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

During my teenage years, my family made several journeys up the Pacific coast to Washington State in order to get out of suburbia and spend a week with my aunt at her house in the country. I say journey because this was definitely no leisurely road trip. My dad was a man on a mission- he had to make good time.  We drove through San Francisco and peered out the window at a city that I had never actually set foot in (how dare we think about stopping? If we lingered we may hit traffic!), craned our necks up at the redwoods with our heads pressed against the glass of the car windows as we zipped through the national park, and watched the dramatic cloud-shrouded Oregon coastline whiz past us.  During our lengthy stretches of time in the car, I sat with our AAA guidebooks in my lap, searching for a hotel room for the night.  My family was on a budget and my dad always had me look for a  Best Western on the route.  He was looking for value and didn’t want to sacrifice a comfortable bed or clean room to stay in some roach motel.  Best Western was a brand he trusted. Though they were less than glamorous, those trips fostered my love of travel and today when I stay in a Best Western with my own children, I can’t help but drift back to memories of the excitement  pulling up to a new hotel each day.

My guess is that your family has stayed in a Best Western hotel too. With over 4,000 hotels worldwide it would be pretty hard not to! If your family has a trip planned in the next year, whether it be a road trip, destination vacation, or a soccer tournament, it may be worth considering the following deal…

The Deal: Now Through Dec. 31, 2011, purchase a $100 Best Western Travel Card® and Receive a $10 Gift Card of Your Choice!

Customers who purchase a $100 Best Western Travel Card  will receive their choice of a $10 gift card to Amazon.com, Best Buy, Walmart, Darden restaurants, or Best Western for free! These  Best Western Travel Cards work like cash at any of the  4,000+ Best Western worldwide and can be purchased here. If you know you will be staying at a Best Western hotel in the coming year there is no good reason not buy some and stock up some free $10 stocking stuffers!

And now for the GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Steal: Win one of two $50 Best Western travel cards!

Details: Trekaroo is giving away two $50 Best Western travel cards.

Number of winners: (2) Two

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Leave a comment telling us where your family is traveling next!

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.

• 
• Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page.
• 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  11, 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

Mammoth Mountain will always hold a special in my heart. It is the spot where my kids strapped on their boots for the first time and learned to ski. Now, one year later, my kids have been counting down the days until they can head up to the snow once again to build snowmen, sled, and master the bunny slopes.

Why is Mammoth so great for kids?  Besides having a top notch ski school, fun day camps, and more beginner terrain than any resort in California, it is affordable too. New this season, Children ages 7 to 12 can ski or snowboard for just $30. As always, children ages 6 or under ski for free.

As great as those deals sound and as much as my family loves Mammoth, we do not love the long drive from Orange County which involves tackling  the congestion of  Inland Empire and a lonely drive up Highway 395.  This long drive has lead many families in the southern reaches of California to  view Mammoth as an annual vacation instead of a  destination that is easy to visit via a couple different weekend trips throughout the ski season. Luckily, that is all about to change. Currently, daily winter flights to Mammoth depart from LAX, San Francisco, and San Jose but starting  December 15th, United Airlines is adding a daily flight from Orange County and San Diego as well, making Mammoth a great ski getaway for families all over California.

In celebration of this exciting announcement and the beginning of the Mammoth Mountain ski season, we are giving away an opportunity for one lucky family to be on one of those inaugural flights to Mammoth, as well as lodging and lift tickets! Since this giveaway has particular appeal to our Southern California readers, we decided to join forces with two of our favorite Southern California blogs, Just Spotted and La Jolla Mom, to create a fun Facebook giveaway for all of our readers.

If you are not familiar with Just Spotted or La Jolla Mom, you should be! Just Spotted touts itself as being “your guide to living, visiting, and dreaming about Orange County” and it has always been one of my go-to resources when looking for information about family friendly events in Orange County.  The Just Spotted calendar is filled with up-to-date listings of what is happening around OC and any family living in, near, or visiting the area should definitely check it out. La Jolla Mom, one of Trekaroo’s Superoos, is pretty much a celebrity in the San Diego area. Her website is a hodgepodge of recipes, local profiles and deals, eco-friendly household tips, travel, and so more. I personally love all her Wine Wednesdays, including this especially appealing one on pairing Halloween candy with wine. We know you will love both of these sites as much as we do!

The Steal:

Win a trip for four to Mammoth Mountain including two nights lodging, two-day lift tickets for two adults and two children, and airfare from Southern California for travel  December 15-17, 2011 valued at more than $2000.00 !

Details