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We're a family of six, with plans to see the world, one spot at a time.

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Currently in San Diego, California. Planning grown-ups only trip to Boston and Quebec City.

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San Diego Attractions - What to do with Kids

By Jen | January 23, 2009

If you’re looking for a special place to take your family this year that offers endless fun, San Diego is ideal. This coastal city has great, sandy beaches and beautiful weather year round. There is something for all ages to find to do in San Diego. With all of the family oriented attractions, you’re sure to find something to please even the pickiest members of your family.

The San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, offers visitors a view of over 4,000 different animals. The Skyfari, which is a gondola lift, offers you aerial views of the park. This zoo is famous for housing the first giant panda baby born in North America. Currently, four giant pandas are on display. Some of the other major exhibits at the zoo include the Polar Bear Plunge. This exhibit houses 30 different species of animals including deer and polar bear. These animals are separated by a moat for safety, but when a visitor approaches the exhibit, it appears to be one huge enclosure.

Monkey Trails and Forest Tales is another great family destination. It showcases monkeys and other animals from the rainforests of Asia and Africa. The Wild Animal Park is an expansion of The San Diego Zoo. It offers views of a large number of animals from other continents. These animals are allowed to live in an expanded and open zoo setting. There are over 2500 animals at the park, and many of them are endangered.

Another option for family fun in San Diego is Lego Land. Who doesn’t love those fun little building blocks from their childhood? Now the entire family can ride on roller coasters that look as though they are built completely from Lego blocks.

Legoland is an interactive park that is designed for children ages 2 to 12, but all ages have incredible fun at this family fun stop. You can also purchase Lego blocks by the pound. Your Lego purchases will be held at the front desk until you are ready to leave.

Sea World is another fabulous family attraction in San Diego. It is a marine zoological park that is built on 22 acres located on the shores of Mission Bay. It is home to Shamu, the world’s most famous killer whale. The dolphin shows are literally a big splash at the park and you and your family will not want to miss it. You just have to get a little water on you if you want the full Sea World experience. This is one of San Diego’s most beloved spots and there are over one million visitors to these gates annually.

The beaches of San Diego cannot be overlooked as a family destination. Coronado Silver Strand Beach offers access from four different parking lots, and the sloping shoreline makes the beach safe for children. The Del Mar location is another great family beach. This location is perfect for picnics and the grassy area above the beach has a large and modern playground for the children. A lifeguard is also on site so swimming can be done at almost any time.

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Romantic Holiday to Boston and Quebec City

By Jen | January 22, 2009

My apologies for the quick post today.  I am down with the flu and doing my best to sit upright.

Today I started researching best travel deals for my birthday trip to Boston and Quebec City occurring in April.  I turn 40 and when asked what I wanted to do for the big day, realized that I really wanted to spend a nice holiday away with my husband.

For a variety of reasons, we chose to fly into Boston, spend a few days in Boston, then rent a car, and drive up to Quebec City for a few days.  We’ll return to Boston at the end of the trip to fly home.

I hopped onto Sidestep.com to do a quick comparison of airline ticket costs from San Diego to Boston.  Imagine my surprise when the lowest fare I found was $211…round trip!  With a little more digging, I found that American Airlines had the best price with the best departure and arrival times.  Total cost for two tickets was:  $586.00, including taxes and fees.  Book it!

Now that I have that out of the way, I can focus on where we should stay in Boston and Quebec City.  I prefer vacation rentals to hotels or bed and breakfasts for the privacy it provides, along with keeping down the cost of food while traveling.

I’ll keep you posted with future planning as we get closer to <gasp!> my big 4-0.

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Six Tips for Healthy Travel

By Jen | January 21, 2009

Luckily, I don’t often get sick until AFTER we’re returned home from a vacation.  Exhaustion always catches up with me and will knock me down for a day or two.  But who cares?  At that point, I’m home and comfortable in my own bed!

However, there are things you can be doing to help prevent illness during your trip…and after you return, too.  Honestly, these are all things your mom’s been telling you for years, so maybe it’s time to pay attention.

1.  While flying, drink lots of water.  Try to drink 4 or more ounces for every hour you’re in the air.

2.  Boost your immune system before you go.  Eat right, get your vitamins and supplement with echinacea and Vitamin C prior to departure.

3.  Get plenty of rest before and during your trip.  To avoid jet lag, upon arrival to your destination, immediately get into the swing of things in whatever time zone you’re in.  Time for bed?  Then hit the hay.  Hours before bedtime?  Then stay up and active until your usual bed time arrives.

4.  Wash your hands!  Bring handiwipes and hand sanitizer in case washrooms aren’t readily available.

5.  During your flight, get up and walk around.  Exercise helps keep the blood moving, lowering significantly the risk of getting potentially life threatening blood clots.

6.  Eat well.  Pack extra goodies like trail mix, protein bars, and nuts.

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The How To of Travel Journal Writing

By Jen | January 20, 2009

Don’t you love it when you go to the mailbox and discover something in there other than bills or supermarket mailers?  Today, I received my travel writing prizes, the ones I earned in a drawing after contributing to Heifer.org (do you know about Heifer?  If not, go check it out.  If you do, go donate some bunnies or a goat, please!).

The two books I received from travel writer Dave Fox are:

He was even kind enough to autograph them.  I love autographed books!

Since I’m new to travel writing, I’m excited to learn some great tips on keeping a travel journal with Dave’s “Globejotting”.  During yesterday’s visit to the Quail Botanical Gardens, I wandered around, spiral notebook and pen in hand, and took down some notes.  Looking back, I see that amounted to about five lines total and consisted of phrases like “children’s garden,” “picnic tables,” and “whole wheat breads.”  Not exactly much to work with, is it?

Tonight, I dig in.  Boys don’t know it yet, but it’s early to bed for them!

To read about Dave and his books, go to www.davethefox.com

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Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas

By Jen | January 19, 2009

quail-botanical-gardensSince the boys had Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off from school, we made plans to meet up with some friends of mine at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas.  We arrived around 11:45 am and enjoyed the grounds until 3:00 pm before Mike tired out.  We didn’t get to see everything in the gardens, but spent a lot of time in the Children’s Seeds of Wonder area and the Walled Garden.  The boys also really liked the Bamboo Garden.

The park is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily (except Christmas and New Years Day).  They offer free admission on the first Tuesday of every month.  Admission costs are $10 for adults ($7 for military), $5 for kids 3-12, and free for children 2 and under.  Parking is $1.

I’ll be adding more information about the Quail Botanical Gardens on my website soon, including pictures of our trip and more details about what to do there.

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Riding Around the Mission Bay Marina

By Jen | January 18, 2009

In addition to blogging and web site building, I’m also taking a travel writing course.  Since travel writing is a new venture for me, I figured it’s best if I learned from a pro.  Below is my first assignment, a diary of a day out we enjoyed around San Diego’s Mission Bay.

Blue.  Aqua.  Sapphire.  Ultramarine.

There are many ways to say it, but none quite grasp the true blue of the water meeting the sky at San Diego’s Mission Bay Park.

With over 4000 acres at your feet, the park is part gym, part playground, and part…well, party.  Boaters, bladers and bathing beauties come together, sandwiched in with tourists, families, and seniors, to explore every inch the park offers.  Starting just east of Pacific Beach and north of La Jolla, the park holds miles of biking and walking paths that weave through the city, connecting Ocean Beach with Mission Beach and Sea World with Belmont Park.  Children’s parks, calm beaches, and boat docks pepper the area, too, making this huge playground one of San Diego’s hottest destinations.

Today, we ride.  We’re two parents and two little boys, cruising the bike path from the San Diego Visitors Center to wherever, heading south, biking as far as our four year old’s legs will carry him.  As always, it’s safety first, so we cover our noggins with cycling helmets and slather on the sunscreen.  With sea water lapping the sand on our right and acres of grass dotted with frisbee players and barbeques smoking away on our left, we start.

Dad and Will manage their own wheels and I pull Mike behind me on a trail-a-bike, hoping his usually limitless energy means he’ll pedal every now and again.  Thankfully, these paths run smooth and flat, but I’ll still take any help I can get.  Held to a maximum speed of just 8 miles an hour, we truly do cruise, dodging fitness walkers, runners, and groups of visitors queuing up for photo ops.

Nowhere to go, we just ride.  As we roll past the busy playground near Tecolote Shores, we promise the boys “Later.  We’ll come back later to play” before the question even leaves their lips.   Up ahead, Sea World’s Sky Tower lures us with promises of shark exhibits, dolphins gliding through the water, and funnel cake.  But not today.  We’re riding.

We pedal by family reunions and birthday parties.  We cruise by pickup softball games and rounds of croquet.  We watch small children paddling in shallow waters, water wings holding them upright.  The smell of broiling hot dogs and hamburgers mixes with the clean, salty air of the beach and we keep rolling along.

Fiesta Island speeds by, as does South Shores Park and Sea World (”Later!”).  At Robb Field Skate Park, we take a much needed water break and admire the mostly-male skateboarders zip up, down and around the concrete obstacles, defying gravity and their parents’ gasps of “Oh my!” as they fly.

Moments later, as we continue our journey to nowhere, both boys start calling, “I’m hungry!”

“In-and-Out for burgers?” I ask, and with a nod of assent from my husband, we start riding with a destination in mind.

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Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Park in Carlsbad

By Jen | January 17, 2009

This little gem of a state park is perfect for a quick visit with kids.

Also known as “Rancho de los Kiotes,” this former home of actor Leo Carrillo is now a historic place with over 27 acres to explore. Carillo is best known as Pancho in the Cisco Kid TV series.  He also loved coming home to his working ranch on weekends, away from the hustle and bustle of TV show and movie making in Los Angeles.

Now home to restored adobe buildings (restoration of the property is ongoing) and gardens filled with palm trees, pepper trees, bougainville, and agave, there is plenty here for you and your children to explore.  If your children are small, it’s best to bring a stroller, and the grounds may not be easy to navigate for those with walking limitations, but it’s a peaceful, pleasant way to idle away an hour or two.  And best of all…it’s free!

You can wander the grounds at your leisure, but be sure to hit the highlights.

Stop by the Caretaker’s House first to pick up a free ranch guide that includes a map and interesting facts about the homestead.  During your visit, check out the stables and barn, peek through the art studio and admire the pool (no swimming allowed though!), and enjoy the site of peacocks and peahens strolling the paths.  These fabulous birds are direct descendents of the peafowl originally brought to the rancho by Leo Carrillo himself.  Many spots are quite picturesque, so bring your camera too!

The park is closed on Mondays, but open all other days, starting at 9:00 am (11:00 am on Sundays).  If a guided tour suits your fancy, check out the tours on Saturdays and Sundays, when Friends of Carrillo Ranch serve as your hosts.

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Joie de Vivre Hotels

By Jen | January 16, 2009

Many years ago, when my husband John and I honeymooned in San Francisco, I happened upon a perfect boutique hotel.

Just blocks from Union Square and within walking distance to Chinatown, the Hotel Rex served our needs completely.  Early each morning John would head for a nearby bakery and return with a yummy chocolate croissant for me and a cherry turnover and coffee for himself.  Then we’d either walk to the nearest cable car stop or trip over to Chinatown for open-air market shopping.

Whenever we return to San Francisco, whether as a couple or with the kids, I always check Joie de Vivre Hotels, the owners of Hotel Rex and many other charming hotels, for reservations.  Besides the Rex, we’ve also enjoyed the Hotel Del Sol, a family-friendly lodge located in the Marina District.  With roomier rooms and a small pool just right for kids, the sunny atmosphere and proximity to the water will keep you and your family busy.

What do we like about these hotels so much?  The staff is always courteous and friendly.  Rooms are small, but clean and charming.  They tend to be centrally located so wherever you want to be in San Francisco, you’re likely to find a JDV Hotel closeby.  The price is right.  You can also sign up for their email newsletter and get special discounts non-members don’t hear about.

Maybe it’s San Francisco, maybe it’s the hotel, but we’ve never had a bad trip.  Even our kids, ranging in age from 17 to 4 will say it’s one of their favorite destinations.

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Visiting the Children’s Pool - La Jolla

By Jen | January 15, 2009

The Children’s Pool in La Jolla is always worth a visit with kids.  This great little harbor once kept small children safe as they played in the surf, but over the years, harbor seals discovered this safe haven and claimed it as their own.

Ongoing disputes exist between those that want it to stay a refuge for the seals and those that want to take it back for the people.  Whatever your view, your chidren will love getting pretty close to these adorable mammals.  The sand itself, where the seals sleep, is off limits, but there is plenty of available space to watch them frolic.

Nearby is a park where your kids can run wild and tidepools too, that are perfect for exploring.  Best of all, this spot is free to enjoy!

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Day Trip with Kids to Anza Borrego State Park

By Jen | January 14, 2009

Recently, the five of us took our old Suburban out to the desert, for a little 4X4ing and hiking.  We met up with some other desert enthusiasts at Box Canyon, which turned out to be a fun hike that we all enjoyed.

January through March is an ideal time to visit the desert.  Recent rains and warm weather will bring out the flowers, so bring a camera.  Other places to check out that your kids will enjoy:

Split Mountain and Fish Creek Wash
Adjacent to towering cliffs, this wash-bottom is perfect for quick hikes and exploring.  Keep an eye out for lizards, beetles, and Rock wrens.  Keep hiking the trail for a mile or so and you’ll discover wind caves, another favorite spot our kids love.

San Felipe Wash at Tamarisk Grove
Park along the roadway outside the campground and walk in the wide wash behind the camps. Walk east and you are in a wide open arroyo with an interesting smoke tree and desert willow forest. Watch for cactus wrens, ravens, lizards and coyote tracks.

Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail
Take this easy hike to see waterfalls.  If you keep going, you’ll find a beautiful panorama of the Borrego Badlands.


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