As you start booking your flights for your next family trip, you might consider booking with a more kid-friendly airline. Based on recent comments submitted by Trekaroo families, Southwest seems to be getting it right for families.
Most Popular Airline to Travel with Kids – Southwest Airlines
Parents were full of praise for Southwest Airlines’ family-friendliness. Here’s what parents loved about Southwest.
1) No baggage fees! – let’s face it. Families have lots of gear to tote around when traveling, and flying with an airline that does not charge extra for check-in luggage can save a family a chunk of change.
2) Priority boarding for families in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ seating groups – as more and more airlines do away with pre-boarding for families with young children, Southwest has a great comprise that helps ensure that families have a high chance of being seated together and have enough time to settle in before take off.
3) Reasonable prices – when you’re booking 4 or 5 tickets, every penny counts.
4) Helpful and humorous flight attendants – to parents, a helpful hand and relaxed atmosphere makes for a pleasant flying experience.
5) Special welcome for first time flyers – if it’s your child’s first flight, Southwest will celebrate the special occasion with a certificate and wings. Just let a flight attendant know.
See all comments left by families about their favorite and least favorite airlines
Least Popular Airline when Traveling with Kids – Delta/Northwest Airlines
Are you surprised that Delta/Northwest Airlines fell to the bottom? Parents were the most dissatisfied with the service they received on the Delta/Northwest airlines. A few were kind enough to say that it might have been a result of the uncertainties around the merger, but when you’re in the service business, managing transition is critical. The main criticism was that the staff really didn’t seem to “give a crap about kids at all.” Do you agree?
Rate airlines you’ve flown on with kids:
Related:
- Family-friendly Airlines: What’s most important when flying with kids
- Baby Travel – Intro to Flying with Baby
- Flying with Kids: Holiday Travel Survival Guide for Parents
- Top Travel Games and Activities for Kids
- Helping Kids Overcome Jet lag Quickly
- Packing Checklist for Traveling with Baby
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LiLing Pang (TravelPangs) is co-founder and contributing author on Trekaroo – - a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Trekaroo is a big fan of Joie de Vivre boutique hotels because they offer beautiful, modern, and clean rooms at prices that families can afford easily for a weekend stay. Joie De Vivre is a chain of boutique hotels in California that is known for catering to business travelers during the week, but what you may not know, is they also offer great deals for families on the weekends. They even have some beach front properties in towns like Santa Cruz that families will love.
When I visited the Joie de Vivre’s Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, CA, I was amazed at it’s dream location on the beach and within walking distance to the Santa Cruz boardwalk. It was wonderful for our family to fall asleep to the sounds of gentle waves, and our kids loved the welcome gift of goodies in a sand bucket they got when they arrived in their room. Read Full reviews of the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, CA
- Reviews of Wild Palms, Sunnyvale, CA
- Reviews of Moorpark, San Jose, CA
- Reviews of Domain Hotel, Sunnyvale, CA
- Reviews of Hotel Del Sol (Joie de Vivre), San Francisco, CA
- Reviews of Hotel Los Gatos and Spa (Joie de Vivre), Los Gatos, CA
See the all Joie de Vivre Hotels in Northern and Southern California
Find Fun Activities for Kids in California
The Exclusive Deal: 20% Discount on any room at any Joie de Vivre Hotel (no blackout dates)
Get 20% off on any room at any of Joie de Vivre’s 35 boutique hotels in California. This offer is exclusive to Trekaroo families and their friends and family! Share this coupon with your friends and family!
Promo Code: TREKAROO
* Valid any day in 2010 when booked on www.jdvhotels.com with the promo code above. Rates are based on availability and cannot be combined with other offers or packages. Not valid for previously booked reservations.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Voting has begun for the Dreamin’ Baby Photo Contest!
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CAST YOUR VOTES HERE
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The winning photo will be determined by YOUR vote. You can vote once a day until August August 15, 2010
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The winning baby will get to make dreams in his or her very own Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light. This travel crib weighs just 1/3 of a regular travel crib and sets up in just a flip. Trekaroo’s Carrie Yu took it for a spin was very impressed with this new product from Baby Bjorn.
Get the inside scoop on the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light:
Full review of the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib
Comparison Review of Lightweight Travel Cribs
Did you miss the chance to enter to win one for yourself? Don’t fret, you can purchase one today on Amazon.
Did you know Trekaroo has a Travel Gear Store? Find all the travel gear we love for traveling with kids.
We’ve all wrestled hopelessly with our heavy portable cribs through airports and hotel lobbies. We have also all gone through that half hour of bewilderment as we stare hopelessly at a travel crib trying to figure out why on earth it’s sides just won’t stay up.
Well, what if I told you that there’s now a travel crib on the market that weighs only 11lbs. (1/3 the weight of a Graco Pack and Play)? What if I told you that this travel crib sets up and takes down in just one flip? Well, there you have it! The Baby Bjorn Travel Crib does just that!
Pros:
- Lightweight (11 lbs with the case)
- Packs up small- easy to carry and to store
- Very sturdy
- Unbelievably easy to set up
- The mattress cover and fabric of the crib (that’s most of it!) are removable and machine washable.
Cons:
- Since the legs slant outward, you have to pay attention to where the bottom of the crib is when you’re walking by. This could be an issue in a small space, and is definitely something that you need to be aware of when it’s set up.
- Only useful for young kids, up to age 3 (possibly younger if you have a tall child)
- Fairly expensive, selling for ~$225-275, depending on the website/store
Full review of the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib
Comparison Review of Lightweight Travel Cribs
The Steal: Win a Baby Bjorn Travel Crib in the Dreamin’ Baby Photo Contest
We are really excited to give away a Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light to one lucky family with the cutest photo of your baby in dreamland.
Number of Winners: ONE (1) winner
Prize: A Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light worth $275
How to enter:
1) Enter a photo of YOUR sleeping baby: Entry Form
2) Get your friends to vote for your little cutie pie
Winner will be chosen based on popular vote.
Rules and guidelines: see entry form for official rules
Deadline to enter: Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 11:59PM PST
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
Disclosure: The Baby Bjorn Travel Light Crib was provided to Trekaroo by the manufacturer for review. No other compensation was received and Trekaroo was not required to express any particular point of view.
Welcome to 
Have all our posts on kid-friendly National Parks inspired you to hit the road and take your kids to experience first hand some of the most fascinating places in America? Well, wait no more, because this is your chance to visit for free. Every year, there are a few weekends where the National Park Service waives entrance fees to it’s National Parks. One of those weekends is coming up on Aug 14-15. You’ll be able to get into all 392 National Parks in 49 states across America for FREE. That gives you just enough time to plan your last summer jaunt before the mad rush to prepare for “back to school”.
Cape Cod National Seashore - Photo by: Flickr/hdreisler
Although the parks may be more crowded during these fee-free weekends, there are good reasons to brave the crowds! In addition to the fee-free entrance, there will special events at most of the National Parks that weekend like Ranger-led programs with free instruction and equipment loans. So, whether you are up for snorkeling at Cape Cod National Seashore, kayaking at DeSoto, or canoeing in Congraree or Big Cypress, this is the time to do it. Check out all the special deals park concessionaires are offering during fee-free weekends.
- Special Deals on Activities in National Parks
- Special Events Going on at National Parks During Aug 14 and 15, Fee-Free Weekend
Battle Reenactment at Fort Stanwix - Photo by nps.gov
Would you like to see firing demonstrations at a military encampment? They’ll be oiling their cannons and guns at Antietam, Gettysburg, Fort Laramie, Fort McHenry, Fort Vancouver, Fort Stanwix, Fort Matanzas, Kings Mountain, Wilson Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, and Yorktown.
Dancing at at National Park? Yup, you got that right! At San Juan Islands, the Pig War Band will be playing some tunes you can’t resist tapping your toes to. You will also find Cajun music at Jean Lafitte, Ojibwe music at Grand Portage, mountain music at Blue Ridge Parkway, folk songs at Carl Sanburg, classical music at Saint Gaudens and even dulcimer music on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
If you can’t make it in August, there are couple more dates coming up before the end of the year. So plan ahead.
- September 25, 2010 (Public Lands Day)
- November 11, 2010 (Veterans Day)
Plan your trip to a National Park with reviews and tips from Trekaroo families:
Quick links to kid-friendly activities and lodging in:
Acadia National Park | Grand Canyon National Park | Olympic National Park | Rocky Mountain National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Yosemite National Park | National Monuments
Popular National Park Tips:
- Best Hikes for Tykes in Yosemite National Park
- Trekaroo Families’ Favorite Things to Do with Kids in Yosemite National Park
- 15 Family Friendly National Park Adventures
- National Park Junior Ranger Program
- 5 National Monuments Your Family Should Visit
- 5 family-friendly hikes in Yellowstone National Park
- Bryce National Park with Kids
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below. PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
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LiLing Pang is co-founder of Trekaroo - a reviews website dedicated to traveling with kids
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Have you ever desperately reached into your over-sized “mom bag” searching for a pen or broken crayon and a piece of paper to amuse your child? Well, step aside grubby receipt and dried up marker because the travel size Magna Doodle is in the “building”.
The travel size Magna Doodle is perfect to keep in your diaper bag or carry on bag because it’s small and light. We love how easy it is for even small uncoordinated hands to use because your child hardly needs to exert any pressure on the writing surface to make a mark. The writing surface is firm so it’s easy to use on the go even if your child is bouncing up and down in a stroller. My favorite thing of all is you don’t have to deal with messy ink and you can keep using it again and again. Kids will be just as amused erasing their drawings with the little lever as they are with drawing with the magnetic pen. The travel size Magna Doodle is a tried and true product for traveling with kids.
The Steal: Win a Travel Size Magna Doodle
Trekaroo is giving away a travel size Magna Doodle to six lucky kiddos.
Number of Winners: Six (6) winners
Prize: One travel size Magna Doodle.
How to enter:
Leave a comment telling us about some cool products you’ve discovered that are great for traveling with kids on a road trip, plane trip or camping trip. We want to know what’s so great about it too.
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE.
- Write a review on Trekaroo and post a link to it in the comments (include your Trekaroo username) one entry per review. (each review gets you 5 entries)
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only
Deadline to enter: Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 11:59PM PST
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
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LiLing Pang is co-founder of Trekaroo - a website dedicated to traveling with kids
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
A few weeks ago, we visited the California Academy of Sciences specifically to check out the new Extreme Mammal Exhibit. Our 7 year old is an “animal expert”, so a visit to the Academy of Sciences is always huge treat. When we first entered the Academy, we were greeted by the teaser section of the Extreme Mammal exhibit. It was really neat. In addition to a HUGE sculpture of the largest mammal, there is also a scale where people can compare their weight to that of other mammals. That part was fun. The kids delighted in the hands-on aspect of this portion of the exhibit.
Pangolin at Extreme Mammal Exhibit Photo Credit: AMNH/D. Finnin
Once through the ticket queue, you enter another queue with informational posters. After a moment, the doors to the exhibit were opened for us by a young man. He explained we were entering a temperature controlled environment and to not take any pictures. He also said to make sure we did not touch any of the exhibits unless a sign specifically said so. No worries – there is plenty here to see and touch.
Kinkajou Skeleton at Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo by: Woolly Monkey Fossil in the Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/R. Mickens
While the exhibits were arranged in an old-school museum style, the flow of the rooms was great. One topic naturally lead to another. The information in each section was short and informative. While my kids rushed through somewhat, there was enough to interest them and get them talking. My son, Josh, was particularly moved by the section on endangered species and has been studying the causes of extinction since we came home.
Giant Ground Sloth at Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/D. Finnin
My only complaint with the exhibit – and it’s a minor one – is that, even though it was a new exhibit, it already had a worn appearance. Some signage was damaged, ripped, or falling apart, and some interactive materials weren’t working properly. The condition of the exhibit made me feel as if the exhibit was being neglected. It did not impact my ability to learn and enjoy the exhibit, just my ability to view the exhibit in a completely positive light.
Ellesmere Island Diorama at the Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/D. Finnin
All in all, my 7 year old son who’s a huge animal fan was very moved by the extreme mammal exhibit. My 5 year old daughter was just slight of bored during our 45 minute tour of exhibit. Definitely visit with your kids 6 and up who can read and digest all the wonderful information, However, you might want to skip over this special exhibit and head straight for the wonderful aquarium with younger kids.
Related:
- Reviews of the California Academy of Sciences
- Activities for Kids in San Francisco
- Kid-friendly Hotels in San Francisco
Disclosure: This review is based on a complimentary visit to Academy of Sciences. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
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Heather Tanner is a 2010 Trekaroo Superoo who visited the California Academy of Sciences on assignment to check out the Extreme Mammal Exhibit.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Welcome to
Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below
If you’ve ever been to San Francisco in the summer, you’ll know summer time temperatures never get very hot in the city, but drive a few minutes north, south, or east and you’ll find hot days in the 80s and the 90s. Fortunately, for families who are looking for ways to cool off this summer, there are some world class water parks within an hour driving distance and there are many places where you can cool off for free or close to free.
Here are some of the places that Trekaroo families have voted as their favorite places to cool off around the San Francisco Bay Area. So grab those swim suits and head on out.
Best Water Park - Aqua Adventure (Fremont, CA)
Photo by: Brennan Pang
Surprisingly the new Aqua Adventure Water Park wins over the popular Raging Waters Water Park in San Jose. This one year old facility that’s run by the city of Fremont isn’t the largest water park, but it’s in almost brand new condition, it’s clean, and best of all, the price is right. Resident adults pay $15.99, while non-residents pay $16.99. Under 48″ tall? You only pay $11.99. 3 and under get in for just $2. For little ones, you’ll be hearing squeals of delight for hours at the Lil’ Squirts area for wee ones who aren’t quite ready to be fully immersed in water. Bucket Bay is basically a play structure that has water spraying in every which direction that even a 6 year can be quite happy in. The big slides are fun, but nothing too over the top. Reviews of Aqua Adventure Water Park with Kids
More Water Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area
Best Theme Park with Water Play Features: California’s Great America (and Boomerang Bay Water Park)
Photo by: Flickr/bryce_edwards
California’s Great America is a great hit with Trekaroo families with an impressive 4 star rating. Families with older kids and teenagers in particular enjoy the thrilling roller coaster rides. But what’s even better is that the admission also gets you into Boomerang Bay. At Boomerang Bay, you’ll find 30 foot slides as well as rafting slides. Younger kids will drop their jaws at the not so kiddie kiddie area complete with tri-level fortress with 8 family slides connected by bridges and passageways and rope ladders. Best of all, there is water water water everywhere. Thrilling? -Yes! Cool Off? – Yes! Only draw back is that admission is pricey. So, for a summer treat, California’s Great America gets rave reviews on Trekaroo and will most definitely bring smiles to everyone’s face.
For young kids under 12, Gilroy Bonfante Gardens is a favorite theme park with a water feature too that isn’t quite as pricey, but lots of fun nonetheless.
Best Free Splash Pad Area: Mitchell Park (Palo Alto, CA)
Photo by: Brennan Pang
Mitchell Park is a small playground with a fantastic splash pad. The splash pad is attached to the playground which is small, but adequate in supplying a couple of hours of active play. The splash pad is delightful for little ones with water squirting out at unpredictable intervals catching kids by surprise. Benches around the water play area allow parents to sit and soak in the heartwarming scene of happy children. Best of all, it’s absolutely FREE! Reviews of Mitchell Park Playground
Other Splash Parks along the Peninsula and South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
Other Splash Parks on the Easy Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
Best Swimming Lake – Shadow Cliffs (Pleasanton, CA)
Photo by: Flickr/fromkmr
In the 266 -acre park of Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area is no ordinary 80 acre lake. You can swim at the beach complete with a bathhouse and refreshment stand, but the big attraction is the 4 -flume Rapids Water Slide located at Shadow Cliffs. It’s privately owned and operated and open on weekends in the spring and fall, and daily during the summer. For those not interested in the water slides, you can also go boating and fishing in the lake.
Best Beach - San Gregorio State Beach
Photo by: Picassa/ Jean Tessier
San Gregorio state beach is a big favorite of families on Trekaroo with a glowing 5 star rating. This beach is unique not because of the wonderful sandy beach, but because it has two other features that are a hit with kids. Most of the year, the top end of the beach is strewn with drift wood that teases a child’s (and adult’s) imagination. You’ll see the remnants of last week’s fort that Johnny built as your child is busily adding on to a tee pee from a previous visitor. In addition, San Gregorio river pours into the ocean at San Gregorio beach. The slow flowing river is a much safer place for kids to splash around than in the ocean where the waves tend to be rather big. Bring a tube and float down a short section of the river on a hot summer day. Reviews of San Gregorio State Beach with Kids
For beaches closer to the city, you might also consider:
- Crissy Field Beach, San Francisco,CA
- Schoonmaker Beach, Sausalito, CA
- Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda, CA
Best Place to Splash around in a River: Russian River
Photo by: Flickr/ ((brian))
To the north of San Francisco, in Sonoma County is beautiful Russian River. You can rent kayaks or just find you way down to the banks of the river and get comfortable on a sandy river bank. You can pick up a canoe at Johnson’s Beach and Resort, Burke’s Canoe Trips and Kayaks, or Soar Russian River Adventures. However, if you don’t want to hang out at Johnson’s, there are several river access points along the Russian River you can just hike down to. Some popular ones are Healdsburg Memorial beach, and Monte Rio Beach.
To the south, you might try San Lorenzo River near Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
Related:
- Keeping Kids Safe at Water Parks and Pools
- Public Pools in San Francisco
- Public Pools in the East Bay (San Francisco)
- Public Pools on the Peninsula (San Francisco)
- Water Parks in Florida
- Water Parks in Washington State
- Indoor Water Parks in Denver
- Great Places to Cool Off with Kids in Texas
- Great Places to Cool Off with Kids in the Chicago Area (Chi-town)
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week? Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions for Spotlight Thursdays and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author and co-founder of Trekaroo.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
