Welcome to 
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and for most of us, its a time to gather with family and stuff ourselves full of food. Its a time to cherish all that we are thankful for while remembering those brave and hearty Puritans who sailed across a vast ocean in search of a new life in the New World. As much as I love and cherish my family’s own holiday traditions, I have always wanted to head to the East Coast and have a Pilgrim Thanksgiving. One filled with historic recipes and demonstrations by people in period costume. I have known for years that the Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts hosts a traditional Thanksgiving celebration but now, thanks to Lydie, Trekaroo’s researcher and list maker extraordinaire, I have discovered that there are many great places on the East Coast to experience a Pilgrim Thanksgiving. Here is a small sampling of what Lydie has discovered:
- You can have Pilgrim Thanksgiving in New Hampshire at the Remick Country Doctor Musuem and Farm. Parents can learn how to process a turkey while kids learn how to churn butter and whip cream. Traditional Thanksgiving food from historic recipes is served and a special appearance by Abraham Lincoln is scheduled.
- The “Food and Feasts of Colonial Virginia” takes place over Thanksgiving weekend at the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. Families can learn how the first feast was gathered, preserved, and prepared and then enjoy a Thanksgiving meal in the cafe.
Photo courtesy Flickr User robsv
- The Annual America’s Hometown Thanksgiving celebration will take place at Plymouth Harbor for the 15th year in a row this year on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Three days of festivities include a parade that chronicles the Pilgrim legacy and showcases what family is all about. A harvest festival and kid’s activities are also planned.
Read about all the great places to have a Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving here.
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.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
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
Welcome to
One of our nation’s biggest Thanksgiving traditions takes place every year on the skyscraper lined streets of Manhattan. For 84 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has delighted both young and old with floats, marching bands, and those world famous balloons. For many of us, watching the parade has been a part of our Thanksgiving Day for as long as we can remember.
The parade first began as Christmas parade filled with employees of Macy’s and animals from the Central Park Zoo. The balloons made their first appearance three years later, and were released up into the air as a grand finale. Much to the surprise of organizers, the balloons burst above the Manhattan skyline, so the balloons were improved and the nest year they included address labels so that anyone who found them could turn the giant balloons back in to Macy’s for a prize. Due to rubber and helium shortages, the parade was silenced during World War II. 650lbs of rubber from the deflated balloons were donated to the war effort. The parade was televised nationally for the first time in 1947, starting a parade viewing tradition that has continued for generations.
If you are attending the massive celebration for the first time, you may have some questions on how to “do” the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade right. here are our tips on how to have a successful parade experience that will live on in the memories of your children forever.
- What is the 2010 parade route? This year’s parade begins at 77th street and Central Park West. It heads south down Central Park West until reaching Central Park South. From there, it heads east until reaching 7th Avenue where it will once again head south. Once the parade reaches 42nd Street, it will head east once again before heading south one final time on 6th Avenue. When the procession approaches 34th Street, it will head west until reaching Herald’s Square, home of the most famous Macy’s on the planet.
- How crowded will it be? Very crowded. The parade brings out the masses so be prepared to share the streets with 3.5 million other parader-goers. Make sure sure to keep a firm grip on little ones’ hands. With everyone looking up at the balloons, it only takes a second to lose sight of a tyke wandering off.
- Are there family friendly hotels along the route? Doubletree Times Square, Trump International Towers, Le Parker Meridien, and Marriott Marquis are among the Trekaroo member recommended hotels along the route. Those who have attended the parade agree that a parade view room on one of the lower levels of the hotel is worth the splurge.
- Can I watch the balloons being inflated? Yes you can and you should! The balloons are inflated 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue from 3-10PM the day prior to the event. There will still be crowds but your chances of getting up close to the balloons are much higher.
- What time should we arrive for the parade? The Macy’s official parade website says that people should start arriving at 7AM for a 9AM parade start. Your best bet is to try to arrive between 6 and 7 and DON”T LEAVE, or else you will lose your spot to someone else. Chairs are not recommended, but a thermos full of hot chocolate and plenty of warm clothes are.
- Where is the best place to watch the parade from the ground? According to Trekaroo user Smithfamily ” The best place for watching the whole parade is from Columbus Circle which is at the corner of Central Park South (CPS) and Central Park West (CPW). It’s a fabulous location with easy access to subways and lots of great sites. You’re also right on the doorstep of Central Park which is full of activities for your kids.”
Related:
- Restaurants In New York City Serving Thanksgiving Menu Who Welcome Kids
- Discussion On Best Places to View the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- TIps on Visiting NYC for the Thanksgiving Day Parade
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.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
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
Welcome to
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.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
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.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
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
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
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
