As a community of traveling families, please join us in kicking off 2012 by reaffirming our commitment to show “Troo Compassion” as we continue to explore and travel with our kids.  In that spirit, we start the year with our 5 for $25 fundraising opportunity.

When we started Trekaroo 3 years ago, we had a dream.  A dream to inspire and enable families to explore the world. We see travel as a vehicle for building family bonds, developing a broader world view and developing a heart of compassion for people in need.  Our family had the opportunity to do just that a few weeks ago as we explored Cambodia.

Cambodia is a beautiful country with a grand history told through the magnificent temple ruins of Angkor Wat. However, it is also a country that in recent history was ravaged by civil war.  During our travels, we met a wonderful traveling family – Brandon and Andrea Ross.  The Ross family moved half-way across the world, drawn to Cambodia for it’s beauty to start a travel tour company called Journey’s Within.  However, as travel often does, it opened their eyes.  When they saw the harsh realities facing their Cambodian friends, they realized that they could do something to help.  That’s the story of how they came to start the non-profit arm of their work in Southeast Asia called Journey’s Within Our Community (JWOC).  Our family was fortunate enough to spend a few hours befriending some of the children who benefit from the great work that JWOC is doing.

5 for $25

Help Trekaroo give away $2000 to worthy causes

Here’s how it works.

Step 1: Write 5 reviews

Write 5 reviews of kid-friendly attractions, activities, hotels, or restaurants.  By doing so, you’ll be helping inspire and equip families to keep exploring.  Join/Sign in and start writing reviews

Step 2:  Designate a non-profit  to receive $25

Pick a non-profit or school for Trekaroo to donate $25 to in your honor. Must be a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. Designate a non-profit >

Step 3:

Invite your friends who care about the same cause to join in too and raise even more for your non-profit or school.  Send your friends an email or post it on your non-profit’s Facebook page or group.

Official Rules:

• Your reviews must be authentic and based on your real experience
• Only reviews written after Jan 5, 2011 qualify
• Qualified reviews must be of kid-friendly places and include helpful opinions and tips for parents
• We will donate a max of $25 per member, but there is no limit on the number of friends you can invite to participate in 5 for $25 to benefit your cause.
• We will keep donating until we’ve given away all $2000
• Your school or non-profit must be a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.

If you’re inspired to help make a difference, but don’t have any special non-profit in mind, here are some of our favorites:

World Vision

World Vision is Christian humanitarian organization that is dedicated to working with children, families and their communities in the US and Worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.  They work in some of the most war-torn and poverty-stricken communities around the world.  They also run a highly effective child sponsorship program if your family is interested in sponsoring a child.  World Vision is often one of the first NGO’s to respond to disasters around the world alongside the Red Cross and UN.

International Justice Mission

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems – police, courts and laws – effectively protect the poor.  More children, women and men are held in slavery right now than over the course of the entire trans-Atlantic slave trade.  IJM rescues victims, seeks to bring perpetrators to justice, provide aftercare for victims, and works to strengthen community factors and local judicial systems that will deter potential oppressors.

Journey’s Within our Community

Journey’s Within our Community (JWOC) is a small hands on non-profit.  JWOC runs five projects promoting improved living conditions for people in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. They work to promote economic and educational opportunities while also improving health. Their work includes a scholarship program to help students complete university education, free English classes, clean water projects, and a small microfinance intiative.

Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers transforms the lives of under-served urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions that instill critical life skills. Their curriculum improves integrity, self- esteem, responsibility, decision-making abilities and communication skills in close to 1,000 youth annually.

Happy Thanksgiving! All of us at trekaroo extend our warmest wishes to you this Thanksgiving season. We are truly thankful for you. Thank you for contributing to the grassroots community of parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers who make up trekaroo. And we are thankful for the daughters and sons who inspire us, whom we seek to guide, love, and care for.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on what we’re thankful for, whether it be friends and family, a piping hot turkey with gravy, beautiful fall colors, or a roof over our heads.

And what comes after Thanksgiving? Well, Black Friday of course. During the unofficial kick-off to holiday shopping season, the masses rise before the crack of dawn and wait out in the freezing cold seeking to find the best deals on clothes, electronics, toys, and more.

Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity

We’re truly thankful for what’s important in life. And I think we can all agree that the people in our lives are most important. Family, friends, and experiences with one another. So this Thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday season, think about gifting experiences and buying locally. What does that mean? Studies on consumption show us that people are happier when they have experiences instead of obtaining material objects. Buying locally helps our economy and neighborhood small businesses.

So we encourage you to think differently this year. Give experiences and mix it up with the purchase of local gifts. Give a “gift” of a hike, or a picnic to the beach, a trip to a National Park, or a gift certificate to the local go-kart racing place. Support local businesses. Buy a locally made hand-knit sweater from your local shop on Main Street, pick up baked goods from the farmer’s market, or buy someone art classes. Hire a local worker to do yard work, or carpentry, or to tune-up a car, or fix a friend’s computer. Give an overnight stay to a local hotel or bed & breakfast.

Shop local. Bella Vita Home - Oakland, CA

And don’t forget the neediest among us. Try volunteering at a soup kitchen as a family, or singing carols at an elderly home, gathering clothes for a non-profit, or just stopping for a minute to greet the homeless guy on the street and buy them a cup of coffee.

After September 11th, we had a nationwide campaign of, “America Open for Business”. In our down economy today, we can each do our part to help. This holiday season, let’s band together and occupy Main Street. We’re thankful for you. You are America. Keep on keeping on and keep on trekarooing.

Find experiences, activities, hotels, and local businesses at trekaroo »

Support local grocers and farmers.

It’s the first few days of summer, do you know where your vacation is?  Perhaps your family loves the smell of pine trees and is looking for a place with the adventures of horse back riding and rock wall climbing.  Or your ideal vacation is a spot on the warm sand of the sun-kissed California beaches.  Whether your kids love the outdoors or the indoor Wii lounges, hotels and resorts are offering lots of fun activities and clubs to make your family vacation one that you will never forget.  If you are looking for a fun place in Southern and Central California to take your family this summer that has special activities for kids, here are some great ideas!

MOUNTAIN VACATIONS

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is nestled in the foothills and pines below Yosemite National Park and offers summer activities that families will love.  An Adventure Club, climbing wall, horseback riding, ice skating, an arcade and the Yosemite Kids Camp are offered to families looking for a great mountain vacation.  Daycare services are offered for parents to enjoy the Ascent Spa which offers services such as massages, facials and body treatments. This summer historic Summerdale Campfire BBQs begin in are offered on Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday evenings at 6PM. The barbeque features an open fire, picnic tables, and live entertainment.

Read reviews of the Tenaya Lodge at Trekaroo.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang is a one-of-a-kind working ranch resort perfect for a horse-loving family or for those who love the outdoors.  A breakfast horseback or haywagon ride is offered twice weekly to the Old Adobe.  Other activies include fishing at the lake, archery, air rifle shooting, visiting barnyard animals and golf.

The Grand Del Mar in San Diego is a luxury resort that offers an Explorer’s Club for kids, pony rides, trail rides on horses, nature guided walks in Penasquitos Canyon and a family pool featuring underwater music with food and beverage service.

Destination Guroo, Mcfam, and her family were stunned at  just how amazing and kid-friendly the staff and activities are at the Grand Del Mar.  Swimming with underground music, hiking in the canyon with a naturalist, and playing hide and go seek in their large rooms were some of the things her kids loved to do, but eating gelato as a reward for the scavenger hunt was definitely their favorite!

BEACH RETREATS in Central California

Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo offers a Suite Beach Retreat.  A reserved beach location will be set up for your family including oak beach loungers, a shade umbrella and a table.  A practical fee includes volleyball, sand toys and bocce ball.

Read reviews of the Embassy Suites San Louis Obispo on Trekaroo.

Quality Suites in San Luis Obispo offers family adventure with their Kayak Tour Package.  Experience a half-day kayak tour through Morro Bay, including going through an oyster farm, and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch in a beautiful setting.

Read reviews of Quality Suites on Trekaroo.

BEACH VACATIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Catalina is the perfect spot for families looking for a small town escape near a metropolis. Catalina Island offers 2 great family packages for families on a budget.  Hotel stays at the Hotel Atwater or the Pavilion Hotel are offered along with transportation on the Catalina Express, kayak rentals, Glass Bottom Boat Tours, miniature golf, and a discount on the Zip Line at Descanso Beach Club.

Read reviews of the Pavilion Hotel on Trekaroo.

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa is just steps from Huntington Beach and features Slyders, a water playground that kids love because of it’s 3 water slides, a wading pool, and a large Jacuzzi.  Toes on the Nose, the onsite activity shop, offers paddle boarding, bike rentals, kayak tours and a beach butler service.  To top it all off, kids can participate in supervised recreation activities at Campy Hyatt including water slide relays, cookie decorating, Hoola Hoop competitions, story-telling sessions and more.

Blog Editor, Sharlene Earnshaw, says that when she took her kids to the Hyatt she couldn’t imagine a more quintessentially Southern California beach experience than the time they had at the Hyatt and Huntington Beach.  “Their was a great family friendly vibe throughout the resort and sitting on our balcony with views of the pool and beach beyond were hard to beat!”.

Read reviews of the Hyatt Huntington Beach on Trekaroo.

Jamaica Bay Inn in Los Angeles/Marina Del Rey is a brand new hotel on the beautiful harbor of Marina Beach.  Families can walk onto the beach from the hotel to enjoy swimming, kayaking, volleyball and the beautiful California sunshine. Parents will find the beachfront amenities convenient, including shaded picnic areas, a comprehensive playground complete with pirate ships for young buccaneers, and lifeguards on duty during summer weekends.

Superoo izdat and her family admitted that they were basically beach bums most of the time they enjoyed at Jamaica Bay.  ”The sand beach was excellent, and the kids really enjoyed the beachfront playground.  My kids tend to be very cautious at ocean beaches, so it was great that they could fill their own buckets in the water without being afraid of waves.”

Laguna Cliffs Resort and Spa in Dana Point features an exciting Splash Zone where kids can play in the fountains, surfboards and water cannons.  The Kahuna Laguna Kids club provides supervised arts and crafts, games and poolside fun.  Ages 5-12 are welcome. Family movie nights round out the great fun.

Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel is the place to visit if your family enjoys the Sawdust Art Festival and The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach.  Various packages include tickets to these amazing events.

Read reviews of the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel on Trekaroo.

BEACH RESORTS IN SAN DIEGO

Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa is the place to find a summer vacation you’ll never forget with the Summer Value Package.  Front row seats for the evening fireworks show from SeaWorld, breakfast at Acqua, Kids Klub activities for ages 5-12, Kids Night-Out passes and s’mores ingredients to enjoy a bonfire and marshmallow roast on the beach will make a great family vacation.

Read reviews of the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa on Trekaroo.

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina in San Diego offers discount SeaWorld tickets along with water taxi trips to the park.  Relaxing spa treatments, fireside S’mores and waterslide relays are just some of the fun activities families can expect to enjoy in Mission Bay.

Read reviews of the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay on Trekaroo.

Paradise Point Resort in San Diego is set on Mission Bay and features over one mile of sandy beaches, 5 swimming pools, a lake and a lagoon.  The Island Adventures Club offers daily activities and fun for kids.  Surf and paddleboard lessons, exclusives to SeaWorld and adventures at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center await families.

Read reviews of Paradise Point Resort on Trekaroo.

Rancho Bernardo Inn of San Diego has a “Kids Rule, Parents Drool” package that says it all.  This deal for kids ages 4-11 includes free meals at the veranda, pizza parties, Wii lounge access, fountains walking tour, Little Picassos Chalk Art, Access to the Blue Sky Ecological Preserve, and free smoothies.  Equally great is the “Teens Too Cool” package for kids 12-16.  This package offers reserved private cabanas, 30 minute golf lesson, Dive-In Teen movie, and a select spa option.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina provides free poolside activities for families and discounts on the many activities, tours and attractions of San Diego.  Poolside Dive-in Movies are held Friday and Saturday evenings.  With the family package enjoy a choice of 4 trackless trolley tour sightseeing passes or tickets to the San Diego Zoo, bike rentals, in-room movie and free meals for children 12 and under.

Read reviews of the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina on Trekaroo.

Michelle McCoy (aka Mcfam) is Trekaroo’s Southern California Destination Guroo. She and her husband, Matt, have 3 boys and a girl ages 2 to 10.  They love traveling to National Parks and going camping, but when life with young kids keeps them home, they find their fun in traveling to the local beaches in Orange County and hiking in the wilderness areas nearby.

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

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Michelle! Random.org selected comment #2! Enjoy your time on the slopes!

Where else but California can you surf in the morning and snow ski in the afternoon?  Its both a question and tag line that Southern California tourism bureaus love to use.  As a lifelong California resident,  I have never had the pleasure of completing this feat, but I have made mountainside snowballs in the morning and had the sand between my toes in time for a beachfront sunset.  It truly was a wonderfully unique experience.

So where do people in Southern California go when they are looking for a day filled with snow?  Many head to Mountain High.  Mt. High is the closest resort to the Los Angeles metropolitan area and visitors staying in LA or Orange County can make it to the slopes in under 2 hours.  Since the resort is located only 20 minutes off of Interstate 15, there is the added benefit of not having to deal with treacherous mountain driving.

The Mountain High ski season typically runs from November to April and the resort consists of three separate mountains- Mountain High East, West, and North.  The resort also includes two world-class terrain parks and the North Pole Tubing Park, the largest in the region.  So whether your family skis, snowboards, or sleds, you are sure to find a hill that fits the bill.

First timers are welcome at Mountain High.  There is a children’s academy offering full or half day lessons to children aged 4-9 and adult group lessons for parents and older children.  Private and family lessons are also available.  For the tiniest little skiers, the resort offers the parent and me “Virtual Snow” simulator.  It helps prepare tots (and even older people who are a bit nervous about skiing) for the real event.

If all of this talk of fun on the slopes make you want to head on up the mountain? Well have we got a deal and a steal for you!

The Deal: Head to skiforfree.com and use promo code: SLED1 for 50% off lift tickets at Mt. High! This promo code is good for lift tickets discounts the entire 2011 season so be sure to share it with your friends and family. Update: A reader informed us that the code is only good  for 50% Monday through Thursday and 24% off on weekends. We were not given this information when we originally posted the code and apologize for any convenience.

The Steal:  Win 2 Lift Tickets to Mountain High Resort!

Details: One lucky winner will receive two lift tickets for the Mountain High Ski Resort in Wrightwood, CA

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN: Leave a comment.

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.

• Follow Ski For Free on Twitter
• Follow Ski For Free on Facebook
  
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo .  YOU MAY DO THIS ONCE A DAY.  JUST LEAVE A COMMENT EACH TIME YOU TWEET. Sample Tweet:  “I just entered to win 2 Mountain High lift tickets via @trekaroo http://bit.ly/hX1aIs “.
  

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• 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, January 30, 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 Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.

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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.

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

For many families, a vacation  just isn’t a vacation without a good dose of Disney.  As an Orange County resident and Disneyland season pass holder, I get the opportunity to frequently see friends from out of town during their holiday.   I wish I could pretend that they made a trip to see me, but in reality I know its because they can’t live without their annual pilgrimage to the “happiest place on earth”.  In a selfish effort to bring more friends out to the park, I scoped out the hottest deals Disneyland currently has to offer.  I was a woman on a mission and it wasn’t long before I found some great deals for the Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World as well.  I certainly couldn’t keep all this juicy information to myself and who better to share it with than the loyal readers of Trekaroo?  I hope these tips help you fulfill your family’s Disney dreams this year.

DISNEYLAND

Photo courtesy Trekaroo user "annniepants"

Getting there:  If you are planning on flying to visit Disneyland between now and April 15, 2011, be sure to take advantage of Alaska Airlines “kids fly free” package. Any adult flying on Alaska or Horizon Air into LAX or Orange County can bring one child aged 2-11 for free!!!!  Flights must be booked by 2/19/2011 so hurry up and make plans!

Buy 3 nights get the 4th free: Now through February 19, 2011, families can buy a 3 night Disneyland Resort package and receive a 4th night free along with $20 ESPN Zone Game Card.  Arrivals must be between now and April 11th.

Read Trekaroo reader reviews of  Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.

Park hopper discount:  I love to be able to go back and forth between Disneyland and California adventure is this 3 day park hopper is the way to do it!  For $169, guests can hop back and between the two parks for three days, and enter Disneyland before the general public on one “Magic Morning”.

Active and retired military discounts:  From now until September 28, 2011, active and retired US military can purchase up to six 3-day park hoppers for only $99 per ticket to be used by family or friends!!!!  That’s an incredible deal so grab a member of the military and head to Disneyland.

Southern California residents:  From now through May 14, 2011, Southern California residents can purchase a 2 day ticket for only $99.  This allows you to visit one park per day and the best part- the days do not have to be consecutive!  You can upgrade the 2-day ticket to a park hopper for just $10 more.

Read Trekaroo reader reviews of Disneyland and California Adventure.

DISNEY WORLD

Photo courtesy of Trekaroo user "Kimmy"

Discount on Disney World Resort lodging: Families looking to visit Disney World between February 17th and April 16, 2011 can take advantage of some nice discounts being offered by Disney Resort hotels as long as they book by February 13th.  Disney hotels are discounting their rates from 15-30%.  See the Disney World website for more details.

Read Trekaroo reader reviews of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas,  Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Hotel.

Bring the little ones for free: Families who purchase a 4-night/4 day Magic Your Way room and ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels can bring their 3-9 year old children for free on select nights from February through October 2011. The Disney World website says that stays February 17- April 16 should be booked by February 13th and stays April 28- October 1st should be booked by March 27th to take advantage of this deal.

Active and retired military discounts:  From now until September 28, 2011, active and retired US military can purchase up to six 4-day tickets for $138.  You get to choose either “park hopper” tickets or “water park fun and more” tickets.  You can  also upgrade your tickets to cover both option (park hopper and water park fun) for $165. Members of the military can also save up to 40% at select Disney resort hotels. See Disney World website for more details.

Florida Residents: From now through May 22, 2011, Florida residents can purchase a 4 day Wild 4 Disney Pass for only $119.  This allows purchasers to visit one theme park per day for 4 days, and the days to not have to be consecutive. The week of 4/17-4/24/11 is blocked out from this promotion.

DISNEY CRUISE LINES

There is so much to look forward to with Disney Cruise Lines in 2011.  The Disney Dream is about to depart on it’s inaugural sail to the Caribbean and Disney cruises will finally be offered on the West Coast to destinations such as Mexico and Alaska. Families can enjoy a 7-night Alaskan Cruise departing on May 17th, 2011 for as little as $139 per person per day (based on 2 adults/ 2 children for a total voyage fare of $3892).   Families looking to head to Europe on a Disney Cruise can embark on an 11-night itinerary which includes Malta, Tunisia, Corsica, Italy, and France for 139 per person per day as well.  See the Disney Cruise booking site for details.

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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.

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