My nieces and nephews are experts at seasons as they have lived all over the United States and Germany on various military posts. They assure me that our family, living in temperate (and perfect) Southern California does not know what cold, fall, or winter means. As a proud native of California I have to beg to differ. It snowed on our nature walk today! Granted, we were in our shorts and t-shirts in October and the sun was shining through the haze, making the 70 degrees feel like 80, but I saw snow flurries! At least, we pretended like we saw snow flurries!
We took a nature walk in October along the Newport Back Bay after spending a great and educational time in the Muth Interpretive Center.
My son has been sneezing in his bed all afternoon as a direct result of the fun we had gently shaking the coyote bush to send it’s seed pods floating on the breeze. They swirled together in bunches on the ground, at the whim of the wind, and it really looked like snow drifts on the ground.
Seasons are changing are all around us if we just stop to look and notice. After several nature walks during different seasons I am so proud to notice that the Indian Sagebrush that I love for it’s smell are sprouting buds or berries, or something that made it look different. The Black Sagebrush’s dry fall seed pods make it look like a plant out of a Dr Seuss book with it’s cluster of balls on a skinny stem. On a recent hike in O’Neill Regional Park, we noticed the browns of seed pods, blooming yellow flowers and cool air which convinced us that fall does come to Southern California! It just looks very different than a New England fall.
Happy to be participating in Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.
Michelle McCoy (aka: McFam) is the Southern California Destination Guroo for Trekaroo.
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Lately, the witches have been crafting their best potions, goblins have been looking for some new hiding spots, and ghosts have been checking out their favorite haunts. Its seems as though things tend to be a bit more spooky in October. So where do families go to find all things spooktacular in their neck of the woods? Well if your family calls Florida, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, or Pennsylvania home, then we have got some great lists for you! Trekaroo’s own Superoo extraordinaire, Lydie, has put together some great lists of Spooky Festivals and Attractions for Kids.
Read about how Disney World does Halloween, where you can glide down a haunted zipline, where to ride a ghost train, and who hosts a haunted safari coach in Spooky Festivals and Attractions for Kids in Florida and 13 Fall Festivals and Halloween events on Florida’s west coast.
Explore massive corn mazes in the dark, prepare your lungs for a good scream in a haunted graveyard, and put on a costume and explore a museum in Spooky Festivals and Attractions for Kids in Northern California .
See how the West Coast version of Disney celebrates the spooky season, get spooked by Freddy Kruyger in a popular theme park, see giant pumpkins made of Legos, and walk through mazes on a haunted ship while reading Spooky Festivals and Attractions for Kids in Southern California .
Make your way through a “Megamaze”, enjoy some spooky family fun down on the farm, and take a ghost tour in Spooky Festivals and Attractions for Kids in Massachusetts .
Have a good old fashion boo at the zoo, check out a freaky forest, and trick or treat under the sea in Spooky Festivals and Attractions for Kids in North Carolina .
See how your friends on Sesame Street celebrate Halloween, ride a roller “ghoster” in a chocolate lover’s town, and attend Ghost Haunting 101 in Spooky Festivals and Attractions for Kids in Pennsylvania .
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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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
This contest is now closed. Congrats to winner Janine Brotzman for winning with the most votes for this adorable picture:
Its that time of year. The kids are back in school, the nights are getting crisper, and Halloween is just around the corner! There is just something about the onset of fall that gets me so excited. Its a season filled with turning leaves, apple picking, and trick or treating. Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays and I make any excuse to celebrate it for as long as possible. I love how many theme parks have decided to hop on board the Halloween train but unfortunately, most of their celebrations are just too scary for my kids. That’s why I was so excited when I heard about Hersheypark in the Dark.
Hersheypark in the Dark is how Hersheypark does Halloween. The annual festivities feature everything from “roller ghosters” to Hershey’s Trick-or-Treat Adventure for kids 12 and under. The Halloween entertainment also includes a mad scientist show, a rock n roll band called the Screaming Mummies, and Halloween Story Time which is perfect for little ones.
If I were to pick one day to visit Hersheypark in the Dark it would be Sunday, October 17, for the annual Halloween costume contest. Kids 12 and under can enter the competition in a chance to win one of the following categories:
- Halloween Classics
- Most Hershey-Like
- Most Original/Creative
- Best Group
Of course no visit to Hershey is complete without a night in the fabulous Hershey Lodge. The chocolate themed decor is a great reminder that you are in America’s chocolate capital and the family friendly amenities such as in room refrigerators, pack and plays available upon request, babysitting, and room service keep families coming back year after year. If you get a chance to sneak away, be sure to check out the Chocolate Spa and indulge in a Whipped Cocoa Bath, Chocolate Bean Polish, or Chocolate Fondue Wrap. Yummy!
Has all this talk about Hersheypark made you want to pack your bags and head to a sweeter locale? Well then be sure to check out the details of how you can win a trip to Hersheypark in the Dark below:
The Steal: Win a Night at Hershey Lodge and 4 Two-Day Passes to Hersheypark in the Dark!
We are giving away a night at the Hershey Lodge (occupancy for four) in Hershey, PA and 4 two-day passes to Hersheypark in the Dark (open weekends October 15-31, 2010). That’s an over $400 value!!!!
Number of Winners: ONE (1) winner, Must be 21 or older to win.
Prize: One night stay at the Hershey Lodge for four and four (4) two-day passes to Hersheypark in the Dark. This prize is to be redeemed weekends October 15-31, 2010.
How to enter:
1) Snap a photo of YOUR kids eating Hershey candy and then enter it in our photo contest here : Entry Form
2) Get your friends to vote for your cute kiddos. They can vote once a day.
Winner will be chosen based on popular vote.
Rules and guidelines: see entry form for official rules
Deadline to enter: Sunday, September 26, 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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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 | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
When families think of great destinations to view fall foliage, California is not typically the first state that comes to mind. More often than not, people head to the eastern half of the country to witness New England’s dramatic color, or The Great Smokey Mountains ablaze with reds, oranges, and browns. Lucky for us west coasters, there are still plenty of great places to experience autumn’s splendor without hopping a plane and battling the “leafer” crowds. Here are a few of my favorite spots for seeing fall color in the Golden State.
Photo courtesy wunderground.com
There are few places in California more beautiful than the Eastern Sierra in the fall. Quaking aspens flanking the lake seem to glow as the sunlight penetrates their leaves. There is just something about the granite covered mountainside reflecting in the lake with fiery trees highlighting the foreground that keeps drawing people back to June Lake year after year. Come early in the season before the snowfall begins and the area around the lake loses its flashiness and takes on its winter coat.
Read more about where to stay and what to do while visiting the Eastern Sierra with Kids.
Seeing the fall colors in Napa Valley is an experience unto itself. Wineries are just finished celebrating “the crush” and the night air is distinctively crisp. In between stops at wineries (yes, there are plenty of family friendly wineries out there), be sure to walk a trail or two in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. The big leafed maple are gorgeous and sound so wonderful crunching underfoot.
Read about all the activities and lodging suggestions in Wine Country with kids on Trekaroo.
Photo courtesy nps.gov
Yosemite is like the prom queen. She never had a bad hair day and always looks picture perfect. No matter what the season is, Yosemite never stops short of wowing whoever graces her presence. While many of the trees in the park are evergreen, there are still maples, oaks, and dogwoods to spice up the scenery come mid-October. The fall weather makes for nice mid-afternoon strolls on the parks hiking trails.
Read all about family friendly lodging and activities in Yosemite.
Photo courtesy flickr user goldenstatephoto
Yes, there really is fall color in San Diego County! At 4,000 feet in elevation, palm trees and sandy beaches give way to mountain air, apple orchards, and some wonderful opportunities for leaf peeping. This historic mining town is a great place for Southern California natives to get a taste of fall without having to hop on a plane. Grab a cup of hot apple cider and enjoy the view before heading back on down the mountain and into the land of endless summers.
California’s capital is filled with more than high rises and legislature. It is also a city with over 110,000 city-owned trees (and many more privately owned), which makes for quite a vibrant spectacle come fall. When I lived in Sacramento, I absolutely loved taking the bridge over the river and gazing down at the beautiful trees below. My kids loved jumping in piles of leaves in city parks and searching for the biggest maple leaves bigger than their tiny faces. If you can pick any season to visit the City of Trees, make it the autumn.
Read all about where to go and where to stay while in Sacramento with kids.
Samuel P Taylor State Park in Marin County
15 miles west of San Rafael, the Bay Area crowds are non-existent and coastal redwoods intermingle with oaks and firs to create a lovely fall spectacle come late October. Samuel P Taylor State Park is a great place to hike, bike, and enjoy the golds and browns popping against the evergreens. Pt Reyes National Seashore is just down the road and an especially nice place to take in the sunset this time of year.
Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Northern and Central California
Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Southern California
Interested in visiting the North Bay? Then be sure to check out all of our suggestions for family friendly lodging and activities in the Bay Area.
Still looking for more fall fun in California? Than be sure to check out Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Northern California and Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Southern California.
More on Fall Foliage:
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Utah
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Texas
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Tennessee
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in New England
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in North Carolina
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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 | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
If your kids have nerves of steel (unlike mine), you might be able to scare the socks of them at some of these haunted houses, ghost tours, and Halloween events. Many attractions across the country have special Halloween tours or fright houses set up. But what’s age appropriate and what isn’t? What ages are your kids? Check out this list of
Spooky Halloween Adventures for Appropriate for Kids
Trekaroo parents are full of great recommendations. Margie says that the Ghost and Gravestones Haunted Trolley Tours in Savannah, Georgia are “worth every penny”. JessicaP had a great time on the Ghost Tour in Colonial Williamsburg.
Some of these are sure events are sure to give you and the kids a good dose of the Halloween creeps. But be forewarned! Not until about 6-9 are kids better able to separate fact from fiction, so do use that astute parental discretion you have.
Photo by: www.flickr.com/photos/uriel1998/1807180512
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA
