst succulents and cacti
What Else You Should Know
The San Diego Botanic Garden is located in Encinitas, a little over a half-hour drive north from downtown. If you are on a tight budget, visit on the first Tuesday of the month when entrance is free. Plan to do a lot of walking up and down hills here – your glutes will definitely get a good workout, especially if you’re pushing a stroller!
The San Diego Botanic Garden holds special events throughout the year, like a children’s Fairy Festival in the summer and a Garden of Lights holiday celebration in December.
The Gift Shop and Nursery sells gardening tools, plants, wind chimes, and gardening books. The bad news (or the good news?!) is that there are very few toys or souvenirs for the kiddies here.
The Kona Koffee Hut sells coffee drinks, sodas and juices as well as simple snacks like string cheese, Goldfish crackers, and ice cream treats. On the counter, a tongue-in-cheek sign states, “Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy.” Go here if you’ve got a bit of the munchies, but if you want to have a picnic in the gardens, you should pack own lunch.
San Diego is so stuffed with fun things to do that this family-friendly attraction often gets overlooked. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of a theme-park-packed vacation, a visit here gives the whole family a chance to slow down and connect with nature.
Do you have a favorite botanical garden? Please tell us about it in the comments below!
You might also like:
• Orange County with Kids – Beyond Disneyland
• Roar & Snore Campout at the San Diego Wild Animal Park
• San Diego’s Birch Aquarium: A Worthwhile Alternative to SeaWorld
• San Diego Zoo’s Best Beasts, Eats, and Treats
Tags: botanical garden, dinosaurs, miniature train, nature, quail, San Diego
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | 6 Comments »
Sunday, April 11th, 2010
There weren’t nearly as many fun attractions for families to explore in Phoenix when I was growing up there as compared to what exists today. When I return with my two kids to visit family each year, I love discovering the newer child-friendly Phoenix-area attractions as well as revisiting old-school favorites. Here are four family-friendly spots that are sure to please kids.
My daughter, Karissa, putting her mind to work at the Arizona Science Center
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
I don’t know what it is, but most young children are down-right enthralled by trains of all sizes! My toddler son, Leo, is particularly loco for locomotives, so the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park was a must-see during our visit to Phoenix last fall.
This Scottsdale park is a great place to just let the kids get their wiggles out during a short visit. Or, you can make a day of it by grabbing hotdogs and hamburgers at the Snackstop or packing a lunch to enjoy at a picnic table while watching the choo-choo chug past.
That’s me with my boy at one of the playgrounds at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
The highlight of a visit here is climbing aboard the park’s miniature steam train for a winding ride through the grassy park. Afterwards, kids can frolic about at the park’s elaborate playgrounds before taking a spin on the Charros Carousel.
My kids loved Hartley’s General Store, which sells hand-dipped ice cream and an array of train toys. It houses a Thomas the Tank Engine table stocked with wooden trains and tracks for hands-on playing. A model train that encircles the store adds to the fun.
Kids love to sit in the enclosed train car for some odd reason…Don’t worry, there are plenty of open-air cars to choose from too!
Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum
The Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum boasts the world’s largest collection of vintage fire trucks, ranging from a 1725 English hand pumper to more modern engine-powered models. This attraction will probably take about one hour to explore with young children and up to two hours with older kids who have more patience for reading the displays. You could combine a visit here with a day at the Phoenix Zoo, which is located just across the street.
Here’s just one of the shiny, beautifully-restored fire trucks on display
My family made a game of our visit by having everyone select his or her very favorite fire truck from among the museum’s more than 90 vehicles. Most of the trucks are strictly hands-off, which made wrangling two curious youngsters a wee bit nerve-wracking. There is one climb-aboard fire engine for make-believe, albeit stationary, rescue missions.
Browse the display of wacky fire helmets from various countries and time periods, including some with fancy, unnecessary decorations
There is also a touching memorial to fallen fire rescue heroes, with a special display for those who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Towers in New York.
Arizona Science Center
I have been to my fair share of science museums, and let me tell you, the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix rocks! With hands-on experiments complete with nobs to crank and buttons to push, children are too busy having fun to realize they’re learning something too! You definitely could (and should!) spend a whole day exploring the center.
Leo trying to figure out one of a multitude of the center’s interactive displays
The coolest part is the Forces of Nature exhibit, which simulates natural phenomena for those brave enough to step aboard the “stage” to experience the five-minute show (which repeats every 15 minutes). It was too scary for my toddler and preschooler, but I saw lots of school-aged kids, teenagers, and adults nervously laughing as they experienced a (mild) earthquake, wind storms, thunder, lightning, and more.
My friend, Erin, and her daughter, Hannah exploring another exhibit
Arizona Museum of Natural History
If pressed, I would say the Arizona Museum of Natural History is my favorite of these four attractions. This museum, located in Mesa, will probably take about half a day for your family to enjoy.
Kids and grown-ups alike are drawn to the museum’s Dinosaur Mountain
Most impressive is Dinosaur Mountain, a display of life-sized animated dinosaurs on a cliff with booming “flash floods” that send water gushing down the display every 23 minutes.
Be sure to head outside to participate in Karissa’s favorite activity at this museum – panning for gold
At this museum, you can wander through the Lost Dutchman Mine exhibit and “lock up” your family members in its jail cells. Then explore a Hohokam village, stopping to grind some maize with stone tools and put together giant puzzle pieces to form pictures of Native American pottery.
As you can see, Phoenix isn’t just about shopping and golf. There are plenty of fun, educational attractions for families to enjoy during a visit to the Valley of the Sun!
What is your favorite Phoenix-area family attraction? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving
• San Diego Zoo’s Best Beasts, Eats, and Treats
• Texas Hill Country Family Activities
• Top 10 Disneyland Rides and Attractions for Babies and Toddlers
A note from the Travel Mama: My family and I received complimentary passes to the Arizona Science Center and the Arizona Museum of Natural History.
Tags: Arizona, dinosaurs, hall of flame, ice cream, mesa, miniature train, museum of natural history, Phoenix, playground, science center, Scottsdale
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | No Comments »
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Texas Hill Country is a beautiful place to explore. The region encompasses 14,000 square miles in the center of the state and is made up of 55 cities/areas including San Antonio and Austin. Although many people associate the Hill Country with bed & breakfasts and antique stores, there are also plenty of places to explore with your kids. The best part? Many of these activities are inexpensive or free of charge.
Here are my five favorite Hill Country activities:
1. Zilker Park and the Zilker Zephyr
Zilker Park is a great place to spend the day. You can take a swim in the Barton Springs pool, stroll down the winding walking trails, fly a kite in an open field, or visit this city park’s large playground. Our daughter’s favorite Zilker Park activity? The Zilker Zephyr, a miniature train that makes a 20-minute loop through the park.
The view of the Austin skyline from the Zilker Zephyr train
2. Greune General Store and Cowboy Kringle
The town of Gruene, located north of San Antonio, is filled with Texas landmarks, including the famous Gruene Hall. Among this town’s treasures is the Gruene General Store, a place brimming with Texas personality. Old wooden floorboards that creak as people walk by and a counter where you can sit and order an sundae or soda make this a place you’ll remember. If you visit during the holiday season, stop by the general store to meet Cowboy Kringle, the Texas version of Santa Claus!
Downtown Gruene is a great place to eat, listen to live music, or meet Cowboy Kringle
3. Cibolo Nature Center
A short drive from San Antonio is the Hill Country town of Boerne, where you’ll find the FREE Cibolo Nature Center. It consists of hiking trails, prairies, marshes, a creek…in other words, 100 acres of wilderness. Consider bringing a picnic lunch. You can nab a perfectly-located picnic table near the creek.
Have a picnic at this lovely spot at the Cibolo Nature Center, near the beautiful creek and the twisted roots of tall trees
4. Yummy Treats and Some Texas History in Castroville
Haby’s Bakery specializes in delicious baked goods that have a European flare. From traditional desserts to colorful cookies, this bakery offers a wide variety of treats at reasonable prices. Take your goodies with you and eat them down the street in a small park called September Square. Next, visit Landmark Inn State Historic Site. This park/inn/historic site is a beautiful place to talk a stroll and learn a little history along the way.
Landmark Inn Historic Site in Castroville is a beautiful place to take a stroll…and a nice spot to eat those pastries you picked up at Haby’s
5. A Walk through Downtown Fredericksburg
This area is filled with historic buildings and fun shops. Make sure to stop in the town’s Marktplatz (Main Square). Here you’ll see a distinctive octagonal building called Vereins Kirche, which now houses a small museum. After your visit, head to the Clear River Pecan Company to enjoy an ice cream cone.
Market Square in Fredericksburg is a great place to pose for photos
Hill Country encompasses what Texas is all about: a rich historical tradition, good food, and plenty of personality. I’m not a native Texan, but I think the Hill Country is really the heart of the Lone Star State.
Sarah V. writes a family travel blog called Wandering Off, which focuses on her family’s adventures through Texas. She loves nothing more than jumping in the car, firing up the GPS, and seeing where the road takes her. To go along on her adventures, follow her on Twitter at @wandering_off.
What Texas Hill Country activity would you most like to try? Please leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• 5 Yosemite Kid-Sized Adventures
• JW Marriott San Antonio – Where Luxury Combines with Good Ol’ Family Fun
• Top 5 Things to Do in San Antonio
Tags: hill country, ice cream, miniature train, picnic, texas
Posted in Interviews & Guest Posts, Where to Travel with Kids | 5 Comments »
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
With a couple of notable exceptions, my family’s most memorable Epcot moments happened when exploring the less-known, low-key, hands-on stuff more than when riding the popular rides. When traveling with toddlers and young children to any of the Disney parks, it’s best to do some research and develop a list of must-see attractions and then let your kids’ energy level and interests guide the way.
In planning your visit, keep in mind that Epcot is huge. In fact, it’s double the size of the Magic Kingdom. On two separate days I thought I could get away with using just one single stroller for my twenty-three-month-old, and twice I wound up renting a second stroller for my almost-five-year-old’s tired tootsies. To maximize your walking efforts, here are eight attractions and simple pleasures that you might want to squeeze into a visit any Epcot visit with a child or toddler.
World Showcase Attractions
Street Performers
Each of the 11 pavilions representing different countries in Epcot’s World Showcase has its own culturally-inspired form of live entertainment. While it’s tempting to hurry the kids along to the next country on the park’s map, take a moment to stop and watch these performances as you come across them. My kids were enthralled by the Chair Balancing Act in France, the Taiko Drummers in Japan, and the Dragon Legend Acrobats in China.
The Taiko Drummers in the Japan Pavilion
The United Kingdom’s Hedge Maze & Toy Shop
It’s easy to miss the hedge maze tucked in the back corner of the United Kingdom. Despite its small size, my kids could have played here for at least an hour if I hadn’t nudged them along after a few giggle-infested run-throughs. Afterwards, be sure to pop into the UK’s darling toy shop, The Toy Soldier, especially if your little one is obsessed with trains as is my son. Why? There’s a Thomas the Tank Engine table complete with wooden tracks and choo-choos aplenty. If you need a reprieve from the lines, the heat, the cold, or the whining – a visit here will buy you some time as the kids zoom the trains around the tracks.
My daughter zipping through the United Kingdom Pavilion’s hedge maze
Germany’s Model Railroad
Speaking of trains…the model railroad in the Germany pavilion is another delightful low-key attraction that young children adore. My kids literally jumped for joy when they first caught sight of the miniature trains chugging around a scaled-down version of a German village.
The miniature train in the Germany Pavilion
The Outpost’s Drums
The Outpost is not one of the main country pavilions. This little area representing African cultures is sandwiched between the Germany and China pavilions. Its only restaurant is a fast food stand called the Refreshment Outpost. But The Outpost does have one major draw for kids of all ages…big ol’ drums! It was hard to pull my kids away from the joy of thumping on these instruments! There are drums and other African-inspired instruments for sale at an adjoining store.
My son beating a drum in The Outpost
Mexico’s Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
This ride featuring Donald Duck and two other animated “cowboy” bird characters is reminiscent of another toddler favorite, It’s a Small World (minus the annoying song). The Gran Fiesta Tour is one of only two rides in the World Showcase. The other one, the Maelstrom in Norway next door, should be avoided with very young children. While it’s not a very fast ride, the troll and dark theme frightened both my kids to pieces.
The Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion
Future World Attractions
Living with the Land
I was surprised by how much both my children were intrigued by Living with the Land. Teens looking for thrill rides might find this one boring, but my young kids enjoyed naming all of the veggies in site on this mellow 14-minute boat tour of futuristic greenhouses that grow real plants.
Edible flowers and herbs growing in the Living with the Land greenhouse ride
Club Cool
This is a tasty little distraction for all ages. Go here for free samples of Coca-Cola Company drinks from around the world. Even my 23-month-old got a kick out of putting his little cup up to the dispenser and pressing the button to fill it up (with my help)…again…and again…and again. My favorite was the red berry Fanta Colita from Costa Rica but my kids, who had never tried soda before and didn’t like the bubbles, preferred the non-carbonated Japanese Vegitabeta health drink.
Free refreshments and fun at Club Cool
The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion
This ride was the absolute highlight of my daughter’s Walt Disney World vacation. In fact, it is because of The Seas with Nemo & Friends Ride that Karissa has declared her preference for Epcot over the Magic Kingdom. Her Grandma Ellen took her on this ride six times in a row, thanks to short lines on a very chilly February day. Both she and her brother were mesmerized by the Nemo characters interspersed with real-live fish, as they rode along in their huge clamshells. Afterwards, we walked through the 5.7 million-gallon Sea Base and Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium to view more fish, sharks, manatees, and dolphins. Don’t miss Turtle Talk with Crush for an interactive, animated 3-D show where kids can really chat with Crush, the surfer-dude turtle from the Finding Nemo movie.
Real-live “Nemo” fish in the aquarium in the Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion
There is so much to see and experience at Walt Disney World, it’s easy for kids to become over-stimulated and for parents to feel frazzled. My favorite Disney vacation memories occur when I slow down and focus on the little moments…like the look of pride on my son’s face when he held out his little cup to fill it up with a colorful drink at Club Cool all by himself (well, with a little help)…and the joyous sound in my daughter’s voice when she asked (for the fifth time), “Can we ride Nemo again?”…and the way my kids jumped up and down, and shouted, ”Choo-choo!” when they spied the miniature train in the Germany Pavilion. That’s what Disney magic is all about.
What is your favorite Epcot ride, attraction, or memory? Leave a comment below!
Here’s a fun little video I created about our vacation with photos of my family members using a free Disney program. You can create one too using your own photos. Check it out! It’s fun!
I’m starring in my very own magical Disney Vacation video, check it out!
You might also like:
• How to Plan a Disney World Vacation
• Inspiration from a Disney Expert
• Nickelodeon Suites Resort – A Family Hotel with Amusements Galore
• Top 10 Disneyland Rides & Attractions for Babies & Toddlers
A note from the Travel Mama: I attended the Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World in February 2010 along with other blogging moms and dads. The cost to attend this three-day event was $350, which included conference attendance, lodging for four, some meals, Park Hopper tickets, and some swag. I will always let you know if I receive any sort of discount or complimentary goods or services related to a blog post. Learn more about Disney Social Media Moms and read blog posts specifically about that event on 5 Minutes for Mom.
Tags: aquarium, epcot, miniature train, Nemo, preschoolers, rides, Thomas the Tank Engine, toddlers
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | 3 Comments »
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