excursions

Great Time Exploring LA's Little Tokyo

anastasia — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:58:34 -0800

We live a stone's throw from LA -- just an hour or so north -- and yet we very rarely make it down there to play. However, not too long ago, we got a wild hair going and decided to have a family trip down to Little Tokyo. Turned out to be a fabulous idea. Once a huge, thriving community supporting over 30,000 Japanese American residents, "J-town" now only has about a 1,000 elderly folks actually living in its boundaries of approx. four city blocks. You can find a brief history here on Wikipedia before you visit, if you want an interesting peek at the area's background. It's a great way to spend a half day wandering around, both the Little Tokyo Mall that is the center of the district, or the outlying areas. We began at the mall, in search of food, and some kitchy stores to meander through. We weren't disappointed. One of my fave stores was the Hikosen Cara Appleseed store -- lots of great clothes for kids (and some for adults) with a quirky, Hello Kitty feel to them. They also had Hello Kitty character items, if you were needing some. We had an excellent meal at Sushi Teri -- splitting a huge noodle bowl and a lunchbox of fish/rice/salad/sushi etc. They quickly served us and attended to our little one's needs, even though they were busy. The high chair was functional (so many places the seatbelt is broken) and well-used. The sushi chefs were very friendly and kept playing peek-a-boo with our little girl. Our waitress was also very kind and helpful. We didn't get one, because we were too full, however, there was a Bubble Tea shop in the shopping area where you could pick up one of those fabulously sweet drinks with the big tapioca pearls in the bottom. Perfect kid fodder, if you're willing to deal with the sugar high. :) We did enjoy shopping at the Nijiya Market, and found some fabulous, unusual candies (man, it was one of those days) and a great deal on organic brown rice. Definitely worth a stop if you enjoy cooking/eating Japanese food, or are looking for something out of the ordinary to try. Once you wander outside of the mall, you can access high-end shopping at places like Coach, or stuff to please your teens at American Apparel. There are several shops that cater to pre-teen and teen tastes -- video and book stores that serve up anime and manga in large quantities, and a skate-shop that would soothe any skateboarder's soul. If you're going for a bit of cultural exposure and education for your kids, be sure to stop at the Japanese American National Museum and the "Go for Broke" Monument which memorializes the Japanese Americans who served in WWII (all while their families were being rounded up and forced into interment camps back home in the U.S.). Really good to share with kids of an age who can understand -- was a very profound visit for both of us to experience. Another activity you might enjoy with older children is the Geffen Contemporary museum. We didn't get a chance to give it a whirl, definitely on our "next time" list. Little Tokyo is well worth your time.

Family Fun at the Okoboji Winter Games

PrairieCottage — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:52:29 -0800

Now in its 28th year, the mythical University of Okoboji hosts Iowa’s premier winter sporting event: the Okoboji Winter Games! January 26 -28, 2008, the Okoboji Winter Games will bring together participants to compete in events like the snowmobile poker run, broomball and minature golf on ice. PRE-REGISTRATION FOR THE GAMES IS REQUIRED. For updated & further information on events and activities, contact the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at the Okoboji Spirit Center, 243 West Broadway, PO Box 9, Arnolds Park, IA 51331 Phone 800-839-9987 or locally 712-332-2107 For luxury romantic lodging, in heart of all Winter Games activity, contact the Okoboji Country Inn. You can view their available rooms online at www.okobojicountryinn.com. For family lodging, just 10 minutes from all the activity, contact The Prairie Cottage. You can view their photos and availability online at: www.theprairiecottage.com

DuPage Children's Museum -- Truly Fabulous

anastasia — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:14:07 -0800

On a recent visit to the in-laws in Elgin, IL, my sister-in-law suggested that for once we get out of the house and explore a bit. Since we both have active toddlers, she had the perfect place for us to go -- the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville. My bro-in-law warned us that it was a bit pricey -- $7.50 for anyone ages 1-59 -- which made it a fair amount for 4 adults and two kids, age 13 and 18 months. However, the Museum allows you to take your entry fees for the day and put it toward a yearly pass on that day -- which is typically $88 for a family, so that makes it a fair deal. They have a fairly complicated membership program that you can find on their web site. Membership is also tax deductible. That said...what a museum! Oh my goodness, what I wouldn't do to have a place like this near us at home. The number of areas to choose from on the two levels we explored were astounding. The museum's emphasis is around learning through freeform, cooperative and creative exploration and they provide fodder for these experiences in spades. Whether learning about the arts (my little one LOVED the music room), science (there was a fabulous area with shadows and light, not to mention the wind and water areas) or math, every possible sensory experience could be had by the end of the day. One thing I especially appreciated was the "young explorers" rooms that catered toward the under-2 set. Made exploring safe for my 13-month-old without the larger kids running about her. The water area (complete with bubble pans to play with) was a huge hit, and I was glad for the large waterproof smocks provided, though they didn't stop my daughter from managing to soak herself through. The water was very cold, too, so good to keep in mind when letting your kidlet splash in it for extended periods. My sis-in-law warned me about the wet, so I brought a full change of clothing for my baby. I highly recommend this. Some observances about how the whole museum is set up -- downstairs is much more active and noisy, with TONS of things to run to and from. My mom-in-law (a long-time teacher) said, "This place is wonderful, but if you weren't ADD when you entered it, you might be when you leave!" What we found was upstairs was much more calming, with lots of things to sit and do, less running around. They also provide storytime, and art projects all throughout the day; good for bringing down the energy a bit. There is a nice resource room for parents, complete with a private nursing area for mom and baby. DuPage is very involved in community outreach and offers what looks to be excellent school and community programs. If you have kids with any shred of curiosity, this place will satisfy it. Building, moving, rolling, whooshing, splashing, reading, clanging, dancing, lighting, drawing, pulling, pushing, jumping -- the list can go on and on. Upon leaving, my husband and I decided that it was totally worth the ticket price. The other nice thing is that the museum is just five minutes from the charming downtown Naperville which sports a healthy number of places to eat and wander through. We chose to eat at Cosi (upon recommendation), which was the perfect treat after a busy morning. Known for their sandwiches served on flatbread, the menu had plenty of offerings beyond sandwiches (although I opted for the Tandoori chicken sandwich and YUM, oh YUM.). Salads, pizzas, soups and hearth-baked dinners were also part of the fare. Though our wee ones were too small to order meals for themselves, I drooled over some of the options on the kids' menu: roasted turkey tender sandwich, tuna sandwich, gooey grilled cheese (my bro-in-law loves this one!), pizzas and a variety of drinks (including a Shirley Temple). Though we didn't indulge in desserts, the options were amazing -- S'mores, S'mores with oreos, cinnamon apple pie, creme brulee cheesecake -- just to name a few. In the summer, there is another place to score great dessert, according to our kind guides -- Cookie Dough Creations. Apparently, they make ice cream/raw cookie dough (sans raw egg) extravaganzas that should not be missed. A look on their web site can fill you in on the decadence! If we weren't experiencing freezing weather, it would have been lovely to wander around the old-town Naperville. Perhaps on the next trip.

A Self Guided Waking Tour of Historic Philadelphia

Maynah — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:59:50 -0800

We took our two girls, 2 and 4, on The Constitutional, a walking tour of historic Philadelphia. We explained to them that during our vacation, we would be doing some things for Mommy and Daddy, and some things for them and therefore no whinning would be allowed. Surprisingly, they liked the tour! It took us all day to complete it and we were all tired afterward! Wear comfortable shoes, bring snacks and drinks, and definately the stroller for little ones. The tour starts at the National Constitution Center, but we went to the Independence Visitor Center first so that we could get our tickets. Afterwards, we just followed the map and visisted every site. Along the way, there were things and people to keep the kids entertained that I believe where provided by Once Upon a Nation. They had people dressed like Colonial men and women, games and toys that colonial kids played with, and many other demontrations that were hands-on. It was a great learning experience for the girls and believe it or not, a year later, they still remember what they had learned from the tour. During the tour we stopped to eat lunch at The City Tavern. It was pricey, but the food was good and the service was wonderful.

Enjoy the Ferry Ride to Bainbridge Island, WA

anastasia — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:28:59 -0700

On a recent trip to Seattle, we decided to take a day and go over to Bainbridge Island and wander around. I mean, ferry rides! Gorgeous views! Aimless wandering! What's not to like? We have a 10-month-old, and we traveled with friends who have a 9- and 7-year-old. We just squeaked in at the scheduled time to shove off, but the ferry ran a bit late, which wasn't fun for regular commuters, but happy for us. We also did the walk-on (parking is expensive, but ferrying your car over full of people is even more so), which saved us time. The ferry was very clean -- which made me happy since I felt ok letting our toddler walk around (at least indoors). The older kids were thrilled to find candy machines at their bidding, and we adults were pleasantly surprised to find that the food service was back up and running (with good food and drink offered, also). Outside was...invigorating! We did enjoy walking around the ferry, taking in the views, people-watching and being battered by the stiff wind. Definitely in any weather, should you take the ferry, bring jackets for the kidlets. Also, I saw people letting little ones walk outside by themselves -- I wouldn't recommend it. Not. Safe. Once you hit Bainbridge, there are loads of little shops to peruse, food places to enjoy and parks to explore in downtown Winslow. Many of the shops are not especially geared toward young ones, so be prepared to hold your kidlets, hold hands, or avoid at all costs. :) We simply hoofed it up and around the neighborhoods, finding a fabulous fudge shop (thank GOODNESS they also had kid-oriented candy, too) and an awesome, awesome new play structure not too far from the Eagle Harbor. We dined al fresco at one of the many restaurants in Eagle Harbor and then went on to more wandering. (Used to tourists, most places here are pretty kid-friendly -- though our restaurant didn't have a place in the teeny restrooms to change our baby, they offered us a counter nearby and suggested we change her there. The area was an out-of use bus-station. :D ) You definitely can spend an entire day exploring, then eating and relaxing and exploring again, all on foot, or by bike. A great way to wear out the whole family! The ferry schedule, plus links to boatloads (hee!) of good information (wait times, parking info, food info)can be found here. Fares are relatively reasonable for a daylong outing, find a sample here.

Train to San Juan Capistrano Mission/Petting Zoo

trainlovingmom — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:37:53 -0700

If you are interested in a day trip via train, just hop on board the Metrolink (if you are in LA or OC, the most affordable option over Amtrak) and make your way down to San Juan Capistrano stop. Check out the Metrolink website for schedules and there are 2 stops in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. The roundtrip ticket from Santa Ana, cost me $14 since my kids were free. My 5 and 3 yo boys and I did the following during the 4 hour stay: we went to the petting zoo, looked at a very early outdoor jail, stopped in a few shops, saw a train converted into a fancy restaurant (several times), walked to an open field park, explored an antique shop (which sparked interesting conversation), talked about the SJC swallows, got a coffee treat at Starbucks for mommy, and ate at an authentic taco stand. It was all really fun. I was surprised that my 3 yo did really well without a stroller. It was really a great, low-key day excursion. When they are older, I plan to add the visit to the Mission to this train excursion. Also, next time, I will add a trip to Ruby's Diner, a `40s-style restaurant with lots of memorabilia, model trains, a modern-day chain restaurant of an old-fashioned diner. As another blogger describes it, "A Santa Fe Superchief locomotive (HO scale I believe) sat on display near the center of the restaurant and another HO scale model train was seen running on another display in a corner of the restaurant." The petting zoo is just across the train tracks (opens at 10 a.m.). The zoo is called Zoomars and provides a very nice sampling of bunnies, guinea pigs, goats, and other farm animals to feed and a variety treats to choose from. Pony and train rides are available too. Bring some extra cash if you want the kids to have a treat to take home from the gift shop (my kids appropriately choose penguins!). The various prices add up pretty quickly at the petting zoo since there is an admission charge. For those of you who think the excursion would be too long, buy a one way ticket on Metrolink and leave from a major destination. That way you can buy an Amtrak one-way ticket for the trip back. For example, for us, we left from the Santa Ana station (an Amtrak serviced station), even though the Orange station is probably closer.

Neighborhood Play Day In San Francisco

mizfran — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:21:40 -0700

There’s a family-friendly area in San Francisco formed by the convergence of three neighborhoods -- Laurel Heights, Presidio Heights, and lower Pacific Heights -- at California Street and Presidio Avenue (and Sacramento Street, too). Here’s a list of places to go, to enjoy a few hours or a whole day of low-key, meandering fun. Eat Start your excursion with a hearty breakfast, brunch, or lunch at Ella’s, a small upscale diner with a cozy, neighborhood vibe. Pros: Tasty food in ample portions, quick and friendly service. Con: Long waits for a table on weekends. (full review) Play After your meal, chill out and read books at the Presidio Branch of the San Francisco Public Library, roughly two blocks from Ella’s on Sacramento Street. Or, walk a few blocks uphill and romp around the Laurel Hill playground. Playground pros: large space, lots of toys. Cons: old equipment, dirty bathrooms. (full review) You could also visit the San Francisco Fire Department Museum, a one-room showcase for vintage fire engines and hydrants, located across and slightly down the street from Ella’s on Presidio Ave. Pros: free admission, part of the Presidio Fire Station so you can see the fire engines (and ring their bells) and talk to friendly, informative firemen. Con: museum is only open Thursday – Sunday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.. On weekends, the Jewish Community Center Playground, located catty corner across from Ella’s on California Street, is open to the public from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (open on weekdays, too, after 4 p.m.). This small playground boasts a great wooden playhouse, clean sand pit with lots of toys, a large climbing structure with slide, and more. The Jewish Community Center also has an excellent Family Fun Day on the 4th Sunday of the month. Created for parents with kids ages newborn to 9, this activity package includes gym and art classes, pool time, special performances (such as storytellers and singers), and playground access. Pros: great classes -- such as Kindergym -- with lots of relevant toys and supplies, clean pool, and modern, well-maintained playground. Con: it’s not free (adults $5/$10, kids $8/$12 members/public). Shop If you’re in the mood to shop after your sumptuous feast at Ella’s, you have two decent options: Sacramento Street and Laurel Village. For kid-related shopping on Sacramento Street near Presidio Ave., check out my favorites: Honeys and Heroes and Brooks Shoes for Kids. Both stores sell fashionable, high-quality, children’s gear and also have toys to entertain your little ones while you browse. Near Brooks, you'll find an excellent toy store called The Ark. Down the street a block or so, you can visit Right Start children’s store (baby supplies and decent amount of toys for babies and toddlers), and Snippety Crickets, a children’s hair salon (they take walk-ins and have a lot of small toys for sale up front). Two blocks down from Ella’s on California Street, you’ll find the Laurel Village Shopping Center. This long city block of stores includes kid-friendly shops such as Gymboree, Stride-Rite Shoes, Standard 5and10, and Books, Inc. Be sure to stop in the Standard 5and10 – it’s a classic variety store with a cramped but impressive toy aisle absolutely packed with kid-favorites like Thomas trains and accessories, Playmobil, Groovy Girls, Crayola art supplies, books, coloring books, and much, much more. Books, Inc. is also worth a visit – their children’s section is well-stocked and has a small bench so you can sit and read a book or two with your kids. They stock a few toys, too. Lastly, if you’re hungry again after all this playing and shopping, you’ll find plenty of food options for a snack or meal including A.G. Ferrari, Askew Grill, Noah’s Bagels, Starbucks, and two, yes, two grocery stores, one at either end of the Laurel Village Center. Transportation If you drive, your parking options are metered and non-metered spots in the neighborhood (challenging) or the JCC parking garage on California Street (easy). Laurel Village also has a parking lot for shoppers. If you want to try public transit, quite a few Muni buses roll by this bustling area, too. Happy trails.

The New Downtown: Ogden stages a comeback

wanderlust — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 07:10:19 -0700

It's been a longtime since downtown Ogden's glory days, at the height of the railroad era. But in the last ten years, a major project has been underway to renovate the downtown area. The change is most noticeable in the new, swanky 25th district, where dilapidated or abandoned buildings have been turned into expensive boutique stories and trendy restaurants. The latest edition to this project has been a huge family entertainment multiplex that has just recently opened in The Junction at Ogden. A highlight of the facility is the Salomon Adventure Center, offering indoor skydiving, surfing, and a huge arcade that has a virtual roller coaster, indoor bumper cars, bowling and mini golf. Cross the street to the brand new multiplex outfitted with self ticketing, deep armchairs, and THX theaters. Parking is still a problem as construction is under way and the new high rise garage doesn't have an elevator yet. (Think hot, and very, very tiring climbs up to the fourth floor level on a Saturday afternoon). But the junction offers delicious Mexican food from "Costa Vida" and soon a cluster of shops and other offerings will be sure to pop up in it's wake. Take advantage of the introductory prices now and come take a look. Ogden is definitely poised to become the next comeback kid.

El Cerrito Plaza has all the fun stuff together

RookieMomHeather — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:07:07 -0700

I'm sure that the creator of El Cerrito Plaza was not aiming to make a toddler mecca but rather a practical assembly of chain stores that would maximize profits. And it probably does all that too. Here are the steps to a best day at the mini-mall:

Barnes and Noble has a great children's area in back with a train table! Hit it first and read a magazine in back or chat with a friend.
Wander your way past Jamba Juice for a shared snack.
Tour the pet store and enjoy the fish, birds, and furry little rodents. Some are perfect stroller height.
Finish up Trader Joe's for dinner fixins.
Keep your ears and eyes open for a BART train on the adjacent track. Sometimes that's all you need to make an errand into an adventure.

Intermix errands as needed to Bed Bath and Beyond (that store has a lot of fun stuff to look at if you pace yourself and allow for the toddlers natural curiosity to take the lead.)

Spirit Rock Family Retreat Rocks :)

anastasia — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:17:04 -0700

If you have the time to head out to West Marin County, north of San Francisco, and you are of a spiritual or meditative nature and want to spend some true quality time with your family, Spirit Rock's Family Retreat is unparalleled. For full disclosure here, I have to tell you that for six years I volunteered at this Buddhist retreat center (of the Vipassana tradition) as a co-counselor for the 'tween group. And I loved every minute of it -- through the fun, the drama, the exhaustion, the giddiness -- every minute that is life with 10-13-year-olds. I'm taking a couple years off with my baby, but cannot wait to return and be involved again. What is the Family Retreat? Best encapsulated on their web site: "This five-day, four-night retreat is for families with children ages 5-15 and will include periods of family activities, young people’s groups, parent meditation/teachings and free time. Dharma activities include songs, stories, skits, games, art, time on the land, a campfire, council practice, parent discussions, meditation for parents and children, and dharma talks." From a volunteer's perspective, it is a safe place for families to be with other families, to learn, to support each other, to have tons of fun, to play, to be quiet, to interact with people that they might not get to interact with on a day-to-day basis (when else do you and the fam get to hang out with cool monks?). The teachers are world-class, and the environment is stellar (just take a look at the pics!). This is a residential retreat, which means that food and boarding are included. Food is vegetarian, filling and delicious, and great care is taken to work with folks with food allergies. Rooms are clean and spare. Activities all cater to different age groups, and plenty of downtime is provided for families who want to hike or go to the beach or just take a nap together. Meditation is taught on many levels -- this is a group space, and every family has work meditation, which means pitching in with meals, clean-up, working the land etc. No one is left out or excused, but also, many hands make quick work of the chores. One has plenty of time for other meditation, too -- sitting or walking. Music is an intrinsic part of the retreat -- whether drum circles that call people to activities, or the gong that announces time to get up, or singing with Betsy Rose and her guitar many beloved songs that expresses the teachings of how to be a peaceful, good person in this world. Teachings (adult, too) are themed each year around various teachings of the Buddha -- but are never preachy or religious. I'd say it is more an exploration of the dharma, and how it works for each family, and what we all struggle with. Simplicity was a great theme one year -- especially important to start before one arrives -- no electronic toys or gadgets or sweets are allowed on the retreat grounds (Parents, read: no Blackberry, no iPhone, no iPod etc.). Once the kids get over the initial drama of not having so much input, it is *amazing* how much fun they have playing ball, tag, running through sprinklers, or spending time in the art tent creating wonderful pieces. I love waking in the morning and looking out the window to see deer (oftentimes parents with twins) and turkey wandering through the trees. The smell of the bay trees is heady. The weather is often warm (the retreat is usually the last week of July or first week of August), and once in awhile you'll experience a quick summer storm. I also love the people I get to know better and better each year. If you live close enough, Spirit Rock has daylong family retreats that give you a bite-sized version of what the residential retreat may offer. Also, their teen program is amazing, and even the teens think it's cool. :) Directions to Spirit Rock can be found here.