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Posts Tagged ‘restaurants’
Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Looking back on our summertime mommy-daughter trip to Puerto Rico, all of the delicious food we ate plays a starring role in many of our favorite vacation memories! From traditional Puerto Rican cuisine to kid-friendly fine dining and refreshing treats – there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy in San Juan.
A plate of Puerto Rican greasy goodness
Traditional Puerto Rican Cuisine
To get a taste of traditional Puerto Rican cuisine, we went to Raices. All of the adults ordered some version of Mofongo; mashed green plantains served with a choice of protein. I got mine with garlic shrimp. While it was tasty, I preferred the side of fried ripe plantains. Yum!
Be sure to get a side order of fried sweet plantains at Raices!
Upscale Meal WITH the Kids
If you’d like a fancier meal but don’t want to book a sitter, look no further than Jam Rum Bar & Bistro Moderne! This restaurant has a modern, candy-colored decor, serves scrumptious food, and offers a “kids’ lounge.” When the kids got restless, we sent them off to play with building blocks, color with crayons, and watch movies in this little room just around the corner from the dining area.
Kids’ Lounge at Jam Restaurant
In addition to a wide variety of tropical drinks and fine wines for adults, Jam also offers a menu of Kidtinis. With names like the Chocotini and Kidsmopolitan, how could we resist? My succulent, savory, creamy entree of Puerto Rican pork with pumpkin risotto was worth the multitude of calories. For dessert I ordered a chocolate mousse served with a crumbly chocolate cookie and a shot of coconut rum…mmm…heaven!
Mama’s Pomegranite Sangria and my daughter’s No Tequila Sunrise
A Refreshing Treat
One day we ventured to El Morro, the oldest fortress in Puerto Rico and a perfectly windy spot for kite-flying and a refreshing Piragua (snow cone). The vender formed our frosty treats by scrape, scrape, scraping a large block of ice. There were 19 flavors to choose from, with exotic options like sesame seed, molasses, and guava plus traditional choices like cherry, lime, and grape.
My daughter slurping up her grape piragua at El Morro
Breakfast at San Juan Marriott
Each morning we started our day at the San Juan Marriott with either room service or the plentiful breakfast buffet at La Vista Restaurant. The array of pastries (like M&M muffins!) and selection of fresh fruits were a big hit with my five-year-old, Karissa. I appreciated the vanilla-flavored oatmeal and the made-to-order omelets.
Just a peek at the extensive breakfast buffet at the San Juan Marriott
New Latin-Themed Restaurant at San Juan Marriott
This restaurant will get a much-needed renovation this fall (2010). One night during our stay we were treated to a sampling of the new, Latin-themed menu. The best part was the Puerto Rican-style shrimp ceviche, made with Grand Marnier and coconut.
Puerto Rican shrimp ceviche at La Vista Restaurant
Italian Night in San Juan
My favorite meal at the resort was at the fancier Italian Ristorante Tuscany. In my opinion, pasta is this restaurant’s strong suit. I particularly enjoyed the appetizer Fiocci, darling little purse-shaped pasta topped with a creamy cheese sauce served alongside a gorgonzola and pear salad. The tray of scrumptious mini desserts was a big hit too!
Dessert tray at Ristorante Tuscany
Take Home a Taste of Puerto Rico
Looking for a unique, affordable souvenir that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than the local drugstore, where you can stock up on sugary treats made of coconut, sesame seeds, mango, and more. Do you prefer savory snacks? Pick up a bag of fried garlic plantains instead. Or, grab a bottle of Puerto Rican rum to mix up some tropical fruity drinks once you return home.
Puerto Rican candies and snacks
After all of this wonderful food, is it any wonder that I gained two pounds in a few short days on this vacation? Ahhh…but it was so worth it!
What is your favorite Puerto Rican dish or restaurant? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• A Day on the Farm in Sicily
• A Mommy-Daughter Vacation in Puerto Rico
• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving
• Romance at Disneyland
A note from the Travel Mama: My daughter’s and my flight, accommodations, and many other expenses for this trip were paid for by the San Juan Marriott. I always provide my honest opinions, regardless of who’s footing the bill.
Tags: fried plantains, Jam, marriott, mofongo, piragua, Puerto Rico, Raices, restaurants, San Juan
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | 6 Comments »
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Many parents who have a child with severe food allergies opt not to travel because they fear a negative allergic reaction away from home. Our lives changed forever when we discovered our daughter, Chloe, has severe allergies to milk, egg, wheat, and peanut. My husband and I have always loved to travel and we can’t imagine giving up visiting faraway friends and family and seeing the world with our two children. Travel with a food-allergic child is possible. It just takes preparation, communication, and vigilance!
At home, we prepare safe food for Chloe and we control her environment to avoid accidental reactions. Travelers, however, are at the mercy of uncontrolled surroundings, especially when it comes to food. In restaurants, on airplanes, and at stops along the highway it can be a tricky game to find safe food. Here’s what we do to make sure our daughter stays safe on the go.
Kate and Chloe posing beside a statue of Sacagawea and Jean Baptiste at Fort Clatsop, Oregon in 2009
Road Trips
Before long road trips, I pack a bag full of “Chloe-safe” snacks such as fruit, safe store-bought pretzels, juice boxes, raisins, and homemade muffins. I also pack a “Non-safe” bag of travel snacks because, let’s face it, it’s not always possible to please everyone with Chloe-safe choices.
On the road, we have learned which convenience foods and fast-food items are safe. Cross-contamination is also an issue – we can’t just pull ham out of a sandwich. Usually, safe snacks are of the “potatoes fried in oil” variety, such as plain potato chips or french fries. These aren’t the healthiest options, but if it comes down to unsafe but healthy, or unhealthy but safe, I’ll take the second choice!
Dining Out
In restaurants, I communicate with the server extensively and politely. Often the chef will make something special, especially in fancier places.
If traveling to a foreign country, you can purchase Select Wisely food and travel translation cards. These handy cards are available in a numerous languages to make it easy to tell wait staff about food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Air Travel
The food allergy community is very concerned about airlines serving peanuts on flights, and rightly-so! Some people are so allergic to peanuts they will go into anaphylaxis just by breathing in or making skin contact with peanut dust. Thankfully Chloe is not that allergic but she still cannot eat the pretzels or other airline snacks. Therefore we are sure to bring our own snacks onboard.
Airline travel presents families with food allergies another challenge: getting through security with medicines. In a sturdy zippered pouch that lives in my purse are Chloe’s Benadryl and Epi-Pens in original packaging, along with a copy of the food allergy treatment plan signed by her physician. I remove all of these and show them to the agents as we move through the security line. Only once have we been stopped so the officials could test a partially-used bottle of Benadryl.
On our recent trip to Europe, what concerned me most was the long flight. What if something happened in the air over the Atlantic? That was the only time I felt the need to inform the flight attendant of Chloe’s allergies. On domestic flights we don’t bother. The flight attendant appreciated our preparation and communication. She said, “You would not believe how many parents expect us to come to the rescue when their kid has a reaction!”
Explore the World!
Our travel experiences with Chloe have been very positive because we are proactive. We understand the nature of her allergies and make careful choices based on this information. Traveling with a child who has food allergies requires some extra planning, but the rewards of seeing loved ones and exploring the world together as a family is well worth it!
Kate Newmyer is the author of Chloe’s Food Allergies, a blog about dealing with the emotional and logistical aspects of parenting a food allergic child. Kate and her husband, Daniel, love to travel with their two children, Andrew (age four), Chloe (age two) and their nephew, Morgan Hart (age 16). Chloe had her first anaphylactic reaction and was diagnosed with severe food allergies at eight-months-old.
Do you have any tips for traveling with food allergies? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• A Road Trip Experiment: Eat While You Drive. Stop to Play
• Children’s Motion Sickness No More
• How to Stay Healthy & Fit While Traveling
• 10 Commandments of Traveling with a Child Who Has Special Needs
Tags: air travel, anaphylaxis, child food allergies, restaurants, road trips, travel snacks
Posted in Air Travel, Road Trips & Cruises, How to Travel with Kids, Interviews & Guest Posts | 4 Comments »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
When my family gets itchy travel feet but our budget keeps us close to home, we head over to New Orleans, Louisiana for a weekend. The drive is a short scenic three hours away so it is perfect for a mini family vacation. When we travel to New Orleans, we love to just wander around and relax. We have been making this trip with our two children (ages three and five) for several years now and have found many ways to keep a family of four entertained in New Orleans without breaking the bank.
Jennifer’s daughter, Sera, eating a beignet along the Mississippi River in New Orleans in 2009
Hotel
When we travel, hotels are one of our biggest expenses. Finding an inexpensive hotel in New Orleans is not impossible. We have booked hotel rooms as low as $59 a night and the hotel reservation even came with a free parking coupon! Staying outside or on the outskirts of the French Quarter but still within safe walking distance can help cut hotel costs. The Queen and Crescent on Camp Street is just a short 10-minute walk from many of the famous attractions in the French Quarter. The Ambassador Hotel is just a few blocks away and although the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center is a little further in distance the price for both of these hotels is usually reasonable and parking is often included!
Activities
Our favorite free activities include walking along the Mississippi River, watching the street performers in the French Quarter, listening to the street performers sing or perform acrobatics, and wandering through the French Market Community Flea Market. The Community Flea Market is full of booths selling everything from New Orleans souvenirs to plumeria plants. You can walk along the river to hear the calliope on the Steamboat Natchez. My children listened for about 20 minutes before we could drag them away! Spend some time in Spanish Plaza at the Riverwalk Marketplace looking at the fountain and the boats on the river.
New Orleans is full of inexpensive family-friendly activities available for less than $10 per person. Visit the Louisiana Children’s Museum where children are encouraged to explore the exhibits and participate in imaginary play. Take a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar and see Tulane and Loyola University as well as beautiful homes. Wander the paths at the New Orleans Botanical Gardens or visit the Dreams Come True art exhibition with over 600 works of art from the Disney movies including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and several others, at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
If your kids are fascinated with animals and sea life like mine, you could splurge on an Audubon Experience package, which includes tickets to the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, and Insectarium. You can purchase the tickets individually but if you plan to visit all three, you save money by buying the bundled ticket.
Eating
To save money for activities, my family makes sure that we cut costs in other areas, like dining out. We carry hearty snacks like homemade granola and snack mixes with us while we are exploring. We bring sandwich fixings to make our own lunches back at the hotel room. Also, my two little ones share a meal at dinnertime. When I think of New Orleans with my family I automatically think Decatur Street, which has lots of different restaurants and shops but is more family-oriented than Bourbon Street. We head to the Crescent City Brewhouse because we can enjoy a fancier fare than a fast food restaurant and our kids have always been welcomed. Although it is a chain restaurant, we like to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company because it is loud so we don’t have to worry about our kids bothering our neighbors and it is the one place where both of my children will eat!
While wandering down Decatur Street, be sure to stop by Aunt Sally’s for a praline sample. Aunt Sally’s are the best pralines I have had. They are the only pralines my daughter will eat and I have yet to duplicate the recipe at home, even though I bought a cookbook with the actual recipe!
For a scrumptious snack or breakfast, walk to Café du Monde for beignets and chocolate milk. If it is crowded, skip the wait for a table and get in the take-out line. Often, an employee will take your order before you even get to the window. When you have picked up your beignets, walk to the Mississippi River to enjoy your treat with a view.
Why New Orleans?
When most people think of New Orleans, they picture beads tossed to a rowdy crowd drinking Hurricanes. I picture my kids covered in powdered sugar from their beignets, the smiles on their faces as they dance to the calliope, and the many adventures we have exploring the town as a family. For me, New Orleans is the perfect destination for a fun, affordable getaway with the kids!
Jennifer Close loves to explore and take new adventures with her family down the street, across the country and around the world. She writes about her adventures on her family travel blog, Two Kids and a Map, and writes about exploring Pensacola at Pensacola with Kids.
What is your favorite New Orleans attraction or activity? Please leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• How to Plan a Disney World Vacation
• Paris with Kids – C’est Magnifique!
• Top 5 Things to Do in San Antonio, Texas
• Top 10 Most Popular Travel Mamas Blog Posts – Year One
Tags: beignet, french quarter, louisiana, new orleans, restaurants
Posted in Interviews & Guest Posts, Where to Travel with Kids | 6 Comments »
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
When people ask me what’s the most important thing to know about Disney World, the answer comes easily, “You’ve got to plan!” Orlando’s Walt Disney World is more than an amusement park – it really is a vacation experience. There are four major theme parks, two water parks, and a dining and shopping district. Guests can choose to enjoy unique and wide-ranging special events, recreational activities, dining experiences, top-notch shows, parades, and character meets. Have I convinced you yet that you need to research and plan to take advantage of everything Disney World has to offer?
Here are some tips on how to prepare for a Disney World vacation to make your experience magical, memorable, and enjoyable for everyone in your family:
Create Your Own Pixie Dust
Anticipation is an exciting part of a Disney vacation! Get out your craft supplies and create a customized welcome letter from Mickey Mouse and invitations to special events your family will be attending. With stealth and a little luck, you can slip these onto your kids’ pillows for a magical surprise. You could also make a Disney-inspired tear-away calendar for a fun way to count down to D-for-Disney-Day.
Pick Your Tickets
The longer you stay, the less you pay – per day that is. The daily rate for theme park admission tickets decreases the more days you purchase. You can choose a base ticket only or add on a Park Hopper option. With the base ticket, you can visit a single park per day. With the Park Hopper option, you can visit any combination of the four theme parks each day.
Get Ready to WALK
The Disney World website lets you download customized park maps before you leave home. Prepare for the miles of walking you’ll be doing at the parks and bond with your family at the same time by “training” for Disney World with daily walks.
Create a Must-Do List
Avoid cries of “Why do we always do what he wants?” by creating a list of each family member’s must-dos. You don’t have to see and do everything; if you do, you’ll probably be so exhausted you won’t enjoy the trip.
Consider spending more than one day at a favorite park and leaving other parks for a future visit. Since dining at theme park restaurants requires park admission, knowing which park you’ll be visiting each day will help you make dining reservations.
Make Advanced Dining Reservations
At Disney World, you can eat breakfast with princesses, watch sci-fi flicks in a ‘50s drive-in during lunch, and enjoy an evening at a Polynesian luau. Selecting the Disney dining options that are best for your family will make your trip one to remember. To ensure a table at your preferred restaurants, making Advance Dining Reservations is a must! Book online or call 407-WDW-DINE up to 180 days in advance. Popular meals fill up quickly!
Consider the Disney Dining Plans
Look into the Disney Dining Plans which allow guests to purchase credits for meals at a discounted rate. Whether quick or table service meals are your pleasure, Disney has a dining plan available. Crunch the numbers – a dining plan is not for every family.
Dine In
Consider having groceries, especially beverages, delivered to your Disney hotel room from a local grocery store. You can even ship items to the hotel, which can store items until you arrive from companies such as Jet Set Babies and Babies Travel Lite. Refrigerators are available by request in all Walt Disney World lodging.
Use Magic Hours
Disney offers guests staying on-site a perk called Extra Magic Hours. Each day, one of the theme parks either opens an hour early or has extended evening hours. Disney posts a calendar of these hours about six months in advance.
Avoid Ride Overload
Mix things up by taking in an indoor show, visiting a playground, or having a light snack after enjoying a couple of rides to prevent attraction overload.
Use a FASTPASS
Using Disney’s FASTPASS system is an absolute must. Pick up a FASTPASS and return to the attraction during the designated timeframe to bypass the regular line. Before your trip, research which attractions offer FASTPASS to make the most of your time at the parks.
Make Time for Play Time
Mini golf. Outdoor movies. Sing-a-longs. Princess or pirate makeovers. Boating. Afternoon teas. All of these recreational activities and more are available at Walt Disney World. Though some of these distinctively Disney activities are costly, many are free or low-cost. Don’t overlook the exceptional afternoon parades or the awesome nightly fireworks shows.
Prepare for Special Needs
Disney goes out of its way to make every guest comfortable. If you have little ones, read up on stroller rentals, childcare options, and Disney’s Baby Care Centers. Disney’s policies make sure guests with food allergies or dietary restrictions can dine safely and enjoyably. From Electronic Convenience Vehicle (ECV) rentals and assisted listening or video captioning devices, to attractions that accommodate guests with differing mobility and more, Disney World is accessible to guests with special needs.
Get Your Questions Answered
For answers to specific questions, check out Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Between them, these moms and dads have experienced all aspects of Disney World and enjoy nothing more than passing their extensive knowledge on to others.
Win a Copy of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers
Enter to win one of two copies of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers. Retail value is $15.99. One book will be awarded to an attendee of the 2010 Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World. A second book will be awarded to any Travel Mamas reader. The winner will be contacted via email. Lisa M. Battista will provide the prizes to the winners. The contest ends on Friday, January 29, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected using RANDOM.org and will be announced on TravelMamas.com the following Monday. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
You can enter twice, using each method of entry below once:
1) Make any post-related comment below. All generic comments like, “Thanks for the contest” or “I want to win” will not count as entries. Everyone is welcome to enter! If you are a Disney Social Media Mom, be sure to mention that in your comment!
2) Tweet this contest! Copy and paste the following phrase into Twitter. Be sure to post another comment with a link to your tweet!
Win “Beyond the Attractions” – a Disney World guidebook by @DisneyExplorer http://bit.ly/7DdZA0 on @TravelMamas #DisneySMMoms
Travel Mamas Guest Blogger Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers. As a mom of three and frequent Walt Disney World Resort visitor, Lisa is continually searching for new ways to enhance the magic of Walt Disney World trips with children. You can buy her book at Amazon.com or BeyondTheAttractions.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter at @DisneyExplorer for updates about the Walt Disney World Resort.
For more information on this topic see:
• Amusement Park & Disney Resources
• Holidays at Disneyland
• PassPorter’s Top Tips for Doing Disney with Children
• Top 10 Disneyland Attractions for Babies & Toddlers
A note from Colleen Lanin, Creator and Editor of Travel Mamas: I will be attending 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 is $350, which includes conference attendance, lodging for four, some meals, and Park Hopper tickets.
Additionally, I received a copy of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers from Lisa M. Battista. I found it so useful in planning my upcoming trip that I asked her to write this guest blog post. I will be bringing my highlighted, dog-eared copy with me to Orlando!
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Tags: Disney Social Media Mom Celebration, disney world, preschoolers, restaurants, special needs
Posted in How to Travel with Kids, Interviews & Guest Posts, Where to Travel with Kids | 34 Comments »
Sunday, December 27th, 2009
I lived in Arizona for most of my childhood and I’ve been going back once or twice most years since I moved away fourteen years ago. So, what’s on my must-do list when I return, beyond visiting family and long-time friends? Eating!
There are a handful of Phoenix-area restaurants that are not merely tasty; these places cause deep-rooted cravings. As a bonus, each is an affordable option for families with children.
Here’s a list of the eateries I try to squeeze in during any trip home.
Best Burgers and Dogs
Don’t let the name scare you! Chuckbox, located just across from Arizona State University in Tempe, is THE place to go for a grilled meaty treat before or after a Sun Devils game. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches are cooked as nature intended…over a huge flaming open fire. You might as well order some beer battered onion rings or deep fried zucchini while you’re at it. Portions are huge, prices are low. The atmosphere is rustic, with wooden plank benches and glass mugs of beer or root beer. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Best Pizza and Subs
With several locations throughout Arizona, Streets of New York makes the best pizza in Arizona as far as I’m concerned. It’s not fancy; it’s just cheesy, saucy, crispy, chewy pizza goodness. Not in the mood for pizza? Get a sub instead. My Scottsdale-resident parents are devotees of the Best of Everything hot sub, layered with Capocolla ham, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pepperocini, and tasty Italian dressing all served on a warm, chewy roll. Yum!
Best Ice Cream Parlor
Nothing beats an old-fashioned ice cream parlor for a special treat, especially when you have kids! Slide into a bubblegum pink booth in Old Scottsdale’s Sugar Bowl and order my favorite, a Blarney Dream – a tall layered sundae of green mint syrup, vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge, and butter pecan ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. If that sounds too exotic, order a standard banana split, hot fudge sundae, or one of their many flavors of shakes. While you’re here, take a peek at the Family Circus drawings that adorn the walls. Artist and Sugar Bowl fan, Bil Keane, featured the Sugar Bowl in a bunch of his cartoons.
Best Coffee House
Back before Starbucks took over the world, Coffee Plantation was the forerunner of the coffee movement in the Phoenix area. My high school pals and I used to drive to Tempe on weekends to go to the original Coffee Plantation on the college town’s main street, Mill Avenue. The original location recently shut down despite its numerous loyal fans, but you can still grab a good cup of joe or an Italian soda (with cream or without) in one of two Scottsdale locations.
Best Mexican Food
While good Mexican food can be found in my adopted hometown of San Diego, for me, nothing beats Arizona’s Sonoran-style Mexican cuisine. I couldn’t narrow it down to just one, so here’s my top three picks.
Ajo Al’s has three locations in the Valley of the Sun and one in Arrowhead, Arizona. One of their house specialties, and my dish of choice, is the Pollo Con Queso – a fried chicken burrito topped with spicy cream cheese and melted cheese.
Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen is a newer find for me. A unique dish, and my husband’s all-time favorite, is the Chicken Poblano. A fresh poblano chile is filled with seasoned chicken, then breaded, cooked until crunchy, and smothered with enchilada sauce and melting cheese. If you’re a tamale fan, you must try Macayo’s green chile tamale! There are numerous Macayo’s locations to choose from throughout Arizona and Nevada.
Rosita’s Fine Mexican Food offers kitschy décor and delectable dishes in Tempe. I used to wait tables here during college and I never tired of the extensive menu. Back then, I even stopped by on my days off to get my fix of chicken enchiladas with zesty red sauce, spinach enchiladas with creamy white cheese, or crispy flautas topped with guacamole.
Do you have a favorite Phoenix area restaurant that should be added to the list? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• Beach Day in Zihuatanejo, Mexico
• 4 Phoenix Fun Spots for Kids
• San Diego Zoo’s Best Beasts, Eats, and Treats
• Top 5 Things to Do in San Antonio, Texas
Tags: Arizona, ice cream, Phoenix, restaurants, Scottsdale, Tempe
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | 6 Comments »
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
I was so impressed after reading Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids that I set up an interview with the book’s author, Meryl Pearlstein. This mom, food critic, traveler, and New York aficionado gave me her picks for her all-time favorite child-friendly sites, activities, and restaurants in the Big Apple. Read on to learn how to win one of nine copies of the Fodor’s guidebooks!
The Brooklyn Bridge with a view of the Manhattan Skyline
Best Museum for Children of All Ages
About the American Museum of Natural History, Meryl said, “What kid doesn’t love dinosaurs? The girls go crazy for the Hall of Gems and all of the diamonds. And there are the kitschy dioramas of animals from when the museum first opened. It’s a museum that every single kid loves!”
Most Child-Friendly Live Entertainment
The New Victory Theatre specializes in performances for families with children such as plays, puppet shows, dance performances, musicals, and juggling acts.
The Conservatory Garden, located in Central Park
Hidden Gem for Families
Central Park’s Conservatory Garden is a free botanical garden that provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are three formal gardens with flora, fauna, and fountains that Meryl promises all ages will find interesting.
New York’s Most Interesting Public Space
The Highline was an old rusted-out railroad track that has been transformed into what Meryl called, “an experience unto itself.” While it is not appropriate for the stroller set, teens and tweens love exploring this long, narrow elevated park from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street in the Meat Packing District. You can people watch, grab some tasty food, and watch boats on the river.
New York City’s Central Park
Favorite Free Activities in New York
A visit to Central Park costs nothing and gives visitors a real feel for the city. Plus, it’s a great place for kids to run off steam. There are street performers to watch, rocks to climb, and ball games to join. It’s also free to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to take in double breathtaking views: one of the New York skyline and one of Brooklyn. Meryl said, “There’s nothing like the Brooklyn Bridge experience!”
Best Attraction for Babies and Toddlers
Children’s Museum of Manhattan has areas specifically created for little ones to explore. An area called Play Works is an educational play area designed as a mini-city especially for toddlers. Kids also enjoy the museum’s art projects, sing-alongs, storytelling sessions, and a do-it-yourself puppet theatre.
Preferred Places for Preschoolers
Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Zoo is perfect for preschoolers because its exhibits and educational programs encourage hands-on learning about animals. Its smaller size makes it a manageable activity to tackle with young children. Coney Island’s New York Aquarium entertains children with fish and sea creatures galore as well as popular sea lion shows.
Coolest Site for Grade School Kids
Hayden Planetarium, located in the American Natural History Museum, is a favorite destination for grade school field trips, and for good reason. Kids love to come here to learn about planets, stars, and the moon. Plus, according to Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids, “Movies projected on the IMAX screen offer a perfect way to rest tired feet.”
A tree-lined street in Greenwich Village
Best Activity for Tweens & Teens
As the mom of two teenage boys, Meryl knows this age group is happiest when exploring New York’s neighborhoods. She suggests checking out St. Mark’s Place in the East Village or Bleecker Street in the West Village. Visiting a few hip stores is always a hit – like Hollister, the NBA Store, and H&M. An afternoon stop for a scrumptious dessert is a must. Meryl recommends Max Brenner’s world-renowned chocolate shop or Serendipity3, which is famous for its frozen hot chocolate.
Fantastic Family-Friendly Restaurants
As a foodie, it was difficult for Meryl to narrow down all of New York’s restaurants to name her three favorites for families. She recommends Tony’s diNapoli for Italian food served family-style on big platters for everyone to share; Virgil’s Real Barbecue for succulent barbecued chicken wings, hot links, pulled pork, hot dogs and more; and Ruby Foo’s for Asian fusion cuisine served on Lazy Susans in the center of the tables.
Meryl (a Red Sox fan) is pictured above
with her husband, Jim (a Yankees fan)
For more tips on what to see, what to do, and where to eat, buy a Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids or enter to win one below. From reading the book and talking with Meryl, it is clear that she is passionate about New York and that she loves helping others enjoy her adopted hometown. Meryl has been writing Fodor’s New York City guides since 2005. She writes restaurant reviews for Gayot.com and has written for New York Magazine and the Boston Herald. She is the mother of two boys, ages 15 and 19. Read her blog Meryl Pearlstein’s Travel and Food Notes for travel and food observations from around the world and everything New York City.
Enter to win one of nine copies of Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids. Fodor’s provided the giveaway copies as well as one copy that was sent to me to review. Travel Mamas is picking up the tab for shipping the prizes. Winners will be selected at random using RANDOM.org. Five guides will be awarded this week and another four will be awarded next week. Check back on November 23 to find out who won, how to re-enter, and to learn about traveling during the holidays in New York City with kids. You may enter up to three times, using each method of entry listed below once, by November 21, 2009. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
1) Add a comment about which New York attraction or restaurant recommended above you would most like to visit and why.
2) Sign up to Become a Travel Mama to receive the Travel Mamas bimonthly e-newsletter. Be sure to mention the Fodor’s Family:New York City with Kids giveaway in the questions or comments field on the electronic form. If you have already subscribed to our newsletter, instead post a second comment below about what you like best about TravelMamas.com.
3) Tweet about this contest on Twitter by copying and pasting the entire phrase below. After tweeting, you must post another comment with a link to your tweet!
I love NY! Visit @TravelMamas to win 1 of 9 Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids http://bit.ly/1p1XGt
For more information on this topic see:
• New York City Holiday Travel Tips for Families
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Tags: aquarium, botanical garden, Central Park, chocolate, museum, New York, restaurants, theatre, zoo
Posted in Interviews & Guest Posts, Where to Travel with Kids | 47 Comments »
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Sure, I can (and do) use guidebooks, travel magazines, and review sites to plan my family trips. But asking the locals where to go feels so much more fun, immediate, and real. Here are some ways to find local favorites in your destination.
Bed & Breakfasts
Part of the charm of staying at B&Bs is the access they provide to real-live locals. Bed & Breakfast owners are typically more than willing to share their favorite joints for good eats and path-less-taken activities.
Visitors Centers
Most towns have a visitors center with friendly, knowledgeable volunteers and staff who can direct you to a plethora of sites based on your family’s specifications. When I asked where I could take my young children to run around outdoors, the 20-something gal working at the Sonoma Valley Visitors Center in the town’s central plaza suggested we tour the gardens at CornerStone Sonoma. There are 22 unique gardens at CornerStone, each designed by a different landscape architect. Samples include a children’s garden and a miniature golf course garden. Cornerstone was the perfect place for my family to stretch its legs (and play some mini golf!), free of charge. The attraction also offers shops, a café, and wine tastings.
Hotel Concierges
It is a hotel concierge’s job to know where to go for good food and entertainment. They provide useful opinions, directions, and even coupons. A concierge may secure reservations for you at a popular restaurant that would be booked up if you placed the call yourself. Beware, however, some concierges may base their recommendations more on relationships with local businesses than on quality or appropriateness for your family.
Friends and Family
Ask acquaintances, business associates, and relatives who reside in (or often visit) your destination city. People love showing off “their town” and spreading the word about their local favorite restaurants, shops, and attractions. I asked two acquaintances where to go for dinner in San Francisco’s Chinatown and both pointed my family to the House of Nanking. Thanks to their suggestion, we dined on sublime salt and pepper prawns with mushrooms and the world’s best sizzling rice soup.
Strangers on the Street
The simplest and most adventurous approach is to ask locals on the street or at the next table for their tips. In La Spezia, Italy my husband approached a group of Italian business men and asked them where they would go to eat if they had just one day in town. We followed their directions to a nearly unmarked restaurant far from the main strip. We were the only tourists in the small, sparsely decorated restaurant. It was our last day in Italy so we ordered a gluttonous amount of food – an antipasto plate of meats and cheeses plus three plates of pasta for the two of us. We also ordered a penne marinara for our sleeping toddler. Since she slept through the whole meal, we somehow found space in our crowded stomachs to eat her dish as well! We still talk about this meal longingly and I often order ravioli ragout, hoping in vain to recapture the flavors of that unforgettable meal. I wish I could tell you the name and location of this rustic little gem, but I can’t. You’ll just have travel to La Spezia yourself and ask the locals where to find the best pasta in town.
What’s the best travel tip you have ever received from a local? Do you have a tip on your hometown you’d like to share? Leave a comment below!
For more information on this topic see:
• Travel Planning, Booking & Reviews Resources
• Trip Reports & Destinations
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Tags: bed & breakfast, local favorites, path less taken, restaurants
Posted in Grown-Up Getaways, How to Travel with Kids | 4 Comments »
Monday, May 11th, 2009
Is it a good idea, or even possible, to turn sin-city into kid-city? I pondered this question during a five-hour road trip to Las Vegas last month. I knew the city’s usual activities – the gambling, the shows, and the bar-hopping – would not be the focus of a trip with a four-year-old and a one-year-old. I did not realize, however, the “child-friendly” entertainment on the Strip was geared almost entirely toward older kids and teens.
 My preschooler, Karissa, was thrilled when we pulled into our new “home” – the blue and red turreted castle, Excalibur. The magic ended there. Since Excalibur is one of the older hotel casinos, the air filtration system seemed woefully less efficient than that of other casinos. The scantily-clad female dancers gyrating on a low stage near the front entrance forced us to take the long route through the cigarette-smoke-filled casino to our room each night, which worsened toddler Leo’s asthma.
There are kids’ carnival games located one floor below the casino, but our visit to the Fantasy Faire Midway was brief due to the carcinogenic smoke wafting down the stairs. Visiting Krispy Kreme each morning at the Castle Walk was the highlight of our Excalibur stay. My daughter enjoyed witnessing the circles of freshly-fried dough being doused with glaze even more than eating the donuts.
Our first night’s dinner at the Rainforest Cafe at MGM Grand was fun but a wee bit scary for my young kids. The indoor waterfalls and animatronic elephants provide a happy diversion for the kiddies while parents nibble on coconut crusted shrimp or spicy pastalaya, a cajun-style pasta dish. Beware of make-believe tropical storms, which boom and flash menacingly throughout the restaurant from time to time. Entrees range $11.99-$31.99. Kids’ menu items are $9.99-$10.99, including a drink.
The next day we followed our guidebook’s recommendation for kid-friendly activities and drove to Circus Circus. Of course, the guidebook also recommended Excalibur for children, so we should’ve known better. We wound our way through throngs of people to the Adventuredome, an indoor amusement park that charges $4-$5 per ride. I admit my daughter loved the carousel and mini Ferris wheel, but I found their selection of rides for children under 42 inches meager and ho-hum. As a Disneyland Annual Passholder, perhaps my expectations were a tad high.
If carnival games are imperative for your family, preschooler-friendly attractions are available at a more affordable price in a smoke-free environment at Chuck-E-Cheese in three Las Vegas locations. Visit their website to join the Chuck E-Club for discounts on food and tokens before you go.
After hotel room naps, we toured the Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes. My daughter delighted in placing a dollar at the foot of one of the “living statue” street performers. The gondolas and their often-singing gondoliers fascinated my children. The live opera performance in St. Mark’s Square enchanted the kids. My one-year-old laughed and clapped as he watched the performers sing and juggle. He shook his head vehemently saying, “Nay, nay, nay!” (his version of, “no”) when it was time to leave. Live performances are free. Tickets for gondola rides are $16 per person, with children two and younger riding for free.
That night we dined at Celebrity Chef Mario Batali’s Enoteca San Marco, the less expensive of Batali’s two Italian restaurants at the Venetian. To start, my husband and I split a salad of mixed greens served with pomegranate seeds, shaved parmesan, and prosciutto. It was just a salad, but wow, what a salad! Then I gobbled up my entire plate of spaghetti carbonara, a creamy pasta dish made with eggs and pancetta that I discovered during my travels through Europe as a foreign exchange college student. I can rarely find prepared properly stateside. No wonder Mr. Batali is an Iron Chef! Salads are $14; dinner entrees are $16-$30. While there is no children’s menu, Enoteca will happily prepare a small plate of pasta with butter or marinara sauce for your little one. However, with a pricetag of $15 you may want to pack a sandwich or feed the kids elsewhere beforehand.
We asked our friend, Frank Seidman, a Las Vegas resident and father of four children, where to go for off-Strip affordable family fun. Per his instructions we steered clear of the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, about which he said, “Only go if you want to see a handful of half-dead animals in tiny cages.” No thanks!
Instead, we followed Frank’s advice to drive the 15 minutes to Ethel M’s Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden in nearby Henderson. During a brief walk-through tour we witnessed workers swirling apples in tubs of caramel and boxing up chocolates. Then we indulged in a few sweets from their chocolate shop. Don’t miss the PB & J-filled milk chocolate, Ethel M’s tasty bestseller. Roaming the four acres of neatly manicured cacti and succulents that surround the factory was a welcome breath of fresh air after the artificial, indoor activities of the Strip – literally! Entrance to the factory and garden is free. Individual chocolates start at $1.50.
Afterwards we stopped by another Seidman family favorite, Silverton Casino, just a few minutes from the Strip. Silverton’s aquarium of colorful fish, stingrays, and sunken pirate treasure mesmerized the kids. Attached to the casino is Bass Pro Shop, a huge sporting goods and outdoor recreation store featuring an indoor waterfall and live ducks. The aquarium and shop provide a pleasant, free diversion for all ages.
That night we drove to Caesar’s Palace for more shopping and food. A giant fountain in the style of Rome’s Trevi Fountain impressed my children, if briefly. For dinner we chose another restaurant owned by a celebrity chef, Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. Our German waiter was a delight, chatting up my daughter and providing multiple spoons for my son’s entertainment. Adult entrée salads and pizzas start at $12, with more fancy-schmancy items going for up to $52. Mickey-Mouse-shaped pizza and other kid favorites are available for $7. Noisy families (like ours) may feel more comfortable seated on the patio than in the upscale dining room.
After dinner we visited FAO Schwartz, one of Caesar’s Forum Shops. A two-story wooden Trojan horse juts forth from the store’s entrance. An array of toys, including a nursery of adoptable lifelike baby dolls, provides entertainment for the kiddies at no cost, if you can resist making a purchase.
I have visited Las Vegas numerous times, and while I enjoy the city of a million lights, I am always ready to head home after a few days. Not so for Karissa, who cried the morning of our departure, “I don’t wanna leave Las Vegas!”
Apparently, Las Vegas is for children after all.
What are your favorite attractions, restaurants, and accommodations when traveling with children in Las Vegas? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• Child-friendly Accommodations
• Road Trips Resources
• Road Trip Tips
• Trip Reports and Destinations
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Tags: chocolate, circus circus, excalibur, Las Vegas, restaurants, zoo
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | 6 Comments »
Monday, April 20th, 2009
As parents we often endure long flights, layovers, and unexpected delays with squirming, whining children and the stares or comments from less-than-sympathetic fellow passengers. Don’t despair! Airports and airlines are offering additional services and facilities to help parents make it through, and even enjoy, flying with children.
Travel Daddy Sean Huet from New York asked Travel Mamas if we could put together a list of parent-friendly airport facilities to help during long layovers.
Well, Sean, you will be happy to know many airports now offer play areas and even babysitting services. Boston’s Logan International Airport offers play areas with a baggage-claim-style slide and climbable make-believe air control tower. San Diego’s Lindberg Field offers rocking chairs for parents. Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport provides “baby care” rooms with nursing seats and vending machines stocked with diaper-changing necessities. Some airports, like Athens International and Munich International, provide supervised childcare facilities to give traveling parents a break during layovers. To read more on airports that cater to kids, read Cookie Magazine’s Airport Survival Guide by Christina Ohly Evans.
Airlines are getting in on the child-friendly trend, too. Air France offers an in-flight kids’ channel that plays cartoons for the little ones. Virgin America has teamed up with Disney, the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. for travel entertainment. Lufthansa offers its young passengers toys themed around its mascot, Lu the traveling stork. Scandinavian Airline provides children with Pippi Longstocking travel kits.
United Arab Emirates fulfills any parent’s needs with on-board baby changing tables and bassinets, kids’ television and movie channels, special children’s meals, and Emirates’ own online and paper magazines for kids. They will even provide children with a birthday cake if flying on their birthday!
Sean also said, “The other thing we have struggled with when traveling is finding decent kid food because restaurant kid menus are all breaded chicken nuggets, fish sticks and spaghetti with nary a fruit cup or organic anything in site.” I hear ya, Daddy! Here’s an article on the best eats in airports, Eating Well on the Fly, by Joe Brancatelli, Conde Nast Portfolio.com.
What is your favorite airline or airport for children? Leave a comment about it below!
For more information on this topic see:
• Airplane Carry-On Kit for Babies & Toddlers
• Air Travel Resources
• Air Travel Tips for Babies & Toddlers
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Tags: flying with children, restaurants, travel entertainment
Posted in Air Travel, Road Trips & Cruises | 2 Comments »
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