tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19824231505943980522024-03-05T13:55:58.645-08:00Out of EdwardsA family friendly travel blog helping you find things to do wherever you are.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-74263484814303835392016-08-30T16:24:00.001-07:002016-09-06T11:18:37.918-07:00Pinnacles National Park <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pinnacles National Park has only been a national park since 2013. Dan visited back when it was a national monument when we lived in California years ago. </div>
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It's important to know that the park has no through roads, and there are two entrances. The west entrance is obviously closer to Monterey, and has a couple of good hiking trails, but the camping and most of the services are on the east side of the park. We decided to go on a Sunday afternoon with some of Dan's friends. </div>
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If you don't have a National Parks pass, there is a fee of $15/vehicle to enter the park. We stopped at the visitor's center to get our passport stamps and pick up a map and some hiking suggestions from the rangers.You can find a map of the park online <a href="https://www.nps.gov/pinn/index.htm">here</a> to plan out your day. </div>
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We debated whether to take the popular but short Balconies Cave trail, or the longer High Peaks hike. Since we arrived late in the day, I convinced the men we should take the easy but interesting Balconies Cave trail and save the longer hike for a day when we had more time and cooler weather. Here are some of the views from the trail.</div>
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Just so you know, they aren't kidding when they say you will need a flashlight for the cave. Headlamps are the best because you have to do some climbing with your hands through the cave as well. </div>
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The weather was about 20 degrees warmer than on the coast, so it was a nice break from the fog and chilly "summer" weather in Monterey. We will be back again to do a longer hike next time or some camping. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-48696452957821882032016-08-27T11:53:00.001-07:002016-09-06T10:51:44.985-07:00Point Pinos Lighthouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Point Pinos Lighthouse is in our town of Pacific Grove, CA. While we were there visiting, we heard a lot of people saying that they had living or been coming to PG for years and had never stopped in to visit. Don't be that person. </div>
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The lighthouse is set up much like it would have been before it was automated, and has some nice historical artifacts and explanations of how the lighthouse works. It also discusses what it was like to live and work in the light house. You can climb the stairs to the top and get a look at the lens from inside. There is a small room at the top of the stairs with the most amazing ocean view, but I for some reason, did not get a picture! The area around the lighthouse is mostly golf courses, so it feels very remote. It is the longest continuously operating lighthouse on the west coast, and worth a quick visit!</div>
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Bethany </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-52968325287888867002016-08-27T11:35:00.000-07:002016-09-06T11:20:03.924-07:00Big Basin Redwoods State Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our first California camping trip was to Big Basin Redwoods State Park which is about 1.5 hours north of Monterey, just about 40 minutes north of Santa Cruz. We made reservations on reserveamerica.com as soon as they became available 7 months in advance, and it looked like all the campgrounds were full when we were there. We were in the Wastahi Campground, which is walk in, but our site was right by the car and bathrooms. One of the trails through the park also ran along the back of our campsite, so it was by no means the most private site. However, we were camping among redwoods and it really didn't bother us. </div>
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We left after school on Friday and got there in plenty of time to set up camp before it got dark. We started a fire first thing and had nice hot coals cooking our <a href="http://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/easy-tin-foil-sausage-veggies-dinner/">Sausage and Veggies tin foil meals </a>while we set up. They were delicious, and we ate by citronella candle-light. The site includes a fire ring and bear box, and they ask that you keep crumbs to a minimum because of some invasive bird species that thrive on unwatched and dropped food. It is also very buggy, but we covered ourselves in bug spray and barely got bit. If you have a screened in dining canopy, I would bring it!</div>
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The next day we packed a lunch and headed out for a hike. There are lots of trails of varying difficulty, so get advice from the park rangers. We headed out on a trail to see a waterfall, which could have been a full day loop trail, but I was not feeling well and we decided to turn around once we saw the waterfall. Be forewarned, you are hiking into a basin, not up a mountain, so the way back with be harder! The walk was beautiful with lots of big trees.<br />
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Dan needed to do some studying, so we headed back to our campsite in the afternoon and just hung out, reading and playing some games. If we had been looking for more to do, we could have done one of the many other easy trails around the park, or visited the small museum.<br />
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The following day we planned to stop and do a little exploring on the way home, so we packed up early and went for one last walk on the level, accessible path by the park headquarters, which takes you past the Mother and Father of the forest, and many other trees that are great for photos. We were up early, so we had the whole path to ourselves.<br />
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On the way home we had planned to stop in Santa Cruz to explore, but there was a race going on, and the streets were crowded and parking non-existent. So instead, we went to Capitola and had lunch in a place overlooking the water called the Paradise Beach Grill, which had a beautiful view, but the food was overpriced and mediocre. </div>
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I think we will go back again to Big Basin Redwoods. They have some tent cabins for the less adventurous, or for colder weather, and more trails we did not explore. If we were to go back, I think I would also like to take the <a href="http://www.roaringcamp.com/">Roaring Camp Railroads</a> tour either into Santa Cruz, or maybe on a moonlight dinner party. </div>
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This is a great place to go that is not too far from Monterey, but has some great sights!</div>
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Bethany</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-10770776294640909302016-08-19T12:14:00.000-07:002016-08-30T08:21:06.387-07:00Berkeley Kite Festival<br />
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As I was planning things for us to do here in California, I came across a website called <a href="https://www.everfest.com/">Everfest</a> that lets you look up the festivals in your area and will even send you reminders when those events are coming up. I had fond memories of attending the Avodcado Festival with the Newcamps years ago and thought we could check some out.<br />
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Dan has recently received a kite as a gift, and has been wanting to better learn how to use it (it's fancy, don't ask me), so I thought he might like this kite festival in Berkeley. It turns out everyone likes the kite festival in Berkeley, and it's FREE (except for parking). It was seriously crowded. I wish we could have ridden bikes from near-by because the parking was far away and the lines for the shuttle were long!<br />
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We didn't arrive until about 3pm on Sunday but the events were in full swing. There were tons of kites in the sky, from a little kid's plastic CVS kite, to giant squid kites. The event is in a big field overlooking the city with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from some directions. I unfortunately, brought a camera with no memory card (face-palm) so iPhone photos is all we've got. We brought our folding Mayfly chairs which were perfect, but a blanket would have been good too. There was plenty of space to plop down and watch the main events, and eat some festival food. The did have a tent that sold mangos and other fruit that was cut up right in front of you. It was a nice change from the usual fried food.<br />
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We only stayed for about two hours, but honestly, it was enough for us to enjoy it. This is a great event for kids, make sure you bring them a kite to fly. You can bring an all-terrain stroller, but you might be happier with backpacks for little kiddos.<br />
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Next year, I would be there when it opens on Saturday and leave around lunch time, head to <a href="http://www.berkeleybowl.com/home">Berkeley Bowl</a> to get lunch and check out their famously large produce section, and then combine with one of the museums on the Blue Star Museums pass this summer (there are three, go <a href="https://bluestarfam.org/resources/family-life/blue-star-museums/">here</a> to check it out) or a walk around the UC Berkeley campus which I hear is very nice.<br />
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P. S. It's hard to communicate the number of kites with a simple iPhone photo, so don't be turned off by these pictures. The sky was literally full of kites. It was very cool. We watched some kite dancing which was also impressive.<br />
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Happy Exploring!<br />
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Bethany<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-40522809263814375902016-07-24T14:49:00.000-07:002016-08-19T12:04:22.372-07:00Point Lobos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Whew! Moving is exhausting. We are finally in California! This weekend we finally felt ready to go do some more exploring (other than Ikea). We didn't have to go far - <a href="http://www.pointlobos.org/">Point Lobos State Natural Reserve</a> is only 15 minutes from our house in Pacific Grove. Here are some stats on our trip:<br />
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<b>Point Lobos SNR</b><br />
Fees: $10/vehicle (Or California State Park Pass)<br />
Parking: limited (especially later in the day, and in summer)<br />
Activities: Hiking/Walking, History, Wildlife viewing<br />
Recommended time: 3-5 hours<br />
Bring: Picnic, Layers (including for wind), sunscreen, water, good shoes, camera, binoculars<br />
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Point Lobos is right off Route 1 and easy to get to. We read somewhere that especially on summer weekends, parking inside the park is limited and may require walking in from the road if you arrive after 10am. We arrived shortly before 10am and still found a few spots left at the southern end of the park, but much later and I think we would have been out of luck. When we left the park at 1:30pm, there were cars probably a half mile down Route 1. So get there early if you are lazy. I'm not sure if the cost is free if you walk in.<br />
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The admission cost is $10/vehicle to drive in, but if I had planned ahead I would have bought the <a href="https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049">California State Parks Annual Pass</a>. They sell the "California Explorer" pass at the gate, but not the "Golden Poppy." The "Golden Poppy" pass is $70 less, because it does not include all the cool southern California beaches, which for us, are kind if a far drive anyway. At $125/year, the Golden Poppy pass should easily pay for itself even if we only go to a park once a month. I've bought the pass online now and I will try to keep a tally of how many parks we use it for and how quickly it pays for itself.<br />
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A map is not included in the cost of admission (saving paper?), so print one off before you leave <a href="http://www.pointlobos.org/planning-your-visit/trail-maps">here</a>, or buy one for $2. We started from a parking spot near Weston Beach, and headed north. There was no information here, so we just walked and enjoyed the view until we got to the main parking area where there were park rangers and a map. From there we made a plan and headed out around the rest of the point. I'm including a super high tech photo of what we did, so you can see how much ground you can cover in 2.5 hours. We took our time, took pictures, and the walk is easy. I don't feel like this should need to be said, but I saw a few frustrated families with strollers. This hike is family friendly, and even toddlers should be able to handle at least a portion of the walk, but bring a backpack, not a stroller if you want to explore the whole place. <br />
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Highlights of the walk were sea lions at Sea Lion Point, the cyprus grove, and the whaling museum. The best place for a picnic lunch is at the southern end of the road, at Hidden beach, with many picnic tables in shade or sun, overlooking the ocean. By the time we reached this area the clouds had started to roll in. If we went back, I would drive all the way to the end and park in the circle, then walk the South Plateau trail to Whaler's Cove, then make my way around the point and back to the car for a picnic. If you want to spend the whole day, you could do some tide pooling or playing on some of the rocky beaches. For a sandy beach, combine this day trip with Carmel River Beach just under a mile away. <br />
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Okay, enough words, picture time.<br />
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Happy exploring!<br />
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-BAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-29096767946998209742016-03-16T12:10:00.000-07:002016-08-10T18:13:26.224-07:00Coming Soon!<h2>
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I learned the last time around in California that the state parks are beautiful, but if you want to camp, you had better be on your game making reservations. The Newcamps were always good at planning ahead with reservations with flexible cancellation policies, but we won't be able to just tag along on their pre-arranged trips anymore, so I am doing my best to plan ahead. I'm making a wishlist and already scheduling trips.<br />
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My goal is to do one "big" (further away, multiple sites to see) weekend per month, one small local trip (maybe just overnight) and then have two weekends for exploring our local area and day trips. I'm definitely hoping to find some adventurous friends who are up for a morning hike or bike ride once a week as well!<br />
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* A note on camping in California state parks *<br />
Reservations if
available, are made primarily through the <a href="http://www.reserveamerica.com/">Reserve America</a> website. Parks open a
whole month block of dates at the beginning of each month, seven months
in advance. So all of August became available February 1st. The website
has a feature that sends you a reminder when a site is available for
your chosen date, but for some reason by the time I got a notification,
the sites were all gone for Big Sur state parks. I set my own alarm for
March 1st and was able to snag a site in Limekiln State Park for
September, but within a few days every weekend spot for September was gone. The cancellation policy is pretty good, I think you lose an $8 reservation fee, but I believe you could also pass on your reservation to another person, so it's worth just grabbing a site or two when they become available. <br />
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Here are my plans so far:<br />
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<b>August 2016</b><br />
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Big Basin Redwoods State Park - about and hour and 30 minutes north of Monterey around the bay this state park is close to Santa Cruz and a little town called Capitola that I've read is worth seeing. The park has tent cabins with wood stoves that we might try in the colder months, but in August I have reserved us a tent site.<br />
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<b>September 2016</b><br />
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Mendocino, CA - This location is about 4 hours from Monterey, so we needed a long weekend to make it worth the drive. I've heard amazing things about the area and I'm still doing some research into what to see and do. I've found probably the prettiest Airbnb ever to stay in, so stay tuned for photos! <br />
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Big Sur, CA - Limekiln State Park has beach sites as well as creek views and redwood groves. It is about an hour south of the town of Big Sur, and an hour north of San Simeon. I think it will be a great location for exploring the area. <br />
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<b>October 2016</b><br />
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Mount Tam - All over the internet and pinterest I find rave reviews about the cabins at Steep Ravine on Mount Tamalpais. If I can get us a reservation on April 1st I will feel like a reserveamerica.com ninja! I have heard they are very difficult to book, but that the campsites are also nice. So don't ask me to do anything at 10am central time on April first, because I have plans!<br />
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So that's what I am planning for my first fall in California! Any readers with suggestions on what we should add to the list? I'm working on an Ultimate Bucket List, and would love suggestions!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-65268144832040851242016-03-08T12:08:00.000-08:002016-03-12T08:04:40.290-08:00<h2>
<b>Travel Gear: My Five Favorites</b></h2>
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Confession: I am a total gear junkie. I love to have the right gear for every activity. When it comes to travel, the right gear can make you more comfortable and can greatly influence your enjoyment of your trip. No one wants to be cold or wet, have sore feet, a sore back or a numb arm from dragging a rolling suitcase over miles of cobblestones. Here are some of my favorite items I've accumulated over the years.<br />
<a href="http://www.fjallraven.us/collections/totes/products/totepack-no-1"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.fjallraven.us/collections/totes/products/totepack-no-1">1. Fjallraven Totepack No. 1 - $110</a> - I had never heard of this brand until I wandered into their store in Jackson Hole, WY (useful souvenir score!), and I fell in love! I wanted to buy everything in the store, in every color available, especially their completely adorable mini kanken! This pack is great because it is a tote or one of the handles can be pulled through to make two backpack straps. Its a great carry on because it slides easy under an airplane seat and zips at the top so your stuff won't fall out and roll to the back of the plane on take-off (am I the only one who worries about this?). It isn't so big that it is overwhelming, but not too small either. I fit my DSLR camera, two jackets and some reading material no problem.<br />
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<a href="http://www.columbia.com/womens-mighty-lite-iii-jacket-WL5030.html?cgid=women-jacketsVests-insulated&dwvar_WL5030_variationColor=627#start=10">2. Columbia Women's Mighty Lite III - $110 </a>- I bought an older version of this jacket at the Columbia outlet store for a much better price and it is a great jacket! It has the "Omni-Heat" interior, which is like a space blanket on the inside and I think makes this jacket really warm. It is so light an pack-able compared to a regular winter jacket. I brought this jacket to the Netherlands and layered it with a raincoat and was comfortable all the time. On warmer days biking I was too warm and had to unzip! I could see myself even bringing this jacket on a winter/ski type vaca as a nice, light alternative to wearing a heavy winter coat the whole time. <br />
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<a href="http://www.ospreypacks.com/us/en/product/ozone-convertible-50l-22-OZONCVT22_302.html">3. Osprey Ozone Convertible 50L/22"- $300</a> - Again, I bought this on sale! But it still would have been worth it, in my opinion. I bought this bag for a 16 day Europe trip, and it was great! I was undecided on this trip whether I wanted a backpack style bag for all the train travel, uneven European village roads, or if I wanted a rolling bag. This was one of the few bags on the market that can do both. WARNING - it is not very big!! You must be a master packer to make this work! I usually plan to do laundry at least once. But packing light is a whole different topic... One thing I love about this bag is the zip off day pack. You can attach it when you are wearing the bag as a backpack, or take it off to hold just the necessities when you are out sightseeing for the day. Be aware that with the day pack attached, the bag will no longer be carry on size, but I usually just use the smaller bag as one of our "personal items" or zip it on mostly empty. Also be careful you don't knock people/ things over while wearing the bag with it attached and you might want to make beeping noises when you back up. As a rolling bag this bag is also amazing- it is small but has wide set wheels, so unlike other bags we own it doesn't tip over, and is super easy to just pick up for stairs, etc. I love this bag!<br />
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<a href="http://www.vans.com/shop/womens-shoes-classics/slip-on-perf-leather-black">4. Vans Classic Slip-on - $60</a> - If you like to walk everywhere like we do, a good shoe makes so much difference. I am weirdly obsessed with these Vans I bought recently. I know I am late to the party, but they are my first pair of Vans and I would buy them in other colors too! The black leather looks a little dressier for a sneaker and they look great with everything. I want to wear them every day. Just make sure you buy a few pairs of the little slip on socks. They vans brand says on really well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Womens-Platinum-Waterproof-Eclipse/dp/B011PHCLAS/ref=sr_1_2?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1457457966&sr=1-2&nodeID=7141123011">5. Paradox Women's Raincoat - $30-40</a> - I've never even heard of this brand but I was looking for a cheap raincoat in a dark neutral color to take to the Netherlands in February to wear over my Columbia down jacket (above). This jacket is stylish looking and kept me nice and dry at half the price of a fancy brand name raincoat. It was great! I loved the "Napoleon pocket" for keeping my transportation card in a safe place where it wouldn't fall out! Combining this jacket with my lightweight down and some good layering was perfect for the cold and occasionally drizzly weather of the Netherlands. The hood is generous enough that I didn't really need an umbrella either, which was great!<br />
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One last thing, a note on colors for those who like to match. If you are a free-spirit, skip this part!<br />
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For European travel - most Europeans <i>in general</i> don't wear bright colors. My Columbia down jacket is actually a bright red and if I could go back I would get black, because it blends much better! The reason I needed a new raincoat was that my other raincoat is a lovely shade of light teal, which combined with fire engine red might burn some retinas.<br />
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So if you are spending lots of money on an investment piece, although black, grey or another neutral might sound boring to you, you will be thankful when you can walk around Europe without feeling like you have a "rob me, I'm American!" sign on your back. If the idea of all black sucks out your soul, consider Olive or Plum?<br />
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When it comes to clothes, jackets, shoes, and even bags, stick to one color family. Pick black or brown shoes and make sure everything matches with those. You will save space and you will be less likely to buy things twice. Also consider colors that look good with both, like red or purples.<br />
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I hope you have found some great new ideas!<br />
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P.S. I did not receive any money or free stuff to review these items, I'm not that cool. The opinions in this post are entirely my own. <br />
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B<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-70257085417666745232016-02-25T20:10:00.003-08:002016-02-25T20:10:36.062-08:00<br />
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Hi!<br />
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It's Bethany. Elizabeth has asked me to take over blogging on Out of Edwards and I will do my best to keep up the great travel advice that you are used to here!<br />
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A little about me...<br />
We were neighbors and travel buddies with Jeff and Elizabeth at Edwards until we both moved on to new assignments. If you are a long-time reader, you might remember my posts about Mammoth, Orange County and Hawaii. Dan and I spent the last 4 years in Oklahoma City, which is a nice place to live, but doesn't have quite the travel destinations of California. We are headed back to California in July, and we are very excited! This time we will be in Monterey, CA so hopefully this will round out the blog nicely with some Northern California destinations. There is a lot to do right on the Monterey Peninsula, so I hope to review my soon-to-be favorite local places as well. We also love to hike and camp, so we will likely incorporate some more outdoor activities, as well as possibly some gear reviews for camping and travel as well.<br />
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Looking forward to sharing our travels with you!<br />
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B<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708240369631488009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-79073696077212817472016-02-24T07:13:00.002-08:002016-02-24T07:13:30.424-08:00Out of Edwards Reboot! As you probably know, I'm currently out of the country and blogging at <a href="http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/" target="_blank">Dutch, Dutch, Goose!</a>. <br />
Meanwhile, Out of Edwards continues to get quite a bit of traffic and e-mails about itineraries.<br />
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Luckily for you, one of my best friends and frequent guest bloggers, Bethany, will be taking over around here. After a brief absence, Bethany and her husband are headed back to California and can't wait to start traveling the west coast again.<br />
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In the coming weeks we hope to give the blog a bit of a face lift so you can find those trip ideas and itineraries you have been looking for.<br />
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Bethany already has some great trips planned so stay tuned for more adventures!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-66621606281061504182015-07-31T19:58:00.004-07:002015-07-31T19:58:27.315-07:00So Long...Afscheid!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well we are off on our next adventure to the Netherlands! I've lined up some guest bloggers to do a few posts, so the list of fun things to do will continue to grow.<br />
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We will still be blogging regularly, just at our new home. You can follow us on our Expat blog, <a href="http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/" target="_blank">Dutch Dutch Goose</a>.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-36029152912389714002015-07-30T11:16:00.000-07:002015-07-30T11:26:12.019-07:00Searching for Proper Barbecue - Colorado to Georgia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Quite literally in the middle of Kansas, 600 feet below the surface of Hutchinson, a <a href="http://www.underkansas.org/">Strataca Salt Mine</a> tour guide asked me if I enjoyed <a href="http://www.roysbbq.com/">Roy's BBQ</a> for lunch. Bemused, I learned that Roys has such a distinct smell and the salt mine is devoid of smells, so tour guides quickly learn this approach with tourists. Strataca and Roys, or odd sites and barbecue were the treats on this road trip but the underlying purpose was for a move.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael at the <a href="http://www.underkansas.org/">Strataca Salt Mine</a>.</td></tr>
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My father-in-law (Michael) and I were in Kansas because our calling was to relocate one of our cars from Monument, Colorado to Atlanta, Georgia. The four-day journey was punctuated with a handful of museums and a superb selection of barbecue joints.<br />
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We set out from the Denver airport in the late afternoon and drove four hours to our first waypoint in Colby, Kansas. En route, we enjoyed a picnic dinner at the surprisingly well appointed Limon Railroad Park (by donation).<br />
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Day two's first stop was the <a href="http://www.kshs.org/fort_hays">Fort Hays State Historic Park</a>. The buildings and exhibits are very well done. For young visitors, there is a 'bison herd' across the street (with bison numbering just a few). Plan 1-2 hours at this attraction. From Fort Hays, we drove to Hutchinson, Kansas for the Strataca Salt Mine. This was a major waypoint during the trip planning: where else can you descend 600 feet into the crust of the Earth to view an active salt mine? It turns out that the salt vein stretches into New Mexico, but this is the best way to get up-close to the operation.<br />
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An industrial elevator carries both workers and tourists down under. The tourist portion of the mine is sectioned off for safety. Tourists get to see dioramas containing mining equipment and the blasting techniques used to excavate salt from the mine - the salt is used mainly for ice removal. The underground gift shop has free wifi and there are a couple of add-ons for your visit. Tourists can ride the mine train in a loop that shows more of the mine or you can book a seat on the tram tour, which also shows more of the mine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBQ is an American treasure.</td></tr>
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The Strataca Salt Mine was such a great stop that Michael and I decided to check out the other local Hutchinson attraction: the <a href="http://www.cosmo.org/">Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center</a>. We expected a couple of planes and some cheap displays but we were instead treated to a plethora of rare air and space artifacts. The museum's motto, "Out of this World. Right in the Heart of Kansas" is an appropriate saying. Aside from the Smithsonian collection, the Kansas Cosmosphere impressed me more than any air and space museum I have seen (including the National Museum of the USAF, Seattle's Museum of Flight and many others). To quantify my claim, know that the museum collection contains a spacecraft from Mercury, Gemini and Apollo (Liberty Bell 7, Gemini 10 and Apollo 13).<br />
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Ending a big second day of the trip in Wichita gave us the opportunity to ride the free downtown tram to Old Town where we enjoyed excellent pizza and local brews at <a href="http://www.publicoldtown.com/">Public</a>.<br />
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Day three was a 450 mile push from Wichita to Little Rock but we found time for a few diversions. The first was <a href="http://www.nps.gov/fosm/index.htm">Fort Smith National Historic Site</a> where Michael was able to purchase his <a href="http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm">National Park System Senior Pass</a>. Ten bucks gets you free access to all National Park properties for the rest of your life (seniors include those 62 and over). The Fort Smith prison, gallows and courtroom are all available for viewing. Kids love romping around the grounds to see the out-buildings and the neighboring Arkansas River. Tip: Pick up lunch at the <a href="http://www.garrisonpointemarket.com/">Garrison Pointe Market</a>, which is walking distance from Fort Smith (it is in a gas station, but those who know of the <a href="http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/">Whoa Nellie Deli</a> know the deal). In Little Rock, we tried Sims BBQ but were thoroughly disappointed. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwiNkb1j8UN80SZ37Nh0QHl1beQIIuTLRkLpp-2yuru7MT0O9fbTKq9S4qOx36A1PBLGj7NdxDLjq2RGm-0odwMNpE-uGQ-ndl4m2gAy299AfLvC_ezyTCALemiR1eTPotAHAkWLUmEE/s1600/IMG_4278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwiNkb1j8UN80SZ37Nh0QHl1beQIIuTLRkLpp-2yuru7MT0O9fbTKq9S4qOx36A1PBLGj7NdxDLjq2RGm-0odwMNpE-uGQ-ndl4m2gAy299AfLvC_ezyTCALemiR1eTPotAHAkWLUmEE/s320/IMG_4278.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elvispresleybirthplace.com/">Elvis's Birthplace</a> in Tupelo, Mississippi.</td></tr>
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Day four's drive was from Little Rock to Atlanta. The main diversion was <a href="http://www.elvispresleybirthplace.com/">Elvis's Birthplace</a> in Tupelo, Mississippi. Most fans visit Graceland but I found ticket prices there to be obscenely expensive. The Tupelo museum and home were small enough to visit in 1-2 hours and were right on our route to Atlanta. In Tupelo, we tried and liked <a href="http://www.bbqbyjim.com/">BBQ by Jim</a>. This joint was a meat and two sides type of place with excellent sauce and a family-focused orientation.</div>
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<u>TripTips:</u></div>
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1. Stock the car with cold beverages and healthy snacks.</div>
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2. Plan activities in cities between your lodging locations. Most attractions do not open until 9am or 10am, so you will lose lots of drive time if you stick around in a city to do something there.</div>
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3. Picnic when you can to save costs.</div>
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4. A newspaper or magazines in the car give you something to chat about with your trip partner(s).</div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07887298882552189863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-24564836663416816452015-07-28T13:35:00.001-07:002015-07-28T13:35:09.080-07:00I'm Finally On BlogLovin! Better Late Than Never ... I suppose.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/14317787/?claim=n82bss4bc2v">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-52793506656708673972015-07-27T12:19:00.003-07:002015-07-27T12:19:49.163-07:00Rest & Relaxation at Amelia Island with Toddlers. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglt0uLTnn-EnQsTdqAdSJxRNEda4WW6mQPklYJK0WJ3RWb1S9mCylFTeOcAx_UfIpzE8uYKDwK33TDxE7prtHmQzZVLBSRmK-z8RWV4hkJRh9Vk_YjtJwAXs5-0LecioNRI0tJsv6P4Yeu/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglt0uLTnn-EnQsTdqAdSJxRNEda4WW6mQPklYJK0WJ3RWb1S9mCylFTeOcAx_UfIpzE8uYKDwK33TDxE7prtHmQzZVLBSRmK-z8RWV4hkJRh9Vk_YjtJwAXs5-0LecioNRI0tJsv6P4Yeu/s320/IMG_3992.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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If you read this blog regularly you know we are not really "beach vacation" people. My parents invited us to go with them to the Ritz Carlton at Amelia Island and honestly we could not say no.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd3o5JjHDkJOUUQz_gPVorlIFug1vANT9SlL0AbdG3si0JnZYqASLzzsMEg9a_jTdcMi7siHp0LnZB6ld-ycLWskDDwJGsGV2AN8T7UBwQiplvVB94O4t2D3VnKpkVN4dAEuOtX3SkFE9/s1600/IMG_3893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd3o5JjHDkJOUUQz_gPVorlIFug1vANT9SlL0AbdG3si0JnZYqASLzzsMEg9a_jTdcMi7siHp0LnZB6ld-ycLWskDDwJGsGV2AN8T7UBwQiplvVB94O4t2D3VnKpkVN4dAEuOtX3SkFE9/s200/IMG_3893.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Picnic Lunch Location </td></tr>
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We did the six hour drive in almost exactly six hours. We stopped briefly for lunch, asking the friendly cashier at our bathroom stop to recommend a park in the area. We ended up by a river with a large picnic shelter and a playground. We were in and out so fast I did not catch the name of the park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKlKz3hK3Uf2ZiYhVjzYoi715dj8Gk3y1aaxrU3CquX_eOtq9-yGFqVW5AOSL-BPMko89st9hfvzMAqWP-hc34SApma2vfJn_XJztTv7g69oSnqXajrOJXR_fuSbG2iABIa8OP5U5PEOS/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKlKz3hK3Uf2ZiYhVjzYoi715dj8Gk3y1aaxrU3CquX_eOtq9-yGFqVW5AOSL-BPMko89st9hfvzMAqWP-hc34SApma2vfJn_XJztTv7g69oSnqXajrOJXR_fuSbG2iABIa8OP5U5PEOS/s320/IMG_3951.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pirate Scavenger Hunt </td></tr>
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Turns out the Ritz Carleton has a ton to offer for the little ones. Although our kids are too little for the Ritz Kids program, several things each day are available for all the kids when accompanied by their parents. Fish feeding, mid-morning story time, evening scavenger-hunts and pirate toasts filled our days. (The pirate toast even included drinks for the adults!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAf7os9Ld6YEr5O1uH31GHHj3IhUm2r3Lmx0UMcwlN55drmgCMa6KPEvIwxjtMRE3llAaLF2AD0qXWk69d3zxMgdMKS49KIMIHJa3Z-Mb1jYOybWza6nbvBxBdBUOcYrlTFKItx95mDqs/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAf7os9Ld6YEr5O1uH31GHHj3IhUm2r3Lmx0UMcwlN55drmgCMa6KPEvIwxjtMRE3llAaLF2AD0qXWk69d3zxMgdMKS49KIMIHJa3Z-Mb1jYOybWza6nbvBxBdBUOcYrlTFKItx95mDqs/s200/IMG_3949.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game Room </td></tr>
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The game room and movie-theater are open most of the day and offered a good diversion when we had some time to burn between other activities. The ritz kids room has a huge fish tank as well if you just need to kill a few minutes.<br />
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The beach on Amelia Island is lovely.. Its nice to be able to go to the beach first thing and play in the tide pools and look for shells and later come down and play in the shallow waves at high-tide, without dragging all our stuff down to and from the beach each time.<br />
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We saw dolphins almost every morning playing just off shore. The dune tortuous was easily spotted from the boardwalks and a few times we even saw them crossing the beach. Early mornings meant seeing lots of birds catching fish and small crabs. <br />
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The pool has a great kids area. The water is only a few inches deep with a few splash items. The kids loved running around in this little pool. The larger pool was also a big hit, but required more adult supervision. Its 3-4ft deep all the way around with lots of space and stairs. The perfect place to tire out the kids!<br />
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The one thing the Ritz is missing is a playground, but they are plentiful on the island. We took the car out one afternoon and found three great playgrounds just on our drive across the island to Fernandina Beach. We got out to walk around a bit in Fernandina and find some postcards. There is a cute toy store the kids loved, along with several stores with bubble machines. The trains come into the port at this end of the island. The kiddos enjoyed seeing the giant cranes and all the rail cars.<br />
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We decided to upgrade to the club level. The club serves food and drinks, basically, all-day. This ended up being perfect for us. We did not have to worry about packing snacks for the kids or about meals. We mostly just grabbed food at the club when we were hungry. There was plenty to make small meals and ended up being a huge value.<br />
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Although we like to be on the go a few days relaxing at the beach were just what we needed the week before preparing for the cross country move.<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-43062113605415208142015-07-25T08:48:00.002-07:002015-07-25T08:48:29.038-07:00Blue Ridge Scenic Railway <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCyO3G5Eb1qCvqXo4bexM1AHfhXEayejx5RhnXWDsgAK70FCgvtThyphenhyphenjoOuJD-3-8FRrWIhV-W-HTGueE0sBA0BtaVBad-vdannGp_6UjzUaPi3L0FZnQoIGISvmxpynhAsy37-fHTPqcY/s1600/IMG_3993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCyO3G5Eb1qCvqXo4bexM1AHfhXEayejx5RhnXWDsgAK70FCgvtThyphenhyphenjoOuJD-3-8FRrWIhV-W-HTGueE0sBA0BtaVBad-vdannGp_6UjzUaPi3L0FZnQoIGISvmxpynhAsy37-fHTPqcY/s320/IMG_3993.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Today we headed up to Blue Ridge, GA to hop onto the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. It is a trip we have been scouting since H was born. Now that he is train obsessed, and his little brother has followed suit, it was the perfect time.<br />
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Arrive on time, the train leaves promptly at 11:00. (Seriously. 11:00.) There is ample street parking on the non-boarding side of the train. If you arrive early there is a playground just a few blocks away.<br />
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The train ride is lovely. We chose to be in an open air car and loved that all the seats faced outwards. The climate-controlled cars have traditional train seating that all face forward. The breeze on the train was more then enough to keep us cool. They switch everyone's seats going back, so do not worry too much which side of the train you are on.<br />
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I found this great <a href="http://www.lanascooking.com/2010/06/19/riding-the-blue-ridge-scenic-railway/#comment-61948" target="_blank">post from Never Enough Thyme</a> about their 2010 Blue Ridge Mountain Railway trip. It takes you turn by turn up the highlights of the railway and is worth a read if you are wondering what to expect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgeko2kvSHia7R6z3WtbR7LmEoeTQEmDp5eW5olFVV__V3IcOFWOV-x-daiKzGD1QmjOkkMWxFjqGcwsD9KKJr9MFrl2df3yb77eXXqy9yR_oUxsFqnvNBGqmk9b0wdkmcdZy-EN06ZNO/s1600/IMG_3806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgeko2kvSHia7R6z3WtbR7LmEoeTQEmDp5eW5olFVV__V3IcOFWOV-x-daiKzGD1QmjOkkMWxFjqGcwsD9KKJr9MFrl2df3yb77eXXqy9yR_oUxsFqnvNBGqmk9b0wdkmcdZy-EN06ZNO/s200/IMG_3806.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish Trap visible from the train </td></tr>
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Now on to the big question. What do you do with two hours in McCaysville/Copper Hill? First, pick a place you want to go for lunch and make a reservation. If your train is full the restaurants in town are going to be swamped. We chose to make a 12:30 reservation at El Rio, the Mexican restaurant in town. The food was good, not the best we have ever had, but very good. We were glad to have a reservation, which we made the night before, as places got crowded.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDm-K2xkGjszeLZ5ZLos-sbToDxoVJdh0qX2y_M_rXJJ4g6jRW8shN3Z0CI7o8x2BgK3TAkIBomDqk9YJc8EEG4oOO379QfskPQuHQgXOlGyAJ1Vu8fgBOkughdZHKI3oys_r5_TNTVDQ/s1600/IMG_3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDm-K2xkGjszeLZ5ZLos-sbToDxoVJdh0qX2y_M_rXJJ4g6jRW8shN3Z0CI7o8x2BgK3TAkIBomDqk9YJc8EEG4oOO379QfskPQuHQgXOlGyAJ1Vu8fgBOkughdZHKI3oys_r5_TNTVDQ/s200/IMG_3827.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing on the GA/TN Line </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx48UTNWQ3QeWHpC4WeGuQMmNh9aiKLZJuJRJZyYR7B40PSPYN1ixHiNRfAgcoH6gYgAn4WCnjxg_hN_aNPZ39HjhIhk2a2WwoCT_JCpkRJ-me2YdvGxz1x4FjnlmLogeuli0ya11TbB-L/s1600/IMG_3795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx48UTNWQ3QeWHpC4WeGuQMmNh9aiKLZJuJRJZyYR7B40PSPYN1ixHiNRfAgcoH6gYgAn4WCnjxg_hN_aNPZ39HjhIhk2a2WwoCT_JCpkRJ-me2YdvGxz1x4FjnlmLogeuli0ya11TbB-L/s200/IMG_3795.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from City Park</td></tr>
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We walked across the bridges in town, took pictures on the state line and walked to the City Park in Copper Hill. The train hands out maps and the park is clearly marked. There is a small playground, a totem pole and a dock. This was more then enough to entertain our kids for 30 min. On our way back to the train we hit the rock shop, which was a huge hit with the boys. The train gift shop had some postcards, a big draw to send to H's little pen-pals. Had we more time, we could have grabbed ice cream or watched them make fudge. There were also a few little stores that looked cute, although window shopping with kids is not always fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq__rUB8gMXb0yuBOE9DzxL3_74qrOE5ZccjdYCC_7aGEc2EwyMthr-xkfX8uPL1hyphenhyphenKxLUblrIvHfNbSTk8qXE-eD1zdcK5g6K-tPT3mQ7t52y5JdkyFuXqiWCN1y7Y0ng2EynSoPCu5O/s1600/IMG_3792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq__rUB8gMXb0yuBOE9DzxL3_74qrOE5ZccjdYCC_7aGEc2EwyMthr-xkfX8uPL1hyphenhyphenKxLUblrIvHfNbSTk8qXE-eD1zdcK5g6K-tPT3mQ7t52y5JdkyFuXqiWCN1y7Y0ng2EynSoPCu5O/s200/IMG_3792.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Park Playground </td></tr>
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Two-hours seems like a lot, but the time went quickly. We were back to the train at 10'till. The train pulled out of station at 2pm, leaving at least one person from our car at the station. We inquired what would happen to the person and were told their family could drive up later to fetch them. The railroad will also come get you for a $25 fee.<br />
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The ride home seems to go by quickly. Most of our train car was in a daze or asleep on the way back. When we arrived back in Blue Ridge, it was hotter then Hades, so we didn't hang around for too long.<br />
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If your driving back to Atlanta consider stopping at one of the apple picking places. We stopped at the Panorama Farm Market. They have a plethora of treats - mostly apple themed. They do have ice cream, old fashioned candy, dried fruit, fried apple pies and apple slushies. We got a variety of treats to share on the way home.<br />
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Oh and we grabbed some post cards for H to send to his friends back home... that's how all good trips end. </div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-63760850176493084142015-07-17T13:02:00.001-07:002015-07-17T13:02:06.774-07:00Family Fun North of Atlanta. <br />
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Once again we headed north of the city on I-85 to cross a few things off our Atlanta with kids, bucket list: the <a href="http://atlantabg.org/visit/gainesville" target="_blank">Atlanta Botanical Gardens</a> Anex, <a href="http://www.inkfun.org/" target="_blank">Interactive Kids Neighborhood</a> and <a href="http://www.cabbagepatchkids.com/" target="_blank">Baby Land General Hospital. </a><br />
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We headed out of the city around 8:45, an hour later then scheduled, thanks to a rough night with the kids and a much needed coffee stop, but an hour later we were still one of the only families at the Gainesville, GA branch of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This new facility opened in May of 2015 and currently showcases just a small portion of the acquired land.<br />
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We took our stroller but could have left it in the car, as we ended up parking the stroller and putting the one-year-old in our ergo while allowing the three-year-old to walk on his own.<br />
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The paved section of the gardens is small, currently covering just the walk down to the train garden and then back up through the stream walk. This was easily done with both children out of the stroller. There is a larger unpaved section that includes two half-mile signed "nature walks." These were a bit more strenuous for the kids, but the three-year-old did them with just a little encouragement.<br />
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The highlights were the train garden, where the kids can push a button to see two miniature trains run through a set up village. We spent quite a while here. The staff also set out some play trains on the back deck by the little pond for the kids to play with.<br />
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Our total visit time at the botanical gardens was an hour and a half.<br />
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We back tracked a bit into town to check out the Interactive Kids Neighborhood (INK). We packed a lunch and ate at the museum. They had picnic tables out front and a few designated eating places inside.<br />
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This place is one of the stranger children's museums we have visited. That being said, the kids played here for an hour and a half.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKXAnZrn0o2-JygKy4JEqboLpylH1JDoigyat6zboqKVQyVpS2s2HeRHh4z7W6wjkPO2bZJ3Xsyd5Zj30tlhj1v7uM2pKCEIJLm1IHBelukf1NTVRVbDO5JzPDtGIjiPEVsNy4jCY_Ym8/s1600/IMG_3663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKXAnZrn0o2-JygKy4JEqboLpylH1JDoigyat6zboqKVQyVpS2s2HeRHh4z7W6wjkPO2bZJ3Xsyd5Zj30tlhj1v7uM2pKCEIJLm1IHBelukf1NTVRVbDO5JzPDtGIjiPEVsNy4jCY_Ym8/s320/IMG_3663.JPG" width="320" /></a>The idea is really cleaver. The museum consists of a long row of rooms that all front a main area. Each room is set up like a different place in a neighborhood - post office, dentists office, grocery store, hospital, theater stage, farmers market, dinner, bank, vet, music room, x-ray lab, school, courtroom, red cross building (had a tv and a huge red cross sign), a barn and a TV station. The rooms however are dated and, although clean, not well organized. (No clear place to hang the costumes. The walls are crowded with posters that are tangentially related to the room topic and ideas on how to play in the room with your children. Most rooms were missing critical play pieces or pieces looked extremely dated.) I perceive that part of my problem is we have seen all these themed rooms done "better" at other museums. The novelty here though is having them all in the same place to seemingly run a small city as a child.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgo5cx51cP1ZCWHq9Or40ddjRf37cXjh4MLZGSD1Miyc92exKfcgMPncRFXWLemS3C-6NNV9yA0lQ4GHS5VbfWLoVXFN6rTm9AQ1OoSrBWbfE11YSPydC0MpmAFe9TTm9ALwZDhPSvEplv/s1600/IMG_3668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgo5cx51cP1ZCWHq9Or40ddjRf37cXjh4MLZGSD1Miyc92exKfcgMPncRFXWLemS3C-6NNV9yA0lQ4GHS5VbfWLoVXFN6rTm9AQ1OoSrBWbfE11YSPydC0MpmAFe9TTm9ALwZDhPSvEplv/s320/IMG_3668.JPG" width="320" /></a>Once you reach the edge of this hall the idea falls away a bit and the exhibits get a little random. There is an old firetruck that you can climb into and sear, but you are prohibited from climbing into the back. There is a police car that you can, again, climb into the front, but not the back. You are able to toggle the police lights. There is a play space for toddlers and a climbing play space (think fast food restaurant play place) for older kids. There is a small twin engine plan to crawl into.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsnyoVz7rKIL6Xwd0QsE1-EPRTvGsQiq86bJ0UoyrrUSkIiokiwlLtoJ5TbX611j_BvOX0syg2JISvD3XPVnsfJsWjdx6duUooX9-CbQtuwY71DlcWzYZ1iOg20UZlJh8dpBrnwGcYkDl/s1600/IMG_3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsnyoVz7rKIL6Xwd0QsE1-EPRTvGsQiq86bJ0UoyrrUSkIiokiwlLtoJ5TbX611j_BvOX0syg2JISvD3XPVnsfJsWjdx6duUooX9-CbQtuwY71DlcWzYZ1iOg20UZlJh8dpBrnwGcYkDl/s200/IMG_3673.JPG" width="150" /></a>At some point someone must have thought there was not enough stuff here to do because all the remaining space is filled with random toy. These toys are organized into categories but they are random in terms of the theme. There are three train tables, which of course were a big draw for my kids. <br />
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Then we move into the completely random exhibits. A box full of toys that could be activated by pushing buttons. An area on eating healthy, that served as a complete contradiction to the type of groceries stocked in the grocery store play area. A train, that was actually a painted recycling station.<br />
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This place has a great idea, but needs a bit of focus and a new coat of paint. I would not drive up just to visit, but if you are in the area it is worth a stop. The kids had a blast.<br />
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The kids had a great car nap as we pushed the 36 minuets up the road to Baby Land General Hospital, home of the Cabbage Patch Kids. This is basically a huge gift shop for Cabbage Patch. They really commit to the whole hospital theme, you sign in when you enter and the staff is dressed like doctors and nurses to help you find a baby to adopt. Our boys loved it.<br />
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We watched as a doctor assisted "Mama Cabbage" with a birth. The show is enthralling for the kids and humorous for the adults. The visit itself is free, but the babies are not cheap. If you want to "adopt one" the fee is $60 for a baby with a plastic face and upwards of $200 for a cloth face. There are cheaper babies available, but they are boxed like you would get at Target, and not up for "adoption."<br />
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We knew this before going and were prepared to let the boys get one baby. He asked the doctor for help finding the perfect baby and finally found a bald baby boy, with brown eyes in the perfect outfit ready for adoption.<br />
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You can purchase accessories there, but the nurse let me know that all their babies wear premie size clothing from Carters, so you can also find additional outfits there.<br />
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After the official adoption we took our new baby boy out on the porch to play a bit. There is a huge lawn to run in and rocking chairs for sitting. There are also picnic tables on the property if you are looking for a place to have your picnic.<br />
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Our final stop was <a href="http://mountainfreshcreamery.com/" target="_blank">Mountain Fresh Creamery</a>, which is conveniently on the road back to Gainesville, GA, where you pick up 85 to head back into the city. The ice cream is sold right from the window in the milk can and there are plenty of picnic tables with umbrellas. Inside the store you can sample their milk or cheese and see inside the dairy. Walk around the fence line to see the cows at pasture or headed in to be milked. I ended up running back into the store for a $1 quart of cold milk to enjoy on the drive home - its seriously that good!<br />
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We did this itinerary on a weekday, so crowds were very low. It was a great way to get out of the city and see some things we had not done before.<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-71574440344466009512015-07-17T12:47:00.002-07:002015-07-17T12:47:41.450-07:00Family Fun North of Atlanta: Southeastern Railway Museum <div>
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Last week, before we headed out to Erie, PA we headed up this way to the <a href="http://www.srmduluth.org/" target="_blank">Southeastern Train Museum</a>. We were at this museum in 2014. BOY! The've made some changes. Most notably, the "<a href="http://www.srmduluth.org/education.html" target="_blank">Second Thursday Preschool Program</a>," which I will just call Toddler Time. Toddler Time happens once a month and brings a theme to the railroad museum from 10:30-12. When you check in, you get a wrist band for the adult in your group and a schedule. Each group cycles through activities. We went to one focused on Police Cars. We completed activities about traffic lights, learned about dialing 9-1-1, met a real police officer, and listened to police themed stories. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic Train Ride </td></tr>
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After Toddler Time is over they run the miniature train and then the historic train. These tickets are separate from the Toddler Time fee. The historic train is a bit of a let down. The cars are converted cabooses, but they have minimal windows to see anything out of. The train runs up the track 100 yards, switches track, runs back towards the roundhouse and then does the cycle in reverse to return to the "station." My three-year old loved watching us go through the switch so it was worth it, but not the best "train ride" we've been on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini Train Ride</td></tr>
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The miniature train can be likened to a zoo train, which makes two loops on their track. They are currently working on a tunnel and other track improvements to this small train. </div>
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Since our last visit they have added an entire room of museum quality train pieces - uniforms, china, train pins - in addition to a small working model railroad. Several more trains have been restored and opened to walk through. They have a list on their webpage that lists their current train inventory. </div>
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Several of the busy train lines run right past the museum, so you are guaranteed to see several trains come by. The Engineers know the museum is here, so they wave and blow the horn to the delight of all the children. </div>
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A Few Tips: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1aB80cvaiFk8s0Zer7VwS3SYNMRjxLaoQ8LtLVxIV1F_CUQgbvG3xp3tgAa6gunmREVK9IezWON8tB_fJ7SrFqduJtpbvClqlkHJC-VTuNBQDxX7BZ3V05RvnYb5o6Embvyqx7XbhqJa/s1600/IMG_3378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1aB80cvaiFk8s0Zer7VwS3SYNMRjxLaoQ8LtLVxIV1F_CUQgbvG3xp3tgAa6gunmREVK9IezWON8tB_fJ7SrFqduJtpbvClqlkHJC-VTuNBQDxX7BZ3V05RvnYb5o6Embvyqx7XbhqJa/s200/IMG_3378.JPG" width="150" /></a>If you are doing toddler time and your kids love trains, arrive at 10am when the museum opens so you have some time to climb on the trains. The 30 mins prior to the program was enough time for the kids to hop on to a few of the open cars and check them out so they were not asking to do that as we changed stations. </div>
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If your kids eat at 11:30, like ours do, pack a lunch and plan to skip one of the stations. Our Police Car visit got out early, so we grabbed lunch out of the car and ate in the pavilion between stations. The program runs till 12:30, at which time both trains run... so if you don't have lunch packed and want to ride both trains it will be after 1pm before the kids get fed. </div>
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They hold the big historic train until everyone has had a chance to ride the miniature train, so don't go line up for the Historic Train first, or you will be stuck waiting for the later boarding of the miniature train. </div>
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If you are just going to the museum, call first to confirm the train schedule. It varies seasonally so you will want to check and see what the schedule is before you plan your visit. </div>
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There are a few indoor exhibits, but most of the museum is outside and can be very hot. Pack water and bring hats and sunscreen.<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-65850081439967843812015-07-17T12:19:00.003-07:002015-07-17T12:19:47.616-07:00Erie, PA with Toddlers We once again headed north to visit Oma and Opa in Erie, PA.<br />
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Last time I blogged about our Erie trip it was winter. Erie is known for its cold winters and record snows. You can read about our winter visit <a href="http://outofedwards.blogspot.com/2013/01/over-river-and-through-woods-family.html" target="_blank">here</a>, where we flew into Pittsburgh, did a few things and then drove to Erie. A summer visit means lots of outside time enjoying the lake and green, green grass.<br />
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This trip we flew into Buffalo, NY. We made a quick stop to visit with my 96-year-old great aunt. As we were leaving her place, we made the decision to take the kids to Niagara Falls before driving to Erie. I realize it is in the wrong direction, but we wanted the kids to see it before we left the country. (This is basically our mantra this summer.)<br />
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A summer Saturday is probably the worst time to make the spur of the moment decision to visit the falls. Parking in Niagara was $30 in most of the lots. We saw a few for $15. If your just making a quick stop, like us, there is a plethora of 2 hour free street parking.<br />
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Once we parked the car we asked at an information station how far to walk to the falls. The lady told us we were 30 min walking from the falls. Turns out we were only about 5 min. There is so much you can do here, so if you have the time check out all your options on the <a href="http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/" target="_blank">state park webpage</a>. With the little ones and family so close, we knew we would be back.<br />
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We chose to simply walk along the Niagara River to the falls on the New York side. We did not venture out onto Goat Island, although it does provide my favorite view. We resisted the urge to make a quick visit to Canada and instead made the 1.5 hour drive to Erie.<br />
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Our focus for the trip was on seeing family. We spent most of our visit watching the kids play with their cousins in the yard. Opa let them sample currents from a bush. They picked cucumbers from the garden They had a wing and pizza picnic in the backyard. They played water balloons, trains and cooked in the kitchen. We only ventured out to give Oma and Opa some quiet time!<br />
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We had a huge list of things to do in Erie, but only checked off a few of them.<br />
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<a href="https://www.eriezoo.org/" target="_blank">The Erie Zoo</a> is a strange mix of old buildings and brand new exhibits. We went on their "frozen treats" day, so the zoo was crowded but still enjoyable. Every animal was out and about playing when we visited. (Even the sloth was working his way across the top of his exhibit.) The train is not to be missed as it takes you into an area that is only reachable by the train. The kids loved how the train goes over the creek. They have a wonderful kids area where you can pet the wallaby and feed birds. There is also a huge playground in the kids area. We packed a lunch and found a table right next to the penguin exhibit. We could have stayed all day, but it was hot and the kids were getting tired.<br />
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A visit to Erie is not complete unless you head out to <a href="http://www.presqueisle.org/" target="_blank">Presque Isle State Park</a>. In summer the beaches are the place to be. We set up our little camp on one of the beaches and the kids played all afternoon. There are lifeguards on duty that keep everyone in the shallows. We did not let the kids get in too deep, but they loved playing at the waters edge and digging in the sand. There was ample parking and we did not have to walk terribly far to our car.<br />
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We grabbed dinner at <a href="http://www.sarasandsallys.com/" target="_blank">Sara's,</a> which is a family tradition. We all sat at one long table with all the kids enjoying hotdogs, fries, milkshakes and cream sickle ice cream. When my little one was on a milk protest, this is where Opa took him to get a milk shake and he has been a milk drinker ever since.<br />
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Also on Presque Isle is <a href="http://www.waldameer.com/" target="_blank">Waldameer and Water World</a>, an amusement and water park. We did not get to it this visit, but it will be top of our list when we return for older kids. There are lots of ticket options, including a pass that is perfect for little ones looking to just spend an hour or two there. You are able to purchase a set amount of points such that you can just do a few kiddie rides and head to the beach, if you want. The <a href="http://www.trecpi.org/" target="_blank">Tom Ridge Environmental Center </a>is also located here. We have been here on a previous trip. The center itself is free, but there are IMAX shows for a fee. This is a great 30min indoor option to learn about the ecosystem of the lake.<br />
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We love to head down to the waterfront in Erie and walk around. H really wanted to head up the <a href="http://www.trecpi.org/" target="_blank">Bicentennial Tower</a>, so we paid our admission and headed up. (We may have been the only visitors all day.) The tower is not quite tall enough to see the lake, but you do get a great view of the bay and the entire city. The tower offers free admission the first Sunday of every month. Down on the pier we watched some fishermen catch fish and crawled around on the statues.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flagshipniagara.org/erie-maritime-museum/maritime-museum-about/" target="_blank">The Erie Naval Museum</a> is just next door. We had plans to visit, since it is part of the Blue Star Museum program, but our toddler had other plans. The Brig Niagara is sometimes in port and available for tours. Call first as she is often late and the webpage is not accurate. A few other attractions down on the waterfront (that we did not have time for) include: <a href="http://www.harborviewminiaturegolf.com/" target="_blank">Harbor View Mini Golf</a>, <a href="http://scallywagspirateadventures.com/scallywagspirateadventures/" target="_blank">Scalawag's Pirate Cruise</a>, and Liberty Park and the <a href="http://www.porterie.org/watertaxi/" target="_blank">water taxi</a>.<br />
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We made a return visit to the <a href="http://www.eriechildrensmuseum.org/" target="_blank">ExpERIEnce Children's Museum </a>in downtown Erie. They have made a few large changes since our last visit. The top floor is a bit more organized and features an amazing play grocery store sponsored by <a href="https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomepageView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&clear=true" target="_blank">Wegmans</a>. In the basement a play area for little ones has been added. They have foam blocks for climbing over and a sensory wall. I had to shoo some big kids out of the way but then our teeny's had plenty of room to play without being knocked over. There is also an outdoor play garden. We only spent a few moments out there before the torrential rain started.<br />
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You know we found a railway museum to visit! We combined a visit to the <a href="http://lakeshorerailway.com/" target="_blank">Lakshore Railway Museum </a>in Northeast, PA with a visit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gravel-Pit-Park/111517208908558" target="_blank">Gravel Pit Park</a>, where Jeff completed his Eagle Scout project many years ago. Gravel Pit Park has old playground equipment that the kids enjoyed, plus a bunch of snowplow blades they enjoyed looking at. The Railway Museum never actually opened the day we were there - the volunteer was late or something of the sort - but we still spent nearly an hour checking out all the cars. They have the best collection of working train switches we have ever seen at a museum. H loved switching them all and seeing how they worked.<br />
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Here are a few other things we had on the list but did not get to:<br />
- Pick Your Own Fruit. There are a variety of places but <a href="http://agmap.psu.edu/Businesses/index.cfm?fid=4593" target="_blank">Finnell Farms</a> in Harborcreek is where my in laws get the grapes for their Jam. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rahal-Farms-Family-owned-and-operated/178593785526063" target="_blank">Rahal Farms</a> in Northeast, PA also looked to have a good selection.<br />
- The <a href="http://www.asburywoods.org/" target="_blank">Asbury Woods Nature Center </a><br />
- <a href="http://www.splashlagoon.com/" target="_blank">Splash Lagoon Water Park</a> which we have been to in the past and I tend to save for winter visits, but boy is it fun.<br />
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The one mishap of the trip happened when we mistakenly left the I-Pad at Oma & Opa's house. We were an hour into the drive back to Buffalo when we realized our mistake. Luckily I had a whole bag of <a href="https://f4383.myubam.com/" target="_blank">Usborn Books </a>that we barely used on the trip, so the boys were plenty entertained on the trip.<br />
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We did make one last stop at <a href="https://www.tedshotdogs.com/" target="_blank">Ted's</a> in Buffalo, another family tradition, to make sure the kids gave it a try before we leave the country! Ted's conveniently has a location right by the airport.<br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-20140736823460820342015-07-07T11:52:00.001-07:002015-07-07T11:52:15.667-07:00Atlanta Date Night We are relishing the opportunity to get a few date nights in before we head off to the Netherlands. (You can read about our Ex-Pat adventure <a href="http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.) We have found so many fun things to do in Atlanta with the kids, its nice though to do some adult things as well.<br />
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<b>Dinner at the Botanical Garden</b>. I was here with the kids alone for a month before Jeff arrived. My dad volunteered to take both kids one evening so I could join my mom and her friends at the <a href="http://atlantabg.org/events-classes/classes/fresh-plates-series" target="_blank">Fresh Plates Series</a> in the Atlanta Botanical Garden. (The garden also offers a more expensive,<a href="http://atlantabg.org/events-classes/classes/well-seasoned-chef-series" target="_blank">Well-Seasoned Chef Series</a> featuring only farm-to-table chefs.) In the Fresh Plates series local chefs cook dinner inspired by what is growing in the garden, right in front of you, while you sip on a glass of wine. Our meal was delicious and the chef was incredibly entertaining. After we were able to wonder through the garden and check out the lights before heading home.<br />
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<a href="http://atlanta.kingofpops.net/" target="_blank">King of Pops.</a> The first night Jeff was back we decided to go for a walk once the kids were in bed and pick up some King of Pops Popsicles. They happen to sell them at our neighborhood pool, but they are available all over the city. They have so many great flavors it really does feel like the perfect date night treat.<br />
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<b>Dinner & a Show</b>. Atlanta has no shortage of great restaurants and theater options. We caught a Sunday early evening showing of <a href="http://www.horizontheatre.com/" target="_blank">Avenue Q</a> with Horizon theater at <a href="http://www.oglethorpe.edu/arts/theatre/conant_center.asp" target="_blank">Oglethorpe</a>. We grabbed a slice at <a href="http://www.fellinisatlanta.com/fellinis.html" target="_blank">Felini's</a> after the show. (What can I say? Its my favorite!) If your looking for improve check out <a href="http://wholeworldtheatre.com/" target="_blank">Whole World</a> or <a href="http://www.dadsgarage.com/" target="_blank">Dad's Garage</a>. The <a href="http://alliancetheatre.org/" target="_blank">Alliance Theater </a>has several stages showing a variety of plays of different styles. Large scale productions can usually be found at the <a href="https://foxtheatre.org/shows-and-events/" target="_blank">Fox Theater</a>. Still not finding anything? Check out <a href="http://www.theatreatlanta.com/" target="_blank">Theater in Atlanta</a> for a comprehensive list of what is happening around town.<br />
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Here are a few other ideas to check out:<br />
- <a href="http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/experience-imax/martinis-and-imax/" target="_blank">Martini's & Imax</a> at Fernbank on Friday's in the Summer<br />
- <a href="https://www.high.org/Programs/Programs/Events/2015-Events/Special-Events/Wine-Down-Fridays.aspx" target="_blank">Wine Down Fridays</a> at the High<br />
- <a href="http://www.zooatlanta.org/#V-0ci" target="_blank">Wild on the Rocks </a>at Zoo Atlanta<br />
- <a href="http://occupymyfamily.com/2015/04/29/your-guide-to-atlanta-area-outdoor-movies-2015/" target="_blank">Outdoor Movie</a> & Picnic<br />
- <a href="http://www.atlantaplanit.com/outandabout/" target="_blank">Summer Festivals </a><br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-21608504740214520222015-07-07T10:41:00.001-07:002015-07-07T11:05:43.309-07:00Rome, Georgia with Toddlers<br />
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You never quite know where you are going to end up! We ended up tagging along with the grandparents and finding quite a bit of fun in and around Rome, GA. If your headed that way download the <a href="http://romegeorgia.org/visit-rome/georgias-rome-mobile-apps/">Rome, GA app</a>.<br />
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We started our morning by grabbing a Starbucks for our walk and Panera Sandwiches for an afternoon picnic. Rome is small so it was easy to find both these places right off the main drag.<br />
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We headed downtown to park by the river. <a href="http://www.traillink.com/trail/heritage-park-trail.aspx">The Heritage Trail</a> is an easy paved walkway along the rivers. We parked at Unity Point at the base of the old railroad bridge where the rivers meet. There was plenty of shaded parking. We walked down the hill to get on the trail headed East. We stopped at the <a href="http://romegeorgia.org/attraction/town-green/">Towne Green</a>. There is a fountain suitable for playing in here as well as a grass field. I packed swimsuits and towels so the kids could run around in the fountain but the three year old was only interested in crossing bridges... so we pressed on.<br />
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At the north end of the Green a pedestrian bridge crosses over the river. There are a few little pull outs on the bridge where we had great views of the swallows flying around the bridge, a group of geese headed under the bridge and even a few turtles sunning themselves.<br />
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At the end of the bridge we headed West, back toward the railroad bridge on the upper path, switching to the lower path to pass under the old railroad bridge at the headwaters. The path turns North and there is a gazebo, bathrooms and a playground - your now in <a href="http://rfpra.com/Park%20Guide.html">Heritage Park</a>. We stopped here for a snack and playtime. The kids enjoyed the small park and the gazebo gave us some much needed shade.<br />
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At the Gazebo you can switch back to the upper path, which crosses over the old railroad bridge and back to the parking lot. This loop took us about an hour with the three year old walking and the many many stops for playing and animal spotting.<br />
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As soon as we loaded the kids into the car the one year old was asleep. We drove down Riverside Parkway, actually paralleling the trail that goes over the Pedestrian Bridge. Here we found the perfect picnic spot. Riverside Park has two large areas, split by the railroad tracks, with a playground and covered picnic areas on both sides.<br />
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After our picnic we loaded everyone, including Grandpa and Grandpa, into the van and headed off to Cartersville, GA. I always like to drive a bit after lunch in hopes of getting a nap, and this did not disappoint, both kids were asleep for most of the drive.<br />
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The <a href="http://tellusmuseum.org/">Tellus Science Museum</a> in Cartersville was a huge surprise win of the trip. This little museum has fantastic exhibits. If you've read our Atlanta visitors guide you will know we were not impressed by Fernbank. The Tellus Museum has taken the time to focus on a few things and do them really really well. The museum is small but the kids loved all four sections - Geology, Dinosaurs, Vehicles and a Children's Exploration area. They also have a planetarium, although we did not get show tickets. There are several outside displays as well; a Georgia rock garden, a Solar House, a few satellite dishes and some large trucks. There is also plenty of space to picnic here. The Tellus Sciecne Museum participates in the <a href="http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums">Blue Star Museums program</a>, so it is free to military over the summer.<br />
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The kids were exhausted after our long day and slept all the way home. We grabbed some <a href="http://www.bellstreetburritos.com/bellstreetburritos.html">Bell Street Burritos</a> for dinner once we were back in the city. The perfect end to our busy day. <br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-41084255833525365152015-06-30T10:19:00.000-07:002015-06-30T10:19:03.677-07:00DC with Toddlers<div>
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There are so many reasons we needed to make a stop in DC as part of our "farewell tour." My sister lives there and we have not been to see her since she moved there. I used to live there in my pre-married days and it holds so many memories including my engagement.<br />
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I know this city so well having worked there for several years and many summers before that. As I always say though planning a trip with the kids is totally different and it always leaves me feeling like I don't know the city at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZZATpr0v4aqcHEvJGrwU8SG3AUYXXEIlO5fJK0QuK893RyzMWSqzFhmFU9f4jQBNJQxSthBuH885xdfguHozlKPJgqqVRD5JX1Lw_N339O3LhntMtkIyLBw7qUOyeUzdzzpZcPexiSh2/s1600/IMG_2569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZZATpr0v4aqcHEvJGrwU8SG3AUYXXEIlO5fJK0QuK893RyzMWSqzFhmFU9f4jQBNJQxSthBuH885xdfguHozlKPJgqqVRD5JX1Lw_N339O3LhntMtkIyLBw7qUOyeUzdzzpZcPexiSh2/s200/IMG_2569.JPG" width="150" /></a>Traveling as light as possible is always important so I ditched the car seats for this trip entirely. Its the first time the kids have flown without them, but it lightened the load. Instead of car seats we used the <a href="http://kidsflysafe.com/" target="_blank">CARES harness</a>, which to my knowledge is the only FAA approved harness. It was easy to install, kept my wiggly 3 year old safe and in his seat, and the flight crew seemed familiar enough with it I got no questions or weird looks. The only awkward part is you do have to ask the person behind you to put down their tray table to instal and uninstall. Once installed it does not interfere with their use of the tray table at all.<br />
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Not having a car seat also meant we had to stick with public transportation. I actually love using the public transportation and it ranked pretty high on the list of things my three year old loved to do.<br />
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My sister met us at the airport and helped us shlep our stuff to Old Town Alexandria. We were booked to stay at the <a href="https://www.kimptonhotels.com/stay/morrison-house-hotel-alexandria" target="_blank">Morrison House</a>, a <a href="https://www.kimptonhotels.com/" target="_blank">Kimpton </a>property, where my mom's meetings were taking place. We arrived and found that the rooms would not accommodate our party of 4. Kimpton was quick to resolve the problem, transferring us to a spacious room at the <a href="https://www.kimptonhotels.com/stay/hotel-monaco-alexandria-va" target="_blank">Hotel Monaco</a> just down the street.<br />
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The room wasn't ready yet so we left our bags with the bellman and headed to the <a href="http://patch.com/virginia/oldtownalexandria/young-life-in-an-old-town-the-armory-tot-lot" target="_blank">Armory Tot Lot playground</a>, a small playground just a block off the main drag. It had a few shady benches to hang out on and both kids got some of their energy out.<br />
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We also rode the King Street Trolley (Free) up King Street. You can easily walk up King street faster then this trolley goes, but it is something fun to do with the kiddos and it has air conditioning. It runs from the waterfront (just outside the old torpedo factory to the King Street Metro station and back.) Everyone has to get out at the end of the line and transfer trolleys so its not practical to ride it up and back.<br />
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We met up with some family for an early dinner at <a href="http://redrocksdc.com/" target="_blank">Red Rocks Pizza</a>. I was glad we had a reservation as the place is small and crowded. The pizza was great and they have a large selection of beer, wine and drinks as well. They had coloring and high chairs for the kiddos as well, which is also a plus.<br />
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Sunday morning we headed to the <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/" target="_blank">National Zoo</a>. I always forget how big the National Zoo is. It was hot so many of the animals were either not out or laying completely still. We made it through about 2/3 of the zoo before the kids got hot and hungry. I had packed snacks, but the food options inside the zoo are not great. We ended up grabbing Chiptole with a friend near the Woodly Park Metro station.<br />
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We hopped back on the Metro, deciding it was much to hot to continue our exploration of the zoo, and headed instead to the <a href="http://www.nbm.org/?referrer=https://www.google.com/" target="_blank">National Building Museum</a>. (As part of the <a href="http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums" target="_blank">Blue Star Museums</a> summer program, it is free for up to 6 people for active duty military.) If you have kids you will need to get times tickets for their children's play area when you get your tickets. These tickets are free as part of your admission, but you most have them in order to enter the exhibit.<br />
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There are two kids areas in the museum. One is pictured to the right and has large blue foam that you can build with. The one year old and the three year old loved this room and were entertained enough that part of our group was able to sneak away and check out some actual exhibits on architecture.<br />
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The timed tickets are for a separate area that has every type of building toy you can imagine in addition to construction dress up and a construction house. They limit the number of kids inside (with the timed tickets) so it was a great experience even for our littlest one.<br />
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Wouldn't you know that all my three year old wanted to do for dinner was go back to my sister's place and get someone to deliver food! He thought it was the craziest thing ever to have food delivered to your house. We did that and let hims watch a Jake and the Neverland Pirates on her Netflix and he was in heaven. (Seriously, its one of the things he tells people about this trip. Ha!)<br />
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We hit a little playground leaving my sister's on the way back to the train. These litter neighborhood playground are everywhere so it was easy to burn off a little steam before our Metro ride home.<br />
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Its a quick walk over the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the monuments. I knew there was no way the kids would stand for seeing them all so we tried to hit a few that made sense and that they would remember.<br />
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Lincoln. Its hard to get the stroller up the steps, there is an elevator but its better left to those that need it, so I went up with the kids and my sister stayed at the bottom to enjoy the view. H kept calling it "big Abe" and asking if this was his "log cabin."<br />
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Korean War Memorial next. I thought it would be a bit easier to understand then the Vietnam Memorial. H had lots of questions about the radios the statues have. Honestly, I'll take any engagement or hit of interest to count it as a win.<br />
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We walked down the mall next to the reflecting pool to the World War II Memorial, which is one of my very favorites. We found all the states members of our family were born in on the columns and enjoyed the view back down the mall to "Big Abe."<br />
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We crossed the street and continued to the base of the Washington Monument. (If you want to go up to the top, your going to need to be in line when the visitors center opens. Most days they are "sold out" (tickets are free) by 8:30am. You can also make arrangements with your congressional office for tickets.)<br />
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We did pop into the visitors center because it houses a whole host of National Passport Cancelations. All of the monuments can be found here. In fact when you google where to find the cancelations it will tell you the "survey lodge" on the mall, which is the, currently closed, ranger station. We were able to find all those stamps here.<br />
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We headed up Constitution Ave to the front of the White House. At this point my kids were ready for lunch so asking them to take a picture was pure torture. My three year old also insisted on shouting "BARAK OBAMA" over and over at the top of his lungs. It was awesome. haha.<br />
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Luckily we had plans to meet a friend at the <a href="http://www.potbelly.com/" target="_blank">Potbelly's</a> across the street. So we quickly got lunch, and a vanilla milkshake, into the kiddos.<br />
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At this point we did something weird and took Pennsylvania Ave through FoggyBottom to Georgetown. Once on M street we cut over to walk on the canal path for a bit and then to the waterfront and docs where we got on a <a href="http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/monuments-cruise.php" target="_blank">Potomac Riverboat Company</a> sightseeing tour back to Old Town Alexandria. (In the summer Thursday - Sunday they run the tours from the mall, but earlier in the week you have to catch them up in Georgetown.)<br />
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The boat was just the rest we needed. The kids were calm and there is lots of narration to keep adults happy. They also sell some limited concessions on the boat. I had never really been out on the Potomac so it was a good way to see the city from a different perspective.<br />
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We got off in Old Town and switched boats to a ferry that heads over to National Harbor. (Secretly, this leg was motivated by my desire to get the kids into Maryland and a new state for both of them.) The boat goes under the now renovated Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which was a huge hit with the 3 year old.<br />
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National Harbor is a bit touristy. The large TV screen was showing the World Cup and there was a line of chairs to sit in. We walked around a little bit checking out all the offerings. <a href="http://www.thecapitalwheel.com/" target="_blank">The Capitol Wheel </a>sits at the end of its own pier, we did not check it out because the 3 year old was "not interested", and who wants to fight that battle. The <a href="http://www.nationalharbor.com/the-carousel/" target="_blank">carousel</a> and attached playground ($3 for military for unlimited rides) was a huge hit. Some articles still mention the <a href="http://www.ncm.museum/" target="_blank">Children's Museum</a> but it has since left National Harbor.<br />
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Right on the water front is a small sandy area for kids to play in that also features "The Awakening," a statue featuring a giant emerging from the earth. This statue used to be in a DC National park but has been relocated here - you can read more about that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/arts/design/29awak.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The kids loved climbing on the giant foot emerging from the sand.<br />
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There are a plethora of restaurants here. We chose the <a href="http://www.crabcakecafe.com/" target="_blank">Crab Cake Cafe</a> and were happy with our choice given that it was quick and yummy. The kids however, were quickly losing patience so we hopped a water taxi back to Old Town and walked the few block from the waterfront back to our hotel.<br />
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Tuesday was the last day in our whirl wind trip and I decided just to meet my sister in the city. We hit the train in the middle of rush hour but since we got on in Virginia and got off in the middle of the city the stroller was easy to mange on the train. We never had to get on or off while the train was crowded.<br />
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We met a friend for breakfast tacos at <a href="http://districttaco.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">District Taco</a> near Metro Center. The tacos were delicious! My friend was on her way to brief at the White House and this was her power breakfast of choice, plus some snuggles with my kiddos.<br />
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We hit a Starbucks before walking the few blocks to the National Mall and setting the kids free to run around a but. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History opens at 10 and we were meeting friends at the back entrance where the stroller ramp is, so we killed the extra time by running around on the wide open grass.<br />
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At ten we were in line to get into the museum with our friends and headed right up to the third floor to get timed tickets to go into the butterfly house. They were already at 11am tickets when we got there. We spent the hour touring around the second floor of the museum, which features some of their less popular stuff. The truncated dinosaur exhibit is also here while they renovate the larger exhibit. There is plenty to see here and lots of room for the kids to be on their own feet checking things out. They were ready to see the live butterflies at 11am. Our friend's little girl almost left with one hiding in her pigtail!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG20zRt9P8zeDhYkYQirSc6vLUoQTwJBRMcNiLC3A1yto6bzTfUialXyarV5YwIlu8xdsMn3bUQ7SO_uEN9oCP2URj1iu6LZ-klN9wRux70-8bVQcSCfEjtkk-XUOGP_JC7ejJbALenVs/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG20zRt9P8zeDhYkYQirSc6vLUoQTwJBRMcNiLC3A1yto6bzTfUialXyarV5YwIlu8xdsMn3bUQ7SO_uEN9oCP2URj1iu6LZ-klN9wRux70-8bVQcSCfEjtkk-XUOGP_JC7ejJbALenVs/s200/IMG_2719.JPG" width="150" /></a>After the butterflies we walked our friends to the sculpture gardens, giving my kids a quick peek, and then hopped on the Metro at the Archives station and scooted over to the Pentagon for lunch. We met a friend (I used to work there) and had lunch in one of there not -so-spectacular but still really cool cafeterias and gave H a quick walking tour. You need an escort to come into the Pentagon but they do offer <a href="http://pentagontours.osd.mil/" target="_blank">guided tours</a>.<br />
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It was an easy ride back to the airport, where my mom met us with our bags and we said our goodbyes to my sister before flying home. It was such a quick trip! There is just too much fun stuff to do(and so many friends we didn't get a chance to see) in this city, so I know we will be back.<br />
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There are some great blogs about having kids in DC and what to do with them. Here are a few that I found particular useful for planing this trip. Alternatively, you can just type in "DC with Kids" in Pinterest and get more suggestions, probably including this one, then you would ever need.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dctots.com/" target="_blank">DC Tots</a>. This is a great blog, but no longer updated, that lists all the playgrounds and activities in the city. It is worth checking out but double check all the details, as some things have changed.<br />
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<a href="http://kidfriendlydc.com/" target="_blank">Kid Friendly DC.</a> This is a great page to check out current events and get ideas for itineraries. Like most blogs by locals, they don't always hit the "tourist spots" but I think a trip needs a sprinkle of local fun mixed into the touristy craziness.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dcthriftymom.com/" target="_blank">DC Thrifty Mom</a>. Another great list of local things to do around the city.<br />
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Happy Traveling!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-88980516357944434202015-06-13T13:18:00.000-07:002015-07-27T12:36:40.381-07:00Summer in Atlanta: What to do with Toddlers.<div>
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It's another fun summer in Atlanta. I always forget how much great stuff there is to do here. I'm rediscovering the city with H, my three year old, and O, my one-year old in tow.<br />
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If your still in the "contemplating the trip" phase there are some wonderful blogs and kids pages that you should check out. <a href="http://occupymyfamily.com/" target="_blank">Occupy My Family</a> has a wonderful list of current events going on in the city, their Facebook page and Twitter account are quite active. If your here for an extended stay, or want to get an idea of the types of events going on, add it to your feed. <a href="http://redtri.com/atlanta-kids/" target="_blank">Red Tricycle</a> has an Atlanta Page that is great for seeing what is going on for specific dates. <a href="http://atlantawithkid.com/" target="_blank">Atlanta with Kid </a>is a great blog about just that.<br />
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Here is a run down of what we have been doing. We hope you find some things to enjoy as well. <b><i>(If your reading this summer of 2015 its being updated as we complete activities so check back.) </i></b><br />
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<a href="https://plus.google.com/100483517306299086528/about?gl=us&hl=en" target="_blank">Dekalb Toy Park</a>. This is your regular run of the mill park, except people leave their old plastic toys here for other kids to play with. They have it all. . The park has a paved path that runs all the way around it and is lined with ride on toys - trikes, cozy coups, push cars - they are all there waiting to be ridden. The playground is almost lost among the piles of construction toys. Kids have formed small villages with the play houses. This is the most crowded park we have been to (on a weekday) but all the parents (save one) were involved, friendly and playing with all the kids. This park is walking distance from most of downtown Decatur. Plenty of coffee or lunch options. There is also ample street parking. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.piedmontpark.org/" target="_blank">Piedmont Park</a>. </b> Piedmont Park is one of my favorites. Parking used to be a problem, but they have added a nice (paid) parking deck that really makes things easier. We went right after breakfast and loaded the kids into the stroller for a morning of walking and playing. The park has two great playgrounds - one by the public pool, and one by the Piedmont entrance. The playground by the pool is the most popular and can entertain my kids for an hour, easily. The community garden, orchard and dog park are also highlights on our walking adventure.<br />
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The Legacy Fountains, though are our favorite. This fountain play area are like the ones down at Centennial Olympic Park, except much tamer. My one year old was happy to walk around in the fountains. Going early in the day means less sun and you'll have the place virtually to yourself. There are bathrooms that are always relatively clean. (I don't feel grossed out changing in them, but it is a park bathroom.) Plenty of seating and places to park your stroller, plus a big lawn for laying towels or a blanket out make this a perfect spot for kids of all ages. </div>
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We grabbed lunch at Willy's on the park corner at Piedmont for the perfect lunch treat. They also offer <a href="http://atlanta.kingofpops.net/" target="_blank">King of Pops</a> here if your looking for a cool treat. You can spend all day in the park or combine it with a trip down the <a href="http://beltline.org/trails/eastside-trail/" target="_blank">East Side Trail</a> or <a href="http://atlantabg.org/" target="_blank">Botanical Gardens</a>, as both are adjacent to the park. We, however, headed home for naps for everyone. </div>
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<a href="http://www.pdkairport.org/index.asp" target="_blank"><b>Peachtree Dekalb Airport Park.</b></a> I have never seen so many dad's as I did at PDK Airport Park. My transportation crazy kids love this place. This park is all about location! This run of the mill playground is located on the airport property in the shadow of the control tower.Picnic tables are covered by a small airplane hanger, adding to the theme. There is a small amphitheater that gives the kids enough height to see the whole airport. The airport is busy enough that every few minutes something is taking off or landing. We saw a plethora of planes take off and land as well as several helicopters. Parking is plentiful and clearly marked.<br />
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Just down the road is a bunkhouse for the Southern Railway. Engines are almost always parked outside the bunkhouse and trains roll through frequently. The MARTA line is also visible, running parallel to the train tracks on an elevated platform, so you are sure to see a few of those too. The best viewing spot is behind the <a href="http://frostycaboose.com/" target="_blank">Frosty Caboose</a>. Grab an ice cream or hot dog and enjoy some quality train viewing. There are actually a variety of restaurants that have opened up on the other side of the street that look good, but we have not been to any of them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com/" target="_blank">Old Fourth Ward Park & Splash Pad</a>. I've blogged about this one before. It was even more of a hit this time around. H was able to run around in the splash pad on his own and little O loved touching the water, but was not interested in playing in the splash pad itself. We visited on a really hot day, so it was crowded.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6BO4rXve8xB_XLJmFnpQWzJX5bSIqlfAPwo4-iVu9Gt4NfkWtMImqtgBjqCr4fJvoFb-Bz4QeQ_tHFxFDfRHP2FwbrtkZb3jVOLtusiAMdvyM8aBTBwxlPtYhuMNW7WiANBYEhIWJd-j/s1600/IMG_2771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6BO4rXve8xB_XLJmFnpQWzJX5bSIqlfAPwo4-iVu9Gt4NfkWtMImqtgBjqCr4fJvoFb-Bz4QeQ_tHFxFDfRHP2FwbrtkZb3jVOLtusiAMdvyM8aBTBwxlPtYhuMNW7WiANBYEhIWJd-j/s200/IMG_2771.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://beltline.org/trails/northside-trail/" target="_blank">Tanyard Creek Park</a>. This cute little park is actually part of the belt-line. This park has it all, a field to play in, two great playgrounds, a bridge over the creek with ducks and turtles and a train bridge. This is one of the boys favorites and they refer to it as the "train park" since we almost always get to see a train while we are here.<br />
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Centennial Olympic Park. <a href="http://www.centennialpark.com/" target="_blank">Centennial Olympic Park</a> are probably best known for the fountains on the south side of the park that you can play in. We tend to avoid these with the toddlers as they are usually over run by larger kids. Little ones end up run over or scarred by the powerful jets. When we walked through the park at 9:30am, there was absolutely no one in the fountains. On the north end of the park are two great playgrounds side by side. Our kids played here for over an hour running between the two.<br />
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<b>Museum</b><br />
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<b><a href="http://atlantabg.org/" target="_blank">Atlanta Botanical Garden</a> - </b>The Atlanta Botanical Garden has so much surprising programing. The gardens themselves are lovely and always evolving. The gardens are closed on Mondays, but the rest of the week feature family programing like story time, stroller walks and treasure hunts. We dropped in on one of the weekend family workshops where for $6 (no registration required) we made a terrarium to take home. </div>
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There is a children's garden complete with splash pad and small play structures that will occupy kids while surrounding them with plants. We also love the canopy walk. Its usually pretty quiet and plenty of space for H to run a bit ahead of us. The whole garden is stroller friendly. </div>
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I also had the chance to leave the kiddos at home and attend one of the cooks in the garden series. Chefs from around Atlanta prepare a meal inspired by what is growing in the herb and vegetable garden. There is an outdoor kitchen so you get a cooking lesson while you enjoy the food and wine. As an added bonus on your way out you can peek at the lights in the garden, the current nighttime display that requires a s</div>
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<u><a href="http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/" target="_blank">Atlanta History Center</a>.</u> <i>Note theAtlanta History Center is currently under major renovation to make room for the Cyclorama</i>. The History Center is also part of the <a href="http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums" target="_blank">Blue Star Museums</a> program, so its free to visit for military. The current exhibits are not particularly toddler friendly, so we blitz through the museum. (I figured even if just a few things peaked his interest its something... right?) The three year old actually enjoyed the section on the 1996 Olympic Games, but was otherwise non engaged. The gardens and other buildings are a different story. We spent the bulk of our time exploring the grounds. There are formal gardens around the Swan House, a working farm and a log cabin to explore along with a meandering path through the woods. We spent most of the morning here and had the place basically to ourselves. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.zooatlanta.org/" target="_blank">Zoo Atlanta</a>.</b> Zoo Atlanta is a family favorite and every trip home involves at least one visit. We ended up getting a membership since we were going to be here all summer. It has already paid for itself. In addition to just visiting the zoo - which is one of only three places in the US that you can see Pandas - there is a variety of kids programing that goes on. We visited during Art Week and were able to watch local artists painting the animals. They also had stations set up for the kids to do art. H got to try painting like an elephant, with a paint brush in a pool noodle.<br />
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Zoo Atlanta offers <a href="http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/education" target="_blank">classes</a> for kids of all ages. We have O registered for Stroller Cubs (ages 0-2) and H registered for Adventure Cubs (3-4). I almost always bring O to H's class, but try to leave H with the grandparents for O's classes. The June adventure cubs focused on Animal Dad's. The kids got to meet a few animals up close, complete a craft and then go see some animal dads in the exhibits. These classes are available to non-members and include admission, so you can stay after to explore.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.high.org/" target="_blank">High Museum of Art.</a></b> The High Museum was one of the biggest surprise "wins" of our visit. They offer a weekly T<a href="https://www.high.org/en/Programs/Programs/Family-Programs/Weekly-Family-Programs.aspx" target="_blank">oddler Time (thursday)</a> and <a href="http://www.high.org/Programs/Programs/Events/2015-Events/Tours/Weekend-Family-Tours.aspx" target="_blank">weekend family tours</a>, so I thought we would check it out.<br />
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Toddler Time is self lead. We received all the materials to make our Knuffle Bunny Puppet and found a seat to work on our own. Once we were done with our craft we worked our way over to story time in one of the galleries and into the family area for some fun play and drawings.<br />
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In addition to family programing they currently (June 2015) have a Mo Willems exhibit that is hung at kid level. The Spinning Tops exhibit on the lawn also turned out to be very kid friendly. I did bring the stroller along, allowing us to browse the other galleries. H enjoyed pointing out things he liked or that looked like his friends. We actually ended up spending most of the day at the museum. H even announced he would like to go back! </div>
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<b><a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Fernbank+Museum" target="_blank">Fernbank Museum of Natural History</a>.</b> So.. we were a bit underwelmed with Fernbank. I had wonderful memories of visiting and the website made it seem like they had added all sorts of fun activities for the kids. They do offer a military discount and we did not opt to do the IMAX. </div>
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We arrived at opening (10am) and other then one large group basically had the place to ourselves until we left around noon. NatureQuest, the children's touch and play area, was fun but smaller then I thought it would be. H did play here for about 30 min so it was worth the visit, but we have seen better. The other exhibits were all a bit over the kids heads. We walked through them all, H's favorite being "A Walk Through Time In Georgia" that features walkthroughs of different geographic areas in Georgia. </div>
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<a href="https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/" target="_blank">The Georgia Aquarium</a>. The Georgia Aquarium is always one of the big splurges when we visit Atlanta. Its expensive but the kids love it. One of the exhibits is currently under renovation but there is still plenty to do. We booked our tickets, including parking online and saved ourselves a few dollars. If you go right when it opens (~9) you will have the place basically to yourself until around 10:30. All the kids loved standing in front of the two big tanks and watching the animals and divers. We hung around for the dolphin show, which is more show then dolphin performance. It also takes FOREVER for the theater to empty out. Upstairs there is a great new interactive exhibit. Our kids were too little for the ipads, but they still had fun playing with a few of the exhibits.<br />
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<a href="http://www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org/" target="_blank">Children's Museum of Atlanta</a>. The museum is closing in August 2015 for a massive overhaul and the pictures look fantastic. I won't really talk about what is offered though other than to say my kids are obsessed with their train table! Parking is a problem, you will nee to finding parking in one of the pay lots and walk. This is easily combined with a trip to Centennial Park and one of the parks best playgrounds is just across the street from the museum. We've been to a lot of Children's Museums and the staff here is the best around. They are all around the museum, not timid to engage kids or ask kids (um.. or parents) to follow the museum rules, and they are constantly restocking and putting things away. I assume none of this will change with the renovation. Can't wait to check out the new renovation!<br />
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<b>Shows </b><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.woodruffcenter.org/" target="_blank">Woodruff Arts Center</a></b> - The Woodruff Arts Center is home to the <a href="http://alliancetheatre.org/" target="_blank">Alliance Theater</a> and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. If you think that this sounds too advanced for your littles you would be wrong.<br />
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All summer the Woodruff Arts Center is hosting <a href="http://www.woodruffcenter.org/FamilyFun.aspx" target="_blank">Sunday Arts Festivals</a> for families that are worth checking out. They are free but you need to register online or once you arrive. Our three year old loved the activities which included an "acting workshop," a family photo scavenger hunt, music and a craft.<br />
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The Alliance Theater has the <a href="http://alliancetheatre.org/content/theatre-very-young" target="_blank">Theater for the Very Young </a>that brings in tons of shows geared at little ones. I took our three year old to see<a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/booklights/archives/2010/05/knuffle-bunny-a-cautionary-musical.html" target="_blank"> Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical</a> as his first real theater experience. Later in the summer we have tickets booked to take our one year old to <a href="http://alliancetheatre.org/production/blub-blub" target="_blank">Blub, Blub</a>, a play designed for kids 0-2. The <a href="http://www.atlantasymphony.org/" target="_blank">Atlanta Symphony Orchestra</a> has <a href="http://www.atlantasymphony.org/ConcertsAndTickets/Subscriptions/Family.aspx" target="_blank">family performances </a>designed for young children, although they seem to be on a break for the summer. The events are always changing so make sure you check out the webpages to see what is going on when you are visiting.<br />
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*I took our one year old to "Blub Blub" and it was amazing. They limit the number of attendees so each child truly gets to participate in the show.<br />
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<a href="http://www.puppet.org/perform/filmseries.shtml" target="_blank">Center for Puppetry Arts</a>. The Center for Puppetry Arts is in the middle of a large museum expansion (that looks amazing!) Our summer visit was limited to seeing a performance of "<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442433701/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442433701&linkCode=as2&tag=dutdutgoo-20&linkId=SPRPQAYMWP5XMBEH%22%3EClick,%20Clack,%20Moo:%20Cows%20That%20Type%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=dutdutgoo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1442433701%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Click, Clack Moo: Cows that Type</a>" and the corresponding "Make A Puppet Lab" included with the performance. They also show films featuring "puppets on the large screen." If your visiting Atlanta with little ones it is worth checking out the performance schedule. Our three year old loved the show and they always spend time explaining how the puppets work afterwords. We left the one year old with the grandparents, although there were plenty of babies in the show. </div>
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<b>Restaurants </b><br />
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(There are so many great places to eat in Atlanta. This is simply the list of where we went this trip.)</div>
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<a href="http://thecurbmarket.com/" target="_blank">Municipal Market.</a> If you happen to be anywhere downtown hop on the street car (free till 2016) and take it to the Sweet Alburn stop. Cross the street into the market. You will find a wide variety of produce, meat and food options. Our group could not agree on just one place. We split up an enjoyed a few of the tasty options they have here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.fellinisatlanta.com/fellinis.html" target="_blank">Fellini's Pizza</a> (Pizza) - I think i recommend this place in every blog post about Atlanta. Its my go to favorite place to grab a slice of pizza. I always get a salad and mix up the type of slice I get. My kids love it too. Ask for the kids slice to have a "kids cut" and its cut into small pieces. Our favorite location is in Candler Park, but you can't go wrong anywhere you go.<br />
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<a href="http://www.willys.com/index.php" target="_blank">Willy's (Mexican) </a>- Willy's is another perennial favorite. Everything is good but everyone knows the Quesidilla is the best item on the menu. Whatever you order add a side of the white cheese sauce. I thought white cheese sauce was a thing everywhere, but after moving away I discovered that was not the case. Get some while your here because its the local thing to do. Again, you can't go wrong with an Atlanta location, but the one on Howell Mill has a margarita bar...no need to say any more.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bellstreetburritos.com/bellstreetburritos.html" target="_blank">Bell Street Burritos</a> - We frequent the Buckhead location. They have every type of burrito you can imagine and they are pretty hearty. Its a favorite for pool night dinners. I haven't tried the chillies, but they area available only on Friday's and come highly recommended.<br />
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<a href="http://www.batdorfcoffee.com/retail-locations.html" target="_blank">Dancing Goats Coffee</a> - Plenty of outdoor and patio seating are the hallmark of this coffee shop at <a href="http://www.poncecitymarket.com/" target="_blank">Ponce City Market</a>. The coffee and muffins were delicious. The kids loved digging in the gravel pit and sitting on the oversized chairs. We parked at the Old Fourth Ward Park and walked down the path to the coffee shop and market.<br />
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<a href="https://www.gcpatlanta.com/menu.html" target="_blank">Grant Central Pizza</a> - We were at an evening event at the zoo with the kids and decided we wanted to try this place for dinner. Service was slow but the pizza was so delicious and cheap! It was full of families so my kids being slightly cranky was not an issue.<br />
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<b>Other </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisosWfNaozowQYAgsUsqmEQRpjlq9P7Mt_mH4PkKPu7HAvWutPtwYkYIn2Q8zhSzF49QfWfBeLgAKjommRM5oFcFNODyY5qMO3QGqslJp99n3h0b0IUzOqK7wYLU9xOFHjQbLbagnUdZRu/s1600/IMG_4049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisosWfNaozowQYAgsUsqmEQRpjlq9P7Mt_mH4PkKPu7HAvWutPtwYkYIn2Q8zhSzF49QfWfBeLgAKjommRM5oFcFNODyY5qMO3QGqslJp99n3h0b0IUzOqK7wYLU9xOFHjQbLbagnUdZRu/s200/IMG_4049.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street Car in Atlanta</td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://streetcar.atlantaga.gov/" target="_blank">Atlanta Streetcar</a>. </b>The streetcar makes a loop that is easily walkable. Combine the free ride in the air conditioning with my train obsessed kiddo and you have a win! We enjoyed the ride and even got to chat with the driver. The cars run every 10 minutes ish. The Streetcar is free until 2016. We hopped off at Sweet Alburn and grabbed lunch at the Municipal Market. The <a href="http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm" target="_blank">MLK Historic Site </a>is another popular stop. The streetcar is assessable by <a href="http://www.itsmarta.com/" target="_blank">MARTA</a>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Skyview Atlanta </td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://www.skyviewatlanta.com/" target="_blank">Skyview Atlanta.</a> </b>Skyview Atlanta is the enclosed ferris wheel in downtown. We found a Groupon for it and decided we needed to try it out. I was pretty sure it was going to be silly, how much can you see when there are tall buildings all around? Turns out, you can see quite a bit. We could not get the audio in our car to work. We are plenty familiar with the city though. The wheel gives you lovely views of Centennial Olympic Park, Downtown Atlanta and much of Georgia Tech. The ride lasts about 20 min. The kids thought it was great and we enjoyed the view from on high. </div>
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<a href="http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops?cm_sp=vanity-_-Kidsworkshops-_-DEC13" target="_blank">Home Depot Workshops</a> - The Home Depot on Ponce offers these every Saturday (most stores nationwide offer them one Saturday a month.) They set up outside when the weather is nice and start at 9am. Its a great little morning activity. You get to take home the craft, an apron with the kids name on it and a pin for each craft completed. Its also completely free! </div>
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<a href="http://www.afpls.org/" target="_blank">Public Libraries</a> - Public Libraries are usually a go to for kids fun when we are traveling to a city. They are just not a hallmark in Atlanta. We checked out the Buckhead location, which is plenty big with a wide selection of books. The books are generally in poor condition, at least compared to our Colorado "home" library. The event list is minimal, with most activities occurring out in the suburbs.<br />
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<a href="https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/" target="_blank">Legoland Discovery Center</a>. We bought our tickets online and signed up for Toddler Time, a guided story and building activity. Toddler Time was great. The kids loved listening to the stories and learning to build the story characters. After that our visit went downhill. The discovery center itself has lots of fun activities - two rides, a soft play area, a theater and lots of places to build with legos. Our problem was it was completely overrun with camps. There were easily 6 different groups there of varying ages making the ride lines prohibitively long and my little guys could hardly get into build anything. It was crowded to the point of being dangerous for the littles. The staff (other than the guy that ran Toddler Time, who was great with the kids.) seemed completely disinterested. I attempted to inform a staff member we had been waiting in line for a ride for 20min because the camp group kept re-cycling through to pair taller kids with smaller kids, and was told I was free to get out of line. We ended up sticking mostly to the small toddler area. The kids had fun, but I was annoyed. I attempted to call a manager there to let them know I was dissatisfied, but no one ever answered the phone and although I left a message I never received any sort of call back. </div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-48955644970509700752015-05-30T20:03:00.003-07:002015-06-13T18:02:45.893-07:00Magic Kingdom Day Two with Toddlers<br />
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We split the Magic Kingdom up into two days so that we would have enough time to enjoy the park and never feel rushed.<br />
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Just like last time we parked at the Contemporary and walked over for the rope drop. I was able to get us a bit more centered this time. H was just as amazed the second time around when the train pulled in with all his favorite friends.<br />
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The plan was to head straight to Tomorrowland and get on the AstroOrbiters, but when we got there the AstroOrbiters were not operational. Jeff took H to go drive cars at the Tomorrowland Speedway. My mom and I took O to ride the Peoplemover. The rides took about the same amount of time, we were able to see the boys in line while we were on the Peoplemover.<br />
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We met at AstroOrbiters and only had to wait for one group to go before it was our turn to ride the elevator up for the rocket ride. The boys loved riding the rockets. The higher you go the more the rocket tilts toward the center. In hindsight I am not sure that I should have taken O on it. He laughed the whole time, but I was a little nervous I wasn't going to be able to hold him as we banked to the right!<br />
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We had a minor meltdown on our way to use our fastpass at Peter Pan about enchanted boats and flying elephants that really is not worth getting in to here, but once that was resolved we hopped onto Peter Pan's flight and took off over London. When we reached the end of the flight H exclaimed that he wanted to ride the boat with the music and little people, so we walked across the street and right onto Small World. We did get stuck in the final room in a boat pileup, but my mom found a lady's missing shoe in the water and was able to return it to her as we disembarked.<br />
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We used a fastpass for Enchanted Tales with Belle. All the children who wanted to participate got a chance. H, with some help from Jeff, played the wardrobe and got to lead the parade of the staff for Belle. H and O got their pictures with Belle at the end of the show!<br />
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Haunted Mansion is my absolute favorite ride. H and I have been talking about it since we started planning the trip, so he was game when I suggested we try to ride that next. I may have told him the mansion was holding a ghost party. With that in mind he wasn't scared of anything and was excited he got to go to the party. He did say that one time on the ride was enough. Ha!<br />
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As we were crossing The Hub on our way to lunch at The Plazza, the Move it! Sake it! Dance & Play it! Street Party came rolling through. I couldn't get H to join me dancing in the street, but he also didn't want to leave.<br />
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Lunch at The Plaza was good. It is one of your only options for sit down dining in the Magic Kingdom. Getting some AC and a nice lunch is a huge recharge for us and the kids. The food is nothing special, but it was good, filling and service was excellent. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Plaza: Kids PB&J </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Plaza: Club Sandwich </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happily Entertained at The Plaza<br />
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We had a fastpass to the Jungle Cruise, which helped the line not be 80 min, but we still waited more then 20 min for the ride. I think I had high expectations from my memory. The way we boarded the boat put the kids and I in the direct sun, so we were hot. The kids were not very amused by the animals and the jokes were over their head. I am glad we included it, but it was a bit of a dud.<br />
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Jungle Cruise was our third fastpass and the fastpass kiosk is right next to where Jungle Cruise lets out, so I popped over while everyone else was grabbing the stroller and got another one for later in the day. </div>
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Across the road is the Tiki Room, so we ducked in there for a nice cool spot to feed Oliver and watch the show. The kids loved the singing birds! The DoleWhip after didn't hurt either. I actually tried the float and it was delicious and slightly more refreshing. </div>
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Tom Sawyers Island was a huge hit! We probably should have let H play here both days, he enjoyed it so much. Taking the boat over is fun, but again hot in the open sun. Once you get over to the Island it shady and much cooler. There are tons of bridges, caves and buildings to explore. </div>
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When we finally left the Island we were all ready for some Air Conditioning. We headed over to the Hall of Presidents. I think this is such a wonderful presentation. H instantly fell asleep. I may not have even noticed, except his head hit the arm rest the first time he nodded off. He is nothing if not persistent, so he rearranged himself and went back to sleep in his chair. O was also a nightmare. He pooped two minuets into the show and was very very unhappy. </div>
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With a changed diaper and an awake toddler we headed outside to find the Parade just coming through. Our stroller was parked outside saving us the perfect shaded spot to watch the Parade. </div>
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We headed back over to the Tomorrowland Speedway with our fourth fast-pass to give driving another try.<br />
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After a broken car, it was finally time to take off. With H at the wheel we hit that guard rail as many times as we could! H laughed and laughed. He loved driving so much. Jeff rode in front of us and got a few pictures of the craziness, although you can barely see H in the driver seat.<br />
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We finished up our rides with Mickey's PhilharMagic. There was a small wait, but it was so worth it. I forgot how cute this show is. Add that on top of a kid who is experiencing their first 3D show. H dodged everything that came out of the screen. Once we talked him through that he started reaching out for everything. So so so many giggles. It was awesome. </div>
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Everyone was ready to head back so we worked our way down Main Street. H asked if we could do some pin trading and we still needed to buy stamps and mail our postcards on the way out. </div>
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Pin trading is one of the best things we have done on this trip. H loved it. I love that it got him to engage with adults. It provided a good change to practice manners and speaking loudly. He loves trading pins just to trade, but he searched the whole trip for an Ariel pin and finally found one in Animal Kingdom. He was elated.<br />
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It was a perfect day in the Magic Kingdom and it wasn't even over! We took the kids back to the hotel and fed them at the Pepper Market, the hotel cafeteria. The food was fine, not great but fine. We got the kids settled with Grandma and Jeff and I headed back out for the night.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magic Kingdom from the California Grill </td></tr>
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We had dinner reservations at the California Grill, on the top floor of the Contemporary. From there you are able to see the firework show from all of the other parks. They pump the music in for the show as well. (As a tip, we found out you can also watch the fireworks from any of the external stairwells at the Contemporary.)<br />
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We actually arrived a little early to the Contemporary so we went out back to the boat launch and took a boat on its full cycle (about 30 min). It was very romantic and totally free!<br />
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The food was delicious. Jeff had the pork two ways and I had sushi. We both started with delicious salads. The menu rotates weekly with a major overhaul seasonally. The wine list is extensive. We both ended up having a glass with dinner and another while we enjoyed the fireworks.<br />
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They also brought me a Creme Brule desert for my birthday!<br />
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Leaving the hotel for the evening we saw these guys heading upstairs - Only at Disney! </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-42361990788541911922015-05-30T18:52:00.001-07:002015-06-13T17:48:06.184-07:00Animal Kingdom with Toddlers<div>
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Another busy day at Disney. We had a blast, but the whole family is exhausted.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8am Tusker House Reservation means having the park to yourself. </td></tr>
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We had an 8am reservation at Tusker House for their character breakfast so we drove directly to the park before it opened. It takes a few min to walk from the gates to the Tusker House, but we took our time and enjoyed having the park to ourselves. </div>
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The breakfast was delicious and such a huge hit with the kids. After a week at Disney H has finally, really, truly, warmed up to the characters. He was delighted to see them all as they came to the table. H loved their safari outfits. O was indifferent to most of them, which was a huge improvement over the previous days. Daisy though was a charmer and O instantly took to her. Even with the delicious buffet, I got a birthday cupcake and a candle.. which I unwillingly shared with little O.<br />
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After breakfast we headed over to meet Mickey and Minnie in their character spot in Asia. We were first in line and had no wait at all. Although we met Mickey several times on this trip it was our first interaction with Minnie. </div>
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It was a short walk over to Africa to use our fastpass for Kilimanjaro Safari's. Even with the fast pass it was a bit of a wait, but totally worth it. Minutes after getting into the safari vehicle the rain started to pour down. While our stroller was collecting water, the animals were all out enjoying themselves. The highlight though was the baby rhino that chased our safari vehicle!<br />
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When we got off the safari the rain had stopped and the sun was back out. We took a little stroll through the Lowland Gorilla walk. Again, all the animals were out playing. The highlight for the kids were the two small gorillas that were playing right against the glass. We probably could have spent all morning watching them. </div>
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We didn't want to miss the Festival of the Lion King show, which we had fastpasses for. We chose to sit all the way in the back row of our section, even though we were let in first, so that we could sit with a backrest and the kids could stand to see the show. H sat stone-faced the whole ride only to exclaim after the show that it was "amazing." O, on the other hand, danced and clapped and signed "more" during all the songs. The family favorite was the jumping "monkeys" that do the ariel tricks. </div>
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We hopped on the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch, a short, narrated, ride that shows you some of the behind the scenes stuff. A pair of bronze elephants greets you when you get off the train. H was enamored and pretended to be their trainer for quite a while. "Do you have any questions about elephants?" he would ask everyone. There is a short walk to the main building where there are lots of displays and activities. The "Affection Station" is also here, where H go to pet and brush goats. </div>
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H would be upset if I didn't also mention that there is an entire display on animal poop. </div>
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Somewhere between the poop display and listening to the sounds to the rainforest, we decided we were not going to rush to make our next fastpass. I logged onto the Disney App and changed the time of our fastpass to a later showing of the Nemo Show. We continued exploring and then headed back on the train. </div>
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A quick stop at the Yack and Yeti quick service restaurant to pick up lunch. My mom ordered the chicken fried rice and an egg roll while Jeff got the daily special which was some sort of yellow curried chicken and vegetables. I ordered the honey chicken and rice and both kids had a bite as well. On the trail between Asia and Africa there is a small path that parallels the main road and has a lovely little hut with four tables. The hut has some fans in it and it was the perfect place to enjoy our lunch. There was even a large rock for H to crawl on while we ate. </div>
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We bypassed the bird show, in the name of time and much to our dismay, to head to the Jungle treck. The tigers and kimono dragon were napping in the shade, but the bats were sleeping with their wings in full view. I've never seen anything quite like it. </div>
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The monkeys were also putting on quite the show. O in particular loved watching them. </div>
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In DINOLand, USA. H and Jeff rode the TriceraTopSpin. We once again got lucky with the rain. The rain started just as we ducked under the cover of the ride and was done by the time H and Jeff got on board. </div>
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We made what I thought would be a quick stop at the Dig Site... 45 min later we emerged. H spent most of his time across the bridge digging up a Mammoth Fossil. We also explored the caves and slides in the dig area. He would have stayed later but heard someone talking about the pool and decided he wanted to go home. </div>
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We made a few more stops to see some birds, baby ducks and even a squirrel on our way back to our car. We returned to the hotel in time to hit the pool for an hour or so before dinner. The hotel pool here is great. H even went down the small water slide with a life jacket on and dad at the bottom to catch him. O likes to stand and play in the water coming down from the "temple" or just cruise along the beach chairs all in a line. </div>
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We drove to the Art of Animation resort for dinner. Their cafeteria, Landscape of Flavors, has so many good options. My mom ordered the Roasted Vegetables, which actually was just pick four sides, but it looked delicious. Jeff and H split the pulled pork which is served between two waffles. O and I shared the Caprese Sandwhich and chips. Everyone cleaned their plates! </div>
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The best part though was walking H through the different resort areas. Honestly, the cars section was the absolute best as the cars are car sized, not super huge like in the Little Mermaid and Lion King sections. H literally thought he was in Radiator Springs. </div>
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This was the perfect ending to a wonderful Disney trip. </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-2679816975929246252015-05-30T17:17:00.001-07:002015-07-17T13:03:02.808-07:00Disney Toddler Touring Plans - Just the Facts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have a one and three year old. Here is what we actually accomplished each day. To read all the messy details check out the day specific pages.<br />
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<u>SeaWorld</u><br />
Bus from hotel<br />
Antarctic Ride (mild)<br />
Visit Manatees & Turtles<br />
Blue Horizons Dolphin Show<br />
Turtle Trek (Skipped the 3D movie)<br />
Dolphin Pool<br />
Sting Ray Pool<br />
Lunch - Seaport Pizza (ordered ahead)<br />
Tower Ride<br />
Pets Ahoy Pet Show<br />
Shamu's Happy Harbor<br />
Wild Artic (Skipped movie)<br />
Bus home from hotel<br />
Swimming<br />
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<u>Transportation Day at Disney </u><br />
Bus to The Settlement area of Fort Wilderness<br />
Breakfast at Trails End<br />
Playground and beach at The Settlement<br />
Bus to Parking lot<br />
Drive to Coronado Springs to Check In<br />
Drive to Animal Kingdom Lodge<br />
Animal Enrichment Bead Activity<br />
Animal Viewing<br />
Drive to Wilderness Lodge<br />
Boat to Contemporary<br />
Monorail to TTC<br />
Walk to Polynesian<br />
Dole Whip at Polynesian<br />
Monorail to Grand Floridian<br />
Beach & Music at Grand Floridian<br />
Monorail to TTC<br />
Ferry Boat to Magic Kingdom<br />
Boat to Wilderness Lodge<br />
Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe<br />
Drive to Coronado Springs <br />
Swimming and Campfire at The Dig Site at Coronado Springs<br />
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<u>Magic Kingdom Day One </u><br />
Drive to Contemporary<br />
Walk to Magic Kingdom<br />
Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom<br />
Visit Mickey at Town Square<br />
Meet Mary Poppins on Main Street<br />
Fast Pass Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin<br />
Double Decker Bus Down Main Street<br />
Haircut at Harmony Barber Shop<br />
Ride the Carousel<br />
Ride Dumbo<br />
Ride Winnie the Pooh<br />
Ride Small World<br />
Lunch at Be Our Guest<br />
Ride Under the Sea<br />
Play at Dumbo Playground<br />
Ride Dumbo<br />
Ride Carousel of Progress<br />
Ride the People Mover<br />
Attend the Monsters Inc. Laugh Factory<br />
Visit Ariel at her Grotto<br />
Train from Circus Station all the way around and back to Main Street<br />
Exit the Park and walk back to Contemporary<br />
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<u>Hollywood Studios/Epcot </u><br />
Drive to Beach Club<br />
Boat to Hollywood Studios<br />
Meet Jake in Animation Courtyard<br />
Disney Jr. Live on Stage Show<br />
Frozen Sing Along Show<br />
Meet Lightning McQueen & Mater on Streets of America<br />
Boat to Beach Club<br />
Walk to Epcot World Showcase<br />
Lunch at Japanese Pavilion Quick Service<br />
O'Canada Movie & Waterfall<br />
Spaceship Earth<br />
Figment<br />
Mexico Pavilion Boat Ride<br />
Germany Pavilion Tiny Town & Train Garden<br />
Gelato at Italy Pavilion<br />
Boat/Walk back to Future Pavilion <br />
Ride the Land<br />
Ride Nemo & Friends<br />
Turtle Talk with Crush<br />
Visit the Aquarium<br />
Character Dinner at the Garden Grill<br />
Walk back to Boat Club<br />
Drive to Coranado Springs.<br />
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<u>Magic Kingdom Day 2</u><br />
Drive to Contemporary<br />
Walk to Magic Kingdom<br />
Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom<br />
Tomorrowland Speedway Cars/ Peoplemover for the little guy <br />
Astro Blasters<br />
Fastpass Peter Pan's Flight<br />
Small World<br />
Faspass Enchanted Tales with Belle<br />
Haunted Mansion<br />
Dance Parade in front of the Castle<br />
Lunch at The Plaza Restaurant<br />
Fastpass Jungle Cruise<br />
Tiki Room<br />
Tom Sawyer Island<br />
Hall of Presidents<br />
Festival of Fantasy Parade<br />
Tomorrowland Speedway Cars<br />
Mickey's PhilharMagic<br />
Walk down Main Street and back to Contemporary<br />
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<u>Animal Kingdom </u><br />
Drive directly to Animal Kingdom parking lot<br />
Check in with Tusker House breakfast representative at gate<br />
Walk to Tusker House<br />
8am Character Breakfast at Tusker House (Donald, Daisy, Mickey & Goofy in Safari Clothing)<br />
Meet Mickey & Minnie at the Character Spot<br />
Fastpass Kilmanjaro Safari<br />
Lowland Gorilla Walk<br />
Fastpass Festival of the Lion King<br />
Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch<br />
Affection Station (petting zoo)<br />
Explore Rafiki's Planet Watch Pavilion<br />
Train back to Africa<br />
Lunch at Yack&Yetti Quick Service<br />
Jungle Treck<br />
Triceratops Spin<br />
Bone Yard<br />
View a few animals on our way out of the park <br />
Swimming<br />
Dinner at Art of Animation<br />
Walk around "Radiator Springs' section of Art of Animation<br />
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Here is where we ate at Disney:<br />
- Breakfast at Trails End, The Settlement in Fort Wilderness<br />
- Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, The Wilderness Lodge<br />
- Lunch Be Our Guest, Magic Kingdom<br />
- Dinner by the Pool, Coronado Springs<br />
- Lunch at Japan Pavillion Quick Service, Epcot<br />
- Character Dinner at Garden Grill, Epcot<br />
- Lunch at The Plaza, Magic Kingdom<br />
- Dinner at Pepper Market, Coronado Springs (Kids & Grandma)<br />
- Dinner at California Grill, Contemporary (Mom & Dad)<br />
- Character Breakfast Tusker House, Animal Kingdom<br />
- Lunch at Yackn'Yetti Quick Service, Animal Kingdom<br />
- Dinner at Landscape of Flavors, Art of Animation Resort<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982423150594398052.post-81075648644834932342015-05-28T18:45:00.005-07:002015-06-13T14:43:56.884-07:00Hollywood Studios & Epcot Split Day with Toddlers.<div>
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We had pretty ambitious plans for today. The goal was to hit a few things at Hollywood Studios and then make it over to Epcot for lunch and the rest of the day.<br />
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We parked at the Yacht and Beach Club and hopped on the Friendship boat over to Hollywood Studios. Jeff had to run back because I forgot the Ergo in the room but he actually made it back in time to catch the same boat that we were on. You can also walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios from here, but we thought the boat would be more fun. You do not have to fold your stroller on the Friendship boat, which can be a huge bonus with kids.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here come Jake & Sophia. </td></tr>
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We went directly to the Animation Corridor of Hollywood Studios to meet Jake and see the Disney Jr. show. These were literally the only two things on the agenda for the morning. Jake and the other Disney Jr characters come out at 9:30. We were first in line to meet Jake. H was so excited... until it was time to walk up and meet him. H maintains that they were playing hide and go seek. He later named this as his favorite part of the day - go figure.<br />
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The Disney Jr. show was perfect for our little ones. You sit on the floor and its set up like a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Show but they also tell stories from Jake, Sophia the First, and Doc McStuffins. The characters are all puppet size and are just perfect for the kiddos. There are lots of fun interactive things that happen in the 20 min show. </div>
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With all our objectives met at Hollywood Studios and an hour to kill before we met up with a friend we offered H some options and he chose to go to the Frozen Sing A Long. We hightailed it to the other side of the park and made it in time for the 10:30 show. There are some story tellers that tell a shortened version of the show and they stop at all the songs to have you sing along. Anna and Elsa appear in the show. It was a hit with the whole family. H loved the songs and seeing the characters from afar, the adults loved the punny show (and singing along.) If you fast pass this show you will be able to sit in the middle, we sat on the side and our view was just fine. </div>
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Just outside the Frozen theater you can "meet" Lightning McQueen and Mater. Again, H asked to get in line and meet them. He did not want to touch them but he liked seeing them up close. They don't talk but they do make some car noises specific to the two cars. The line moves really quickly so this was a good time killer. </div>
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We met up with our friend and hopped on a boat to go over to Epcot. The boat makes so many stops and is actually quite slow so we hopped off at the Yacht and Boat Club dock and walked the rest of the way. We beat the boat to Epcot by a bunch, but by riding the first stop we were able to stay out of the sun. We entered the park through the World Showcase gate. </div>
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We had lunch at the counter service restaurant at Epcot. Mom had sushi, I had the shrimp tempura udon noodles, Jeff and the chicken curry rice bowl and our friend had the teriyaki plate. Everyone thought it was delicious. The kids ate a bit from everyones plates and a bunch from the snack bag. Half way through lunch the drum show started so I walked H down to check that out while others finished their lunch. </div>
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We headed back around World Showcase toward Future World. We stopped in England to take a picture in a phone booth and in Canada to see the falls. Mom took H to the O Canada movie while Jeff and I took a break in the shade with O. It must have gone well because H came out asking us to take him to Canada "for real." </div>
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It was time to use our fast pass for Spaceship Earth. H liked the ride, although it is quite dark in spots and he kept asking if this was a "show" or a "ride." We checked our lines app and headed to Journey into the Imagination. The line was under 10 min, but was the longest we had to wait all day. </div>
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We had later dinner reservations, so we decided to walk back around the World Showcase to Italy for some Gelato. O fell asleep in the stroller so Jeff, H and I rode the boat in Mexico while mom walked around with sleeping O. We stopped in Germany to see the miniature town, complete with trains. Finally, in Italy we got our gelato. It was just what we needed on such a hot day. We sat in the limited shade to enjoy our treat. Each of the countries have craft station where you can decorate a "Duffy" cutout, H was not at all interested, but we saw lots of kids partaking in the fun.</div>
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To get back to Future World for the remainder of our fast passes H, my mom and Jeff hopped onto one of the Friendship boats, going from Germany back to Future World. The boat launch was crowded so instead of waiting with sleeping O, I walked back. I actually arrived back before the boat. </div>
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We fast passed into The Land and hopped right on the boat. This ride was a big winner with the whole family. H wanted to ride it again and again. He loved seeing all the vegetables and fruits growing. He also loved the section when the boat goes through the fisheries. We then hopped over to Nemo and Friends and used our fast pass there. At the end of the ride the characters are super imposed onto the actual fish tank and it is so cool. We hurried into Turtle Talk with Crush. H was not interested in participating, but we did sit down on the floor with him and he was super engaged watching the kids talk to crush. </div>
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We spent about an hour in the fish tanks. There were divers interacting with the dolphins. They have all the real animals from Nemo in the tanks and H loved finding them. They were also feeding the manatees while we were there. O just loves to stand up against the glass and gaze into the tanks. </div>
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We had a 5:45 dinner reservation at the Garden Grill in the Land pavilion for O's birthday party and character dining. It was honestly a bit of a disaster. When we arrived they were swamped so we were given a pager and had to wait about 20 min. H did some pin trading. We sat on the floor and talked about the characters coming to visit. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get me away from this guy...</td></tr>
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When we were finally seated the bread, salad and water were slow to come to the table. We were nearly at critical melt down with both kids when Dale stopped by the table. H wanted nothing to do with him and O crawled back up Jeff to try to get away! We did get an autograph and by the time Chip stopped by H was brave enough to give a high five and O petted his hand. </div>
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When food arrived everyone stabilized. My only complaint is that the table is so small for the amount of food they are trying to put on your table. We were constantly trying to reshuffle to make it work, plus getting up for the kids to meet the characters. The food was excellent though and there were </div>
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good healthy options. </div>
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With food in everyone's tummy we had excellent visits with Mickey and Pluto. We actually got to visit with everyone a few times so that was nice. The boys were giving high-fives to everyone as they came around by the end. </div>
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We did have to ask them to bring our desert and O's cake toward the end. We were starting to loose it and were on our third rotation around the restaurant. O lit up when he got his cake and they happily boxed up the rest for us to take home. </div>
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We walked back around world showcase and all the way to the Yacht & Beach Club and hopped in our car. We had toyed with staying for the 8:30 night time show but that was honestly a pipe dream. The kids were worn out and so were we. All three boys were fast asleep when I heard the fireworks from Epcot going off. </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288830806621001277noreply@blogger.com0