Some people like the heat. They love the sun blazing down on them as they absorb all of its marvelous heat. Others love the cold.  They enjoy putting on a coat and taking brisk walks on snow covered trails while watching their breath form clouds in front of them.  I am neither of those people. If I had it my way, it would be 75 every day. When I moved to Orange County from Northern California, friends often  asked me if I missed having seasons. No, no I do not. If I want to experience a season, I will visit it while on vacation.  But most of the time, even when I travel, I still want it to be 75 and sunny- which is why I love Palm Springs.

When most of the country is putting on six layers to leave the house, vacationers in Palm Springs are putting on flip flops and a sundress. In Palm Springs, I can forget that winter even exists as I lay by the pool and watch my kids splash the day away. My family can strap on hiking boots and and explore palm studded canyons without worry of frostbite.  We can enjoy an alfresco dinner downtown without having to wear mittens.  And if I get that sudden urge to visit winter, we can simply hop on the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, climb up to 8500 feet, throw snowballs at my kids for a couple hours, then head back down to the warmth of the Coachella Valley.  Sounds pretty nice doesn’t it?

Many people who haven’t visited the area may not realize just how much there is for families to do in Palm Springs. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Desert Adventures take guests on fun and educational trips through the desert in their signature red jeeps. My family’s tour with Desert Adventures of the San Andreas Fault still ranks as one of my most favorite travel experiences. You can read about more in this blog post dedicated to our desert adventure.  This past weekend we took a tour with them of Indian Canyons and once again were blown away by the tour. Every member of our family had a great time and we learned so much. If I had to recommend one thing to do in the Palm Springs area, it would be to take a tour with Desert Adventures.
• Airplane aficionados and history buffs won’t want to miss the Palm Springs Air Museum, home to the largest collection of WWII aircraft that are still in flying condition. Families can climb inside an actual WWII airplane and kids will love the special children’s area with airplane themed crafts and cockpits for them to climb in.
• Did you know that there was a zoo in the desert? The Living Desert is a beautifully landscaped zoo featuring animals around the world that call the desert their home. Visitors can see animals such as big horned sheep, cheetahs, snakes, and giraffes at this world class zoological garden and enjoy camel rides, an endangered species carousel, and even an expansive model train exhibit. One thing I didn’t expect was just how much local wildlife we would encounter roaming about the zoo, including road runners and lizards.
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world and has been taking visitors up steep Mt. San Jacinto, one of North America’s sheerest mountain faces, since it opened in 1963. Temperatures up top can be 40 degrees cooler than those on the valley floor and the mountain hiking opportunities are plentiful during the summer months. Winter brings snow, an exciting treat after a couple days poolside.
• There are actually springs surrounded by palm trees in Palm Springs- it is not just a clever name! Indian Canyons, owned by the Agua Caliente Cahuilla tribe, offer great hiking opportunities. Palm Canyon is home to the largest fan palm oasis in the world, with dozens of palm trees lining a spring fed creek, creating a shady reprieve from the desert sun and an ideal spot for a picnic. Andreas Canyon offers a shaded one mile loop trail which is great for families who want a short hike and some exposure to to the desert palm oasis ecosystem. Murray Canyon features a series of seven small waterfalls, said to be a great spot for swimming!

If all these activities sound like experiences your family will enjoy, you will be excited to know that we have teamed up with Visit Palm Springs, Daytripping Mom and Rockin’ Mama to put together an exciting desert giveaway!

If you are not familiar with Daytripping Mom and Rockin’ Mama, then it is time you got in the know! Aracely at Daytripping Mom keeps families up to date with the latest happenings around Southern California and always seems to be giving away something fun! Caryn at Rockin’ Mama is a woman on the go who takes her readers along for the ride with her posts about fabulous movie premiers, products we should know about, yummy recipes, and so much more. She is an LA gal through and through, contributing to the local CBS website with her Southern California  expertise. Both of these women are dedicated to sharing their family adventures with others in hopes of encouraging them to have their own, making them the perfect partners for our Palm Springs Family Getaway giveaway!

The Steal:

Win a trip for four to Palm Springs, CA including lodging and several great family friendly activities!

Details:

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Melissa Miller! We know you will love the video camera!

Recently  I was invited by Kimberly of  The Go To Mom to attend a special Sony Event for Social Media Moms, in order to try out the new Sony HDR-PJ10 Projector Handycam and see if  I thought families who travel would enjoy the video camera. After about 5 minutes of use I had absolutely no doubt that Trekaroo families would love this video camera- it is small, lightweight, easy to use, and takes great videos. But the one feature that I really felt makes this camera ideal for families on the go is the projector which allows users to easily record video and then project it (in great quality) on a wall, floor, or variety of other flat services. Just imagine spending the day exploring a National Park and then coming back to your campsite at night to watch the day’s highlights on the wall of the tent. So cool!

Here are a few reasons why I think the HDR-PJ10 Sony Projector Handycam would make a great family gift:

1. It is easy to use: Simply flip open the screen and the camera automatically turns on! Plus the lens cover is built in so losing the lens cap is a thing of the past. The touch screen is very intuitive, allowing this non-technical mom to look like she knows she is doing!  An easy to find and clearly labeled “photo” button that allows the user to take still photos while video-taping. There is even a USB cord built in to the camera so getting video from the camera to your computer for editing!
2. Great picture quality: Recently I was watching video from when my kids were babies and was so disappointed at how grainy the footage was. I wish this camera existed 5 years ago!  The HD quality is incredible and the image stabilization actually makes it possible for a shaky-handed individual like me to take videos that don’t make viewers nauseous.
3. The projector: Before I owned this video camera, watching a replay of a video meant I had to wait until my husband was willing to pull out the cables and configure the television to play the movie. Now, I simply find a wall and press “project” on the video camera and our videos play right before our eyes! While traveling we can take video of our adventures and then easily watch them on the wall of our hotel room, vacation rental, or tent.
4. The highlight function: I love when people create fancy highlight videos of their vacations which are set to music. I just didn’t usually have the time or inclination to do it. Now with the Sony Projector Handycam  I simply select “highlight “and the video camera magically creates the highlight video for me! To give you an idea of how amazing the highlight function is, click on the video below to see a highlight video the camera created of my kids and their friend’s baking cookies for Christmas (with a cameo of my puppies snagging dog cookies at the very end).  As you will see, the camera can take some pretty simple footage and turn it into something special.

The Steal: Win a Sony Projector Handycam!

Details: One lucky winner will receive a HDR-PJ10 Sony Projector Handycam valued at $650.00!

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Want more chances to win?

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE or the entry will not be counted.

• 
• Like Trekaroo on Facebook
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, January 1, 2012  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  Online Sweepstakes and CashNet Sweepstakes,.

Disclosure: I was invited to the Sony Social Media Moms Luncheon and received a free HDR-PJ10 Sony Projector Handycam to review for Trekaroo.  All opinions are my own.

Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to our winner Carrie! Enjoy your brand new Chicco car seat!

More than 80% of car seats installed incorrectly.  That is a pretty staggering statistic isn’t it?  It evoked so much anxiety in my husband that while my kids were infants, he became a car seat installation expert. He managed to get their car seats into cars so snug that even police officers who install car seats professionally were impressed.  Since I am not a 6’5″ 200lb man, I was never able to secure them quite as tight as dear hubby, hence banning me from ever moving their car seats. It was a major pain.

Chicco’s KeyFit 30 is the #1-rated infant car seat  and claims to be among the easiest to install. The double bubble level guides easily demonstrate accurate placement in the vehicle and the car seat detaches from stroller and base with just one hand. On paper it sounded like a great stroller so I put the call out to our Superoos to see if anyone was interested in reviewing the product.  One of our Superoos, keebz, already had the KeyFit 30 for her child and loved it so much that she was happy to write a review.  She chose the KeyFit 30 because it

- Has a good safety rating

- Fit behind the driver’s seat comfortably

-  Has easy to use buckles

- Is easy to install base with LATCH or without the base using a seatbelt

-  Able to work with her current stroller frame

-  Has a 30 pound weight limit

-  Is Affordable

 Read her full review of the Chicco KeyFit 30 Car Seat.

Chicco worked with Julie Prom, car seat safety expert with 25 years of experience, to help put together this list of tips on keep kids safe in the car:

• Buckle up everyone, every time, every trip!  In a crash or emergency braking, an unbuckled passenger can be thrown into other passengers causing serious injury.  Also, ensure there are no heavy, loose objects in the vehicle that can be thrown around in a crash.
• Keep children in a rear-facing safety seat until at least 2 years old.  A recent study showed that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing.  Be sure to use a safety seat designed for the size and weight of your child.
• Never put a rear-facing safety seat in front of an active air bag.
• All children under at least 13 should ride in the back seat.  The back seat is nearly 40 percent safer than the front seat.
• Never add any product (including toys and car seat covers or liners) or make any changes to a car safety seat or booster that is not approved by the manufacturer of the seat.  Add-on products can interfere with the crash performance of the seat.  Beware!  Many manufacturers of add-on products will state they have tested them—ONLY use products approved by the car safety seat manufacturer!  The safety seat manufacturer is the only one that can confirm the test results of its product.
• Never put an infant-only seat on top of a shopping cart.  This makes the shopping cart top heavy.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics warn against this practice due to numerous reported injuries from carts tipping over and/or babies falling out.
• Finally, ALWAYS read and follow both the car safety seat instructions AND the vehicle owners’ manual when using and installing your child’s seat!

The Steal: Win a Chicco KeyFit Car Seat!

Details: One lucky winner will receive a Chicco KeyFit Car Seat valued at $189.99.

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Want more chances to win?

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE or the entry will not be counted.

• 
• Like Trekaroo on Facebook
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, December 25, 2011 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  Online Sweepstakes and CashNet Sweepstakes,.

Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Last week we told you about Passports with Purpose, the travel bloggers annual fundraiser, and how this year our goal was to raise $80,000 to build two libraries in Zambia. We asked you to consider donating to this worthwhile cause and encouraged you with the incentive that in return for your $10 donation, you have an opportunity to win some incredible prizes. Of course, we think the prize we are giving away, a golf stay at Austin’s Barton Creek Resort, is pretty awesome but there a so many other great prizes to enter to win as well. To get you even more pumped about donating to Passports with Purpose, we have decided to highlight some of these truly awesome prizes. Here are some of our favorite  prizes that  Passports with Purpose donators have a chance at winning:

Kindle Fire:  This has got to be one of the most sought after gifts this holiday season. The  7-inch tablet with Wi-Fi from Amazon is  slim, lightweight,is in full color, and holds 18 million movies, books, and apps, making it perfect for travel.  With Europe up Close, The Solo Traveler, Mother of All Trips, and The Vacation Gals all giving one away, your chances of winning are pretty decent! Psst…. Budget Travelers Sandbox is also giving away a Kindle Touch…

Xbox 360 with Kinect Bundle:  Can you imagine how cool your kids will think you are if an Xbox 360 shows up under your tree? Yes, video games can lead to way too many hours on the couch but Kinect features active games so your kids will get some exercise while playing. Score! Wandermom is hosting this amazing giveaway.

4 Nights in a Suite at the Honua Kai Resort in Maui: Delicious Baby is hosting this 4 night giveaway in an ocean view suite. 4 nights. Maui. Ocean view. Enough said.

Three Night stay for a family of four at an all-inclusive Beaches Resort in Jamaica: I love all-inclusive resorts so the all-inclusive stay in Jamaica that Have Baby will Travel is hosting definitely caught my eye. Imagine hanging out with your little one’s poolside with a cocktail in hand and the Caribbean sun on your shoulders. Not bad, eh?

Two Night Stay at the Four Season Scottsdale at Troon North: My family just returned from this amazing resort (I can’t wait to share the details with you all!) so I know that this is a tremendous prize. In addition to the resort stay, the winner will also be treated to a dinner at Talavera, where I enjoyed the best steak I have ever had. I will definitely be entering in hope of returning to this incredible resort. This giveaway is hosted by My Itchy Travel Feet.

Disneyland/Hilton Garden Inn prize pack: It’s no secret that Trekaroo loves Disney so when we saw the prize that Travel Mamas is giving away, we couldn’t help but get excited. One lucky family will win 4 park hoppers for Disneyland and California Adventure as well as a two night stay at the Anaheim Hilton Garden Inn.  What an ideal family getaway!

$1000 HomeAway voucher: We love HomeAway because it give travelers access to 260,000 vacation rentals around the globe in one location.  Vacation rentals are great for extended family travel, travel with large families, or families who would love the convenience of staying someplace with all the comforts of home (like a kitchen!.)  Nerds Eye View is giving away a $1000 voucher which can be used to take your family on an adventure in a vacation rental that is perfectly suited to your needs.

$500 BedandBreakfast.com gift card: Last year we featured BedandBreakfast.com in our holiday gift guide  giveaway  so when we saw that Land Lopers was hosting this prize, we were happy to see another chance to win this great prize. The  BedandBreakfast.com can be used at more than 4,000 small inns and bed and breakfasts which makes it an idela gift for travelers.

110,000 Hyatt Gold Passport Points: There is something just so exciting about hotel points. Hyatt is one of my favorite hotel brands (extremely family friendly) so winning $2640 worth of Hyatt points turn me into a kid in a candy store.  I could spend hours researching what sort of luxurious hotel stays I could get with all those points! According to the giveaway host,  Loyalty Traveler of Boarding Area, this prize can buy 5- 22 nights, depending on how you use them. Donate to win this prize and start daydreaming!

There is only one way to win all of these fabulous prizes- head on over to Passports with Purpose and DONATE.

The last day to donate is Friday, December 16, 2011.

Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Can you imagine your children growing up  in a world without books? I certainly can’t imagine my kids living a life devoid of Eric Carle, Margaret Wise Brown, and Dr. Suess. Sadly, millions of children around the world go their entire childhood without ever experiencing the joys of being read to, let alone ever learning to read themselves. Passports with Purpose is aiming to improve the lives and opportunities of children in Zambia by raising money to build two libraries.

What is Passports with Purpose? It is the  annual Travel Bloggers’ fundraiser founded by Pam Mandel, Debbie Dubrow, Michelle Duffy, and Beth Whitman, who happen to all be great travel bloggers themselves. In 2009, travel bloggers raised almost $30,000 to build a school in rural Cambodia. In 2010, we  raised $64000 and built a village in southern India.  Now in 2011, 100 travel bloggers have been given an even bigger goal- raise $80,000 and build two libraries in Zambia. With fabulous readers like you, I know we can do it!

To do our part Trekaroo has teamed up with the posh Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas to give one lucky winner a one night stay at Barton Creek Resort & Spa and a round of golf for two on either the Crenshaw Cliffside or Palmer Lakeside course. Imagine what a gift this would make for the golf lover on your holiday list! Want to know more about this amazing resort? Then read Texas Destination Guroo Heather Reed’s own firsthand take on the property:

At Barton Creek Resort & Spa you can expect the finest in luxury from the hand crafted wood and stone décor, to Texas’s top rated golf course, tranquil spa, luxurious rooms, and fine dining, all delivered with unbeatable Texas hospitality and customer service. Barton Creek caters to every type of venue including romantic vacation destinations for couples,  golfing enthusiasts, and family retreats. The resort’s hillside location boasts incredible floor to ceiling views of the rolling hills, large oak trees, and winding rivers. It’s staff exudes professionalism, is pleasant, knowledgeable, and quick to offer help or advice. The rooms are luxurious and elegant with hardwood entries, granite countertops, an oversize desk, and the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept on.

Barton Creek has 4 distinctly different 18-hole golf courses that have been rated as #1 in Texas by Golfer’s Digest. Fazio Foothills is Barton Creek Resort & Spa’s signature golf course, designed with cliff-side fairways, natural limestone caves, waterfalls, and superb TiffEagle Bermuda grass. Fazio Canyons is a 7,153-yard, par-72 course with it’s own pro shop and practice area. Crenshaw Cliffside’s course takes advantage of the natural terrain and is woven between native vegetation and plateaus. Last, but definitely not least, Palmer Lakeside, designed by Arnold Palmer, is located 25 minutes away from Barton Creek on a secluded hilltop overlooking Lake Travis. At Palmer Lakeside, there is also a spectacular clubhouse retreat that takes advantage of the lakeside and golf course views.

After taking your turn on one of their famed courses, hit the tennis courts or take a stroll on their nature trail. If relaxing is more your style, make a reservation at 3 Springs Spa or lounge in a chair by the pool. If you have kids in your group, check them into Barton Kid’s Club, visit the putt-putt course, play giant chess, and take a scavenger hunt through the resort. No matter what your reason is for visiting, I can guarantee you one thing…you’ll want to stay forever.

Read Heather’s full review of Barton Creek Resort.

How to enter

Go to the Passports with Purpose donate page  and donate!  For every $10 you donate, you will be given a “raffle ticket” to apply to any prizes listed on the donate page.  We think our prize is pretty great but feel free to apply your $10 to any of the dozens of  AMAZING prizes being given away.  After you have entered the raffle, be sure to spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, or Carrier Pigeon so Passports with Purpose can reach their goal of raising $80,000 and permanently changing the lives of children.

The last day for donations is Friday, December 16, 2011.

Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA