Each year at our children’s elementary school, kids write down their dreams for a better world.  As I was browsing the hall, my heart smiled at the different dreams on display.  “I wish that no one would rob our house.”  “I dream that we people will not litter.”  …on and on they go.  As we celebrate one of our nation’s most courageous and inspirational dreamers – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I wonder, how are we as parents helping to inspire our children to dream big?

MLK Day is a great time to nurture your little dreamers by enjoying time together as a family. Here are some kid-friendly MLK events going on around the country.  These events are a fun way to help our children connect with our nation’s heros who’ve worked to make the dream of the civil liberties come true.

• Kid-friendly Martin Luther King Events Around the US
• Martin Luther King Activities and Events for Kids in Connecticut
• Martin Luther King Activities and Events for Kids in Northern California

MLK Monument – Photo by: Flickr/tedeytan

National Parks are Free on MLK

Take advantage of the free admission to National Parks across the country to inspire your children to dream of a better world.  As you enjoy a hike together, take the time to share some of your dreams with each other and how we can each help to make those dreams a reality.

Kings Canyon National Park – Photo by: Flickr/Jeff Pang

• Free Kid-friendly California National Parks in Honor of MLK
• Kid-friendly National Parks Offering Free Admission in Arizona
• Kid-friendly National Parks Offering Free Admission in New Mexico

…more National Parks Offering Free Admission on MLK

LiLing Pang is Trekaroo’s Founder, a wife, & a mom to two active boys and a 4 month old baby girl.

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

I remember my first snowy Christmas.  It was when my husband and I first moved to Colorado Springs just after our wedding 10 years ago.  We visited a local hotel there and were amazed at the ice sculptures and train displays.  I couldn’t imagine anything better… until now!   My family and I were blessed to spend a few days at the Gaylord Texan and experience a resort that does so much more than decorate for Christmas; it brings fantasy, theatrics, and whimsy together to create the ultimate family getaway!

The moment my family and I stepped into the lobby of the Gaylord Texan, we knew we were going to have a good time.   The lobby opened up into a massive atrium filled with giant soldiers, over 52 rotating Christmas trees, several train displays, toy soldier stilt walkers, balloon makers, over 1.5 million Christmas lights, and so much more.  We loved walking inside the giant gingerbread house which smelled oh, so sweet, visiting Santa, and shaking hands with Dreamworks characters like Shrek, Puss & Boots, and King Julien!   The atrium’s winding riverwalks were each unique and my children loved looking at the fish and spurting fountains.

The very friendly bell led my family and I to our adjoining rooms which had amazing views into the atrium.  We opened the balcony doors and instantly felt connected with the energy and excitement of our surroundings!  The rooms themselves were large and immaculate, one with a king bed and one with two queens, but each with a flat screen tv, dark wood, light walls, and upscale Texan décor.  Altogether, it was breathtaking!

Each year, the Gaylord Texan puts on a spectacular display called ICE!, and this year they joined Dreamworks Animation for an unforgettable attraction!  With special artisans flown in from Harbin, China, 2 million pounds of ice, and a temperature of only 9 degrees, it took a month to put together this wintery wonderland in which Shrek learns the true meaning of Christmas.  The ICE! tent also includes giant ice slides, a Christmas light display put to music, a video about the making of ICE! and a breathtaking nativity scene made of crystal clear ice.

In the room next to where ICE! takes place, join Kung Fu Panda’s Po for indoor snow tubing with occasional Po sightings.  I had as much fun as my children did grabbing an inner tube and sliding down the snow covered slopes!   Next to the slides and past the gift shop, you can meet Shrek in his home or get a piping hot cup of cocoa.

The Gaylord Texan is such a unique and fun experience, you’ll want to make this visit an annual tradition…I know we do!  From the immaculate cleanliness of the resort as a whole and the overwhelming displays and creations, you will never be bored and will never want to leave.  Start making those plans for Christmas 2012!

Park City, Utah, once a silver mining boom town deep in the Wasatch Mountain Range, has been transformed over the past few decades into one of the most family friendly vacation destinations in the USA.  Just like it lured hopeful miners in search of silver fortune and drew the 2002 Winter Olympians going for gold, Park City continues to attract numerous visitors in search of something special.  Here are just a few of my family’s favorite things about Park City.

 Historical, Cultural and Environmental Attractions

Civic pride has ensured that visitors come away from Park City with a greater appreciation of its history and future place on the world stage.  If you are driving into town, stop by the Kimball Junction Visitors Center  to pick up a training schedule for the nearby Utah Olympic Park.  We had a thrill riding in a bobsled along the same track that was used in the 2002 Olympic Games and our professional driver made sure we were racing along at top speed.  After our victory dance, we explored the Park’s two museums, the Alf Engen Ski Museum and Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum.  We even got to touch a real Olympic torch!

If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, explore the great outdoors at your own pace at the Swaner Preserve and Eco-Center.  There we learned about this region’s natural habitat and saw some of the plants and animals that make their homes in the mountains surrounding Park City.  While in downtown Park City, stop by the Park City Museum  to learn about the transformation from a silver mining town to a world-class ski destination.  Be sure to visit all three floors of the museum including  the basement which houses The Dungeon, the original jail which is always popular.  Artistic kids may prefer the creative exhibits at the Kimball Art Center.  The docents are always eager to chat about the artists and their works which helps engage our kindergartner. Her eyes light up when she discovers artwork she likes.  That’s a treasure worth sharing anytime!

Ski and Snowboard Resorts

Only 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City is home to three of the top-rated ski resorts in the world:  Canyons Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and Park City Mountain Resort.  Families flock to these mountains not only for the incredible range of terrain to suit any level skier, but also for Utah’s famous powder dubbed the greatest snow on earth!  Park City Mountain Resort is where my kindergartner learned to ski so it will always hold a special place in my heart.  Ski Magazine named Park City Mountain Resort as the #1 Family Vacation for 2012.  If you or your kiddos need a few lessons, do yourself and them a favor…go with the pros!  The ski, snowboard and adaptive school instructors are absolutely incredible.  I went from a beginner to a confident green trails skier in just three days.  Now, I cannot wait to return!  If your family is made up of mixed level skiers, there are some amazing group meetups on the mountain; the black diamond skiers can venture off on the resort’s famous groomed trails while the beginners can safely ski at their own pace on the turtle trails.  This was such a relief and no one got hurt trying to ski a trail they were not ready to explore.  If you’re looking to refill hungry tummies, the Cobra Dogs are legendary and the bison chili at the Legacy Lodge is my personal fave.  Some of the resorts, such as the Marriot’s MountainSide, have outdoor hot tubs which are a huge hit after spending a few hours on the slopes.

Hand-crafted Snow Bugs, made in Utah by Frank Conlon, make great souvenirs and hang in our house to remind us of our time spent on the slopes.  They are  a great conversation starter when guests visit.  The Snow Bugs are available for purchase at all three Park City resorts as well as at the SLC airport.

We’ve found that a vacation to Park City is like a silver lined memory all dusted with snow.  Once you visit this magical land, you’ll find yourself dreaming of a return trip just like we are.  Hope to see you there!

Stay tuned for more in depth ski resort anaylsis on Trekroo:  January 2012.

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

The holiday season is upon us and Northern California is filled with a plethora of family-friendly activities. Winter offers great opportunities for picture perfect moments and time together as a family. We could keep all these great ideas to ourselves, but in the spirit of holiday sharing here are Trekaroo’s top picks for holiday activities in Northern California that are perfect for creating special days that make for wonderful memories.

Catch a Ride on The Polar Express Ride in Sacramento:

photo by flickr user latca

Everyone is encouraged to wear their pajamas on board this one hour train ride. Passengers will travel to the “North Pole” while being read the story of The Polar Express.  Dancing waiters fly through the cars as ticketed passengers are served hot chocolate and a cookie. As you head back to Old Sacramento, Santa walks through each car to give out the “first gift of Christmas” — a sleigh bell — to each passenger.  All join in and sing Christmas carols when pulling into the station at the California State Railroad Museum.

Tickets for this coveted event sell out immediately. I’ve yet to get my hands on some myself so I’ll take my son to Esquire IMAX Theater for a 3D screening of the Polar Express which plays from November 21 – December 23.

Free on-street parking is available in Old Sacramento after 4:30 p.m. on weekends and all day Saturday and Sunday during the holiday season. Be sure to swing by The Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum to see The Gingerbread Holiday. The Schoolhouse Museum will have dozens of sweet houses and other gingerbread structures created by kids, families, and culinary students on display December 3-18^th.

Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for museums of the Sacramento/Sierra Nevada area that kids love

 Rendezvous with Reindeer at California Academy of Sciences:

‘Tis the season for science at California Academy of Sciences, located in the heart of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Enjoy art and music from the Bay Area’s greatest talents including carolers, musicians, dancers, and theater troops. Gather round for an up close and personnel experience with live reindeer. To get here, the mountain reindeer traveled 6 hours up the freeway in a trailer. Had they hoofed it, it would have taken ten days. That may sound like a long trip when compared to car travel times, but reindeer actually migrate farther each year than any other land mammal, up to 33 miles each day, which is why members voted online to name the male reindeer Miles!

Discover the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a four-story rainforest, a planetarium, and a natural history museum all under one roof while enjoying wintry activities and family fun that celebrates the science behind some of our most familiar holiday sights, sounds, and traditions.

I visited the California Academy of Sciences in December with two boys. It was a winter wonderland in the Academy’s central piazza. Twice an hour the Academy makes it snow inside. We lucked out because it was snowing right as we walked in! I saw children try to catch the artificial snowflakes on their tongues. At the Academy’s Northern California Coast Gallery there’s a discovery tide pool where children and adults can touch and examine a wide variety of ocean creatures. Touching sea creatures instantly transforms me into a kid again (way cheaper than botox)! People of San Francisco – I am very jealous you have this great place of learning in your city!!

Parents can celebrate New Year’s Eve with their children ages 6+ at Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover. Allow your kids to camp out for a night at the Academy and see the museum in a whole new light. Why count sheep when you can count geckos, butterflies, sharks, and penguins?

 Read Tina’s full review of California Academy of Sciences.

 Recapture the spirit of Christmas past during the annual Cornish Christmas Celebration in historic downtown Grass Valley:

Recapture the spirit of Christmas past amid the charming surroundings of historic downtown Grass Valley during the annual Cornish Christmas Celebration. Mill and West Main Streets are closed to traffic and filled with the sights and sounds of an old fashioned Christmas while the Grass Valley Cornish Carol Choir performs traditional homeland Christmas carols at the steps of the historic Union Building.

The Cornish Christmas celebration is truly a delight to the senses. Smell the aroma of your favorite dish while you shop the amazing collection of merchants that call downtown Grass Valley their home. Stroll down the bustling historic streets as Christmas music fills the air. Hear young and old alike play your favorite holiday tunes as buildings dressed in Christmas lights sparkle in the December night air. At the Cornish Christmas you’ll see kids and adults dressed in period costumes, musicians, jugglers, carolers, Tommyknocker Cloggers and of course, Santa Claus. Delicious food and drink can be purchased from a number of restaurants and specialty food vendors.

 Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Fun Holiday Activities for Kids in Sacramento, CA.

 Holidays in South Lake Tahoe are Heavenly:

Tahoe’s South Shore is New Year’s celebration central. Firework shows combined with a myriad of outdoor recreation provide an action-packed holiday season for kids of all ages.

New this season is Heavenly Holiday with a month of festivities including live music, ice sculpting, fire dancers, professional ice skaters, face painting, interactive games and photo opportunities inside a giant snow globe or festive backdrops. “A Heavenly New Year Celebration” includes a concert followed by the Gondola Drop with a decorated and illuminated car descending from the top of the mountain in a “midnight” countdown at 9 p.m. followed by a firework display.

Santa’s Workshop will be recreated in Heavenly Village inside of a 16-foot interactive snow globe.  Children and families will be able to go inside of the snow globe to sit on Santa’s lap for a unique experience and photo opportunity. There will be a DJ playing holiday music daily.

Barton Health’s Festival of Trees & Lights, inside the Montbleu Convention Center, features designer decorated trees, crafts for kids, live entertainment and of course Santa Claus. Children age 12 and under are invited to visit the Teddy Bear Hospital – a fun, interactive place where they learn about their health and hospitals in a safe, “no poke” environment from Barton Health’s wonderfully caring real doctors, nurses and staffers. Each child will receive a free teddy bear as they are “admitted” to the hospital. Their journey through the emergency room, the operating room and the doctor’s office check up help build confidence and alleviate fears. Their “patient” teddy bear is theirs to take home and treasure this holiday season and for years to come.

The Tahoe Queen, an authentic Mississippi paddle wheeler, is offering opportunities to meet and take photos with Santa on the 12 p.m. cruises on Saturdays. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort continues its Christmas tradition with a two-day kids’ festival, Dec. 23-24 with events, music, sack races and a snowman competition.

Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Winter Holiday Activities for Kids in Lake Tahoe & Nevada.

 Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Express is a fabulous and fun holiday outing for the whole family:

Photo Courtesy Winetrain.com

 Join Santa, along with his friends and carolers (including one with a nose that glows so bright), as he travels from the city of Napa to the town of Yountville and back on a train overflowing with happy children. Designed especially for children, this 90 minute journey offers plenty of time for kids to tell Santa exactly what they want to receive for Christmas. A fabulous and fun holiday outing for the whole family, The Santa Express Train is a magical experience for the young and the young at heart. The train will have child friendly menus on board including hot chocolate for the kids.

Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Friendly Holiday Fun in the Napa Valley.

Cut Your Own Christmas Tree in Apple Hill:

While Apple Hill, located just northeast of Placerville, is primarily known for all things apple related, it is also a beautiful destination to pick and chop your own Christmas tree.

Currently, seven full-scale tree farms with u-cut trees are open in Apple Hill during the Christmas season for families to visit and cut their own Christmas trees. Several smaller farms are open, too. Visiting an Apple Hill Christmas tree farm after Thanksgiving is truly a very memorable family experience you and your kids will never forget. All Christmas tree farms open the day after Thanksgiving and remain open until Christmas Eve.

Wide selections of tree varieties are available for purchase. Some of the most popular Christmas Tree Farms currently operating in Apple Hill include: High Sierra Iris Gardens, Hillside Tree Farm, and McGee Christmas Tree Farm. Enjoying Christmas in Apple Hill isn’t all about just getting a Christmas tree though. Many of the tree farms offer great Christmas activities for the kids and have nice warm cups of hot chocolate or some world famous apple cider waiting for you. If you get the chance be sure to try the fudge and freshest apple pie you have ever had!

Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Apple Hill Christmas Tree Farms

Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Salinas Holiday Parade of Lights:

Get into the Christmas spirit at the Salinas Holiday Parade of Lights. This family and community-centric event is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. The lighted parade consists of marching bands, floats, dancers and classic cars. Come early and grab a spot along the parade route which goes up South Main Street and through Oldtown to the National Steinbeck Center.

The annual Salinas Holiday Parade of Lights attracts over 10,000 spectators. Celebrity announcers keep you well informed during the festivities. The Holiday Parade of Lights, celebrating ‘One City, Many Cultures’ has become a Salinas family tradition. The parade is a volunteer community effort and has been hosted by the Oldtown Salinas Association since 2006.

Monterey Celebrates The Holiday Season with An Ocean View at the Lighted Boat Parade:

You’ve seen parades on land — now see one on the ocean at the Lighted Boat Parade. Every year the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club sponsors a lighted boat parade in the harbor.  The boats of Monterey Bay will be brilliantly decked out as they sail from Coast Guard Pier past Cannery Row to Lover’s Point. The ships compete fiercely to win the coveted award for Best Decorations from the Yacht Club at the end of the evening. Check out this unique, can’t-miss event from along the Monterey and Pacific Grove coastline.

Ring in the New Year with the entire family (ages 5 and older) at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! This special New Year’s Eve event will feature a sparkling cider toast at 9 p.m. to celebrate the countdown to the New Year on East Coast time. The evening snack will be a Ghirardelli ice cream sundae bar! There will be fun family activities and programs for a night of celebration. Wake up with the fishes on New Year’s Day and enjoy a full breakfast in the Monterey Bay Aquarium Café then join the aquariums naturalists in watching wildlife from the Great Tide Pool Deck.

Photo by Trekaroo user ukelly

 Read Trekaroo’s  reviews on Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Tis the season for holiday cheer!  For many of us, that means seeking out family friendly spots to enjoy festive fun.   These are some of our family’s favorite places to get into the Christmas spirit and all are easy to get to from most places throughout New Jersey and the Philadelphia area.

Photo Courtesy Storybookland

Storybook Land is one of our favorite theme parks all year round but at Christmastime it takes on a magical appearance when they feature Christmas Fantasy with Lights.  Every night at 5pm Santa climbs out of his chimney and turns on over a million holiday lights throughout the park.  He has even managed to make it snow!   You can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus in their home as well to tell them how good you’ve been all year long.  All the rides of the theme park are open too!

A visit to Koziar’s Christmas Village  is like stepping into Christmas Land.  Walk along the path and take in the beauty of displays featuring Christmas in the jungle, beneath the sea, and around the globe lit by over a half million lights.  The reflective view from the pond is a breathtaking sight!  When you get chilly be sure to stop for some hot chocolate or a visit with Santa himself.

The Nutcracker is one of my favorite holiday shows.  My mom used to take me every year and I couldn’t wait to take my daughter for the first time.  During her first show she sat rapt with attention at the edge of her seat.  To find a show be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for where to see The Nutracker in Philadelpia  and New Jersey.

Photo Courtesy New Hope Ivyland Railroad

Taking a train ride with Santa has always been at the top of my children’s lists, even before they ever saw the movie Polar Express. This holiday tradition has become more popular than ever with kids all around the country dressing in their pajamas and taking a magical Christmas ride. While some stations started the tradition after 2004 movie, others like the Pine Creek Railroad in New Jersey, have been taking families on rides with Santa Claus for over 30 years!  See where to board a train ride with Santa in New Jersey and Philly areas.

Another family favorite of ours is piling in the car in our jammies, bringing along some hot chocolate and turning on some Christmas music while driving around the neighborhoods in our area to enjoy the lights. Some of the people in our town really go all out! However, if you want to make more of an adventure out of it, how about heading to Center City Philadelphia to see the Macy’s Holiday Light Show . While  at Macy’s, be sure to visit the third floor where you will find a 6,000 foot recreation of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Over 100 animated figures help bring this Christmas classic to life. You might even be able to get some Christmas shopping done!

Photo Courtesy Visit Philly

While I have never been to Christmas Village located in Love Park in Center City, Philadelphia, it looks to have some real charm. This traditional German Christmas Market features over 50 vendors selling arts and crafts, jewelry, ornaments and all sorts of other goodies you can purchase as a treat for yourself or as a holiday gift. You can also sample European food and drink while browsing about. If you happen to visit the market on December 7th,  your family can even attend the tree lighting!

Longwood Gardens is another one of those year round gems that transforms at Christmas time. Walk through the gardens and see how they have been transformed into a gingerbread fantasy with over 40 miles of lights and displays. During the season there will be performances in the evenings by local choral groups and vignettes from the Nutcracker.

May you all have a happy and healthy holiday season filled with many wonderful memories!

Looking for more holiday-fun activities?  Check out your neighborhood below.

California:  San Diego | Orange County | LA & Environs | Bay Area |  Lake Tahoe | Sacramento

Other US cities:  Dallas | NYC/NJ | Philadelphia | Salt Lake City |  Seattle

Don’t see your city??  Make a list of fun activities in your neck of the woods to share with Trekaroo users.

Tina Buell is one of Trekaroo’s Northern California Destination Guroos

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

The holiday season is in full swing at the Disneyland Resort. Recently, I had the opportunity to experience firsthand the magic of the season both parks have to offer by attending a special media preview. We were in for quite the treat.  Nobody does the holidays quite like Disney. Both parks are decorated with thousands of twinkling lights and over 700 decorated trees can be found throughout resort.  Both parks join in on the celebration with holiday twists on your favorite attractions and shows.

Disneyland

• It’s a Small World Holiday: This popular attraction is glammed up for the holidays as you take a journey and celebrate the holidays throughout the world.
• Christmas Fantasy Parade: This classic parade features all of your favorite characters all dressed up in their holiday best.
• Santa’s Reindeer Round Up: Head over to Frontierland for some one on one time with Santa and to have an up and close look at real live reindeer!
• Haunted Mansion Holiday: Jack Skellington and friends transform the Haunted Mansion to a winter wonderland sort of..  A fun twist to this classic ride.

Disney California Adventure

• World of Color: Our favorite show is revamped for the holidays and better than ever!
• Santa’s Seaside Pavilion: Make sure to stop at Paradise Pier to have your picture taken with Santa and have the kids share their list.
• “Phineas and Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” captures the holiday spirit with holiday décor and songs throughout the day at Paradise Pier.

From having your own personal meet and greet with Santa, to watching a holiday-themed World of Color show at Disney California Adventure or even experiencing the magic of snow falling on a sunny Southern California day, the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort has something for everyone.

Holiday time at the Disneyland Resort will run through January 8th, 2012.

Aracely Worley blogs about her adventures and daytrips in Southern California at Daytrippingmom.com.

*All photos by Aracely Worley